'Short Approach' is terminology frequently used by US ATC to mean turning base early, before reaching a 45 degree angle to the threshold. Neither party in this ATC exchange thought it had anything to do with the touchdown point, and both understood the common meaning.
Its the opposite of 'I'll call your base'
The runway they landed on sees a 737 every few minutes so its good to get ATC's concurrence for a 'short approach'