ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- They dropped Melky Cabrera down in the order instead of removing him and he has taken advantage and begun to adjust.
Headed into Saturday’s game, the White Sox outfielder had reached base seven times in his past 15 plate appearances. Cabrera credits the improvement to an adjustment to the positioning of his hands, which have been raised. Just like hitting coach Todd Steverson suggested Monday, when Cabrera was moved from the second spot to sixth in the order, at least the veteran has a chance to work on the adjustment within a game.
“When you are on the bench, you’re not playing and you can’t do anything,” Cabrera said through an interpreter. “Things have changed a little in the last couple of days. I feel better. I’ve been hitting the ball well and I just checked all the videos and looking at my stance I realized my hands were a little down. I made the adjustment and the results have been good for me the last couple of days.”
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White Sox bench coach Mark Parent said the change isn’t only noticeable in the box score. He believes Cabrera has begun to display good signs at the plate. Any boost from Cabrera, who signed a three-year, $42-million deal in December, would be significant for the White Sox offense.
“He’s getting ready a little bit sooner and he did it first, getting ready on time and it was a little stiff at first,” Parent said. “He’s relaxing, getting into it, and it’s really helping him out.
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“It’s just a little adjustment he’s making because he can be kind of stiff at the plate. He’s relaxing. The more success a guy has, even lining out, hard outs, it helps. It helps you keep going figuring out if something is maybe working.”
Cabrera has started 47 times in the second spot this season. He’d love to earn back his position hitting in front of Jose Abreu. But Cabrera knows the move would come when he has earned the honor.
“Wherever he wants me to bat I am going to do my best,” Cabrera said. “He is looking out for the best for the team and he’s the one who makes the decisions.”