Around the Horn: Middle infielders

02/01/2006
The defense provided by Orlando Cabrera and Adam Kennedy nudged the Angels toward a division crown last season, contributing as much to the cause as any element on the team.
Both players return in 2006, which solidly anchors the infield and virtually guarantees that the positions of shortstop and second base will be a strength for the Angels well into the foreseeable future.
Not only will Cabrera and Kennedy flash Gold Glove quality leather (Cabrera has a Gold Glove Award to his credit and many would say Kennedy deserves one of his own) but the Angels are loaded in the middle of the diamond. It is certain to get a bit crowded, but in the parlance of sports -- it's a nice problem to have.
Right behind the veterans is a solid quartet of prospects that are tuning up and looking for gigs of their own.
Shortstops Erick Aybar and Brandon Wood, and second basemen Alberto Callaspo and Howie Kendrick are no longer well-guarded secrets. Their names frequently surfaced in trade rumors this winter and all four will be in Major League camp for further evaluation against big leaguers. Each will get their shot at making the Angels, but Cabrera and Kennedy will remain the glue of the infield this season.
Cabrera set more than one temper aflame among Angels' fans when he was signed to a free agent contract last offseason. Though his defensive credentials were well established and he had a World Series championship freshly tucked into his waistband, Cabrera was replacing David Eckstein, a player who had long held center stage in the hearts of the locals.
Despite a pair of game-altering homers in the early going of last season, Cabrera struggled to win over the fans and he also had difficulty finding a rhythm offensively. A second-half player, Cabrera moved from sixth in the batting order to second and his batting average jumped from .243 before the All-Star break to .271 afterward.
But through it all he played solidly in the field.
Cabrera committed just seven errors all season and led all American League shortstops who played in at least 140 games with a .988 fielding percentage.
"He really changes the dimension of our infield," general manager Bill Stoneman said. "He is so steady. And the amazing about him that I only noticed when I got the chance to see him play every day is how well he does with the rockets hit right at him. Most players do not catch many of those; he seems to catch all of them. He's fearless."
His double-play partner for most of the season was Kennedy. After the Angels opened the year with Chone Figgins at second base, Kennedy returned in May after rehabbing from surgery to repair two torn ligaments in his right knee.
The pair developed a quick rapport and helped the Angels to lead the Majors in fielding percentage, tying Atlanta, Oakland and Seattle. Kennedy also quickly found his groove at the plate, hitting .435 in June and .347 during the first half.
Kennedy's production slowed in the second half as his average dipped to .258, but his .330 average with runners in scoring position was second only to Vladimir Guerrero among Angels with at least 400 at-bats.
Decisions will loom for the Angels, though, as Kennedy is a free agent at the end of 2006.
Playing reserve roles in the middle of the infield this season will likely be Maicer Izturis, Edgardo Alfonzo and Figgins. Izturis, whose best position is probably second base, was a capable late-inning defensive replacement at shortstop and third a year ago and also adds some speed to the bench.
Alfonzo, who was acquired from San Francisco in a trade that sent Steve Finley to the Giants, will be counted on to back up second and third base while Figgins, despite opening the year as the team's third baseman, will more than likely see action at short and second during the year.
What remains to be seen is how the four young prospects fare this spring. Callaspo and Aybar, double-play partners at Double-A Arkansas for most of last season, both earned berths on the Texas League's postseason All-Star team.
Wood and Kendrick also made great strides last year. Wood led the Minor Leagues with 43 homers at Class A Rancho Cucamonga and then set a new Arizona Fall League mark with 14 homers. Kendrick hit .384 for the Quakes and then .342 at Arkansas. Both he and Wood were named the co-Minor League Players of the Year in the Angels' organization.
"It is a great situation to have -- so many guys coming with so much talent," Stoneman said. "You don't like to have guys with high ceilings just sitting on the bench, but some times that happens. We'll see how it goes."

Source: http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/