2011 Fantasy Baseball Profile: Will Miguel Cabrera Keep Performing?
Anyone who follows baseball knows that this guy can rake with the best in the game; he's unquestionably an elite hitter. Most people also know that Miggy likes to get his drink on.
What I have been telling people coming in to this year is that he's an elite hitter now with a sponsor! I mean, what could be better than a player with that natural talent who also now has someone to help prohibit him from falling to his vice.
Even if he were drunk at games, he could hit better than you and I. I would predict a drunk Miggy to hit about .290 with 30 HR and 100 RBI.
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Compared to sober Miggy, who I believe will hit about .325 and 37-40 HR with 125-130 RBI. Sober Miggy also doesn't puke and his signature is much more legible.
So pleasantries aside, this is a guy who's best attribute on the real diamond is also the most important one on the fantasy diamond, and that's mashing, plain and simple. He has had constant success despite having to call some of the worst hitters parks (Florida, Detroit) his home.
Breaking down and over-analyzing all of the different stats that Cabrera puts up will lead you to one safe conclusion every time: a healthy Miggy is a productive Miggy. So far that's consistently been the case ever since Cabrera debuted for the Marlins back in '08.
His numbers reflect that he most likes hitting at home and at night. But the rest of his numbers still show that he just likes hitting. Cabrera's home and away, night and day, righty and lefty splits are all so very close that it's safe to say he would be any pitcher's nightmare at any time.
He is a .313 lifetime hitter that has logged over 100 RBI in each of the past seven seasons and surpassed the 110 mark in six of those years.
Last year Miggy passed his old personal best of 37 HR by one in 2010, and finally tipped over 1.000 OPS, which is a mark of a truly well-rounded and productive hitter.
Of all the hitters in the game today who have played more than five years, Albert Pujols is the only one who would have an argument as far as being more consistent across the board.
Despite his years of service in the bigs already, Cabrera is still young and very much in his prime. I find it hard to think that he won't have yet another monster year at the plate.
The Detroit Tigers now have an assigned person to monitor and support Cabrera through his problem, a lot like the way that Josh Hamilton reports to someone with the Texas ball club. I would say it's likely that Cabrera goes with the program and doesn't risk breaking apart his current $153 million contract.
Bottom line is, only Miggy can stop Miggy. He will be turning just 28 on April 18th, so he certainly still has the time to accumulate a very Hall of Fame worthy statistical resume. Here's hoping things don't get too crazy on the 18th.
Cheers!
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