Miguel Cabrera: Triple Crown, First in 45 Years. A Nation Collectively Yawns.
Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams … and now, Miguel Cabrera. The Detroit Tigers 3B finished the season with a .330 batting average, 44 homers, 139 RBI, leading the American League in each category to capture the Triple Crown. It’s the first time anyone has done that in baseball since 1967.
Impressive feat, right? Except nobody outside of Detroit seems to care. Is it because Cabrera isn’t universally loved by the media? Is it because of the sport’s shift away from traditional stats and to Sabermetrics?
Five years ago, would Cabrera’s Triple Crown have received significantly more publicity? Is everyone still skeptical about cheating baseball players one year after the NL MVP, Ryan Braun, tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs, and one month after the leading hitter in the NL was busted for PEDs, too?
Is it just me or is Cabrera’s triple crown chase the most underplayed sports story in eons? You’d think it would be wall to wall by now.
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) October 3, 2012
Or maybe Mike Trout had that good of a season that it overshadowed the Triple Crown? I only have questions on this one. I have no answers.
Previously: Miguel Cabrera Vs. Mike Trout for AL MVP: What Does History Say?
Previously: Justin Verlander: It Would Be a Joke if Miguel Cabrera Didn’t Win the AL MVP. And the Sabermetric Crowd Groans
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October 4th, 2012 at 11:16 AM
Thanks for speaking for all of us! Appreciate it. Now that that’s over with…
/dusts off hands
October 4th, 2012 at 11:17 AM
Racism.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:18 AM
SouvenirCity, care to chime in?
October 4th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
my favorite thing about this is that a guy who doesn’t watch baseball doesn’t care about baseball, but cares to proclaim it to the whole world that nobody cares about baseball.
People care about baseball, J-Mac. Like you, I don’t care about baseball, but I don’t constantly interject my bullshit non-opinion on it.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:19 AM
I would say this has more to do with Cabrera not playing on the East Coast than anything else.
If Cabrera were a Yankee, you’d never hear the end of it.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:20 AM
I have no answers.
That should be your motto. You could put it up there on the banner where you used to have “STUBBORNLY UNCORRUPTED AND UNBEHOLDEN.”
October 4th, 2012 at 11:21 AM
I only have questions on this one. I have no answers.
I’m going to use this in a variety of situations. Thanks Jason.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:22 AM
That should be your motto. You could put it up there on the banner where you used to have “STUBBORNLY UNCORRUPTED AND UNBEHOLDEN.”
that one got me. I laughed a lot.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:22 AM
Is Miggy still an alcoholic? Because if thats the case he definitely deserves his spot next to Mickey and Ted.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:22 AM
You know, really, it’s my fault for seeing the post/title/author, but still clicking.
/stabs self with pencil
October 4th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
FYI… it doesn’t work anywhere else in life. Professors just get really pissy.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Agreed. And the blogosphere dominated by WAR, OZR, OPS+ has greatly diminished the old “back of the baseball card” stats.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:23 AM
I honestly think it is because people have wisened up to the fact that RBI’s are overvalued and that OBP is more important than BA. HR’s, however, are still universally dug by the chicks.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:24 AM
.343, 43, 159 (ted williams 1949 MVP)
.356, 36, 137, .499 OBP (Ted Williams first triple crown) – in comparison, Cabrera’s OBP this year was .393
cabrera had a great season but it’s not an impressive feat
October 4th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Read a good piece last week somewhere about how the BA/OBP/SLG triple crown should be celebrated more and I’m inclined to agree
October 4th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Well, once an alcoholic always an alcoholic bubs. I believe he hid in the managers office during the champagne money shots.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
or common sense that realized RBI isn’t a bellweather stat since it’s totally dependent on other people being on base where BA and HR aren’t directly associated with other teammates being on base.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:25 AM
Is Miggy still an alcoholic?
Think he actually went into Leyland’s office during the celebration. Team got non-alcoholic champagne too
October 4th, 2012 at 11:26 AM
if he was josh hamilton – front page story
October 4th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Chicks dig the long ball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKAJIvQRSzE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
October 4th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
I think the Rangers did something similar for Josh Hamilton in the past.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
It’s all about the market. But I also think that after Braun’s MVP* shenanigans last year and Melky’s suspension no one really cares…
October 4th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Wake me up when someone bats .400 again
October 4th, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Good defense Josh.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:28 AM
what’s defense?
