Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that?

The office wants my playoff picks. The BBWAA wants my pick for National League MVP.

I'm not sure why. I'm the guy who told you this spring that Miguel Cabrera would be the American League MVP.

A month ago, it seemed possible. A week ago, it seemed unlikely, but not absurd.

This morning, after police in Birmingham, Mich., told the Detroit News what Cabrera was doing early Saturday morning, it seems like the dumbest pick of the year (yeah, worse than picking the Mets to go to the World Series).

If Cabrera was most valuable to anyone over the weekend, it was to the Twins, who caught Cabrera's Tigers in the final days of the season to force Tuesday's one-game AL Central playoff.

We'll never know what part Cabrera's off-field problems (blowing .26 on the breathalyzer, coming home at 6 a.m., getting in enough of a fight with the wife that police were called) played in his on-field problems (going 1-for-15 with 15 runners left on base in the Tigers' final four games of the season). But at best, as one Tiger-connected person said, "The timing's not good."

It's especially not good for a guy who had maturity questions to begin with, enough questions that some people criticized the Tigers for the $152.3 million, eight-year contract they gave Cabrera in the spring of 2008.

Since then, Cabrera has given the Tigers little reason for concern -- until now. Since then, Cabrera has looked not only like an MVP candidate, but like a Triple Crown candidate.

He can be one of the best players in the game, a dominating force at the plate, an improving defender at first base.

But now we're asking the same old questions, about whether he will ever grow up.

Yes, players drink. Yes, unfortunately, players sometimes drink too much, and sometimes because they drink too much or after they drink too much, they have problems with their wives.

But getting drunk, coming home at 6 a.m. and getting in enough of a confrontation that police were called? On the same weekend your team is trying to win its first division title in 22 years?

No, that doesn't look good.

If I had a vote in the AL MVP race, I'd be dropping Cabrera down a few slots, if not dropping him off the ballot altogether. Fortunately, the BBWAA was smart enough not to give me that vote this year.

Now, do you still want those other picks?

any discussion of AL MVP should being and end with Joe MauerIt's not that clear cut. Should Mauer get it? Ok, I can live with that. I'd rather him then Texeira on the Yankees that's for sure. If they played the same games, Mauer would probably have about 5 rbi's more then Cabrera this year if he doesn't play almost 20 games less then Cabrera has. The home runs would be about the same, and he's hitting 360 vs Migue's 320 or whatever it is. So on the surface yes, Mauer is better... BUT,,, ONE PROBLEM THOUGH...

Everybody knows that in baseball it's all about protection,,, Miguel has NONE... Mauer has outstanding protection batting behind him. He had a tremendous power hitter named Justin Morneau all season long and when he went out he has had Kubel ...... go look at Detroit's lineup... it's pretty bad... Miguel has nobody to protect him.. so pitchers aren't forced to come lay those pitches in there.. Look at what we have behind him next closest with power and/or ribbies..

Huff... doesn't count. He wasn't here almost all year long..
Granderson - closest in home runs but was our lead off guy almost all year long...
polanco ? 70 plus rbi's but bats in front of cabrera and doesn't hit too many homers..

We don't have the morneaus and kubels behind him.... if we did, he would have at least 10 more hr's and probably at least another 20 rbi's.. not to mention his average would probably be at least 15 or 20 points higher...

