COLUMN: Miguel Cabrera needs intervention
Dave Dombrowski, Jim Leyland and the city of Detroit desperately need to call for an intervention for slugger Miguel Cabrera.
"I don’t like the way you put yourself before the team," many Detroit Tiger fans would be able to shout in an intervention. Dombrowski, the Tigers general manager, would also tell Cabrera he needs to be on the field, not in rehab, to honor his 8-year, $153.3 million contract.
Cabrera was accused of driving under the influence Wednesday night in Fort Pierce, Fla. It was his second drinking offense in three years.
In 2009, in the midst of a heated American League Central Division race, he was arrested and blew three times over the legal driving limit after getting into a fight with his wife. So this isn’t the first time Cabrera drinking has worried Tiger faithful.
It’s time for an intervention. He’s hurting coach Leyland, teammates and fans too much with his drinking problem.
It’s time for leaders on the Tigers to step up and help Cabrera with his problem. The first step is recognizing how it’s hurting himself and others.
Detroit has to have its triple-crown caliber clean-up hitter, but maybe he should take spring training off to rehab. And if MLB drops a suspension, make him stay in rehab longer.
We all know he can kill the ball and put up MVP numbers, now Detroit just wants him sober for the last five years on his contract.
Listen, Cabrera, Detroit doesn’t need you to be taking shots in the thigh from some angry Florida police officers. We can’t have you swig down some whiskey in front beside a car you’ve been driving.
Come summer, the Tigers will need that thigh to be pushing off in the back of the batters box in Comerica Park.
Whether it’s an intervention with the entire organization, or two months off for rehab and suspension. Do it Cabrera.
Detroit needs the sober, homer-cranking Cabrera.
Not the glassy-eyed, belligerent and cocky smiling mug shot that the nation saw Thursday.
