Cabrera doing the job
SEATTLE -- Wanted: Gold Glove shortstop who also can hit .300 or so. MUST be a proven leader.
That was the help-wanted ad the White Sox put out last off-season, and they couldn't be happier with the response.
Just when Sox general manager Kenny Williams was somewhat grudgingly set to give Juan Uribe another year at the key position, Los Angeles Angels counterpart Tony Reagins called and made Cabrera available in a trade.
The 33-year-old infielder didn't come cheap -- the White Sox sent workhorse starter Jon Garland to the Angels -- but Cabrera was worth the gamble.
Not only has he shored up the defense and given the top of the batting order a proven presence, Cabrera has acted like a manager on the field.
That's what was really missing last season.
"Most of all, I think it's the leadership,'' Cabrera said of his role with the White Sox. "I think these guys last year, they didn't handle it well because all of the talent they have here. It was just a matter of putting it all together and knowing how to win ballgames without having to score a lot of runs.''
Cabrera has played for the now-defunct Montreal Expos, the Boston Red Sox and the Angels. He is becoming accustomed to being an on-field troubleshooter.
"The way I look at it is my whole career I was brought into places where they have something to fix,'' Cabrera said. "Once the problem is fixed, they move me on because someone else requires my service. That's the way I look at it.
"They needed a guy that could relax things when they went wrong and show the kids with a lot of ability how things should be done so they can use their talent, then I move on to another place.''
Cabrera is eligible for free agency at the end of the season. Does he expect to sign a contract extension with the White Sox?
"You can ask me that same question in a couple more months and we'll see where we are,'' Cabrera said.
Before tonight's game against Los Angeles, the Angels will present Cabrera with the Gold Glove he won last season.
While he's looking forward to playing against his old team, Cabrera also gets a chance to catch up with his old manager, Mike Scioscia.
"With all due respect to managers around the game, I think that Scioscia is on another level,'' Cabrera said. "I mean that with all respect. But this guy, he dominates the opponent, the thinking, all the things that they do, the scouting reports, he has an advantage. I think he's the smartest guy in the game right now, no doubt.''
Cabrera said playing under Scioscia for three years has made him a much better player.
"I learned more in those three years than I ever learned in my entire career,'' Cabrera said. "I learned how to play a different way, and it really improved my game.
"I always thought that if you had the most ability or the most strength, you could win ballgames. I learned there that you can outsmart your opponents and you can beat them that way.''