The Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera is two games away from winning the triple crown. He is the leader in average, home runs and RBI in the American League.
However, had Prince Fielder not been in the lineup, Cabrera would have never had these numbers and he would not be in the race for the triple crown. He has always had great numbers, but the 2012 Cabrera is posting the best numbers of his career.
2012- .329 44 HR 137 RBI
Career Avgerage- .320 33 HR 115 RBI
The career averages do not include this present season, nor do they include his first numbers from the first 82 games he played in 2003 with the Marlins.
Before 2012, Cabrera's closest effort to a triple crown came in 2010 when he finished with 38 homers (3) 126 RBI (1) and a .328 batting average (2).
So what exactly did Fielder bring to the Tigers' lineup?
Back up for Cabrera.
Fielder's presence is the catalyst for Cabrera's amazing production. Easily the most fearful 1-2 tandem in the league, pitchers have picked their poison and Miggy has made them pay.
As the numbers prove, pitchers do not want to face Fielder, so they face Cabrera instead. Fielder provides protection and because of this, Cabrera is at peace when he bats, letting his natural skills take over.
Of course he wants to drive in all the runners on base, but he knows there is somebody behind him who can also get the job done in case he fails and for the first time as a Tiger, Cabrera does not have to do it all on the offense.
Miguel Cabrera has always been a great hitter, but he has never had a bat like Prince Fielder's in a lineup hitting behind him. Victor Martinez, whose injury led to the acquisition of Prince, is a good hitter, but he is not Fielder.
Cabrera has played with sluggers like Dan Uggla, Carlos Delgado and Mike Lowell, but he was just beginning his career then.
It is not yet certain whether Cabrera will win the Triple Crown since there are two games left to play. He is leading Josh Hamilton by one home run and ten RBI, while Mike Trout is in second place in batting average hitting .325.
If he accomplishes this feat, Cabrera has to thank Prince Fielder to having his back.