So yes, Mauer is great... but it's closer then you think,,

Positive Hype Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Aug 29, 2006	Posted on: October 5, 2009 1:38 pm Score: 71 This comment has been removed. Post Deleted by Administrator
jd1973 Reputation: 99 Level: Superstar Since: Sep 11, 2006	Posted on: October 5, 2009 1:53 pm Score: 89 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? Are defense and base running considered intangibles in baseball? How about the fact that Jeter scored 12 more runs, stole 24 more bases and batted 11 points higher? I would say that based on stats and ability alone, Jeter stacks up well against Cabrera. The intangibles are merely a bonus. [ Reply to Comment ]
bronson90210 Reputation: 92 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 17, 2007	Posted on: October 5, 2009 2:34 pm Score: 132 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? Not too interested in the other picks if you have opinions on their personal lives as well. Sure, it looks worse considering his recent slump but it's also not really anyones business if he had a domestic dispute with his wife. Writing off all he's done this year because of one poorly-timed incident seems pretty unfair although any discussion of AL MVP should being and end with Joe Mauer. And all were really talking about here is the timing of it. This would barely be a footnote if not for the Tigers collapse (let's not forget the Tigers as a team blew their advantage on the Twins, not just Cabrera) and it's not like he went all Brett Myers on her either, so lets hold off on collecting pitchforks and torches for the Cabrera lynch mob. [ Reply to Comment ]
redwings1969 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 25, 2009	Posted on: October 5, 2009 2:42 pm Score: 114 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? JD, No need to start comparing players like Jeter and Cabrera. It doensn't matter who's better because they are both phenominal players. For the record I think the writer is way off base judging Cabrera over one bad night. As far as I know he wasn't arrested for anything like this before and he's been a great teammate on Detroit. The guys stats for his first few years in the league are second to none. Throw in the fact that he had NOBODY protecting him all season long and his stats look even better. He had Ordonez and others last year, thus his stats were better then this year. Put this guy in between Arod and Texeira and he hits about 330 with 40 home runs and 130 rbi's for fun..... if not more.. who knows... He's a keeper.... unless he's an idiot and gets into trouble again and again..... but I highly doubt it.... As for his big contract, the writer was off base there as well. He needs to look around the league these days. Big time players with great stats and triple crown potential get paid massive dollars.. thats just how it is... [ Reply to Comment ]
Schmalzel Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Aug 16, 2006	Posted on: October 5, 2009 2:47 pm Score: 113 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? While I thought Miggy would be the MVP canidate about a couple weeks ago... slumping when your teams need you to hit isn't signs of an MVP caliber player... and now Mauers hat is back in the case... Twins make the playoffs, he is the MVP thats my opinion. I think Miggy won't even come in 2nd... if he was hitting the Twins would be out of the playoffs. Miggy has 1 RBI in the last 8 games, 28 at bats 5 hits no XBH except for a solo HR. walked 5 times struck out 4... he has slumped at a bad time... while Mauer isn't tearing the ball off the bat 31 at bats 8 hits 6 walks to 4 K's... and his team is winning. And Mauer has 4 rbis and 6 runs in that span... Jeter won't get it because of the lack of power and flash. Jeter lost out to Morneau (no beef with that one) and I just don't think he'll win this year, due to the close race in the AL Central. Jeter would deserve it, but in my opinion AROD has been the Yankees MVP. [ Reply to Comment ]
redwings1969 Reputation: 94 Level: All-Star Since: Jun 25, 2009	Posted on: October 5, 2009 3:08 pm Score: 108 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? any discussion of AL MVP should being and end with Joe MauerIt's not that clear cut. Should Mauer get it? Ok, I can live with that. I'd rather him then Texeira on the Yankees that's for sure. If they played the same games, Mauer would probably have about 5 rbi's more then Cabrera this year if he doesn't play almost 20 games less then Cabrera has. The home runs would be about the same, and he's hitting 360 vs Migue's 320 or whatever it is. So on the surface yes, Mauer is better... BUT,,, ONE PROBLEM THOUGH... Everybody knows that in baseball it's all about protection,,, Miguel has NONE... Mauer has outstanding protection batting behind him. He had a tremendous power hitter named Justin Morneau all season long and when he went out he has had Kubel ...... go look at Detroit's lineup... it's pretty bad... Miguel has nobody to protect him.. so pitchers aren't forced to come lay those pitches in there.. Look at what we have behind him next closest with power and/or ribbies.. Huff... doesn't count. He wasn't here almost all year long.. Granderson - closest in home runs but was our lead off guy almost all year long... polanco ? 70 plus rbi's but bats in front of cabrera and doesn't hit too many homers.. We don't have the morneaus and kubels behind him.... if we did, he would have at least 10 more hr's and probably at least another 20 rbi's.. not to mention his average would probably be at least 15 or 20 points higher... So yes, Mauer is great... but it's closer then you think,, [ Reply to Comment ]
justmytwocents Reputation: 96 Level: Superstar Since: Feb 9, 2007	Posted on: October 5, 2009 3:28 pm Score: 120 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? I don't think the main criticism was for the domestic dispute; seems the focus of the article was Cabrera coming home drunk at 6 AM on a day when the Tigers had a big game scheduled, and after playing a game the previous night. Don't baseball players, like all of us, need to get a good night's sleep before going to "work"? And it's not like he was just a little drunk. But Knobler's bigger question was, how much impact did this have on his performance in the last few games? Going 1 for 15 and stranding 15 base runners is certainly not something you would expect from one of your prime offensive players or someone who had been seen as a candidate for MVP. And that does beg to question: just how much did his drinking and partying have to do with this pathetic performance and why did he obviously put his partying and drinking ahead of his team and team mates? [ Reply to Comment ]
rigucho Reputation: 98 Level: Superstar Since: Oct 2, 2006	Posted on: October 5, 2009 3:33 pm Score: 67 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? Is it written anywhere that a player has to be the most valuable player for their own team? [ Reply to Comment ]
SomeTimeFan Reputation: 86 Level: All-Star Since: Sep 5, 2008	Posted on: October 5, 2009 3:36 pm Score: 98 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? For the most part, I'll give you you're points. Unfortunately, when someone signs a contract like the one he did last year, and the TEAM is finally able to win a division, sorry pal,, but that's why they pay these guys the big bucks. HE's supposed to be a LEADER, plus, even if the Tigers were out of it, if I got sh!tfaced drinking until 6:00AM and then went to work, guess who would be looking for another job on Monday. When you get paid like that there are certain responsibilities, and pulling the cr@p that he did, and then backing it up with his great play the past four games isn't going to win you any MVP votes. [ Reply to Comment ]
Ramius7 Reputation: 97 Level: Superstar Since: Nov 28, 2006	Posted on: October 5, 2009 3:36 pm Score: 84 Cabrera for MVP? What idiot told you that? The argument about protection is a valid one. However, I can counter with the argument that 1B is the easiest position in baseball to play. C is the toughest and Joe Mauer is going to win the Gold Glove, while Cabrera is a mediocre to above average 1B fielder. [ Reply to Comment ]

Danny Knobler

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