I’m a Cubs fan through and through, but I have no beef with the White Sox. I enjoy going to The Cell (though I’ll never again wear my Cubs jersey…that was a disaster) and I don’t want to see them fail (unless they’re playing the Cubs).
In that way, I’m unlike a lot of Chicago fans that hate the other team.
To prove it, I wanted to translate a couple of interviews with the mighty Jose Abreu, who is having a monster debut in the big leagues after coming over from Cuba. As of this writing, he’s hitting .320 and slugging .602.
While his power output hasn’t been what it was in the first half (when he hit 29 HRs), he’s hitting a ridiculous .380/.460/.540 in the second half. So, really, let’s not all start freaking out.
Let’s start with an interview from a few weeks ago when everyone was worried that Abreu hadn’t hit a homer in 15 games (he’s hit 2 since) and people were starting to worry a little bit. Want to know how to tactfully ask a 6’3, 255-pound guy why he hasn’t hit a homerun in a while? Here’s how:
Guy Off Camera (GOC): How do you feel about the length of the season. If you think about when you started in February, how do you feel? Do you feel the season is very long? [he’s setting him up for the question on everyone’s mind…like I said, tactfully…]
Jose Abreu: No, really, it’s a lot of games (big smile) [he’s acknowledging this. Yes, he knows this is more games than he’s ever played]. The season is very long, but you know, we’re working to feel as good as possible, physically. During the season, it’s very boring, the same routing over and over. [I love that he says this…I’m sure it’s true but if a guy said this in English he’d get blasted…I think] But no, I mean, it’s 162 games and we have less to go than when we started [very clever little drop here…and a hint of a smile as he says it…Jose has some sass. I like it].
Guy Off Camera (GOC): Lately the homeruns have not come. You think that’s because the season is drawing to a close? [finally the question everyone wants an answer to…he’s trying to get at the fact that the season is longer than anything he’s played before and maybe he’s tired…nevermind that he also just had a ridiculous first half]
Jose Abreu: [punches GOC in face and walks away…NO just kidding!] No no, that’s a normal thing, it also happened to me in Cuba [breathe easier Sox fans…it’s not a new thing for him]. For a while I wouldn’t hit a homerun, and then they would start up again. For me it’s a normal thing. It’s nothing that’s worrying me right now.
Guy Off Camera (GOC): You’re style of hitting has always been up the middle and the other way, is that still your batting approach?
Jose Abreu: No, that has not changed [in Spanish we use “No” a lot as an opener to a sentence, even if in translation it sounds like he’s answering the question with a “no,” which he’s not. Let’s say it’s the equivalent to “I mean”]. It’s still the same. I haven’t had the results in the last 5-6 games, but the approach hasn’t changed, I’m still doing that and working to get the results we want [love how much he uses “we” by the way].
Guy Off Camera (GOC): Does it bother you that you’ve raised expectations so high that people expect you to hit homeruns and keep up this pace you’ve set? [do you hate me? is what he’s asking]
Jose Abreu: No that’s normal, it doesn’t bother me. That’s only going to make me a better player. And going out there with those expectations every day, giving 100% in every game, regardless of the results, is going to make me a better player.
Let’s check in with Jose two weeks later. He’s hit two more home runs in that span and has raised his average to .321 after facing the Tigers in a doubleheader.
He looks angry but don’t worry! He’s just listening very intently
Guy Off Camera (GOC): How does it feel that the Tigers hit Sale a bit in the first and you were able to support him and get the game back?
Jose Abreu: No, you know, pitching to this team is hard. They have a lot of very talented players that everyone knows about. The first inning didn’t go so well, but he recovered and we were able to get the game back, and that’s what we did. We got the victory.
Guy Off Camera (GOC): Do you play better or with more ambition playing against a guy like Miguel Cabrera? [sorry, dumb question]
Jose Abreu: No, what can I say? [what did I say about all those “no”s???] I play all the games the same way. Miguelito [literally, “small Miguel” but it’s a term of endearment/respect. He obviously is friendly with Cabrera and even if the translation doesn’t come across, he clearly reveres the man] is a really, what I call, a delicious [another term of endearment…one he made up it sounds like. He’s funny, Jose] person. He helps you every game, every at bat [how, I’m not sure…do they talk shop? Did he help him adjusting to the league? Would be a good follow up question. Check out this video to see him praising Cabrera some more, and to confirm they talk shop]. He’s a man that deserves all the respect in the world. He’s just an exceptional person.
Guy Off Camera (GOC): In the last 10 games you’re hitting over .500, how do you feel?
Jose Abreu: No, it feels good, good. I have to give God credit for giving me the opportunity.
Guy Off Camera (GOC): I know you don’t like to talk about personal awards [but I’m going to ask anyway], but how would it feel to win a batting title?
Jose Abreu: There are a lot of games left still. We’re not thinking about records, we’re thinking about helping the White Sox in everything we [we, we, we] can. To me that’s the most important thing.
Guy Off Camera (GOC): Tells us about your leg, is it bothering you? How does it feel?
Jose Abreu: No, well, we’re doing a lot of physical therapy. We’ve been working on the lower part of the waist [or below the waist? Not sure but I’ll spare you the immature commentary]. The leg was bothering me a bit, but I can keep playing the games that are left.
Summary
Jose Abreu has that look about him: the same look Albert Pujols has always had. He’s hyper focused on his craft and nothing else seems to bother him. But he also has a sense of humor and can be lighthearted at times.
None of this should matter if you’re a White Sox fan. What should matter? His approach is fantastic and he has no plans on changing it. This guy is looking more and more like a steal. We’ll see how much he adjusts to the major-league pitchers, but so far so good.
The Stretch 