What's most amazing, to me, is where he thinks the ball is going (down to the left) and where it did go (up to the right). Tigers can't keep him there much longer. I think there's longer video link from si.com.

 

http://espn.go.com/mlb/spring2012/story/_/id/7709712/miguel-cabrera-detroit-tigers-takes-hard-grounder-face

Ouch. He won't stay at 3rd too much longer if that keeps happening.

 

I do hope he ok though.

hope he is ok, but hope he continuously butchers the ball at 3rd and stays there for the rest of the season (and longer)

What are you guys talking about? There isn't a 3B in the league, ever, that would have made that play. That was a rocket that took a bad hop. He'll likely butcher a lot of balls at 3B, but that wasn't one of them at all.

What are you guys talking about? There isn't a 3B in the league, ever, that would have made that play. That was a rocket that took a bad hop. He'll likely butcher a lot of balls at 3B, but that wasn't one of them at all.

He so misjudged that ball... look where his hands are and how he is holding them (and I know that you played some at third, so you know what I am talking about). Look at his reaction. Look at his (gard darn) sunglasses. I'd say about 50% of MLB third basemen (including Danny V) make that play and 99.99% of MLB third basemen do not head butt that ball. This is vintage Brian Buscher only worse in some ways...

It's hard to say. Maybe it was just a REALLY bad hop. And it's not like the same thing couldn't happen at first base against left-handers, though I suppose there is a reason they call third the hot corner.

 

I do think playing him there is a mistake, certainly for this year and I'd say it is for next year, too. That's something that Dombrowski can worry about next offseason - four guys for three positions.

Thrylos, we'll just have to agree to disagree. Pence crushed that ball. I probably would have just dove out of the way.

What are you guys talking about? There isn't a 3B in the league, ever, that would have made that play. That was a rocket that took a bad hop. He'll likely butcher a lot of balls at 3B, but that wasn't one of them at all.

Maybe it took a bad hop. But I suspect that many 3B have made plays on worse hops. And I can't remember the last time I saw a 3B take a ball directly off the face, bad hop or not.

It was a tough play to make. I am interested to see how he will react to the next bullet that comes his way.

It was a tough play to make. I am interested to see how he will react to the next bullet that comes his way.

That was my first thought when I saw it happen too.

Frankly, I am so much more interested in seeing how he will react to the next slow bunt coming his way