Detroit's shocking infield swap

Posted: Wednesday April 23, 2008 06:37AM ET

Tigers manager Jim Leyland unveiled a big infield surprise. He announced that Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen are swapping positions. Effective immediately, Cabrera is the first baseman and Guillen is the third baseman. Leyland had little to say about the switch. He didn't give a timetable for a minimum of how long it might last. But he spoke about it with an air of permanence. Leyland didn't hint whether it was the defensive play of Cabrera or of Guillen - or of both - that prompted the change. Perhaps he wanted to avoid giving the impression that he thinks Cabrera can't play third base. With Cabrera under contract through 2015, there may come a day when the Tigers again need him at third base.

Detroit Free Press

Miguel Cabrera , AP

Miguel Cabrera , AP

Buzz Meter

It's Hot!

Rank: 10

It's Not!

It's not so shocking. I expected Cabrera to settle at first base somewhere. It might as well be Detroit.

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Whats next Voodoo?

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First base is a better position than third for a huge, huge fat guy.

What's so shocking?

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Thus begins the rest of Cabrera's carreer as a first baseman. I would be very surprised if the sees any significant playing time at any other position except DH until he retires.

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I think on most teams he'd be fine at third, but when your used to Inge's defense its kind of hard watching botched plays from time to time. Thank God for Inge this season who has played pretty much everyday.

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It's about time their was a swap. Carlps will be fine at third and hopefully Cabrera can do less damage at first. I agree with biminator it looks like Detroit got lucky when it was able to keep Inge. Hopefully with Sheff, Polance, and Grandersobn coming back this week he will still be able to float around to keep at bats coming...

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And plan C is to admit the Tigers grossly overpaid Cabrera

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And plan C is to admit the Tigers grossly overpaid Cabrera

THE TRUTH | 04/23/08, 08:51 AM

However true that is, I dont want to admit slowly morphing into Yankee/Red Sox nation.... ignorance is bliss...

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Well, the unmitigated gall!

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You CANNOT give a player with suspect work-ethic that many guaranteed years. It is foolish.
He will hit his 30+ & get his 100+ yearly-
but will never work to improve

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Can someone tell me - does anyone remember back in February or March reading or hearing ANY baseball guy in the papers, websites, radio, or TV networks predicting anything remotely close to the current problems of this team. Any hint at all...

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Keith:

Oh noooo! Not a one. All of the baseball pundits had a hardon for the Tigers.

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'shocking'? a somewhat overly hysterical adjective, don't you think? if he'd used one of those guys as a pitcher, THAT would be shocking.

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How many years do you think it will be before Cabrera is too fat for first base?

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I still can't believe this guy used to play in the outfield.

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I wonder what Inge is thinking about all of this. Actually the move should have been Renteria to third and Guillen make to short.

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Guillen doesnt have the knees any more to play short Ted. But it was a good idea. truth is Detroit needs to trade a few bats like Sheffield and open up the DH spot and keep Guillen at 1st and move inge back to 3rd then let tubby DH...

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Good luck trading Sheffield. I doubt there is much of a market for a non-hitting DH with 13m still gauranteed in 09.

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No way it will work.

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If that guy had A-Rod's or Manny's (yeah I admit Manny has a great work ethic, he just is lazy in the field) work ethic he would be guaranteed hall of famer.

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