Miguel Cabrera has a drinking problem. You know how I know? Because he drinks, and it causes problems. The 27-year old has been accused of showing up to a game hungover and battered from a drunken fight. He recently made history when he became the first ever professional athlete to be sacked by the LBS Nut Bag, and that was because of his drunken, smiling mug shot. One man who doesn’t seem all that concerned about any of it is Cabrera’s manager, Jim Leyland.
Hardball Talk shared some of Leyland’s comments about Cabrera with us on Friday morning, with which he basically praised his best hitter and brushed the DUI arrest aside. “Miguel Cabrera is in the best shape of his life,” Leyland said. “He’s stronger than he’s ever been. And he’s quicker than he’s ever been. He’s probably going to have the biggest year of his life.”
That’s great, coach, but what about his problems with alcohol and the law? “It has no effect,” Leyland continued. “It might make some dramatic reading material. It’s not going to do s***. Believe me. Nothing.”
Someone should probably remind Leyland that this a player who was allegedly swigging from a bottle of scotch right in front of a police officer’s face while on the side of a public road. We’re not talking about a speeding ticket. It’s one thing to defend your players and not discuss “in-house” issues, but Leyland shouldn’t be acting like Cabrera’s latest issue with alcohol is nothing more than “dramatic reading material.”
As for the best year of his career? At 27 and coming off a .328/38/126 season, I certainly wouldn’t rule it out.
