Cabrera getting enough praise?
Written by Joe Veno on August 4, 2009 – 11:24 AM -- Why no love for Miggy?: Miguel Cabrera is great, and having a great season. But is he getting the praise he deserves? Because I just don’t see it. Cabrera is hitting .334/.396/.554. Those are easily MVP caliber numbers. I know the praise was there earlier in the season, but it seems to have begun to disintegrate to some extent. His defense has improved by leaps and bounds, as he has shed weight and also had some time to actually learn the position. And because he is such a great fastball hitter, he is seeing as few of them as ever, 54 percent. Luckily though, such a great hitter, one of Cabrera’s caliber, he is having success on every pitch imaginable, with all of his “Pitch Type Values” in the positives. He’s been handling everything off-speed, and killing the fastball as usual. A great hitter doing what they do I guess.
- How good is Latos?: Mat Latos has some impressive numbers in the Minors. Only one posting over a 2.19 FIP, and that was a 4.01 FIP in only five starts at Single-A. His current 5.22 FIP–over a very small sample–is not good. But Latos is very young. Baseball Prospectus had him ranked in the 60’s before the season. Saying that he is a “power pitcher” and that he “separates himself with his great command.” Well, a power pitcher with great command is probably going to have success. It’s true, the Padres have something to look forward to. There is only so much excitement surrounding Chad Gaudin.
- Utley the best this season?: Utley just recently passed Albert Pujols in ‘WAR’ at 5.5. Pujols is trailing down at 5.2 nowadays, with Ben Zobrist actually second. So is Utley the best in the game this season? It wouldn’t be out of the question to declare that. He’s hitting .301/.420/.546, which is ridiculous for a good fielding middle infielder. So he hits for average, power, gets on base, plys defense. What can’t he do? Chase Utley just might be more valuable than Pujols in 2009…
Posted in Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres | 2 Comments »
August 4th, 2009 at 4:40 PM
First of all, Wordpress would me to notify you that Wordpress v. 2.8.3 is now available.
Secondly, three words: Citizens’ Bank Park. Though Utley is very good. So is Latos. And Miggy. They’re all good.
August 4th, 2009 at 6:59 PM
Wow, consider me one of those people who had no idea Cabrera was turning in that kind of season (this reminds me of my “where’s the Dan Haren love” post from awhile back). Then again, players not on either the Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, or personal fantasy team tend to fly under my radar.