/Miguel Cabrera’d
October 4th, 2012 at 11:28 AM
The lead story on ESPN.com and FoxSports.com is Cabrera.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:28 AM
until tomorrow when something bizarre happens in the Cardinals-Rams game tonight
October 4th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
October 4th, 2012 at 11:29 AM
First headline slide at SI.com is the A’s with the second being Cabrera…MLB is dead, long live MLB
October 4th, 2012 at 11:30 AM
He was actually a pretty good 1B and is sound defensively at 3B. Just lacks range. Having Peralta at SS doesn’t help either.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Good defense Josh
That was brutal. Inexcusable
October 4th, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap. Clap.Clapclap
October 4th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
The second part invalidates the first
October 4th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
until
tomorrow when something bizarretonight when the coin flip happens in the Cardinals-Rams game tonightDid you forget three days of Cowboys-Giants analysis? I never ever watch Sportscenter, but I was staying at a friend’s place and he had it on for two hours, and 85% of the show was about a single NFL regular season game. WTF?
October 4th, 2012 at 11:31 AM
Seriously didn’t know Ted Williams was an alcoholic. Learn something new everyday.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:32 AM
Jeff Fisher could set his mustache on fire and put it out with an axe, and it would be the main story for 2 hours max til something else happened.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:34 AM
Pretty sure the playoff races were a higher priority
Also TBL, Just because you are more worried about Tebow/Sanchez and that awful NBA league doesn’t mean everyone else is
October 4th, 2012 at 11:35 AM
dying
October 4th, 2012 at 11:35 AM
Also, cabrera had 2 of the worst pitching staffs in his division (indians/twins). AL west had tough pitching on all 4 teams. If cabrera had a bad season, that would be impressive
October 4th, 2012 at 11:35 AM
I can do without Sabermetrics
October 4th, 2012 at 11:37 AM
This was assumed
October 4th, 2012 at 11:38 AM
I don’t think Josh Hamilton is a Ranher next year. He brings to much drama in that clubhouse
October 4th, 2012 at 11:39 AM
/big cats are scary
October 4th, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Ranger**
October 4th, 2012 at 11:40 AM
Still love that the google image that comes up when you search his name is his mugshot.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I have an answer. People would rather watch a 10 second clip of a MONSTER DUNK, IN YOUR FACE, (Stands over defender, looks down at him, flexes, runs back up the court, looks up at the scoreboard, realizes your team is still down by 15, doesn’t care) than commit the time or intelligence necessary to comprehend the historical relevance that baseball thrives on.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:43 AM
of all the big sports milestones i have seen in my 33 years, until now, this one was the only one i didnt think i would see. so yeah, i am impressed.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:45 AM
Impressive feat, right? Except nobody outside of Detroit seems to care. Is it because Cabrera isn’t universally loved by the media? Is it because of the sport’s shift away from traditional stats and to Sabermetrics?
Just because your house isn’t talking about it, doesn’t mean it isn’t big. Most other sports blogs posted at least 1 to 2 articles about it today and yesterday.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:47 AM
So many reasons for this:
a. He doesn’t play for a big market or popular team (NYY, LAA, LAD, BOS, CUBS, CARDS).
b. He doesn’t speak English (I don’t care; but it matters to many Americans).
c. He doesn’t have a big personality that people relate to.
d. He is not (for reasons above) a recognizable personality in MLB (like an A-Rod, Jeter, Pujols, etc.).
e. He’s not Tim Tebow.
I just don’t get all the Trout talk. Yes, he put up some very impressive numbers – esp. for a rookie. And, good numbers for a top player – but the triple crown is huge from a statistical viewpoint, not having happened in 45 years.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:47 AM
Wait are we not pretending this hasn’t been the lead story on ESPN.com for the last twelve hours?
October 4th, 2012 at 11:47 AM
I have an answer. People would rather watch a 10 second clip of a MONSTER DUNK, IN YOUR FACE, (Stands over defender, looks down at him, flexes, runs back up the court, looks up at the scoreboard, realizes your team is still down by 15, doesn’t care) than commit the time or intelligence necessary to comprehend the historical relevance that baseball thrives on.
Except that the HR remains one of the most relevant moments/stats in sports. People will wath HR highlights and the HR chase of years past (Steroid assisted as it was) became front page news.
