Wild Thing: Daniel Cabrera

A few weeks ago, I was reading Campbell McGrath's new book of poems--Seven Notebooks--while the Orioles were beating the Yankees behind Daniel Cabrera's newly discovered control of his steamrolling fastball. He is wearing a purposeful look these days and the hunger to succeed in the Major Leagues is prominent on his face. After defeating the Yankees, he did the same thing to the Mariners four days later. Showing confidence in his change-up, he looked unhittable at times. This was the same guy who was goaded into a balk by Coco Crisp last summer and threw behind Dustin Pedroia, causing a near-melee to ensue.

Besides being one of the nation's greatest living poets, Campbell McGrath is an Orioles fan. In Capitalism, his inaugural collection of poems published in 1990, Mcgrath writes about attending an Orioles game at Memorial Stadium in 1979, capturing the intensity of the "crab-crazed" crowd with Eddie Murray at the plate. In American Noise, his follow-up collection, Campbell has a poem called "Wild Thing" loosely based on former Cubs closer Mitch Williams--"the main man, the big guy, the stopper, the ace." His new book, Seven Notebooks features a variation of styles and the wildness of McGrath's eye. To me, this is when he is at his best with his full arsenal of pitches, and anything is possible. I especially enjoy what transpires in "Ode to Can of Shaefer Beer," a knuckleball of a poem.

I have been pleasantly surprised by the Orioles and the young 2008 season. "The inexorable closer is coming, believe me," as McGrath writes, and let's hope it is Daniel Cabrera.