World Baseball Classic Update 7/11/22: Puerto Rico, Miguel Cabrera, Arizona

In an interview with Venezuelan press, Miguel Cabrera said that he’d be delighted to play for Venezuela next spring in the World Baseball Classic.

The Puerto Rican press has picked up on how tough their group will be. With perennial powers the Dominican Republic and Veneuzela as well as the dangerous Team Israel and a final team to be determined, at least one traditional baseball power will be eliminated. Edwin Rodriguez, who managed the team in 2013 and 2017, would like to note that this isn’t anything new. The Puerto Ricans were in the same pool as the DR and Venezuela in 2013, for example. For what it’s worth, Rodriguez (now a AAA manager) thinks that the Dominican Republic should be considered the overall favorites for the 2023 tournament.

Finally, the CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks told a Phoenix radio station that hosting a pool of the WBC will bring over $30 million to the economy there. The question of whether that is actually true or is just public relations spin I’ll leave to the economists.

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MVP of Yesterday (August 25, 2013): Miguel Cabrera

Much like how people keep hitting themselves when you ask them to “stop hitting yourself”, pitchers continue to pitch to Miguel Cabrera despite everyone saying that they really shouldn’t. Oh, sure, there’s Prince Fielder right behind him, but, well, you have to wonder if Miguel Cabrera is getting so good that it’s now perhaps a better idea to just risk Prince Fielder beating you. Take yesterday, for example, where Miguel Cabrera went 3-4 with a HR, 2 RBIs and a walk.

It’s his sixth total MVP of Yesterday, as you can see after the jump:

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PACES! (As of May 29, 2013)

  • Miguel Cabrera is on pace for 185 RBIs. The single-season record of 191 is held by Hack Wilson of the 1930 Chicago Cubs. The AL single-season record, held by Lou Gehrig of the 1931 Yankees, is 184.
  • Chris Davis is on pace for 53 HR. The Baltimore single-season record is 50, by Brady Anderson in 1995.
  • Jason Grilli is on pace for 65 saves. The single-season record is 62, held by Francisco Rodriguez in 2008.
  • The Miami Marlins are on pace for either 40 or 41 wins (depending on how you round it). Want to know what other team only had 40 wins? The 1962 New York Mets.

What does this mean? Well, nobody can be 100% sure, since keeping up a pace, especially one of historic significance, is hard. But it’s an interesting thing to think about…

MVP of Yesterday (May 23, 2013): Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera “only” went 2-3 yesterday with a home run, 3 RBIs and two walks, but because of the smaller schedule yesterday, he still snags a MVP of Yesterday title. It also has put him ahead of Bryce Harper overall in the standings.

MVP Standings after the jump:

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MVP of Yesterday (May 19, 2013): Miguel Cabrera

I believe John Kruk spoke for all of us when he declared that Miguel Cabrera is just better than everyone else. It certainly was true last night, when he went 4-4 with 3 HRs and 5 RBIs. Of course, the Tigers lost, but still…

MVP of Yesterday standings, as always, under the jump:

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MVP of Yesterday (May 4, 2013): Miguel Cabrera

Miguel Cabrera is good at baseball. We all know this, but when he gets 2 HRs and 6 RBIs like he did yesterday in the 17-2 Tigers rout over the Astros, we are reminded of it.  It’s his second MVP of Yesterday this season.

 

MVP Standings after the jump:

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The MVP of Yesterday (April 16, 2013): Miguel Cabrera

By going 3-5 with a HR and 4 RBIs in a win against the Mariners, Miguel edges out David Wright, Joe Mauer, Robinson Cano and others for the MVP of Yesterday.

The MVP standings can be seen below the jump:

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