Miguel Cabrera: Tiger of the Year

by Ian Casselberry on Nov 7, 2008 1:00 PM EST in News Comment 7 comments

As his Detroit Tigers slogged through a last-place season, Miguel Cabrera really became the only player worth watching. And for that effort, he was named Tiger of the Year by the Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Following a somewhat disappointing start to the 2008 season, compounded by a position switch from third base to first base, Cabrera eventually showed why Dave Dombrowski was willing to give up so much to acquire him last winter. His 37 home runs and 127 RBIs were the highest totals of his six-year major league career.

After July 1, Cabrera became a home-run hitting machine, blasting 26 homers on his way to his AL-leading total. Those 127 RBIs were the third-highest total in the AL. Cabrera also tied for the league lead in total bases with 331.

Consider that these numbers were achieved while Cabrera supposedly needed a season to adjust to American League pitching. If that's what he's capable of while getting acclimated, at only 25 years old, imagine what Cabrera will do once he's truly settled in. Tigers fans will get seven more years to watch him develop.

0 recs | Comment 7 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

he started slowly, and in conjunction with Dontrelle’s Willis’ literal disappearing act, probably had us all wondering if Dombrowski has lost it, but Cabrera turned it aorund offensively, and was, indeed, very impressive down the stretch.

glove’s still suspect, but, as long as Cameron Maybin doesn’t turn into a hall of famer, it’s a trade that i suspect Tiger fans will look on fondly in years to come…

by ahtrap on Nov 7, 2008 2:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

oh, btw, LOVE that first “related fanshot” over on the right column, the one titled, “I don’t really have any words to accompany this”.

Anyone have final numbers on Jorge Cantu’s year?

by ahtrap on Nov 7, 2008 2:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jorge Cantu's final numbers

.277/.327/.481 with 29 homers and 95 RBIs.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Nov 7, 2008 2:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

not too shabby in its own right….but no Miggy….

by ahtrap on Nov 7, 2008 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Miguel Cabrera Similar Batters Through Age 25:

Ken Griffey
Hank Aaron
Orlando Cepeda
Frank Robinson
Hal Trotsky
Mickey Mantle
Vladimir Guerrero
Al Kaline

Jorge Cantu Similar Batters Through Age 26:

Fernando Tatis
Torii Hunter
Bill Melton
Rich Gedman
Ken Boyer
Mike Sweeney
Bobby Bonilla
Tim Wallach

by MacRae on Nov 7, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Cabrera is the most underrated player in the game, in my opinion. If he played in New York or Boston, can you imagine the attention he would receive?

http://designaterobertson.blogspot.com

by Rogo on Nov 7, 2008 11:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Miggy...

made major progress at first base this year along with his monster numbers. Given good health and some good people to push him, the guy is limitless.

No one’s saying this much, but I think Magglio departing would hurt Miggy in a big way, sending him to first over and over again on walks. Just an opinion.

by rook34 on Nov 11, 2008 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs