Posted on 10/04/2012 5:34:32 AM PDT by Lakeshark
Cabrera became just the 15th player to win baseball's Triple Crown, joining an elite list that includes Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Lou Gehrig. Cabrera topped the American League with a .330 batting average, 44 homers and 139 RBIs, becoming the first Triple Crown winner in the major leagues since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
**snip**
While the Triple Crown has been decided, the MVP has not. Selected members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America vote for that award, with the winner announced in November.
On one hand, Cabrera has dominated the statistical categories favored by traditionalists, the ones that count toward the Triple Crown. On the other hand, Trout is being championed by new-school baseball thought, number crunchers who rely on obscure stats such as WAR (Wins Above Replacement), derived from several other measures designed to judge a player's overall contribution to a team.
''He's the best hitter in the game,'' Trout said of Cabrera. ''I think his approach, the way he battles with two strikes - you leave one pitch over the plate that at-bat and he's going to hit it. He had an unbelievable year.''
Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline said it would be ''a shame'' if Cabrera didn't win the league's most coveted award. Royals manager Ned Yost offered a similar sentiment.
''I think they're both fantastic players, tremendous players, both of them,'' Yost said, ''but if Cabrera wins the Triple Crown, he has to be the MVP, absolutely.''
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Baseball hasn’t been my ‘thing’ since the 80’s, but you’re right - this IS a touch of sweetness in an otherwise sour time in our History. Good on him! :)
Congrats to Miguel
Well done Cabrera!
Even cosidering the watered down talent level of today’s major league baseball, this is quite impressive.
Yes, the Rangers gave up 19 run to the A's, but Josh was just an average hitter in a crowd of aging, average hitters.
Even in August he had a 10 HR lead over most everyone.
The good news for Rangers fans, is that they do not have the bloated contracts for aging players that the Angels and the Dodgers have.
At least, not yet.
Awesome achievement, and he did pulled it off in the middle of a great pennant race, putting the team on his back. Too bad this was lost in all the excitement of the debate beat down of Obama, because it is a great moment in sports.
“Josh Hamilton of the Rangers”
I think someone must be holding his family hostage and told him to sit out the last two weeks.
Our kids turned me on to the extraordinary feat this was, and I've been watching for about two weeks as this unfolded.
Hey, it's good to see you posting again!
Yesterday was just plain GREAT! In many ways :)
Pretty impressive as no one has done it since Yaz in 1967. Cabrera is a shoe-in for the MVP. Good luck to the Tigers in the playoffs.
Good to see you, too! I have a new job that keeps me hoppin’, been CONSUMED with remodeling my farm house and I have a new beau (well, almost 2 years now) who takes up ANY spare minute I have these days. I will make a greater effort to visit more - after the kitchen is painted; 3/4 done!
Life. Is. Good. And after last night’s FAIL, it’s gonna get even BETTER come November! :)
Yastrzemski!!! You’re a bum!
The KC fans were great. Very classy.
How many different pitchers did Cabrera see? Seems like it would be harder to do with today’s relief pitching, not to mention interleague play.
I think it is an awesome accomplishment, congrats to him and Detroit fans.
FReegards
On Wisconsin! Like you did with the recall, beat that zero fraud like a drum!
I wonder if he gave up drinking since his episodes of a year and a half ago.....
We’re working on it! We’re going to make a good dent in things, at a minimum!
His pathway to Dancing With The Stars is assured................
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