There are some major league ball players who give you the impression they don’t have fun playing baseball. Miguel Cabrera is not one of those players.
At various times during the Tigers’ four-game series in Toronto, Cabrera was observed:
- Artistically faking a slide during a mid-inning fielding drill.
- Playfully throwing dirt on Lyle Overbay’s shoes as Overbay took a short lead from first base.
- Gently pushing Blue Jays’ first base coach Ernie Whitt as Whitt leaned in to whisper instruction to Matt Stairs.
- Applauding his own second-inning walk against Toronto’s Shaun Marcum.
Cabrera is young, supremely talented, and thanks to the generosity of the Tigers, exceptionally wealthy. His job requires him to fly on a customized plane, stay in swanky hotels, and find a way of spending about $100 of meal money each day.
Nice gig. You’d have a bounce in your step too.
What’s truly surprising is that there aren’t more happy-go-lucky types around big league baseball. Everyone looks so darn serious most of the time. There are exceptions of course. Baltimore’s Kevin Millar always seems to play with a smile on his face, and hams it up with anyone who stops by first base. This may have something to do with the fact he’s made millions in the major leagues after going undrafted and working his way up through an Independent League.
If there are practical jokes going on during a game, we’re not aware of them. The late Moe Drabowsky used to call the opposing team’s bullpen and impersonate their pitching coach. Once, his act was refined enough to get Kansas City’s Lew Krausse to begin warming, even though the Athletics’ starter was cruising at the time.
Help me out on this one. Is there a player out there – other than Cabrera – who gives you the impression they’re having the time of their lives? Let me know below.
** Due to the abundance of opinions already put forth on this website regarding Frank Thomas, I’ll keep mine brief. Though Thomas was an accommodating gentleman, his release by the Blue Jays, in my opinion, makes them a better team. It became apparent that Thomas was really only good for the odd home run. Having him hit a single (unless it came in an RBI situation) was a waste of time, simply because it took three more singles to bring him home. And the late-inning pinch runners that were necessary when Thomas got on may not be necessary with Matt Stairs. As well, there was an incident or two that left me with the impression his priorities weren’t always team-oriented. For that reason alone, Thomas’ release may be a positive step.
Vernon Wells seems pretty Happy go lucky. If he's not he's at least good with the media. I've also read stuff about Jose Reyes and I've seen a few mets games on tv and he's always wearing a wide smile and goofing around and seemingly enjoying the game.
It's always great to see athletes enjoying the game like Cabrera, they truly know how lucky they are. Those athletes are the heart of the major leagues, not the home run crushing pre madonnas like Alex Rodriguez.
It's players like Reyes and Wells that kids look up to because they see these players having fun. Through these players they see a sport, not a business and they see their dreams. Having fun,laughing, and playing baseball. Is anything better?
Hey Jamie.
As I watch the Jays play it looks to me like Alex Rios and Vernon Wells have a good time, they sure do smile alot. Then again I would too if I made those kind of $$$$$$$.
Just seems to me that they are always chatting and joking around. They also appear to be quite close. Kinda refreshing!!!
Much better than watching ego-maniacs celebrate their own accomplishments and count their money.
Big Papi always looks like he's having fun.
Who has more fun than Manny?!
I'm not sure that he's necessarily having fun playing baseball though. But I'd sure like to listen to the soundtrack that runs through his head.
"I'm in left field...right? Where the heck did that big wall come from? Hey what's in the corner over there? Am I the cut off man?"
What's more fun than watching Manny navigate life!
Another M. Cabrera, Melky looks like he's having a blast. Joe Torre commented on it, saying something like "here's a kid who's playing where DiMaggio and Mantle played and he acts like he's on a sandlot."
Yunel Escobar in Atlanta plays with exuberance. I remember him stealing second of the pitcher last year.
The player I love because he always looks like he's having fun AND playing very hard is reed johnson....too bad we let him go...he always celebrates after something positive with a big smile on his face...the reason he was so loved here in Toronto and is becoming a fan favorite in Chicago...fun+professionalism
Come on Jays fans...we can't forget Carlos Delgado! No one in baseball has a bigger smile than Carlos. I watched a Mets game the other night and Delgado still had a smile from ear to ear!
