Topping the recent defensive efforts of Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips could not be easy. But Cleveland Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera has done it.
Cabrera made some incredible moves to start a double play Thursday night against the Chicago White Sox. The Tribe suffered an 8-2 loss, but Cabrera's play was the top highlight for either side.
Here are the details:
- Right-hander Joe Smith used his glove to deflect a line drive hit up the middle by Omar Vizquel.
- Cabrera stopped on a dime and leaned to his right ? on his knees ? about 30 feet from the second base bag and barehanded the ball.
- He flipped it behind his back, turning his head just enough to get peripheral vision of second baseman Adam Everett. He relayed it to first, and Matt LaPorta scooped Everett's throw to complete a double play. Wowzers.
Now, watch Cabrera do this thing
Coincidentally, the batter ? the 44-year-old Vizquel ? used to do stuff like this years ago when he played for the Indians. Cleveland's broadcasters figured he might appreciate Cabrera's play if anybody would. They also noted the positive response White Sox fans gave to Cabrera for his effort.
Scott Merkin of MLB.com passed along, via Twitter, a funny comment Ozzie Guillen made about Cabrera:
"He's a Venezuelan shortstop. What did you expect?"
Said a former Venezuelan shortstop.
Cabrera, by the way, also executed a similar play a season ago.
Against the Orioles in August, he made a change-of-direction, barehanded grab ? while in a sitting position ? of a deflection off the leg of pitcher Justin Masterson. The awesomeness continued as Cabrera froze a runner at third base and fired, still sitting on his behind, to get Felix Pie at first. The combination of instinct, agility and athleticism, along with mental acuity, was amazing.
So, how to measure which Cabrera play is better? The barehanded grab itself against the Orioles was tougher because Cabrera had less reaction time to reach for the ball, as it was hit more sharply.
Overall though, the double play against the White Sox had a higher degree of difficulty because of the throw. (An accurate backhanded flip, 30 feet away from the bag? C'mon!). It also led to two outs.
Even Sox broadcaster Ken "Hawk Harrelson" ? who often goes silent when things go against his team ? got excited for Cabrera. Harrelson called it one of the best plays he's seen in 50 years of baseball. And of Cabrera he declared, "He's a keeper!"
He sure is. Though Cabrera's overall defensive metrics aren't as good at short, the plays he sometimes makes resemble ones Ozzie Smith made. A modern wizard, Cabrera can be.
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