Gibbons doesn't want hitters to change approach
MILWAUKEE -- Runs have been hard to come by for the Blue Jays this month but manager John Gibbons doesn't want to see his hitters change their approach especially when it comes to some of the bigger names in the lineup.
One example that sticks out occurred Sunday vs. the White Sox when Jose Reyes led off the game with a double and was then bunted over to third base by Melky Cabrera.
It was a selfless act by Cabrera, but also not the smartest idea according to his manager. Toronto did get the one run but there was the potential for much more, especially since Cabrera has been among the league leaders in hits all season.
"You don't want to do that, that early," Gibbons said Tuesday afternoon. "One of the best hitters, hottest hitters. Go for the big inning. Sometimes you play for one run, that's all you get, and we barely got that.
"He was trying to be a team guy and get us on the board. That early, you're looking at a big inning, especially the way he's swinging it."
Cabrera entered play on Tuesday with hits in 24 of his previous 30 games since July 13. Over that span he is hitting .370 with a .440 on-base percentage, 1.003 OPS with 15 extra-base hits.