WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY

/ totallytigersblog

Today, another opportunity for readers to discuss the hottest topics in a forum where thoughtful dialog and a variety of opinions are welcomed.

Let’s create some running conversational threads.  And for those of you back in actual offices, here’s a question to take with you – or use via Zoom – as you talk to your co-workers.

Here is today’s topic……..

Miguel Cabrera is slashing .196/.275/.237/.512 (through Monday’s games).  He has yet to hit a HR but has 4 doubles and driven in 7 runs in 97 at-bats.  Most of his inability to hit can be blamed on injuries including a chronic knee condition that no longer allows him to hit for power nor to run well.  He is also 40 years old.

We know that the order to play him comes from ownership for multiple reasons.  We also know that Miggy will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 5 years.  He would go in as a Tiger.

Currently, Cabrera is climbing the 3,000+ hits chart and currently ranks #23.  He has 3,107 hits, 100 more than Al Kaline. 

With 4 more hits, he will pass Dave Winfield.  With just 5 more hits, he will pass Alex Rodriquez.

If he gets 34 and 35 more hits (based upon his current 3,107), he will pass Tony Gwynn and Robin Yount.  With only 10-12 more hits, he will also climb past Paul Waner and George Brett.  Even Adrian Beltre is potentially within reach that would allow Miggy to finish his career as the 16th player in MLB history with the most hits.

It is not expected that he could overtake Cal Ripken, Jr. who ended up with 3,184 hits.

What should be the priority for the remainder of this year?  Should Miggy play as little as possible or should he be allowed to pursue his climb up the 3,000 hit list?  How important is getting as many hits as possible to move higher on the list and potentially pass as many as 7 other greats of the game?

Comments are limited to a maximum of 3 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page in order for your comments to be published.

FINAL RESULTS FROM A MAY TOTALLY TIGERS POLL:

How interested have you been in following the team this year?

  • I am watching/listening to more games.  50% 
  • I am watching/listening to the same # of games as last year.  35% 
  • I am watching/listening to very few games.  8% 
  • I am watching/listening to fewer games.  4% 
  • I am watching/listening to no games.  3% 

Why should you follow Totally Tigers https://twitter.com/totallytigersbb on Twitter?

  • We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
  • Want more than 1 Totally Tigers fix every day? How about throughout the day?

17 thoughts on “WATERCOOLER WEDNESDAY”

  1. I can’t believe I voted to keep him swinging away, because I have been highly critical of (and demoralized by) his active place on the roster. But incredibly he is literally not taking bats away from anyone who will be on the roster in ’24. Do we really care if Ibanez, Nevin, Short, Schoop, Maton, even Hasse are denied bonus bats in the DH spot?

    Liked by 11 people

    • Not relevant. Do you at least attempt to win games and improve the team in the future or just throw the guy out there once a week out of “respect” for his career?

      Like

      • Respectfully disagree as I think you missed my point. He is 7th on team in OBP and five fellow sluggers are below his batting average. While he’s bad, several of the Harris dumpster dive guys are worse on the worst offensive team in the league.

        Liked by 2 people

  2. If you take Miggy out of the line up who replaces him – another player struggling to hit .200 with a sub .600 OPS that doesn’t have physical limitations to blame. I’d rather get to see Miggy every chance I can than see Schoop, Nevin, Ibanez, Baez, Rogers, or Hasse.

    Liked by 4 people

  3. One week ago I may have voted the other way, but now, let Miggy loose; really, his pursuit may be the only highlight left this year, from an offensive perspective, anyway.

    Liked by 7 people

  4. Who are you going to replace him with that is substantially better. So we don’t win a couple games more. I’d rather watch Miguel bat over any AAAA whose face we don’t recognize and name we’ll forget before the game is over.

    Liked by 2 people

  5. For now, might as well let him play, because as others have pointed out, he’s not blocking anyone on the current roster. However, since this is a “reassessment” year, hopefully Harris and company have a plan to upgrade the offense in the second half of the season via trades and minor league promotions.

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Cabrera should be their everyday DH- and should have been all year. Players perform to expectations and when he hits seventh and plays twice a week, how’s he supposed to put up decent numbers? Harris and Hinch have totally botched this situation.

    Like

    • Hi, Bill – For the record, the Tigers have officially said that Miggy is unable to play every day due to his chronic knee condition and other ailments. They are going on doctor recommendations that will allow Miggy to get through an entire season. – Holly

      Liked by 2 people

      • The Tigers say a lot of things to serve their own purposes; it doesn’t make them true. If he can play twice a week batting seventh he certainly ought to be able to play four times and hit higher in the order.

        Liked by 1 person

  7. No right handed batters are earning more playing time these days, so I cast a “might as well let Miggy try to hit singles” vote. I think many of us voted for him out of dejection. Here we are x many years into the rebuild with an abysmal batting order.

    Liked by 4 people

  8. We are lucky to get to see one of the best hitters ever, still swinging the bat during his last year. I still watch him hit more than any other batter in the big leagues. He is more fun to watch than any player ever, even now and I say play him as much as his body can take all year long, and let the crowds see a magnificent hitter.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. If the Tigers were realistically in the division race, I’d have to consider taking him out. They are not realistically in the division race. Let him play as much as his physical condition allows.

    Liked by 4 people

  10. Sadly, I voted to let him hit as much as he can. The Tigers are falling back in the race with no indication they have the capability to turn things around. I only wish he had undertaken a fitness program to be at a better weight instead of the 270-ish he appears to be so he might be performing better and more often.

    Liked by 6 people

  11. Easy vote, as few ABs as possible. He is injured and could conceivably sue the Tigers and MLB for insisting he play (semi-serious here). The reality is if you try to play him just for possible numbers, you denigrate everything he did over the first dozen years of his career and you win fewer games.

    Liked by 1 person

  13. I voted to allow him to pursue and pass other members because we aren’t going anywhere this year anyways. As long as he only has this one year left I say play him and let him pass as many other members as he can. It would be different if we were tearing it up (but as it is they are barely keeping up with the weak division that they are in, so we might as well have something to cheer about)😉

    Like

Comments are closed.