Problem with the Triple Crown is that it involves BA and RBI and plain and simple folks just don’t give a damn about those while the baseball historistatonerds have all tossed them aside in favor of OPS+, WAR, VORP and the rest of the Sabermetric alphabet soup.
Plus also, he’s not doing this in the East Coast. If he’s doing this in Boston or NYC, he becomes the 2nd biggest story…behind Tebow.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:48 AM
I’m just waiting to see if this is another one of those jokes we’re not getting…don’t want to look stupid again
October 4th, 2012 at 11:48 AM
Ritty – Can you elaborate? NBA isn’t even in season right now. I assume you’re talking about attention span?
October 4th, 2012 at 11:49 AM
Last night, after Cabrera wrapped up the Triple Crown, the lead story on Yahoo sports was Yankees-Red Sox.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:50 AM
If Miggy did this in NY or Boston, he’d be the runaway MVP.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:50 AM
Right now the lead story is on the diminished of the Triple Crown and the lead headline is him winning it.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:51 AM
if Cabrera had a V shaped back or a sweet set of pecs, this would be a hot topic all over the interwebs.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:51 AM
but Cabrera led the league in homers.
By highlights, are you talking about websites/social media and how MLB prevents them from going up immediately everywhere, while MLB/NFL doesn’t care?
October 4th, 2012 at 11:51 AM
What’s bizarre about that game is that either the Cards or Rams will emerge a winner.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
The NFL is getting a lot tougher on game highlights being available on YouTube…finally realized that giving the product away for free makes little sense
October 4th, 2012 at 11:52 AM
This has been a big story for weeks now with the sports media.
When is the last time the non-sports media made a big deal of any baseball feat that wasn’t related to something off the field?
October 4th, 2012 at 11:53 AM
When discussing Teddy Ballgame, “the spitter” takes on a whole new meaning.
/ Some wag once suggested Williams’s biography should be title “Great Expectorations”
October 4th, 2012 at 11:53 AM
I really hate to admit it, because for the most part the race card is the ultimate lazy card to play, but there is a small Bromes of truth here. When Josh Hamilton was leading in the Triple Crown categories in April/May, it was a big deal. If he had won it, it would be played up as a Redemption Story.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Because god forbid that people try to get a better understanding of the most statistcal sport of any sport in the world. All of those Harvard, MIT, Stanford math, economics and statistics graduate in baseball front offices are the devil according to this logic.
You know what the problem is…the ignorance and discmissal of math and statistics which is prevelant in this country.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:54 AM
Your fascination with this is endearing.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:55 AM
I’m going to trick EIC into watching an entire MLB game. I’m taking a shitty dash cam to a game, shaking it a little for the quality to suck, then post it on YouTube with the title
“OMG! Watch the baby get thrown from the window of this crash, then get run over by a dumptruck while 2 bros teabag each other and a cop punches a woman!”
October 4th, 2012 at 11:56 AM
TBL – “Why isn’t anyone talking about the Triple Crown.”
Everyone Else – “People are talking about it.”
TBL – “NUH, UH. NOT SETH DAVIS. SEE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!”
October 4th, 2012 at 11:56 AM
In Russia
October 4th, 2012 at 11:57 AM
By highlights, are you talking about websites/social media and how MLB prevents them from going up immediately everywhere, while MLB/NFL doesn’t care?
Does it matter? Really? Ever try watching an embedded video on an Ipad? It works 50% of the time 20% of the time.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:57 AM
It isn’t one of _the_ records or achievements that people and the media are romantic about. If someone were to approach Ripken, or the hit streak, or the home run record again — people would care.
It’s a remarkable achievement for him… but this is basically his typical season with a few more dingers.
October 4th, 2012 at 11:58 AM
Again, dying
October 4th, 2012 at 11:58 AM
And by care, I mean… ESPN would be breaking normal programming to cut in for those records. It would be a BIG DEAL in the way this — I agree — wasn’t. It doesn’t play out that way.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:01 PM
If only Miggy had finished one homer shy of the TC, I wouldn’t be spending so much energy thinking about punching Keith Law (and his ilk) in the throat.
No problem with the maths, just the SMUG….
