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Miguel Cabrera has decided to sit out of the All-Star series in Taiwan in order to rest the sore shoulder he injured in Game 4 of the ALCS.
Remember when Nelson Cruz threw out Miguel Cabrera by a mile at home plate in Game 4 of the ALCS?
You could be excused if you choose not to remember it. Most Tigers fans (and everyone who watched that game, really) probably had their hands over their faces when the throw got to Mike Napoli and Cabrera was seemingly halfway up the third base line.
There was a collision at home plate, as Cabrera tried the only move he really had, which was to plow into the Rangers’ catcher in an attempt to jar the ball loose. But the play took so long to develop that Napoli had plenty of time to set himself, even making sure his feet weren’t planted to lessen the impact.
But days after the Texas Rangers won the ALCS in six games and eliminated the Tigers, it was revealed that Cabrera didn’t walk away from that collision unscathed. As FOXSports.com’s Jon Paul Morosi reported, Cabrera sustained a shoulder injury on the play.
The injury left Cabrera unable to throw as he normally does — although he could obviously hit. Cabrera believes the injury is muscular, not structural. But he’s going to see a doctor this week just to be sure.
As Morosi points out, the injury obviously didn’t hinder Cabrera’s hitting. He hit two home runs in Game 6. But perhaps it could’ve given him problems on defense, like if he had to turn a double play.
Cabrera insisted the injury was muscular, not structural, implying it was less serious and would heal more quickly. The Tigers’ first baseman seemed to confirm that with the news that he would play with a team of major leaguers that will tour Taiwan in early November. The all-star squad will match up against the Chinese Taipei national team in a five-game series throughout three cities.
Miguel Cabrera To Skip Taiwan All-Star Series To Rest Sore Shoulder
A day after being voted baseball's best Venezuelan player, Miguel Cabrera announced that he would not join a group of All-Stars, including former Tiger Curtis Granderson, in Taiwan for a series against the Chinese national team.
Cabrera injured his throwing shoulder during the ALCS when attempting to truck Rangers' catcher Mike Napoli in Game 4. Due to the quick turnover from the ALCS to the Taiwan trip, Cabrera decided it was just best to skip Taiwan altogether and rest the shoulder at home to help prevent injuring it any further.
The injury is not believed to be serious, but if the soreness lingers, Cabrera told a Venezuelan reporter that he will get tests done to make sure there is no structural damage. As our own Ian Casselberry pointed out, he hit two homers in Game 6, so it can't be that bad and, as Jason Beck also noted, the fact that Cabrera did not have tests done on the shoulder before going home is another good sign that it is not a long-term concern.
Oct 22 12:14a by Brian Packey