Rare feats , no feats, and some feats are made for greatness ….

Rare feats , no feats, and some feats are made for greatness …..

By Tophatal

No hitters and perfect games no longer seem to be a rarity in the game of baseball as it now seems to be an ever-increasing occurrence within the game. What baseball hasn’t seen in over four decades, is the accomplishment of the batting’s Triple Crown, last achieved by Carl Yastrzemski during the 1967 . That year, the Yastrzemski led the AL with a .326 batting, average, 44 home runs and 121 RBI’s.

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Slide show.

In 2012, the Detroit Tigers’ — Miguel Cabrera might just be on the cusp on joining a select group of players to have achieved the feat of baseball’s hallowed Triple Crown. Cabrera leads the AL, batting .327 , with 42 home runs and 133 RBI’s as of 29th September , has a comfortable lead over his closest rivals Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton in each of the aforementioned categories . Pitchers may well have had stellar seasons ,but it in large part the fans simply yearn to see the monstrous home runs and offense from the teams. From my own perspective should Miguel Cabrera pull off the feat of the Triple Crown , then most certainly it would make him a presumptive favorite for the AL MVP , of whom his closest rivals are likely to be, Josh Hamilton and Mike Trout within the American League ! All three players and their respective teams , the Detroit Tigers , Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers are all involved in either divisional races or for one of the two berths in the revised playoff format for the AL wildcard.

For the Detroit Tigers, having opened up a two-game lead over the Chicago White Sox (83-75) within the AL Central , the team’s biggest goal is the secure the divisional crown and insuring themselves a berth in the postseason. Jim Leyland and his managerial staff this season , have seen their schedule being turned upside down through inconsistent play and a wide variety of other unforeseen problems as the team sought to play itself into contention. GM Dave Dombrowski and team owner Michael Ilitch have seen fit to make this the year where they spent in order to bolster the roster . It would be remiss to suggest that Cabrera has been the sole reason why the Tigers have prevailed this season , but he has been the main impetus behind the Tigers’ resurgence as a contender in 2012.

With only four games remaining on their schedule the Detroit Tigers, the team next face the declining Minnesota Twins (66-92) in a game that has more meaning to the divisional leader, than it does for a Twins’ organization, in a season , where nothing has gone right at all . And from my own standpoint, I’m wondering whether or not the front office will stand by manager , Ron Gardenhire, as he faces another season with a sub .500 record and a team that has simply under-achieved , and not met the expectations sought. Gardenhire , is one of the longest tenured managers in baseball, and he has had considerable success with the ball-club over the course of his tenure , but for the past seven years the returns have been meager. Whatever , the future now holds for the Minnesota Twins , the decisions to be made by the front office will stress whether or not the organization’s faith in Ron Gardenhire will remain.

The Detroit Tigers remain a venerable ball-club with noted accomplishments by the players over the course of their history. It would be a significant achievement, were Miguel Cabrera to attain the Holy Grail of baseball, in terms of the Triple Crown. The first baseman , and slugger, is a mercurial talent with prodigious productivity over the course of his career . This season we have seen noted accomplishments with the perfect games , no hitters , and even a four home run game — from the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton , but I believe that those feats , would somehow pale into insignificance given the historical significance and the rarity of such an occurrence with regard to the Triple Crown ! What thoughts if any, do you have with such a premise?

The remaining games should prove decisive in terms of the culmination of the regular season , as it will lay out the final standings , as well as setting up the scenario for the divisional round of the MLB playoffs. . In light of the Tigers’ postseason sojourn in 2011 , which saw the team fall to the Texas Rangers 4-2 in the ALCS , led many to believe that the ball-club simply was not equipped to make a successful attempt to win the World Series . 2012 , might just be the year , where with everything in place , the AL Central team with its All Stars , led by Miguel Cabrera , Prince Fielder and Justin Verlander , could very well make it an eventful and successful year for this esteemed baseball organization. It should prove to be very eventful once the postseason gets underway , commencing on the 5th October, 2012.

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Picture gallery

Should Miguel Cabrera achieve the rare feat of claiming the Triple Crown , do you believe it to be a noteworthy accomplishment by the player ? What , if anything are you specifically looking forward to , as the MLB playoffs approach ? By all means , do leave a comment as you see fit , and thanks as always for the continued support of this site !

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Picture and slide show details below.
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(1) Boston Red Sox great, Carl Yastrzemski , the last player to accomplish the feat of the Triple Crown in 1967. Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers leads the AL batting standings in each of the categories in question , and could become the first player in 45 years to achieve the feat. Courtesy of Sports Illustrated / Michael Hart ….

(2) Detroit Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez fields an infield pop-up for the out off the bat of Minnesota Twins’ Pedro Florimon in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012 in Minneapolis. Watching, left, is Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder. Detroit would go on to defeat the Twins 2-1. AP Photo/Jim Mone …

(3) Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera watches his three-run home run off Minnesota Twins’ Casey Fien in the eighth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Minneapolis. The homer tied him with Texas’ Josh Hamilton. AP Photo/Jim Mone ….

(4) Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera, left, and Prince Fielder celebrate after the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 6-4 in a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, in Minneapolis. Both hit home runs in the game. AP Photo/Jim Mone …..

(5) From left to right agent Scott Boras , Tigers’ GM Dave Dombrowski, Prince Fielder , team owner Michael Ilitch , and manager Jim Leyland . The organization formally announced Fielder as their biggest free agent acquisition , having signed the player to a nine-year $214 million contract in January 2012 . Detroit Free Press / Chris Cowan ……
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MLB news

MLB standings & wildcard standings

MLB results 30th September , 2012

This week in baseball history , September 29th & chronological historical information

AL batting 2012 & NL batting 2012

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Detroit Tigers’ news

Detroit Tigers’ active roster

Detroit Tigers’ managerial staff

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MLB rare feats – perfect game & no hitter

MLB rare feats hitting for the cycle & four home run game

MLB rare feats

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Bios: Carl Yastrzemski ——- AL batting stats 1967 —— & bio for Miguel Cabrera