Well, Braves fans, we now know what got into Melky Cabrera
Melky homers against the Braves. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Melky Cabrera spent a season of no special distinction with the Atlanta Braves, whereupon they non-tendered him, which is to say they dumped him. He wound up in Kansas City, which as we know is the Last Chance Saloon for all undistinguished Braves, and finished the 2011 season with 201 improbable hits.
This raised a few eyebrows — the prototype fourth outfielder getting more hits in a season than Ted Williams ever did? — but only a few. Because playing for the Royals doesn’t quite count. Then Cabrera was traded to San Francisco, where he turned into a fair approximation of Barry Bonds. Through 113 games he was hitting .346 with 11 homers and 6o RBIs. And those are, it must be noted, the numbers with which the Melkman will end this regular season.
Because he just got suspended 50 games after testing positive for elevated testosterone. This could well doom the Giants, who have fallen behind the Dodgers in the National League West, and it doesn’t exactly leave the sport itself with a shiny halo. Months after reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug (his 50-game ban was overturned on a procedural issue), the man just crowned MVP of the All-Star Game has gotten himself docked.
A cynic would say that Cabrera is proof that PEDs actually do enhance performance. Two years ago he wasn’t good enough to play everyday for a Braves’ team starved for everyday players. This year he was one of the best players in the league.
Cabrera’s enforced absence will surely be noted when the Braves play in San Fran next week. Last month Melky spent a series at Turner Field nettling his old mates with his exaggerated celebratory routines, and Chipper Jones and Tim Hudson voiced their displeasure. The rematch figured to be intriguing. Moot point now, alas.
Not moot, however, is this: According to Deadspin, Cabrera can still win the batting title.
By Mark Bradley
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149 comments Add your comment
ClaudelWashington
August 16th, 2012
9:55 am
Yeah, what’s up with all this PED stuff? Us old school guys just did coke and such. Didn’t need that other junk
P B Orr
August 16th, 2012
10:06 am
White boy darling Ryan Braun skated. Clemens was acquitted. Apparently only players of color get suspended. I’m not defending Melky C – I didn’t defend McGwire when I was in St. Louis (I was totally alone in that one). But this is wrong.
Todd
August 16th, 2012
10:17 am
Let me guess P B Orr – you are an Obama voter right? I’ll bet you were an affirmative action winner too.
jj
August 16th, 2012
10:18 am
The big difference is the juice let’s you continue to play. As broken down as Bonds was by the end, imagine if no juice was taken over the previous 5 years. He never would have lasted and never set the HR record. I agree with Hank, it doesn’t make you see the ball better or swing better, but you are stronger, recover faster, and just don’t break down, and that’s the difference
Vol_In_Ohio
August 16th, 2012
10:25 am
Does anyone think this hurts Melky’s chances at getting into the HOF?
Hillbilly D
August 16th, 2012
10:26 am
A cynic would say that Cabrera is proof that PEDs actually do enhance performance.
If it didn’t would guys risk a 50 game suspension to use it?
Maybe when a guy gets caught juicing, that team should have to play with 24 players for the duration of his suspension.
DawgDad
August 16th, 2012
10:29 am
“Melky Cabrera spent a season of no special distinction with the Atlanta Braves”
That’s about as charitable a characterization as could possibly be made. He was horrible, quite possibly the worst “regular” outfielder in MLB.
If I’m not mistaken Javier Vasquez has now morphed via trade into Paul Maholm. Looking forward this figures to work out well for the Braves. Looking back, there was quite a bit of pain in the transition.
Vol_In_Ohio
August 16th, 2012
10:34 am
Maybe when a guy gets caught juicing, that team should have to play with 24 players for the duration of his suspension.
That’s a pretty good idea.
DawgDad
August 16th, 2012
10:35 am
P B Orr @ 10:06:
You have a problem with due process? Are you saying the Players Union (Braun vs. Cabrera contrast in handling) and Legal system (Clemens) is racist or discriminating? When you say “this is wrong”, well, who or what is wrong? You should think this through.
Dirty Dawg
August 16th, 2012
10:36 am
The answer to the ‘one game crap-shoot’ is to beat out Washington for the Division.
Ted M
August 16th, 2012
10:37 am
“Doomed” not sure about that. They are in a far better position now because of the enhancement.
He helped them immensely to this point and he would not have otherwise now they have to finish on the own.
Newtonite
August 16th, 2012
10:38 am
Mark, just curious – Does Cabrera have enough at bats to qualify for the batting title? And if he does, and if he should win it, what’s your opinion on Should he?
Vol_In_Ohio
August 16th, 2012
10:43 am
Melky Juicy Cabrera
Mark (another one)
August 16th, 2012
10:46 am
It is my understanding from another article on the AJC, they will add one at bat to Melky’s record and recalculate his average. That will be used in the batting title competition. It sounds like they need a new rule that if your caught using PEDs, you can’t win a performance title.
Also, will SF give Melky a share if they win the pennant this year?
