Last year’s Triple Crown winner, Miguel Cabrera slammed out three big home runs in one game against the Texas Rangers recently and distanced himself, once again, for the MLB batting title for 2013. Miggy now leads all qualified hitters with a batting average (AVG) of .387. He also is in second place for the highest on base percentage (OBP) with .457 and a slugging percentage (SLG) of .659. He also has the highest OPS (1.116) which is arrived at by adding the OBP and the SLG!
So, obviously Miggy Cabrera is the front-runner for the 2013 slugger’s title… again this year. It is hard to think of anyone other than Cabrera, who is now 30 years old, to be “the best hitter in baseball”. I mean, what else does he have to do?
He already has one of the most productive bats the game has ever seen and calling him the best hitter in the game today doesn’t seem at all out of place.
One great season does not earn you that title or that respect. Lots of guys have had a great single season. Put together at least three good ones and we will talk. Miggy has hit .339/.423/.609 ever since 2010. Anyone else done that?
OK, there are a couple of guys that might give Cabrera a little competition this year… or at least keep him honest.
Jose Bautista of the Toronto Blue Jays is an awesome hitter. But, the Blue Jays are not having the kind of season that everyone predicted they would have and Bautista has injured his wrist. Still in all, he has a MLB best 133 home runs since 2010 and can never be counted out completely.
Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers is another really good slugger but, like so many others, he has been pinned down by PED allegations which will probably negate anything he does this year.
David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox was considered past his prime after the 2009 season, but, “Big Papi” has fooled them all and kept on coming. Ortiz has been battling injuries this year that will likely hold him back.
Perhaps the greatest threat to Cabrera’s title will come from Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds. Votto was the 2010 National League MVP and is hitting .324/.438/.561 this year and seems to excel at everything at the plate.
Las Vegas handicappers will probably be sticking with Miggy again this year.
