Is Miguel Cabrera the best hitter ever

[The Derski]

A lot of people dismissing Miggy while naming players that played before color television that played against far weaker competition.

 

[navamind]

A lot of people dismissing Miggy while naming players that played before color television that played against far weaker competition.

There are better hitters from this era anyway.

 

[The Derski]

There are better hitters from this era anyway.

The only argument I can think of is Pujols.

 

[navamind]

The only argument I can think of is Pujols.

Frank Thomas, Barry Bonds

Manny Ramirez, Edgar Martinez and Jim Thome were pretty damn good too, though unless Miggy has a Griffey-esque decline, I'd put him ahead of those three. Griffey did not age well, sadly.

 

[broncosmitty]

View attachment 14570

He's not the greatest ever. But, I think it'd be fair to say he's underrated.

They've been showing those comparisons during Tigers broadcasts for 4-5 years now. It's ridiculous how he's stayed right on pace.

I think he's been given adequate credit as a hitter. But I think he's got a raw deal from talking heads and "fans" that don't watch him daily, as a fielder. He's a very solid, Id even say good, first baseman. Great hands, good movement, good arm and plays smart.

Also a damn good baserunner for a giant human being.

I'll never get to see a player of his caliber again on a daily basis in my lifetime.

 

[msgkings322]

They've been showing those comparisons during Tigers broadcasts for 4-5 years now. It's ridiculous how he's stayed right on pace.

I think he's been given adequate credit as a hitter. But I think he's got a raw deal from talking heads and "fans" that don't watch him daily, as a fielder. He's a very solid, Id even say good, first baseman. Great hands, good movement, good arm and plays smart.

Also a damn good baserunner for a giant human being.

I'll never get to see a player of his caliber again on a daily basis in my lifetime.

Exactly how I felt about Barry Bonds. Even before he roided up

 

[Voltaire26]

Being a big Miguel Cabrera fan, it pains me to say Barry Bonds. Barry was the most feared hitter of all time (Babe Ruth second). Barry also had to bat against pitchers who were taking PED's

 

[da55bums]

Barry, Ted, Lou G, Ruth

Miggy might not even be the best hitter the Tigers have ever had, Ty Cobb, Hank Greenburg have the tigers records still, like it or not they were "feared" in their time as well.

MLB had less teams and less watered down pitching in the old days as well, pretty sure the current batting practice Twins entire pitching staff couldn't have made a team back in the day.

The argument was the same for Pujols and Bonds a decade ago and will be made again for Trout and ????? in the future.

If I had to pick one batter to save my life out of all and he had to get a hit, its Ted..he did it without protection...if he had to get a HR wow Barry or Ruth.

 

[broncosmitty]

Exactly how I felt about Barry Bonds. Even before he roided up

Best player I've ever seen. Like you said, with or without the juice.

 

[packerzrule]

There are better hitters from this era anyway.

There was better overall pitching in that era as well.

 

[GenJac]

Average down to only .351 with a 1.083 OPS? How can this man accept his paychecks?

 

[belcherboy]

Barry, Ted, Lou G, Ruth

Miggy might not even be the best hitter the Tigers have ever had, Ty Cobb, Hank Greenburg have the tigers records still, like it or not they were "feared" in their time as well.

MLB had less teams and less watered down pitching in the old days as well, pretty sure the current batting practice Twins entire pitching staff couldn't have made a team back in the day.

The argument was the same for Pujols and Bonds a decade ago and will be made again for Trout and ????? in the future.

If I had to pick one batter to save my life out of all and he had to get a hit, its Ted..he did it without protection...if he had to get a HR wow Barry or Ruth.

I still think it is somewhat apples and oranges comparison when two players are 50 years apart in the era they played in. Ted, Lou G, Ruth should probably be compared with those who played 2-3 decades before them and 2-3 decades after them IMO.

When comparing Miggy to the players from the 70's-10's, the only guy I think who was a better all around hitter would be Bonds. There are some arguments that could be made for other guys being as good as Miggy, but I think the only one I would agree with right now would be Bonds. Outside of a freak injury the next few years, Miggy is a first ballot HOF IMO. He just needs 2-3 more seasons of decent baseball and he should have the stats necessary to be in the HOF.

 

[StanMarsh51]

When comparing Miggy to the players from the 70's-10's, the only guy I think who was a better all around hitter would be Bonds. There are some arguments that could be made for other guys being as good as Miggy, but I think the only one I would agree with right now would be Bonds. Outside of a freak injury the next few years, Miggy is a first ballot HOF IMO. He just needs 2-3 more seasons of decent baseball and he should have the stats necessary to be in the HOF.

Then again, Pujols through the about the same number of games had better numbers virtually across the board.

Miggy through 1848 games:
.321/.397/.564, 154 OPS+, 396 HR, 1390 RBI, 1181 R, 879 BB, 1338 K

Pujols through 1859 games:
.325/.414/.608, 168 OPS+, 475 HR, 1434 RBI, 1376 R, 1027 BB, 780K

 

[Mondo Jay]

 

[Wazmankg]

Then again, Pujols through the about the same number of games had better numbers virtually across the board.

Miggy through 1848 games:
.321/.397/.564, 154 OPS+, 396 HR, 1390 RBI, 1181 R, 879 BB, 1338 K

Pujols through 1859 games:
.325/.414/.608, 168 OPS+, 475 HR, 1434 RBI, 1376 R, 1027 BB, 780K

Yeah, I love Miggy of course but Pujols was off the charts for several years... unless we're docking him because we suspect he had artificial help. But when it come to that, who knows what any of these guys have done ?

 

[The Derski]

Still don't get the infatuation with these classic players people keep bringing up. Yes they deserve respect but this era is so much more competitive and talented. It's fact. Minor league players today would dominate major leaguers back then. Please.

 

[HammerDown]

 

[HammerDown]

 

[navamind]

Tigers have scored 15 runs since Miggy went down yesterday. Clearly they're better without him.

 

[kburjr]

Still don't get the infatuation with these classic players people keep bringing up. Yes they deserve respect but this era is so much more competitive and talented. It's fact. Minor league players today would dominate major leaguers back then. Please.

Seriously? Pre-1960 there were only 16 teams, 400 players in the majors. Now, 30 teams 750 total players. The old time players played baseball exclusively.

And ask Ty Cobb if today's baseball is more competitive, or ask Ted Williams who is a better hitter, ask Walter Johnson who throws harder. As for our minor leaguers dominating, bullshit. The reason that they are in the minors is because of a flaw in their game that would be exposed in either era.