Asdrubal Cabrera is where he belongs. Cabrera will start at short stop for the American League at Tuesday NIght’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game after Derek Jeter, voted to the starting spot by the fans, pulled out of the game due to injury. Jeter returned earlier this week from a 3-week stint on the disabled list with a calf injury. Jeter has also been worn down by his quest for 3000 hits.
“Unfortunately I won’t be able to go,” the Yankees captain said on Friday. “It’s just a situation where after talking with Joe and Cash and Geno, it’d probably be best not to try to push it. Because it’s most important to be ready for the second half. That’s what my focus has to be at. It’s unfortunate because I know you guys know how much I enjoy going to All-Star games. I love playing in All-Star games. Especially getting voted in by the fans, it’s something I would like to do but I’ll try to be smart about it. I know I can be stubborn a lot of times when it comes to injuries, but I’m going to try to be smart about it.”
It will likely be welcome news for Cabrera, who is having a career year both offensively and defensively, including two gold-glove caliber plays earlier this week against the New York Yankees in a 5-3 Indians win.
Cabrera will be joined in Arizona by Tribe closer Chris Perez