Gotta love it when you see someone who truly understands how lucky they are to be doing what they are doing. It may have taken a lot of work on their part but there are tons of jobs out there that take a lot of work to get good at, but most don't pay even close to what a ball player's starting wage is.
Jose Reyes I think tops the list. He can energize a dugout with his attitude and fun. Derek Jeter and Jimmy Rollins from the few games I've seen seem to enjoy it when guys are on second base. That seems to be when you see them having fun,when the baserunners chat with the infielders. I do agree that the game is taken overly serious sometimes, but personally, I think that when you are relaxed and have fun with it (like Jose Reyes) you bring out the best in yourself
I know he's not in the league right now...but I remember Jarrod Saltalamacchia looking like he was having a great time while playing in Toronto against the Jays last season.
Speaking of former Jays, the O-Dawg, Orlando Hudson comes to mind. When he was with Toronto he was always having fun on the field and in the dugout...he always had a huge smile. I know in Arizona he has become very important to their clubhouse as he is always having fun and encouraging his teammates. Watching Frank Catalanotto in the Texas series made me miss the days when we had the Cat and the Dog playing together.
Come on Jays fans what about Orlando (O-Dog) Hudson?? Remember him?? All-Star second baseman involved in the Troy Glaus deal (which I would LOVE to have back) Nobody in the league has as much fun as this guy. i remember a few years back in his last year with the Jays, I was lucky enough to do a "meet the Jays" thing. I clearly remember that the there was two players that stuck out to me as fun and exuberant players. Those players were Gregg Zaun and Orlando Hudson. Hudson even stuck around after warmups to talk and joke around with me and my friend. He seemed to really love what he was doing and always had a huge smile on his face.
My wife used to call Carlos Delgado 'Smiley' when he played for the Jays as he always had a smile on first base and seemed to be chatting up a storm to players when they made it on base.
O Dog always looked like he was having a good time.
I'll say this one thing about the current team. Maybe its the wonderful audio in todays HD broadcasts, but it seems like we get about 3 or 4 very clear "F..." expletives whenever a Jays player strikes out or hits an easy out pop up lately. Makes me kinda think I should have the sound off when I watch with my 6 year old. Doesn't look like the current team has a lot of fun. Especially the way they are hitting.
We need more Canucks on the team like Matt Stairs. That would bring the gritty play with the sense of fun. I remember a game I think last year and Matt Stairs was I think playing first base. He went into foul territory (this wasn't in Rogers Centre) to catch a pop up and went crashing into the first row. When he recovered he looked down at this fans pizza box and lifted the lid like he wanted a slice. I thought it was hilarious. You could totally see Matt stealing a slice of pizza.
Hey you are get paid millions to run around a major league ballpark....smile once in a while.
I gotta say Carlos Delgado as well. As a Jay, he was always laughing with his teamates and had a grin on his face. I think he appreciates the life he has been given and enjoys the game.
Your column is well taken. Too many players are self-absorbed and too damned serious. As someone who played the game at a very high level, I would have done anything to play pro ball. I would have played for free.
I'd have to agree with Papi and Manny. They look like they are having a blast. With a $100/day cash in meal money (equals a take home salary of $50,000/year) plus the Millions and Millions? They better be having a good time. Meal money equal to a pretty decent yearly salary? Don't ever feel sorry for a poor athlete who has a bad day. Let him have it.
I gotta say David Wright and Yuniesky Benatncourt. Both these guys are top notch players and are always smiling.
I would echo some people on here by saying Jose Reyes for sure. David Wright also. Kevin Youkillis seems to be pretty happy on the field too.
and Jamie, I COMPLETELY agree with your Frank Thomas comments. It just stinks that the Jays have to pay almost his entire salary for the year, yikes. Stairsy is gonna have a WAAAY better year than Frank.
We love the Jays and have saw a lot of good players come and go. Most of the players that have left seem to do much better wherever they have gone.Since money is not much of a motivater anymore, who's responsibility is it for getting the players up for each game.I think also that the players have to be treated right by management before thay will play up to their full potentsial. Cito and company seemed to have no problem in this area.
Thank you