October 4th, 2012 at 12:01 PM
Yes, that was my sarcastic way of putting it. To truly revel in the accomplishment, a fan would have to invest attention throughout the course of 162 games. Baseball fans are capable of this but the truly dedicated are a thinning breed, if you ask me. That doesn’t mean there aren’t highlights that the common fan can’t or won’t digest (a long HR for example), but I think YouTube clips, Sportscenter highlights, the rise of the NFL, the reality TV like popularization of the NBA, etc. have all contributed to the decreased, overall popularity of baseball.
This has nothing to do with baseball itself, or baseball policies with YouTube, etc., and everything to do with the evolution of what it means to be a fan.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:04 PM
Wait wait wait wait…Miguel Cabrera was elected Pope?
October 4th, 2012 at 12:05 PM
It’s just not a cultural landmark. Every sports fan knows who the home run king is. Who Cal Ripken is and the games streak.
I’m positive that even before the year not nearly as many would have known the last Triple Crown winner. It’s not the same thing.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
Thee are a bunch of reasons why this isn’t a major topic this morning.
One, there was a presidential debate last night that has caused a lot of people to pay attention to other things.
Two, the division races wrapped.
Three, this was a foregone conclusion for days.
Four, sabermetrics is now a major part of baseball and someone else had a better season than him.
Five, he plays for the Tigers.
Six, ?????
Seven, profit
October 4th, 2012 at 12:06 PM
The stat eaters are making it seem like Cabrera’s WAR sucks and that’s why he’s not getting pub/credit. He was second in offensive WAR in the AL, and third in total WAR, including defensive metrics. Like I tried to explain yesterday… you can’t really lead the league in power and average, without having most of the rest of WAR metrics come along.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:08 PM
That would be a double crown
/mitre’d
October 4th, 2012 at 12:09 PM
have all contributed to the decreased, overall popularity of baseball.
somewhere in here is the fact that tho it was always assumed to be america’s pasttime (it hasn;t been for a long time now), hardly anyone shows up to HS and college baseball games
i know that football and hoops are 1, less frequent, 2, played at night ensuring more parents can come, and 3, indoors in the winter (hoops), but it’s obvious there’s an interest, void among younger people especially, who could indeed stay after school in droves to watch HS ballgames that start at 430, or saturday games, which are an option for parents
years of covering hs baseball talking
October 4th, 2012 at 12:13 PM
I think baseball — in America anyway — is a suburban sport. It’s long. It’s expensive. You need a lot of people to play. It requires a lot of structure and organization and equipment that isnt always easy to come by. One kid can go shoot hoops. Three or four can play football.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:14 PM
Meh, they’re all rate stats – you could miss 2 months of the season and still win unless you’re Melky Cabrera. Plus it’s not as rare a feat – Bonds did it twice in a 3 year span and Larry Walker did it (missing 35 games) in ’99.
If you want to play the Yankees/Red Sox card fine – just know that Robbie Cano had a higher WAR than Miggy C. (8.2 to 6.9) on the best team in the league, and put up the most extra base hits by a 2B since before WW2, and nobody is talking about him either. People acted like Jeter was the MVP of the team.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Fair point.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:16 PM
yes, but how does that affect attendance? it seems fairly healthy at the top level, and even minor league ball does well in many areas (due to marketing it as a family event, with wacky promotions and mascots tho, not the sport). why the void in HS and college, some pockets of the country notwithstanding?
October 4th, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Votto and Mauer did it recently, IIRC.
Part of the reason is that the BA affects OBP/SLG quite a bit. It’s hard to have one and not the other two.
The triple crown (which is mostly just HR/BA) is rare because it’s hard to find someone who can hit for elite power AND average. The RBI usually come along, often with the HR leader.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:18 PM
I’m a stats guy and I hate the smug too, but being on that side is like trying to convince people the earth is round sometimes. The dismissiveness of new stats by “old guard” sportswriters who are tremendously influential on fans makes for a tough battle, sometimes you need to get the Klaws out.
/see what i did there
//shows self out
October 4th, 2012 at 12:20 PM
My take is this is continued hangover from the PED era, in a numbers driven sport, nobody knows what is real anymore (or cares). Frankly when Barry Bonds hits 730HRs a season, I’m out. DiMaggio’s 56 and Ripken’s streak are the only pure records that will generate real interest if ever broken.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:21 PM
Great, you hate 10 people. Not that many people really resist WAR, just don’t see the value in undergoing complex calculations to relay stats which can be conveyed easily.
