Luvofthegame
09-06-2006, 09:40 PM
By Matt Hurst
PE.com
September 5, 2006
ANAHEIM - Despite failing to land Miguel Tejada at the July trading deadline this season, the Angels haven't crossed crossed him off their list heading into the offseason.
However, there is still one problem that helped nix the deal in July. Tejada, a four-time All-Star, is unwilling to move from shortstop to third base.
"If you have talent, it's not hard to do," Tejada said before Tuesday's game. "If you work hard every day, you can make that position work. I know how to play this game. I know how to play every position. The problem is it's hard to change. Sometimes it's hard to change because you have to make a different adjustment.
"I play shortstop in Baltimore, and why should I leave here to play a different position?"
The Angels offered Ervin Santana and Erick Aybar for Tejada before the July deadline, and the Angels and Orioles could use the entire winter to try to work out a deal.
Orlando Cabrera, who has two fewer errors this season than Tejada and the only Gold Glove between the two, was told by management not to discuss a position switch. He didn't exactly give the impression that he would enjoy a move to either third base or second, though given the offseason and all of spring training, a move to second base would be easier if it came to that.
"It depends. Short and second are almost the same," he said. "Third base is the one that's difficult. It's a different position. It's completely different. Second base, you're going to see almost the same angles."
Even though second base is Howie Kendrick's natural position, Manager Mike Scioscia has left the door open for Kendrick to play first base -- a position he never played until this season -- again next season if the team could trade for Tejada, who is signed through 2009.
Cabrera and Tejada don't know each other. If he's traded, Tejada said it wouldn't matter if either of them wanted to switch because it wouldn't be their decision.
"We can't talk because we just play," said Tejada, who is batting .335 with 22 home runs and 90 RBI. "The front office, the manager, they will decide who is playing shortstop. Like I've said, I'm a shortstop and I think I can help anybody from shortstop. That's all I can say.
"I cannot do anything I never did like play third base because I've never played third base. I feel I can have a lot of games at shortstop."
PE.com
September 5, 2006
ANAHEIM - Despite failing to land Miguel Tejada at the July trading deadline this season, the Angels haven't crossed crossed him off their list heading into the offseason.
However, there is still one problem that helped nix the deal in July. Tejada, a four-time All-Star, is unwilling to move from shortstop to third base.
"If you have talent, it's not hard to do," Tejada said before Tuesday's game. "If you work hard every day, you can make that position work. I know how to play this game. I know how to play every position. The problem is it's hard to change. Sometimes it's hard to change because you have to make a different adjustment.
"I play shortstop in Baltimore, and why should I leave here to play a different position?"
The Angels offered Ervin Santana and Erick Aybar for Tejada before the July deadline, and the Angels and Orioles could use the entire winter to try to work out a deal.
Orlando Cabrera, who has two fewer errors this season than Tejada and the only Gold Glove between the two, was told by management not to discuss a position switch. He didn't exactly give the impression that he would enjoy a move to either third base or second, though given the offseason and all of spring training, a move to second base would be easier if it came to that.
"It depends. Short and second are almost the same," he said. "Third base is the one that's difficult. It's a different position. It's completely different. Second base, you're going to see almost the same angles."
Even though second base is Howie Kendrick's natural position, Manager Mike Scioscia has left the door open for Kendrick to play first base -- a position he never played until this season -- again next season if the team could trade for Tejada, who is signed through 2009.
Cabrera and Tejada don't know each other. If he's traded, Tejada said it wouldn't matter if either of them wanted to switch because it wouldn't be their decision.
"We can't talk because we just play," said Tejada, who is batting .335 with 22 home runs and 90 RBI. "The front office, the manager, they will decide who is playing shortstop. Like I've said, I'm a shortstop and I think I can help anybody from shortstop. That's all I can say.
"I cannot do anything I never did like play third base because I've never played third base. I feel I can have a lot of games at shortstop."