[外電] Mailbag: What's in Cabrera's future?
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Mailbag: What's in Cabrera's future?
Beat reporter Spencer Fordin answers Orioles fans' questions
By Spender Fordin / MLB.com
I'd like a simple answer to a simple question. Is this Daniel Cabrera's last
season with the Orioles?
-- Andy, Holly Springs, N.C.
That's not nearly as simple as it seems. Cabrera, who has a 7.59 ERA in 10
starts since the All-Star break, is still under contractual control and will
present an interesting decision for Baltimore. The right-hander is running
out of rope in the rotation, but may warrant a raise via arbitration -- which
could trigger a decision to trade or non-tender him.
Cabrera currently leads the American League in walks, wild pitches and hit
batsmen, a volatile combination that vividly illustrates his lack of control.
The 27-year-old's velocity has also dipped largely over the past few seasons
-- from 97 mph regularly to 91 mph -- and his strikeout rate has shown the
same trend while his wild streak runs rampant.
Opponents are also hitting .286 off Cabrera this year, which is by far the
worst mark of his career. Manager Dave Trembley said recently he believes
Cabrera is consciously trying to aid his control so much that he's stopped
throwing as hard as he can, a process that has robbed him of his best
fastball while falling short of the desired goal.
Cabrera has gotten more opportunities than most, chugging along through the
tutelage of several different pitching coaches during his tenure. But given
the lack of other reliable rotation options in-house, Cabrera may be in line
for one more chance. It's by no means a simple decision, but Cabrera is
making it a little easier with each passing season.
I would've liked to have seen the Orioles give Brandon Fahey more of an
opportunity to fill the void at shortstop. Did we really give him a good look?
-- Rusty J., Elizabeth City, N.C.
Fahey has gotten a pretty good look, and he likely only got that look because
he was in the right place at the right time. Fahey has never really hit in
the Minor Leagues, so there wasn't much hope that he'd hit enough to start in
the Majors. His defense has been fine at multiple positions, but the Orioles
have turned to him when they had no other choice.
Fahey first surfaced as a utility man in 2006, getting plenty of time in left
field despite having never played it in the Minors. He moved back to the
infield primarily last season, but he didn't hit for Baltimore or Triple-A
Norfolk. And this season, he got a look after Luis Hernandez struggled early
in the year, but he has batted .241 with a .267 on-base percentage.
Baltimore's shortstop position has rolled through various hands this season
-- including starting stints by Freddie Bynum and Alex Cintron -- but has
been stabilized recently by Juan Castro, who has also struggled to hit.
Various Orioles claim that Castro is the best of the bunch defensively, but
Baltimore will be looking for a better solution this winter.
Adam Jones started the season in the eight hole, and is now producing very
well in the second spot in the order. What spot in the order do you see Jones
hitting in for the majority of his career?
-- Tom C., Baltimore
Jones, who was acquired from Seattle in last winter's trade for Erik Bedard,
will likely add more power as his career progresses and should eventually
wind up batting fifth or sixth. The initial comparisons to Torii Hunter and
Mike Cameron have proven correct, as Jones has fit in immediately as a plus
defender with a strong throwing arm.
He had also made some needed adjustments throughout the early season,
learning to become more patient with offspeed pitches. Jones batted .323 in
June and .280 in July before breaking a bone in his left foot in early
August, an injury that caused him to miss a month's worth of action and has
disrupted his timing since his return.
Jones didn't get to play in a Minor League rehab stint, largely because the
affiliates were ending their seasons right when he was returning to health.
Trembley has said he needs to play himself back into baseball shape, but
Jones will take a positive sense of accomplishment into the offseason and
will know he has a starting job earmarked for 2009.
With Jones in center and Nick Markakis manning right field, the Orioles have
two true building blocks for their rebuilding movement. They still need youth
in the middle infield and corner infield slots, but they'll likely add
catcher Matt Wieters to the mix at some point next season. All of a sudden,
the Orioles have some prime young offensive talent.
Markakis is above and beyond outperforming his contract. Don't you feel that
it is time to give a major part of the O's future the contract he deserves?
-- Neil A., Lonaconing, Md.
I would think that extending Markakis is one of the major things the Orioles
have planned for their offseason, but there is no sense of urgency to get it
done from their end. While it's the right thing to do and likely the right
time to do it, the fact is that Markakis is under control for the next few
seasons and won't have a shot at free agency until 2012.
With that said, the Orioles will likely explore a contract extension sooner
rather than later, largely because they don't want to risk their cornerstone
outfielder getting a whiff of free agency. Contracts get more expensive after
arbitration, and Markakis may be unlikely to sign an extension once he knows
he's just a season or two from the open market.
This is likely the time, right after his third season and right before his
first arbitration case. Markakis has proven that he is no flash in the pan,
and Baltimore knows that he may challenge for some Gold Gloves and All-Star
berths during his career. Markakis can be this team's next signature player,
but first he has to sign a long-term contract.
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