“Miguel Cabrera had a great offensive season because (incredibly complex formula very few people understand)”
“Miguel Cabrera led the league in HR and BA, two categories which largely come from disparate skills”
Which is easier to write, research, calculate, convey?
October 4th, 2012 at 12:22 PM
Yeah, that pretty much invalidated your point. Ripken’s streak is as useless and fraudulent/selfish a record as there is in sports.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:25 PM
hit streak.
scoreless innings streak.
errorless streak for an infielder.
non-bonds/mcgwire HR record.
hitting .400.
SB record
October 4th, 2012 at 12:29 PM
Wait Ripken is a fraud now?
October 4th, 2012 at 12:33 PM
Steroids.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:35 PM
Ripken’s streak doesnt do anything for me, but if it goes down it will generate interest, people cared about that streak a lot.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:36 PM
I’m not as impressed by the hit streak, if only because Williams had better stats the whole season than DiMaggio had for just the streak.
Scoreless IP streak (for SPs only) is a big one for me.
Hitting .400 will never happen again, but that might top the list.
HR record is tarnished forever, doesn’t matter who gets third place on the list with 63.
SB record… that game has just changed too much.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:37 PM
I’m sure… though it’s another “unbreakable” one. I’d see 56 games falling before that.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:41 PM
He doesn’t play in New York City, specifically the Bronx. New York City moves el needle.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:43 PM
Rovell “poll” on the subject, perhaps inspired by this post
http://www.poptip.com/darrenrovell/poll-how-much-have-you-talked-aboutread-about-miguel-cabrera-today-vote-with-alot-alittle-notatall
October 4th, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Hitting .400, DiMaggio’s streak, Ripken’s streak, the true HR record (61) are the four big ones to me. Scoreless IP is another good one. That still Orel? Who has that?
October 4th, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Rovell=Science.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:52 PM
He’s a well-known fuck face.
Wait, we are talking about Billy, right?
October 4th, 2012 at 12:54 PM
Not sure about that, Gwynn got close (.394) in 1994 and Brett hit .390 in 1980.
October 4th, 2012 at 12:56 PM
Yeah that wasn’t right… but it’s a pitcher’s world. I sincerely doubt we even see many/any .360s for a while. Unless Trout is just getting started, then I wouldn’t bet against anything.
October 4th, 2012 at 1:03 PM
I’m laughing.
October 4th, 2012 at 1:08 PM
’94 was a strike season. in 1980 Brett missed 45 games. Neither guy even had 450 at bats. And they still couldnt hit .400. The key to hitting .400 is limiting at bats (either by walking a lot or missing a chunk of the season) , easier to do it in fewer at bats. Teddy Ballgame walked a ton so he only had 185 hits in 456 at bats when he hit .406.
That’s why Ichiro could never do it – he never walked and rarely missed games. Led the league in AB 9 times. From a pure BA perspective I think his .372 in 704 AB in 2004 is more impressive than what Brett/Gwynn did.
October 4th, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Forgive me if this was said above, but is it possible the primary reason is that for every hour ESPN talks about sports 56 minutes are devoted to the NFL?
October 4th, 2012 at 1:26 PM
I think the language thing is the biggest reason. Someone said Cabrera doesn’t have a big personality, that’s just not true. When he was playing first base, he was the most talkative first baseman in league. If you watch the games he is constantly laughing and joking with his teammates. His personality doesn’t show with the media because he doesn’t speak great english, so he’s not a great interview.
There was a great moment in the playoffs last year, I think it was game 4. The Yankees were blasting the Tigers and it was like the 6th or 7th inning and A-Rod finally got his first hit of the series, which naturally came after the game had basically been decided. When the ball was thrown back into the infield Cabrera turned to the Yankee dugout and asked them if they wanted the ball.
The guy is hilarious, and he’s been the best hitter in the American League for a while now. It’s nice that he’s finally getting the credit he deserves.
October 4th, 2012 at 1:29 PM
because MLB is a horrible on-field product.
October 4th, 2012 at 1:31 PM
You’re a horrible on-field product.
/BOOM!
October 5th, 2012 at 4:03 PM
Because baseball is boring as hell.
October 5th, 2012 at 4:17 PM
Could not even imagine how this would have been handled if Jeter had done this with the same exact numbers as Miggy. John Kruk and the boy’s would still be blowing Jeter.