ST. LOUIS (AP) -Miguel Cabrera was back in the Florida Marlins’ lineup on Tuesday night, a day after he arrived late for a game and was scratched.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Cabrera apologized to him on Monday and was sufficiently remorseful that Cabrera was used as a pinch hitter, hitting an RBI single in the eighth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Giants.
Cabrera had yet to explain his tardiness with reporters, however, declining an interview request before a game against the St. Louis Cardinals.
On Monday, he left the clubhouse shortly after the game without speaking to media. Cabrera had arrived around noon for a game that began at 1:05 p.m. EDT. Players were supposed to arrive by 11:30 a.m. and Gonzalez replaced him at third with Alfredo Amezaga, who was 1-for-4 with a double.
“He was just late,” Gonzalez said. “I don’t think anybody comes late on purpose. He told me what he did was not right and was remorseful and the whole thing, and we move forward.”
Cabrera was benched for one game for tardiness in September 2005 by then-manager Jack McKeon.
Gonzalez, in his first year as manager, said he’s quickly learned that off-field issues are just another responsibility for him to deal with.
“I think the more I’m around this job, nothing should shock you,” Gonzalez said.
Cabrera, 24, is one of the top young stars in the game and led the Marlins with 29 home runs and 90 RBIs, along with a .331 average. He has started all but six games.
But Gonzalez indicated that the incident shows Cabrera is not exactly a leader in the team’s youthful clubhouse. The manager said he didn’t know whether Cabrera was aware he might be held to a higher standard due to his baseball abilities.
“I don’t know if he realizes that or not,” Gonzalez said. “That’s something you’ll have to ask him.”
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