No longer a secret, Cairo is still a weapon
www.stltoday.com By Dan O'Neill Post-Dispatch updated: 03/21/2003 11:44 PM
Miguel Cairo's versatility at playing different positions has helped him become a valued member of manager Tony La Russa's arsenal.
VERO BEACH, Fla. - Miguel Cairo is not exactly the "Secret Weapon," as Jose Oquendo was known during his 10 seasons playing with the Cardinals. Oquendo could play nearly every position on the field - and he actually played every position at least once during one season.
Cairo isn't likely to ever be assigned center field, probably won't be seen behind the plate or toeing a rubber. But if he doesn't entirely live up to the parameters of the name, Cairo certainly has lived up to the spirit. In 2003, he established himself as one of the top supplemental players in baseball. Perhaps he is no longer a secret but he is a genuine weapon.
For managers like Tony La Russa, players with Cairo's versatility are roster savers. "Why is it that last spring or each spring, clubs are actively looking for versatile, multi-purpose players?" La Russa asked rhetorically. "Because there's so many different situations and problems you face during the season. Not having a guy who can do all that means you either have to go out there shorthanded, or you're constantly moving guys back and forth.
"You may even have to take a pitcher's spot that you really need in order to carry that extra position player. Our goal is to protect our pitchers and we can do that when we have versatility, when a guy like Miguel can play all over."
Cairo demonstrated that versatility and effectiveness in an exhibition game Wednesday against the Mets. After shortstop Edgar Renteria felt sick, Cairo replaced him at shortstop. Later, he moved to second base and, in between, he contributed a home run, triple and three runs batted in to the attack. On Friday, Cairo stroked a pinch-hit single in the seventh before scoring on Wilson Delgado's two-run homer.
When he was claimed on waivers from the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 10, 2001, it seemed an insignificant transaction. In St. Louis, there is a tendency to dismiss former Cubs, especially former reserve Cubs. The club needed infield depth at the time, a righthanded-swinger off the bench. Cairo was available.
But in his first full season with the Cardinals in 2002, Cairo became much more than package fill. He was second in the National League with 19 pinch hits and third with 10 pinch runs batted in. What's more, he made starts at first base, second base, shortstop, third base, left field and designated hitter.
"We got him because we liked a few things, but after we had him, we were like, 'Man, this guy is something,'" La Russa said.
Once a starting second baseman for Tampa Bay, Cairo is still only 28 years old. But he has embraced his role as a part-timer.
"My first three years I played every day. I knew at that time, that was my role," Cairo said. "Right now, my role is to be on the bench, be ready to pinch-hit and play defense. I accept that.
"I like my role and I like to be part of this team. This is an organization and a bunch of coaches that really like to play the game the way it is supposed to be played. If my role is to be a backup and pinch-hitter, than I try to be the best backup and pinch-hitter I can be."
Scott Rolen's injury in Game 2 of the Division Series is commonly regarded as the fatal blow to the Cardinals' NL pennant chances last year. That assessment may be unfair to Cairo, who batted .529 during the postseason. After replacing Rolen at third in Game 2, Cairo drove in the winning run in the ninth inning. He then went three for three with two runs and two RBIs in Game 3. He batted .385 in the ensuing League Championship Series, going three for four with a home run in Game 1.
No one would argue Cairo and Rolen are the same player, but Cairo certainly was productive in Rolen's absence. One reason he is so effective as a reserve is his approach. Again, like Oquendo was during his playing career, Cairo is a student of the game.
"What you don't know until you are around him is that he's really an intelligent player," La Russa said. "You could go to the park at any time, say July 18 on a Tuesday, and he's out there working.
"Oquendo is a very good comparison. Someday, Miguel will be an outstanding coach like Jose is. It is hard for fans to appreciate unless they have binoculars and are watching in the dugout, but you watch how active he is during the game. He's conversing with guys, he's seeing things and making comments. He's really helpful, and Eddie (Perez) was a lot like that, too. So that is a very powerful advantage during the season."
Cairo acknowledges a manager probably lives inside of him, waiting to come out.
"I like to learn about the game," he said. "When I'm not playing, I like to see what happens in certain situations. I like to see how Tony handles it. I watch him a lot when he manages. I like the way he goes about business and I try to be ready because you never know when you're going to play that game."
A native of Anaco, Venezuela, Cairo now resides with his wife, Nicole, and his 20-month old son, Christian Miguel, in California during the winter. He normally plays winter ball in Venezuela, but had to leave early last December when the strikes shut down the league. "Venezuela is close to the heart," he said. "That's where I grew up, that's where I became a baseball player."
As he became a player, Cairo's fantasy was to play with two other Venezuelan-born major leaguers, Ozzie Guillen and Omar Vizquel. Realizing that dream has been a highlight of his career. "I played with Vizquel in winter ball and I played with Guillen in Tampa Bay," Cairo said. "He played short and I played second and that was the best ever. That was my dream."
No doubt there are kids in Venezuela fantasizing about playing alongside Miguel Cairo, fancying themselves as a big league "Secret Weapon."