I've always been a fan of the guy. He played for me in Triple-A. He's been in the big leagues the last few years. He's had some success. He's played in some tough towns -- in New York and L.A. -- So that doesn't phase him. He's not a Minor League player. He's a big league player.
Cabrera, when he's throwing strikes, he's as tough as anybody. When he figures it out, watch out.
He always pitches very good when he's facing these guys, which is tough to do.
He's become a better pitcher. He's throwing more strikes. He's got a better feel for that breaking ball now, and he's locating his fastball better. He's ahead more and he's been real tough on right-handers.
He's up there in appearances in the league and he may have had more tougher type saves than other guys out there, more than one inning saves,
He's up there in appearances, and he may have had tougher type saves than a lot of guys out there. He's had more than just the one-inning saves. Just a couple times, we've held him out due to number of appearances in a row. Do you guys remember any of those?
There's no question he's been through some tough times, but you know what, everybody has a little bit. This whole game comes down to location. Whether you're a starter or a reliever, you have to make a pitch.
There's no secret. When you're in the division with these guys, you've got to slug it out. When you go head-to-head with them, very rarely is there going to be low-scoring games. ... It's tough to shut them down, to hold them to three runs or less. You've got to score with them.
The whole thing with Alex is he's able to get to that pitch now, where in the past he wasn't able to. It's tougher with his size anyway. He's got long arms. It all has to do with his balance. He's not falling backwards. He's out to prove something.
From day one of spring training, he came in with mental toughness and helped set the tone for our team. He had an all-star year for us, so he's very valuable for us.
It was an inconsistent month. We had that good stretch where we put ourselves in position, ... I just look back at that road trip -- it was a tough trip and we know that. ... It was part of our schedule, but to bounce back and finish 14-14, I'd feel pretty good about it.
I knew it was going to be a tough day when they scored those four in the first. When you come in this place, you know you're going to slug it out with them.
It will be good to get home. I think any team would've had problems with this trip. It's tough to win on the road in any sport. You just get more opportunities in baseball.
We've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. Especially for young guys, it's tough to accept that, ... You know you're under the gun. Even though it doesn't affect us as a team -- in the standings -- there's pressure because of what the other team faces.
Look, if the guy is going to keep hitting a home run a day it would be tough to keep him out of there.
The thing about Crawford is he's got some big-time power, too. He can beat you in so many ways. They're pretty much the same guy once they get on, you know they're going to get their bases, it's tough to get them even when everything goes right.
We survived it, we move on. There's more tough ones ahead of us.
Sometimes the harder you try the tougher it gets. (Towers) will be there in the end. He's just going through a tough stretch right now. He's always won for us and we expect him to again. He's just off to a slow start.
We're on a tough little stretch right now, no question. But we always seem to bounce back, that's the character of the ball club. In this business you take your lumps sometimes, it's just how you handle it that separates you.
He finds his groove -- finds his rhythm a little bit. Naturally, when a guy's struggling, he starts pressing. He's probably coming out of the gates trying a little too hard. Sometimes the harder you try, the tougher it gets.
He's pitched great for us the last two years, so he ought to be able to throw with confidence. But it's a tough business. He's one of those guys that lives and dies with his outings because he cares so much.
What we want him to do is get up there and turn it lose, ... He has a track record to prove he's a productive big league hitter. It's been a tough year for him. I think his timing is back.
His instincts told him he had a shot at him. It's a tough play when the third baseman is on the move.
He can overpower you. He's got that big, hard breaking ball that's tough to do anything with when he gets ahead.