Mark Bradley
August 16th, 2012
10:47 am
That’s correct. Cabrera can win the batting title.
http://deadspin.com/5935082/melky-cabrera-tests-positive-for-testosterone-suspended-50-games-can-still-win-the-batting-title
Ken Stallings
August 16th, 2012
10:51 am
To be fair, one doesn’t have to be a cynic to presume PED’s do precisely what the term described (Performance Enhancing Drugs). The sheer number of players in nearly all sports who have used PED’s contrary to the rules of their sport testify to the fact that they do what they say they do.
At least Melky didn’t try some lame attempt to blame it on over-the-counter supplements such as so many others who were busted tried to do.
Josh
August 16th, 2012
10:55 am
Real Question here (no sarcasm): The only numbers that went up for Melky this year are batting average related. His power numbers are relatively the same – maybe a little increase (11 homers, 60 rbi – good, not great). How do PED’s help a baseball player’s average? I’m glad he was suspended. He cheated. I agree with all of that and think PED’s should be banned – I’m not defending Melky or any of the other guys that use PED’s. I’m just wondering what effects PED’s would have had on his numbers this year.
Ken Stallings
August 16th, 2012
10:58 am
Enter your comments here
Jay Bookman is an idiot
August 16th, 2012
10:58 am
Glad to know Wren wasn’t an idiot for not signing Melky.
Ken Stallings
August 16th, 2012
10:59 am
I do have one question though. Did Melky stand at the plate for five seconds and admire his 50 game suspension?
Otto
August 16th, 2012
10:59 am
Hey Braves fans! Dont be happy that Cabrera got banned. Now that the Giants won’t sign him in the offseason to a ridiculously bloated contract, they’ll most likely move Pagan over to left and give a ridiculously bloated contract to Michael Bourn. I wasn’t sure the Braves would be able to sign him anyway, but I think this is the death nail.
taylor
August 16th, 2012
11:02 am
It’s not just his average that wen up josh:
AVG/OBP/SLG/OPS
2012 .346/.390/.516/.916
Career .284/.338/.414/.752
He’s increased his slugging percentage by 100 points.
Dirty Dawg
August 16th, 2012
11:05 am
I’d like to propose a little different point of view. First, the entire history of human development has been that each generation, through improvements in medications, diet, training techniques, surgical procedures, treatments for disease, you name it, is bigger-stronger-faster than the previous ones…my Dad use to claim that running around barefooted made his generation more likely to get ringworm which stunted their growth and development and made em smaller, weaker and slower. I mean where are the complaints from the pitching-faction of baseball’s HOF that, so-called, Tommy John Surgery has given today’s throwers a new lease on their careers, and with it records and, most of all, money. So why not drugs? We think nothing of ’shooting-up’ with cortisone in knees, shoulders, you name it, so a guy can play, so what makes all the other ‘performance-enhancing’ drugs/procedures so wrong? I know the story that abuse is injurious to health, and to have kids use it can be dangerous – kinda like booze and other illegal substances, so keep em away from it. Now I’m no fan of this Cabrera jerk, but seems to me that some teams that are smarter, have more money, have better coaching, scouts, minor league systems and player development, could also become renowned for better PEDs. Why not?
TOo Tough44
August 16th, 2012
11:06 am
ha ha bye bye Mulky Cabonehead!
Delbert D.
August 16th, 2012
11:07 am
Gosh darn. I guess Melky isn’t going to get in the Hall of Fame after all.
Dawg Haus
August 16th, 2012
11:08 am
After the way the Melk Man behaved himself on the Giants’ last trip to the Ted, no sympathy from this Braves fan.
Hillbilly D
August 16th, 2012
11:14 am
MB
Is the requirement for the batting title still 502 plate appearances?
Steve From Dalton
August 16th, 2012
11:17 am
What is it about bay area guys getting juiced?
DP
August 16th, 2012
11:17 am
It would be the easiest thing in the world for MLB, which is such a numbers driven sport, to set up some statistical parameters to pick out the most obvious PED candidates and constantly test them. If a veteran player starts putting up numbers that blow away his career stats (Melky Cabrera this year, Brady Anderson the year he hit 52 HRs, Javy Lopez when he hit 42 HRs in a contract year for the Braves) test him every week. The same goes for guys who put up freak show numbers like McGwire, Sosa and Bonds and the guys in their mid 30’s and older who somehow see their numbers soar at ages where virtually every player historically is in decline (Bonds, Clemens, etc.). Or better yet, invest more money to keep up with detecting PEDs and test every player on a weekly or monthly basis and make the penalties even harsher, a one year minimum instead of 50 games. The players who are clean should welcome it.
And speaking of PEDs, does anybody else think it’s outside the realm of statistical probability that a country the size of Jamaica could produce the 3 fastest 200 meter sprinters in the world and the fastest 4 X 100 meter relay team in the world at the same time? 3 guys who train together in a small country just happen to be the 3 fastest guys in the world?
