Cabrera close to baseball's Triple Crown

[DrJay]

I'm surprised how little attention this has gotten. With only four regular season games remaining, Detroit's Miguel Cabrera leads the AL in batting average and RBIs and yesterday tied Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers (who have five games remaining) for the HR lead. There have been only 13 batting Triple Crowns since 1900, the last by the Yaz in 1967, though he tied with Harmon Killebrew for the HR title:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baseball_triple_crown

Plus, this year there have been three perfect games and a 4 home run game (by Hamilton.)

[Conor Dary]

It is getting quite a lot of attention. During the Sox game on Fox, they would cut back to Cabrera every time he came to bat.

The downside with Cabrera is he shares the same name with Mr. Positive. I wonder how many people are confused over the matter?

[Marlow]

The downside with Cabrera is he shares the same name with Mr. Positive. I wonder how many people are confused over the matter?

That's not the only down-side . . .

[j-a-m]

I'm surprised how little attention this has gotten.

Several teams still battling for playoff spots; that takes some of the attention away.

[j-a-m]

That's not the only down-side . . .

Don't know what you're referring to; what I do know is that Cabrera's not nearly a lock for MVP, with Trout being that much better in the Wins above Replacement category.

[gh]

from the SF Chron's baseball notes column this morning <<-- Carl Yastrzemski, the last man to win a Triple Crown (1967), is following all the hubbab on Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown pursuit. Times were a bit different in '67. Yaz said he wasn't aware he led all three categories until the day after the season, when he read it in the newspaper.>>

[Marlow]

Times were a bit different in '67. Yaz said he wasn't aware he led all three categories until the day after the season, when he read it in the newspaper.>>

I'm calling BS. I followed baseball back then and EVERYBODY knew he was on track.

[gh]

no, all the geeks knew he was on track; who thinks baseball players can even read?

[cullman]

Yaz was more concerned with getting the Red Sox to the World Series in 1967. The Sox were in a virtual 3 way tie with the Tigers and Angels for the pennant on the last day.

[dukehjsteve]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but Yaz's Triple Crown had a tiny asterisk; he tied with somebody else in one of the categories, I think it was HR's.

Just checked it myself... Killebrew tied him in HR's.

[Marlow]

no, all the geeks knew he was on track; who thinks baseball players can even read?

Back in 1967, every red-blooded male was a baseball geek. That probably was the very year when T&F eclipsed baseball in my consciousness. As baseball fell away, the NFL replaced it, and now I'm over that (mostly).

[gh]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but Yaz's Triple Crown had a tiny asterisk; he tied with somebody else in one of the categories, I think it was HR's.

Just checked it myself... Killebrew tied him in HR's.

Unlike track, baseball ( and most other sports?) don't shoot themselves in the foot by diminishing the biggest accomplishments with asterisks (the stupid short-lived Maris decision aside).

They've figured out how to market numbers.

ps--i plead guilty to being part of the gang that has learned how to minimalize apparent T&F numbers, although in the case of Mexico City silliness, I'll do that to my death.

[gh]

and Cabrera does it!

awesome stuff for a numbers geek! (and the 12 Detroit Tigers fans left

[cullman]

Pretty amazing considering the focus has been on Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton for most of the season.

[gh]

and how 'bout them A's? first team ever to be 5 games out w/ 9 to go and win. (at least that's what the radio said)

[Dutra5]

from the SF Chron's baseball notes column this morning <<-- Carl Yastrzemski, the last man to win a Triple Crown (1967), is following all the hubbab on Miguel Cabrera's Triple Crown pursuit. Times were a bit different in '67. Yaz said he wasn't aware he led all three categories until the day after the season, when he read it in the newspaper.>>

Yaz was also in the middle of a pennant race which, IIRC, went down to the last day of the season. Throw in the fact that he was busy hitting .417 in September and stats were generally only printed in the newspaper...which he may not have read anyway....and it's not hard to believe.

[Dutra5]

In Cabrera's situation, baseball fans of the current generation don't look at batting average and RBI's with the same deity those of us a little....um....older do. So the Triple Crown in itself doesn't mean much to them.

[Conor Dary]

and how 'bout them A's? first team ever to be 5 games out w/ 9 to go and win. (at least that's what the radio said)

The infamous 1964 Phillies were 5 1/2 games in front with 12 to go and blew it. Of course, in those days, there were no wild cards to fall back on.

[cullman]

Also it was the second consecutive year that the American League had a Triple Crown winner. Oriole Frank Robinson had one in 1966 after being considered old and washed up by the Cincinnati Reds.

[dukehjsteve]

Somewhat interesting stats related to the above is that the very next year, Yaz won the batting crown again with a, get ready for this.... .301 ! Lowest winning average in either league in 112 seasons, by a whopping .12, from 1901-2012. That's 224 winners. Related note is in Robinson's triple crown in '66, he batted .316... 3rd lowest average ever. ( Gwynn .313 in "88 2nd lowest. )

[dj]

Yaz's .301 was in '68, the "Year of the Pitcher." It was the year Bob Gibson had a 1.12 ERA and Denny McLain won 31 games, causing MLB to lower the pitcher's mound the next year.

Not only did Yaz win the triple crown, he also led the AL in hits and runs scored--part of baseball's original offensive triple crown along with batting average, and before home runs and runs batted in had become integral parts of baseball offense.

That five-way title has been achieved only five other times in MLB history. So even after I give you Tip O'Neill in the American Association in 1887, who were the other four (no one has ever done this twice)?

[dukehjsteve]

I'll guess Mantle in 1956 for one of them.

[dj]

I'll guess Mantle in 1956 for one of them.

Good guess, but no. Harvey Kuenn led the AL with 198 hits in '56.

By the way, I know the answer to the question, but I have to look up the various disqualifiers, like Kuenn.

Another clue: All four guys predate Mantle.

[Dutra5]

Napolean Lajoie in 1901
Ty Cobb in 1909
Rogers Hornsby in 1922
Joe Medwick in 1937

[gh]

That's not the only down-side . . .

Don't know what you're referring to; what I do know is that Cabrera's not nearly a lock for MVP, with Trout being that much better in the Wins above Replacement category.

Not being contentious here, but how many people know about WAR, or care? I often wonder how much the trendy new Sabremetrics numbers have really penetrated the average fan of the game (which is all I can consider myself).

[dj]

That's not the only down-side . . .

Don't know what you're referring to; what I do know is that Cabrera's not nearly a lock for MVP, with Trout being that much better in the Wins above Replacement category.

Not being contentious here, but how many people know about WAR, or care? I often wonder how much the trendy new Sabremetrics numbers have really penetrated the average fan of the game (which is all I can consider myself).

They've probably penetrated the average fan more than the average voter, as the voters are older than the average fans.