Watching Melky play center field for the Yanks last year was very painful indeed. He was supposed to be our best defensive outfield prospect, but flopped around like a player who never caught a fly ball before. This Winter:
Cabrera, a 21-year-old Dominican, is playing for Las Aguilas Cibaeñas this winter. Cabrera is hitting .298 (25-for-84) with six doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs, five stolen bases and an impressive .375 on-base percentage through the first 31 games of the season.
I thought it was a big mistake for the Yanks to promote the 20 year old up from Trenton-Columbus and thrust him in the spot that DiMaggio called home. He hit .211 (4-for-19) with no RBIs with us and I thought that experience could have ruined his chances of ever playing in a major league uniform. He wasn't just bad, he was awful. These types of embarrassing experiences have destroyed "many-a-player" before him. This is great news for the kid and shows a mental toughness that I didn't know he possessed.