Someone should be tackled if they put Cabrera back in the field for the remainder of the 2014 season. I personally believe he should be transitioned to the DH position permanently. You are speaking about the best pure offensive player in the game. The man has to play for the next decade.  Cabrera has fought his off season surgery for a torn groin, to put up decent numbers in 2014 – .310/.370/.514 3 Slash Line with 22 HRs and 101 RBI.  Yes, he is leading the league with 45 Doubles, but he will likely fail to hit 30 HRs for the 1st time as a Tiger this campaign. The .885 OPS would also mark his worst total since his rookie year.  He has shown this week he can handle the DH role.

I am not talking just about 2014 here.  Miguel Cabrera has come off his short rest, to bash out 8 hits in 3 games – since taking the position of DH on the club.  So I say…just leave him there forever.

Often I have wondered why more teams don’t just take advantage of the slot in the American League.  Instead, for most clubs, the Designated Hitter is used as an off day, or for matchup preferences.

You want to know why Boston has 3 World Series in the last 10 years… I will tell you… David Ortiz!!

Big Papi has been so much more productive than every other player at the role, that having him against the pack gives the Red Sox a clear cut upper hand.

I know Cabrera is making megabucks now, but are you really going to miss his defensive prowess at 1B?

Who cares about piling up AL MVP’s because the voters are always biased about 1 way players.  The Tigers should be going for World Series Titles, and what better way to preserve their #1 commodity.

Victor Martinez has thrived offensively in Detroit hitting behind Miguel Cabrera. Aside from the 2012 injury where he missed the whole season to a broken ankle. V-Mart’s 3 Slash Line for the Tigers is .321/.379/.486 – with 56 HR and 283 RBI in 1656 AB for the squad. 2014 is the last year of the 35 year old’s 4 YRs/$50 MIL deal, and he will be on the open market after this campaign. There is also no coincidence this man provides an advantage out of the DH slot like not even Ortiz presently. Martinez has a 3 slash of .335/.404/.568 with 30 HRs and 97 RBI.  His .972 OPS is 1st in the AL – and he is just barely trailing Jose Altuve for the batting title.  With no guarantee the Tigers could afford to bring him back for 2015 or beyond, moving Cabrera permanently to the DH slot is a possibility looming large now.  Both men have hit well since V-Mart took over 1B.

Having A Great DH Can Mean Winning The AL Pennant: For Other Teams – The Position Is A Waste!

I am going to go through the last 22 years of ALCS Pennant Winners as part of my study.  77.2% of the time (the team with a great DH) was in the World Series: (17 out of 22)

1992 TORONTO-Dave Winfield .290 26 HRs 108 RBI.
1993 TORONTO-Paul Molitor .332 22 HRs 111 RBI.
1994 WORLD SERIES CANCELLED
1995 CLEVELAND-Eddie Murray .323 21 HRs 82 RBI.
1996 NEW YORK-Cecil Fielder 39 HRs 117 RBI (Acquired at deadline by NYY).
1997 CLEVELAND-David Justice .329 33 HRs 101 RBI.
1998 NEW YORK-Darryl Strawberry 24 HRs 57 RBI (295 AB IN 101 GAMES)
1999 NEW YORK-Chili Davis/Darryl Strawberry (not the greatest year-but in middle of NYY dynasty of 6 ALC Pennants IN 7 YRS).
2000 NEW YORK-David Justice .286 41 HRs 118 RBI.
2001 NEW YORK-David Justice (not the greatest year but it was a solid NYY team.)  Edgar Martinez led SEA to a 116-46 record.and were prohibitive favorites but lost to the Yankees-Martinez year was .306 23 HRs AND 106 RBI.
2002 ANAHEIM-Brad Fullmer (hit .289 with 60 XBH in 130 games and a slugging % of .531).
2003 NEW YORK-Jason Giambi 41 HRs 107 RBI.
2004 BOSTON-David Ortiz .301 41 HRs 139 RBI.
2005 CHICAGO-Carl Everett 23 HRs 87 RBI in 135 games.
2006 Detroit Tigers-Dmitri Young (They did not have a definite DH after Young’s injury so this year so was the worst out of the 20 years.)
2007 BOSTON-David Ortiz-.305 35 HRs 117 RBI.
2008 TAMPA BAY-Cliff Floyd/Wille Aybar 22 HRs 72 RBI combined (Again great pitching carried TB.)
2009 NEW YORK-Hideki Matsui .274 28 HRs 90 RBI IN 456 AB.
2010 TEXAS-Vlad Guerrero .300 29 HR’S 115 RBI.
2011 TEXAS-Michael Young .338 11 HR’S 106 RBI.

2012: DETROIT – Delmon Young .267 18 HRs 74 RBI – however he hit for a .313/.365/.913 Slash line with 3 HRs and 9 RBI – including winning the ALCS MVP.

2 men that met in the 2013 ALCS

2013: DETROIT –  Victor Martinez .301 – 14 HRs and 83 RBI

2013:  BOSTON –  .David Ortiz .309 – 30 HRs and 103 RBI.

I believe Cabrera could hit 35 – 40 HRs, and lock in .300/.400/.550 on average for the next decade if this were the case.

Especially with ailing injuries to his lower half, take some pressure off the big man.

Detroit will likely not be able to afford Victor Martinez past this year anyway.  It is easier to find a guy who plays First Base..However, replacing V-Mart’s production out of the DH position would be impossible in 2015..

If Boston would have played Ortiz in the field for the majority of the  last decade, does anyone actually think his body would have held out?

Toronto should do the same with Jose Bautista, and the Angels also shouldn’t waste another second – and use the slot for Josh Hamilton or Albert Pujols.

David Ortiz is incredible based on the consistent numbers he has put forth since everyone thought his career was winding down several years ago. The 38 Year Old DH continues to bash homers, win games, and now with a flurry of trades, the organization has given him some reinforcements for the next couple of seasons.  if Boston had played him on defense, I fully expect his career expectancy would have been shortened significantly.  Who will take over the reigns as the premiere DH when Big Papi leaves?