GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When you’ve played the game as long as Orlando Cabrera, sometimes you need a little extra push to get you going for another 162-game season.
“I always look for something to motivate me, a challenge,” said Cabrera, who will enter his 15th season in the majors as the Indians’ new second baseman after a lengthy tenure as a top-flight shortstop. “This year, playing second base is a great challenge. There’s a lot of things to accomplish at a different position. You get something every year that motivates you.
“I feel comfortable, confident, and I’m really excited for this year.”
After spending pretty much his entire career as a shortstop, a darn good one at that, with two Gold Gloves (2001 with the Expos and 2007 with the Angels) to prove it, Cabrera signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the Indians, knowing the position was occupied by his namesake, Asdrubal Cabrera.
The transition to second base began smoothly this spring, but Orlando Cabrera’s sore shoulder has slowed the process a bit. Still, the 36-year-old Cartagena, Columbia native isn’t anticipating any problems.
“It’s coming along a little bit too slow, but I think I’ll be 100 percent when we break camp,” said Orlando Cabrera, who entered Friday batting .348 (8-for-23) with two doubles, a triple and three RBIs in nine exhibition games. “(Turning double plays from second) is nothing out of the ordinary. I feel like I have been playing second base my whole career. My arm will get better, the turns will get better.”
The Indians are counting on nothing less from Cabrera, a career .274 hitter with seven different big league clubs, who is expected to provide veteran leadership on a youth-laden roster.
Oh, and above-average defense at a position Cabrera has played just 33 times on the big league level, not once since the 2000 season.
No problem, says Cleveland manager Manny Acta, who was Montreal’s third base/infield coach during Cabrera’s last three seasons with the Expos from 2002-04.
“Orlando’s not going to have any issue,” Acta said. “He’s so fundamentally sound that I don’t think he’s going to be affected by the move. This guy is one of the most fundamentally sound infielders that I’ve ever been around. He’s also one of the best baserunners that I have seen in the last 10 years.”
Cabrera is ready to provide it all for the Indians, especially after seeing how the younger players in the clubhouse have taken to him.
“The thing that has impressed me the most is how much respect all these guys have for me,” he said. “That’s something you don’t find in a lot of places.”
It’s all part of a unique season for Cabrera, who is with a new team in a new city and at a new position.
Roundin’ third
Indians minor leaguers opened their spring training schedule Friday. … Today, 4:05 vs. Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium (Tempe, Ariz.), WTAM 1100-AM (live). Justin Masterson (0-1, 6.00) vs. Scott Kazmir (0-1, 3.38).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
