Among other significant changes to the Detroit Tigers 2012 season is the reality that Miguel Cabrera will probably be moving to third base on a full time basis, something he hasn’t done full time since 2007. There are a lot of concerns, opinions, and criticisms out there, of course, but the reality of his experience at third base, based on his two full seasons with the Marlins back in ‘06 and ’07, is that he performed at a below average/nearly awful level.

Age	Year	Ch	E	UZR	Rtot	FLD%
23	2006	397	17	-3.4	-6	.957
24	2007	389	23	-4.2	-11	.941

This position, revisited, could have disastrous implications. What if Cabrera collapses? What if his offense is affected by his fielding concerns? Of course, this is pointless speculation and I should be slapped for worrying everyone so. I mean, consider the young third baseman the Tigers traded away last summer?

Player	G	Ch	E	UZR	Rtot	FLD%
Scott Sizemore	91	196	13	-6	-10	.934

He certainly wasn’t very good in a half season over in Oakland, now was he? It seems even Cabrera was a better hot corner glove in his two years at the position.

Then, throw in the Tigers third basemen last year:

Player	G	Ch	E	UZR	Rtot	FLD%
Don Kelly	41	103	4	0.8	0	.961
Wilson Betemit	34	80	6	-5.5	-5	.929
Brandon Inge	77	248	9	1.8	2	.964

Thanks to Betemit, the numbers are skewed in an extreme negative slant, but moving Cabrera there and moving Inge away probably isn’t a difference of more than 10 runs, and given Miggy’s offensive output, he’d be the best “overall” third baseman in the league…if he can handle the transition.

2011 team third base defense
Team	Ch	E	UZR	Rtot	FLD%
AL east
BAL	390	37	-26.6	-28	.905
BOS	442	18	4	1	.959
NYY	422	16	6	1	.962
TAM	472	16	13.9	18	.966
TOR	526	20	8.6	19	.962
AL central
CHW	407	14	0.8	-0	.966
CLE	507	16	9.1	10	.968
DET	465	22	-5.8	-6	.953
KC	446	22	-1.1	1	.951
MIN	395	20	-7.8	-20	.949
AL west
LAA	455	18	10	24	.960
OAK	393	28	-7.8	-15	.929
SEA	418	18	-2.8	9	.957
TEX	449	20	7.5	7	.955
american league
AVG	442	20	-	2	.954

Each division has one horrible third base defense. Baltimore, Minnesota, and Oakland. The Tigers were the next worst and so, how much worse could Cabrera make them?

top nine third basemen in 2011 by most games played
Player	G	Ch	E	UZR	Rtot	FLD%
Danny Valencia	147	351	18	-6.1	-18	.949
Evan Longoria	130	367	14	10.7	11	.962
Alberto Callaspo	129	365	15	7.6	15	.959
Brent Morel	125	297	14	0.9	-2	.953
Mark Reynolds	114	253	26	-22.8	-18	.897
Kevin Youkilis	112	273	9	-2.3	0	.967
Adrian Beltre	112	312	11	11.2	14	.965
Jack Hannahan	104	296	5	8.7	8	.983
Brandon Inge	99	248	9	1.8	2	.964

Cabrera isn’t one of the best hitters in baseball because he’s simply talented. It’s because he strives to be the best, he works as hard as he possibly can during the season and makes the necessary adjustments when they’re needed. The same concept can be applied to third base. And the Tigers expect nothing less. Is he a natural? No, but he is a natural baseball player. Is he a great fielder? No, but he can certainly be adequate.

Then again, what if he can’t make it? The excellent Eno Sarris over at Fangraphs explored first baseman who transitioned back to third base after being away for more than a year:

So, basically, since 1980 there hasn’t been a poor defensive first baseman at least one year removed from playing third base, who went back to the position for more than one season. There is no comparison for this. It hasn’t been done.

So we leave with that. Cabrera is an unknown until we see him play for two months.

One last small thought:

If Brandon Inge, an adequate glove with a troubling bat is making $5.5MM in 2012, wouldn’t it be best to try him at second base if third is occupied rather than have him rot on the bench?