Zing
August 16th, 2012
11:18 am
MB: It’s not cynical to link cause and effect. The guy was an out-of-shape poor performer with the Braves, and suddenly he notched a superb physique and “played with his head on fire,” to quote a DOB article (quoting someone on the Giants) about Melky’s turnaround when he came to town. I for one am feeling downright schadenfreude-ish about this development.
DP
August 16th, 2012
11:19 am
Hillbilly, if a player is short of 502 plate appearances for purposes of the batting title they give him an out for every AB he is short. If the recalculated batting average is higher than anybody else he wins the batting title.
Zing
August 16th, 2012
11:19 am
And I bet several of the Braves players feel the same way, by the way.
lazlodawg
August 16th, 2012
11:25 am
It’s not just the hitters that are juiced…. 3 perfect games in one season? Hmmmmm……
Sonny Clusters
August 16th, 2012
11:26 am
Now, let’s keep an open mind here. We was reminded what our ol’ buddy Carl Sagan had to say, “It pays to keep an open mind, but not so open your brains fall out.”
P B Orr
August 16th, 2012
11:32 am
DawgDad – I’m saying Braun was guilty as hell and he skated, like privileged whites always do (Wall St anyone?) PS I am whiter than Tommy Hanson.
Yogi
August 16th, 2012
11:34 am
I guess they handled his samples more carefully than they did Braun’s!
P B Orr
August 16th, 2012
11:39 am
Furthermore, at least Melkster confessed and took his medicine, while that sanctimonious Braun called a press conference to proclaim his purity in best Republican style. Lilly of the outfield – he roids not, but he sure does spin.
IlliniBrave
August 16th, 2012
11:40 am
@P B Orr: you sir are officially a dumba**. MLB and the Feds have shown no bias in investigating and prosecuting players of all races: McGwire, Clemens, Giambi, Sosa, Palmeiro, Canseco, Bonds, etc. White, Hispanic, black – all races have been involved. The reputations of all these players will never be restored. None will get enough votes for the Hall of Fame. Braun got off on the basis of a technicality and both Clemens and Bonds have been acquited due to botched prosecutions. But do you think that anybody views them as “clean”? Why play the race card?
Hillbilly D
August 16th, 2012
11:42 am
at least Melkster confessed and took his medicine,
He confessed after the appeal process.
Jim
August 16th, 2012
11:44 am
Selig should wake up & grow a pair. All of the games that Melky played in should be forfeited and he should be ineligible for any awards!
IlliniBrave
August 16th, 2012
11:44 am
Hey PB: yeah, the white man opressess people of color. All those horrible privileged white men in mamagement in MLB. Wait, but almost half the managers are “people of color”, and so are several of the GMs. Guess your silly neo-Marxits arguments don’t hold water when applied to baseball. Why don’t you go spend your valuable time participating in one of those Occupy protests?
Rowsdower
August 16th, 2012
11:46 am
Yes, 502 plate appearances are the threshold, but they will add an out for every PA under 502 to determine what your AVG would be. Melky is at 501, so the 1 PA will not make a difference in his BA. If McCutcheon comes back to Earth, that cheating bastard will win the Batting Title while sitting on his soon to be fat ass.
He was lazy in Atlanta and he took the lazy way to get into shape. He will go back to the lazy punk he was and be an afterthought.
He cost himself a HUGE payday…what a loser.
Rowsdower
August 16th, 2012
11:49 am
@Jim – You can’t punish the team because an individual decided to cheat.
Rowsdower
August 16th, 2012
11:50 am
Leave the politics and racism out of the blog. This is a sports conversation.
Jfreak13713
August 16th, 2012
11:50 am
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy!
Hillbilly D
August 16th, 2012
11:51 am
You can’t punish the team because an individual decided to cheat.
Sure you can. Doesn’t it punish a team when a starting pitcher gets thrown out for hitting somebody?
IlliniBrave
August 16th, 2012
11:52 am
Wow, bad spelling! “Oppresses” not “opressess” and “Marxist” not “Marxits”! Typing in the dark with thunderstorms here.
P B Orr
August 16th, 2012
11:59 am
Illini (Go Mizzou) Brave – You can draw whatever conclusions you want to. I was in St. Louis. I told them McGwire was juiced in 1997 and would have none of 70 Mania. He skated. Clemens skated. Braun skated. Whites always skate. Everyone on Wall St. skated. Knock over a 7-11, 20 years in the hole. Knock over an entire economy, steal the whole country blind, rob people’s pension funds, get richer still.
The rut
August 16th, 2012
12:04 pm
HA-ha-ha-ha-ha. He who laughs last laughs the hardest. What an idiot!!!
TB
August 16th, 2012
12:07 pm
Regarding Hank Aaron’s comments, true, steroids do not help a player make contact or ebable him to square up the baseball on his bat. The differance comes when a clean player makes a warning trach shot while the steroid user’s extra strength allows him to put it out.