[Ransomed]

I didn’t think anyone would get the triple crown, but Cabrera did it. The big reason is the relief pitching now. The old guys had a higher mound, scuffed up balls, the umps called the high strike, and crappy travel. The new guys have to deal with a lot more pitchers, and everyone throws harder when they are in better shape and know they are only in for one inning.

It’s possible. But if Ichiro in his prime didn’t even get into the 30s I don’t see it as too likely.

Freegards

[Alberta's Child]

Good point about the relief pitching, but that wouldn't really have anything to do with the Triple Crown. Leading the league in those three offensive categories means a hitter has to perform well compared to other hitters -- who presumably would be facing the same pitching across the league (for the most part).

In recent decades, the bigger obstacle to winning the Triple Crown was specialization among hitters. A dominant power hitter who could also hit for a high batting average was a rarity from the 1970s to the steroid era.