Miguel Cabrera makes a little Detroit Tigers history, takes big step towards the AL MVP award

Yesterday Miguel Cabrera knocked in his 100th and 101st runs. Given him 100 RBI in each of the last nine MLB seasons, and in every season he has played at this level full time. Today Miguel Cabrera hit his 30th home run of the 2012 season. That is the fifth season in a row he has done that, and that my friends is a record for a Detroit Tiger. Cecil Fielder held the previous mark with four straight seasons of 30 plus taters. Without a doubt Miguel is cementing his status as teh best Detroit Tiger of this generation, the best hitter of his generation, and a guy who will one day be enshrined in Cooperstown, New York. The one thing missing is a League MVP title, and that is going to have to come later this fall.

The MVP award is suppose to be for what a guy does in one season, but what Cabrera has been able to accomplish over the last five seasons is truly remarkable. Since Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels has the AL Rookie of the Year award pretty much tied up it seems time for the voters to give Cabrera the nod as the MVP of the American League. Sure, his off the field behavior at times has likely kept him for winning that award already, but it may be time to forgive him his sins and decorate the guy who just gets it done year in and year out.

Watching the post game show of the Tigers game today I saw Miguel asked a question about his numbers. He didn’t have much to say, he didn’t want to talk about it, because for him the job isn’t done yet. This team is not in first place, has not won the division crown, and does not have a World Series ring. Bet you ass he will be back at it tomorrow working to accomplish all of these things. In a lot of ways he won back my respect today, after having lost it with off the field sins.

At least 30 home runs in each of the last five years, and the 2008 AL Home Run crown with 38. 169 total homeruns since coming to Detroit. 562 RBI since coming to Detroit, the 2011 AL batting title, a 20120 Silver Slugger award, has twice led the AL in On Base Percentage (2010 an 2011), and over the last two years no one player has played in more AL games than Miguel.

He is leading the way with his 103rd RBI this year, and is second in the AL in hits. If RBI’s are the currency of baseball Miguel not only has the numbers to justify the MVP award for 2012, but his past performances almost make it mandatory. From 2010 to 2011 no one has created more runs than Miguel Cabrera and he is second on that list in 2012. He also has the most extra base hits this year. In every offensive category he is in the top five, and he is the guy who goes out and gets it done. If I had a vote, and as much as I don’t like him personally, he would be the MVP today. Regardless of what his team does the rest of the year or in the post season, the simple fact here is Miguel Cabrera deserves the 2012 AL MVP award.