Post by THE Mister Marlin on Dec 4, 2007 17:32:32 GMT -5
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - One way for teams in the Miguel Cabrera hunt to rationalize not meeting the Marlins' asking price is by pointing to the "bad body." Cabrera ballooned above 250 pounds, perhaps giving teams such as the Angels and Dodgers pause as to whether he's worth not only the prospects, but the money it'll take to keep him long term.
Based on several accounts, any general manager employing that reasoning might ultimately regret it.
Cabrera has spent the offseason training at Davie-based Perfect Competition Athletic Development, which tailors comprehensive performance enhancement, skill development and nutrition programs for pro and amateur athletes.
Founder and CEO Sean O'Brien is a Princeton graduate and former professional hockey player. Cabrera is among several baseball players he's trained, a group that includes Magglio Ordonez, Manny Ramirez, Mike Lowell and Miguel Tejada.
"He was interested I think first in exploring all the different ways he could better himself," said O'Brien, who first met Cabrera in early November. "Part of that was for him to learn about the sports nutrition program and the massage therapy and the strength training, and what specifically he needed.
"He's already gotten great results. He's dropped weight. His muscle, his body composition is improving. His flexibility and agility is already improving. In a very short period of time, he's already made significant gains that are noticeable."
Friend and fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox's manager, corroborated that account. Speaking at the Winter Meetings on Monday, Guillen estimated Cabrera has lost at least 15 pounds.
Guillen last season called out Cabrera during a White Sox-Marlins series for letting his weight become an issue. That guy is disappearing.
"He's a man that's matured a lot the last three months," said Guillen, who last saw Cabrera on Sunday. "He's realized what kind of player he can be and what he can bring to the table …Whoever gets this kid is going to have a hell of a ballplayer with a different mentality. I guarantee you that."
Don't believe Guillen? Here's what Angels catcher and Hollywood native Mike Napoli, also a Perfect Competition client, has observed over the past three weeks: "He looks good. He looks like he's getting real strong. We work out three, four hours a day. He's starting to slim down."
Napoli added that he's joked with Cabrera about being teammates next season. Guillen, whose White Sox are one of at least three second-tier teams vying for the All-Star third baseman, also has chided Cabrera about playing for him.
"In our ballpark, he'd hit 60 or 70 home runs," Guillen said. "Miguel hits to all fields, and he would solve a lot of problems for me."
Particularly if he's in better shape. That's where Perfect Competition comes in. In spite of his size, Cabrera was an elite hitter last season. He had problems defensively that O'Brien believes will diminish with increased flexibility and body transformation.
Guillen thinks Cabrera will surprise people when he arrives in spring training. O'Brien opted not to make any bold predictions, saying it was up to Cabrera.
"I think you need to ask Miguel that," O'Brien said. "It's only December…I would say Miguel has done a good job with the routine here, but if he wants to see the gains that an athlete of his caliber is capable of he will need to be as disciplined between now and the end of the year and probably even more so as spring training approaches."
O'Brien and Guillen said the trade speculation isn't affecting Cabrera's preparation.
"We've talked and he thought [the Marlins] didn't want him," Guillen said. "Everybody wants him. I explained to him this is part of the game and I think the best part of the game, when everybody wants you. He wants to stay in Miami. He has his house there. He plays untroubled. He's close to Venezuela. His family comes.
"He's determined to play wherever with whoever. The Marlins should think about what they're doing, but they never make a bad trade. They know what they're doing, they know what they want, they know what they're looking for and that's what they're going to get."
c/o Juan C. Rodriguez
Based on several accounts, any general manager employing that reasoning might ultimately regret it.
Cabrera has spent the offseason training at Davie-based Perfect Competition Athletic Development, which tailors comprehensive performance enhancement, skill development and nutrition programs for pro and amateur athletes.
Founder and CEO Sean O'Brien is a Princeton graduate and former professional hockey player. Cabrera is among several baseball players he's trained, a group that includes Magglio Ordonez, Manny Ramirez, Mike Lowell and Miguel Tejada.
"He was interested I think first in exploring all the different ways he could better himself," said O'Brien, who first met Cabrera in early November. "Part of that was for him to learn about the sports nutrition program and the massage therapy and the strength training, and what specifically he needed.
"He's already gotten great results. He's dropped weight. His muscle, his body composition is improving. His flexibility and agility is already improving. In a very short period of time, he's already made significant gains that are noticeable."
Friend and fellow Venezuelan Ozzie Guillen, the White Sox's manager, corroborated that account. Speaking at the Winter Meetings on Monday, Guillen estimated Cabrera has lost at least 15 pounds.
Guillen last season called out Cabrera during a White Sox-Marlins series for letting his weight become an issue. That guy is disappearing.
"He's a man that's matured a lot the last three months," said Guillen, who last saw Cabrera on Sunday. "He's realized what kind of player he can be and what he can bring to the table …Whoever gets this kid is going to have a hell of a ballplayer with a different mentality. I guarantee you that."
Don't believe Guillen? Here's what Angels catcher and Hollywood native Mike Napoli, also a Perfect Competition client, has observed over the past three weeks: "He looks good. He looks like he's getting real strong. We work out three, four hours a day. He's starting to slim down."
Napoli added that he's joked with Cabrera about being teammates next season. Guillen, whose White Sox are one of at least three second-tier teams vying for the All-Star third baseman, also has chided Cabrera about playing for him.
"In our ballpark, he'd hit 60 or 70 home runs," Guillen said. "Miguel hits to all fields, and he would solve a lot of problems for me."
Particularly if he's in better shape. That's where Perfect Competition comes in. In spite of his size, Cabrera was an elite hitter last season. He had problems defensively that O'Brien believes will diminish with increased flexibility and body transformation.
Guillen thinks Cabrera will surprise people when he arrives in spring training. O'Brien opted not to make any bold predictions, saying it was up to Cabrera.
"I think you need to ask Miguel that," O'Brien said. "It's only December…I would say Miguel has done a good job with the routine here, but if he wants to see the gains that an athlete of his caliber is capable of he will need to be as disciplined between now and the end of the year and probably even more so as spring training approaches."
O'Brien and Guillen said the trade speculation isn't affecting Cabrera's preparation.
"We've talked and he thought [the Marlins] didn't want him," Guillen said. "Everybody wants him. I explained to him this is part of the game and I think the best part of the game, when everybody wants you. He wants to stay in Miami. He has his house there. He plays untroubled. He's close to Venezuela. His family comes.
"He's determined to play wherever with whoever. The Marlins should think about what they're doing, but they never make a bad trade. They know what they're doing, they know what they want, they know what they're looking for and that's what they're going to get."
c/o Juan C. Rodriguez
