Comments on: Melky Cabrera must not think he’s a .340 hitter

By: clydeserra

clydeserra — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 03:06:28 +0000

watch like what?

the Jays have certainly improved, but have the Yankees? I don’t see it.

the red sox? The rays? the Orioles?

By: awisesf

awisesf — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:24:53 +0000

My memory may be failing, but I remember this differently. Melky created a phony website to attempt to lie about the PEDs he was taking, left without talking to the team, and blew off management. I understand he “removed himself” from batting title consideration, but in reality he decided not to seek an exception to give himself enough at bats to qualify. (Which I guess would have gone something like, “Gee, I know I didn’t get enough plate appearances because, um…I got suspended, but…”)

I really enjoyed watching him play this year, got caught up in the whole Melkman thing, then we all got burned. Guess I don’t see him as the noble upstanding guy you do.

By: rich7041

rich7041 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:14:43 +0000

He’s already played for 4 teams in 4 years (NYY, ATL, KC & SF.) Toronto makes it 5 in 5. A trade could make it 6 in 6!

By: bbil2012

bbil2012 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:23:38 +0000

Memorable interpretation of an otherwise crappy song.

By: bigdicktater

bigdicktater — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:22:42 +0000

So did the Dodgers……………..

By: jaybird22seven

jaybird22seven — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:12:38 +0000

The Blue Jays might now have the best top four hitters in baseball !!!

By: purnellmeagrejr

purnellmeagrejr — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:26:47 +0000

Waking up this morning to find out M Cabrera is gettting 8 mil per year makes me afraid to go to the supermarket for fear that coffee will be $50 a pound.

By: sawxalicious

sawxalicious — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:44:28 +0000

I don’t know if the collective bargaining agreement allows for more frequent testing of individuals that get caught for PEDs, but I think it would be good for the game if those players faced weekly testing the year following their suspension…it would also be in the best interest of the player, as they would get a chance to try to prove they can play at a high level w/o the suspicion they’re doping again…if they can’t achieve that level again, it’s on them.

By: kappy32

kappy32 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 05:43:43 +0000

Cabrera did the right thing here & he has done the right thing since he got busted. Cabrera admitted his guilt right off the bat & didn’t play the public as fools with BS denials; Cabrera voluntarily removed himself from the batting title race so as to not tarnish one of the most coveted titles in the game; and now, Melky has priced himself with a reasonable contract so he can try to prove himself once again. To be completely honest with you, I was surprised he got 2 years; I was almost positive no one would give him anything more than a year at $8-$10 million with an out that if he got caught again, the team would be able to rescind his contract. The only reason why he probably got the second year at the amount he received was because of the way he conducted himself after being caught. Melky acted like a professional & he was rewarded with a professional contract. Good for him.

By: nbjays

nbjays — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 02:59:19 +0000

Good point, COPO… who knows, maybe Jeff Loria will be in a buying mood again…

By: jjpileggi

jjpileggi — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:31:28 +0000

Perhaps he has that rare sense of shame about the PED situation and decided that a solid two year deal with a contending team was a good outcome given the suspension. His career write up will always begin with a reference to the PEDs and so perhaps having a championship after the stain is what is important to him. Anyway, I can dream…….

John Pileggi

By: paperlions

paperlions — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:17:17 +0000

In fairness, since 1950, there hasn’t been a single guy that was a career .340 hitter (using only data since 1950)…so….really, no one in MLB should think he is a .340 hitter….because whoever he is….he would be wrong.

By: kardshark1

kardshark1 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 01:04:42 +0000

Everybody at ESPN agrees.

By: approvenothing

approvenothing — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:59:59 +0000

Yea, not gonna lie to ya, the AL East may just be the division to watch this coming season.

By: canadabaseball

canadabaseball — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:57:26 +0000

He will be under 30 when contract is up and if he can hit 300 he can get a 6 year 70 mill contract . Write it down it will happen

By: lazlosother

lazlosother — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:51:52 +0000

I’ve got to think the premise of this article is silly. We have a player coming off a suspension, one that damaged his value badly. In this situation is $16 million a bad thing? This is the type of money that could set you up for life.

Players sign below market deals all the time before they are eligible for free agency. Does this mean they fear they aren’t any good? Probably not. A guarantee that will make one comfortable or wealthy is very appealing. Come the worst, he should be set for life. Come the best, he is 30, a free agent, and can look to make up for lost opportunities.

Stating that he must have no self confidence due to the contract ignores the fact that performance isn’t a given. Injuries can happen. A player may take a shorter term contract in this situation not because they have not faith in themselves, but because it reduces uncertainty in the financial aspect of their lives.

By: jaybird22seven

jaybird22seven — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:30:15 +0000

1. Reyes
2. Cabrera
3. Bautista
4. Encarnacion
5. Lawrie
6. Rasmus
7. Lind
8. Arencibia
9. Izturis
There is a new beast of the East !!!! Enough said !!!

By: kardshark1

kardshark1 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:19:55 +0000

No… but a .300 hitter with a .440 slg% seems about right. With his speed and that canon arm, what a bargain for 8 mil per. And considering Torii Hunter got 13 mil per for sucking in everything but BABiP, I suspect the smart GMs are a bit envious.

By: Gonzo

Gonzo — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:18:05 +0000

lol Bravo, Frank. Bravo.

By: cur68

cur68 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:12:17 +0000

Not a bad narrative, Fink. Could be true. Another factor is Melky’s sense of guilt. Look what he did out of guilt already? Gave up the NL batting title. He didn’t have to do that. Taking this deal plays into that. He’s still got to go out there and face the music; face up to being known as a drug cheat. At least he doesn’t have to do so with the spectre of being a greedy, no-concsience bastard, too. If he backs it up with great play for low pay, is a model citizen, and tries to be a better man going forward he could find himself part of a great team in a suddenly weak division. I think he wants to change the narrative of his baseball career. From drug cheat to player who made a mistake and tries to make up for it by helping the team that gave him a chance. All for relative peanuts. Seems plausible to me.

By: whitlockd

whitlockd — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:06:04 +0000

He’s a career .284 hitter. Would anybody reasonably expect him to hit .340 again?

By: yankeepunk3000

yankeepunk3000 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 00:03:26 +0000

very intriguing here…I do think he’s going to come back to earth…probally be a number 7 hitter at best…the Jays will over pay but its not a bad risk. in that line-up he might be able to hit for ab adequate average.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:50:45 +0000

Another positive for the Jays that I haven’t seen someone bring up is that if he starts crushing the ball again, a 1.5 year deal left with like $11M remaining would be a huge bargaining chip for some good prospects if the Jays were so inclined to trade him.

By: csndrew

csndrew — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:47:42 +0000

It’s not like Melky decides what his contract is going to be. Maybe his agent called around and that was the best there was….

By: frank433

frank433 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:38:55 +0000

Jesus, take the Wii

By: pdubbstrem

pdubbstrem — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:20:22 +0000

Classic trolling article. Not much else to it.

By: pisano

pisano — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:19:49 +0000

error…. The Jays will….

By: pisano

pisano — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:18:55 +0000

The Jays wii have to be taken seriously, they’ve loaded up in a hurry.

By: smcgaels1997

smcgaels1997 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:16:27 +0000

16 million isn’t worth it for lying …I could see a 1 year show me deal but 2 yrs 16 million? No way I’d try to beat that to get Melky

By: brianbowman16

brianbowman16 — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 23:15:01 +0000

Maybe he didn’t want to play in 4 cities in 4 years. Maybe he thinks he can build more value over two years like he almost did with KC and SF