Dear Miguel,
As the best player on the Tigers, it’s time to set the tone for our team’s plate approach.
I was looking over your stats, and I noticed you walked over 100 times in 2011. That’s my challenge to you, oh great “Triple Crown” majesty: walk 100 times.
Granted, we’ve played 69 games, so in the remaining 93 games, I challenge you to walk 57 times. That’s 82 for the season with your 25 so far.
Why is the walk not respected unless you’re Billy Beane? Moneyball is a goddamn movie now, so it’s not like the information is some big secret.
Remember how scared people were to pitch to Barry Bonds? Well, Cabrera is the ‘roid-free version who puts that same fear in opposing pitchers. It’s intimidating as hell, building the suspense one pitch at a time, sweating the man on the mound. That’s what builds the hype in the crowd and really sets you up for a proper pitch to crush.
Waiting patiently isn’t about being perfect as much as a self-serving interest to boost your overall hitting numbers, too, not just an on-base percentage boost. The walk helps everyone on the team, giving the batters more to look at and chasing the opposing starter more quickly. The best way to hit more home runs is to force other teams to throw you good pitches. Otherwise, take the walk.
Make them pitch to you, Miguel. Tu eres el hombre.