For two years, Miguel Cabrera's numbers have stunned the baseball world. Cabrera, the Detroit Tigers' big-framed 30-year-old third baseman, won the American League Triple Crown in 2012, leading the league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in—a feat no one had pulled off since Lyndon Johnson's presidency. This year, he didn't quite repeat the accomplishment. His power stats faded in September as he battled an abdominal strain, but his offensive production was actually better than it was in 2012.
In an era dominated by pitching, Cabrera's hitting is borderline silly. The same player isn't supposed to have both the power to club 44 home runs and the bat control to hit .348, get on base 44% of the time, and only strike out 94 times. Chris Davis, who led baseball with 53 home runs this season, hit a respectable .286 but whiffed 199 times.
A (large) power-hitting (exceptionally gifted) Charley Lau style (weight transfer) hitter! Wonderful.
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