Manager Manny Acta says Cord Phelps will play second base against most right-handers, while Cabrera will play against left-handers.
Orlando Cabrera says he's surprised that he will lose some playing time at second base to rookie Cord Phelps. Cabrera, hitting .192 since May 3 going into Friday's game, will continue to see playing time against lefties.NEW YORK — Orlando Cabrera is neutral about losing playing time at second base to rookie Cord Phelps.
"I don't feel good or bad about it," Cabrera said before Friday's game against the Yankees. "It is what it is."
The veteran infielder did admit to being surprised by the timing of the move.
"Maybe I was naive and didn't think that would ever happen with the team in first place," Cabrera said. "Yes, it took me by surprise in that particular moment. But we'll see what happens. There's still a lot of games to play."
The Indians entered Friday's game with a one-game lead over Detroit in the American League Central.
The Indians recalled Phelps from Class AAA Columbus on Wednesday to try to spark a stagnant offense. Manager Manny Acta said Phelps will play second against most right-handers, while Cabrera will play against left-handers. Acta made it a point to say that move was not permanent and that Cabrera's days as an every-day player might not be over.
Cabrera is hitting .228 (33-for-145) against right-handers and .290 (18-for-62) against lefties. He started Friday at second base against right-hander Ivan Nova, while Phelps was at DH because Travis Buck was scratched from the lineup after being involved in a "minor" accident earlier in the day while a passenger in a New York City cab.
Since May 3, Cabrera has hit .192 (20-for-104). The slump has dropped his average from .301 to .246.
In making the move, Acta told reporters he met with Cabrera and that Cabrera was disappointed, but handled the news well.
"I don't feel disappointed at all," he said. "I just don't feel anything bad or good."
When asked if he felt he could still be an every-day player, Cabrera said: "It's hard to say. People are always going to pinpoint one thing or one number. For me, average means nothing. That's why they call it an average. You don't get your average the first day. You don't get your average in the middle of the season. You get your average at the end of the season."
Later he added: "I don't expect myself to hit .400 an entire year. I've never done it. How can I expect that from myself? What I expect from myself is to win almost every day and to go home feeling happy we're still in first place.
"After that, there's so many things that can go wrong or right. You can evaluate through the whole year. No one can tell me if I can still play or not. . . . This is one of the ways they feel they can fix it. I can't do nothing about that."
Cabrera, 36, was one of the first players to greet Phelps when he walked into the locker room at Progressive Field.
"I don't know how you guys expected me to react," Cabrera said. "He's not the one who made the decision. I think he's a tremendous player and, hopefully, he does great for us. I greet him the same way I greet anybody."
Fender bender: Acta said Buck and his wife were hospitalized Friday after the New York City cab they were passengers in was involved in an accident.
Buck, scheduled to DH on Friday night, reported to Yankee Stadium. Trainers examined him and suggested that he and his wife go to the hospital.
"We sent them for precautionary reasons," Acta said. "The trainers felt Travis looked a little dazed. He may have whiplash."
Buck rejoined his teammates just before game time on Friday. He was in uniform for the game, but Acta said he couldn't play and might not be available today.
Nice swing: Travis Hafner took batting practice Friday for the first time since straining his oblique muscle May 18.
"Everything felt good," Hafner said.
After taking three rounds of BP, Hafner ran the bases as Acta watched.
Hafner is scheduled to take BP again Sunday and Monday. Then the Indians will discuss his rehab assignment.
"Travis swung the bat very well," Acta said. "It was good to see. He was effortless and right on time."
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/06/post_98.html
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