Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera has second Triple Crown in Sight
By Rich Seroka
Aug 11, 2013; Bronx, NY, USA; Detroit Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) rounds the bases on his home run during the ninth inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium. Yankees won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
In the history of Major League Baseball no Triple Crown winner has repeated the next year. In fact the a Triple Crown winner has only managed to lead one category the following season. Only two player to have won multiple Triple Crowns, Ted Williams in 1942 and 1947 and Rogers Hornsby in 1922 and 1925. Miguel Cabrera is on the verge of winning back to back Triple Crowns. This would be a historic achievement of unprecedented importance. To have something done that has never been done in baseball history blows my mind, and to have it done in Detroit is just icing on the cake.
The only category Miggy is not leading right now is home runs, he is five behind Chris Davis 45-40. But Miguel Cabrera is starting to close the gap. Just a couple of days ago Davis’ lead was seven. This is starting to look like last year when he slowly caught and then passed Josh Hamilton.
Miggy just calmly goes about his business nothing seems to bother him. Despite all of his injuries he just keeps plugging along. Injured hip, bruised shin, difficulty running through it all he makes it look so easy.
I’ve seen Barry Bonds in his prime and Albert Pujols in his, eventually the opposing managers started intentionally walking these players. Ned Yost’s, the manager of the Kansas City Royals, commented that he did not want to walk him because of Fielder and Martinez. This is very telling. Bonds and Pujols never had the protection Miguel Cabrera has had the last two years. Fielder is hitting .350+ after Cabrera has either been intentionally walked or drawn a walk. If you get past Fielder, Victor Martinez can do a lot of damage well. I would give the odds at 80% that Miguel Cabrera catches or passes Chris Davis for the home run lead and wins his second consecutive Triple Crown.
If Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Victor Martinez can stay healthy they could put up some insane offensive numbers over the next two years. Miguel Cabrera is signed through 2015. So Tigers fans have only one thing to worry about, Dave Dombrowski and Mike Illitch need to sign Cabrera to an extension as soon as possible. When they do there just might be a multiple parades down Woodward in our future, with Miggy wearing a crown on top of his head that says BACK TO BACK Triple Crown Winner.