Miguel Cabrera
From BR Bullpen
Jose Miguel Torres Cabrera
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 4", Weight 185-240 lb.
[edit] Biographical Information
Miguel Cabrera is a star who played his first five seasons with the Florida Marlins and since 2008 has played for the Detroit Tigers. He broke in the majors at the age of 20, during the 2003 season and played a key role in that pennant race. Cabrera led the 2008 American League in home runs with 37, the fewest homers for an American League leader since 1989 when Fred McGriff hit 36.
Cabrera was signed as an amateur free agent and began play in the minors at age 17 as a shortstop. He was not a strong hitter at first, but blossomed in 2003 in the Double A Southern League when he hit .365 and slugged .609 in 69 games for the Carolina Mudcats. As a rookie with the Marlins in 2003, Cabrera played 87 games in the majors, and then hit a home run in Game 4 of the 2003 World Series.
From 2004 to 2007, Cabrera was on the All Star team, and he was 5th in the MVP voting in both 2005 and 2006. He split his defensive during those years time between the outfield and third base, being voted a Silver Slugger Award recipient once as an outfielder and once as a third baseman. He was second in the league in batting in 2006. In 2007, Cabrera had a typical season with the bat, with an OBP of .400 and a slugging percentage around .550.
Cabrera reached 500 RBI in the majors at age 24 years and 139 days. The only players to get to that number quicker were Mel Ott (23, 74 days) and Ted Williams (24, 4). The 500th RBI came on a single against Shawn Hill to drive in Hanley Ramirez.
In December of 2007, Cabrera was dealt with Dontrelle Willis in a blockbuster trade to the Detroit Tigers for Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, Dallas Trahern, Mike Rabelo, Eulogio De La Cruz and Burke Badenhop. Originally slated to play third base with Detroit, he was quickly moved to first base when Carlos Guillen had difficulties adjusting defensively to the first base position. Cabrera, never a defensive standout, found a permanent home as the Tigers' first sacker. He led the American League in home runs that first season in Detroit.
In 2009, he was again one of the Tigers' offensive leaders, once again hitting over 30 home runs and driving in over 100 runs, as the team led the AL Central race for most of the season. However, his good year was marred by an unfortunate incident in the season's last days. As the Tigers were trying to hold off the resurgent Minnesota Twins, Cabrera was arrested for physically threatening his wife under influence of alcohol in the small hours of the morning on October 3; GM Dave Dombrowski had to bail him out of jail. While he was eventually not charged, the event created a terrible distraction for his teammates. In the one-game playoff against the Twins on October 5, he gave his team an early lead with a home run, but was thrown out at home in the 12th inning as the Bengals lost the game, 6-5.
Prior to the 2010 season, Cabrera apologized to teammates and fans alike for his behavior the previous year and stated that he was getting help for his drinking problem, spending 90 days in an outpatient rehabilitation program. He seemed to have put the issue behind him, as he had another great season with the bat, making the All-Star team for the first time since his move to the American League, while hitting .328 with 38 homers and 126 RBI. He led the league in both RBI and on-base percentage (.420) and finished second behind Josh Hamilton in the MVP vote.
Unfortunately, Cabrera suffered a relapse of his drinking problems as the 2011 spring training was getting under way. On the evening of February 16, he was arrested in Fort Pierce, FL as he stood intoxicated and disoriented besides his car. He later explained that he had been driving to the Tigers camp in Lakeland, FL in an older vehicle he intended to ship to relatives in Venezuela, when the car overheated and broke down. Police found him drinking whiskey from a bottle by the side of the car. He was detained and charged with both driving under the influence and refusing to cooperate with police. Other details from that night which emerged later cast Cabrera in an even worse light: before the arrest, he had threatened the manager and a customer at a steakhouse in Fort Pierce, stating he had a gun and knew who they were. The manager had called police and stated that Cabrera was apparently intoxicated when he drove away after the altercation. Police had also receievd calls from other motorists stating that he was driving aggressively and had forced a number of vehicles off the road on the night of his arrest.
After this second brush with the law, Tigers GM Dombrowski stated that Cabrera would need to undergo more vigorous treatment for alcohol abuse before returning to the team. Cabrera missed the beginning of spring training while waiting to be evaluated by a doctor appointed by the Commissioner's office and the Players Association. He returned to the team on February 25 and apologized for his behavior while confirming he would undergo a treatment program. MLB issued a statement that warned him that he could face more serious consequences if he were to be involved in another alcohol-related incident.
Cabrera reached 300 career doubles on April 11, 2011. He became the second MLB player to get to that mark before his 28th birthday - Joe Medwick had been the only other one to accomplish it. In spite of the off-field distraction, he had another great season in 2011, winning the American League batting title with a .344 average and also being tops in the league with a .448 OBP and 48 doubles. He hit 30 homers, scored 111 runs and drove in 105, and for the first time drew more than 100 walks, with 108. The Tigers won the AL Central title and he went 3 for 15 with a homer as they beat the New York Yankees in five games in the ALDS. In the ALCS against the Texas Rangers, he was red hot, hitting .400 with 4 doubles, 3 homers and 7 RBI, but Tigers bowed out in 6 games. He was named to the All-Star team for the 6th time of his career. After the season, he settled the DUI charge by pleading no contest in exchange for prosecution dropping the charge of resisting arrest; he was given a year's probation and ordered to perform 50 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine. He had originally decided to plead not guilty, and a trial date had been set, but he changed in mind in order not to interfere with the following season's spring training.
Through 2010, the similarity scores method shows the most similar players through age 27 as Frank Robinson and Hank Aaron, with Ken Griffey, Jr. a close third. It appears that only a failure to keep his drinking problems under control could prevent Cabrera from having a Hall of Fame career.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 6-time All-Star (2004-2007, 2010 & 2011)
- 3-time Silver Slugger Award Winner (2005/OF-NL, 2006/3B-NL & 2010/1B-AL)
- AL Batting Average Leader (2011)
- 2-time AL On-Base Percentage Leader (2010 & 2011)
- AL Total Bases Leader (2008)
- AL Doubles Leader (2011)
- AL Home Runs Leader (2008)
- AL RBI Leader (2010)
- 20-Home Run Seasons: 8 (2004-2011)
- 30-Home Run Seasons: 7 (2004, 2005 & 2007-2011)
- 100 RBI Seasons: 8 (2004-2011)
- 100 Runs Scored Seasons: 5 (2004-2006, 2010 & 2011)
- Won a World Series with the Florida Marlins in 2003
