3,000

Incredible. 

I wish I had been more appreciative earlier. I will likely never see another player like Miguel Cabrera. There may never be a player like him ever again. It's hard to believe that all too soon, we won't get to see him at the plate anymore. I can't imagine the Tigers without him. But that is still in the future. For now, we get to celebrate greatness.

Part of what makes him so great is his humility. I'm sure it is special to him to be hitting these huge milestones and getting his name in amongst the game's greatest players but the team is so much more important to him. If he gets all the records and milestones and the team loses, Miggy doesn't really enjoy the stuff that just about him. He wants to win. He wants his hits and home runs to help the team win and have a good season. It's not just about him. 

When the fans were all booing his intentional walk on the Thursday before he got #3,000 (April 21st, 2022), Miggy tried to calm them down and make them understand that the important thing was that we were winning. He's so classy and humble. Too many players, in baseball and other sports, when they are great, they know it and they get arrogant and rude. Miggy's attitude is part of what makes him so great and so special.

 
I can't believe how lucky I am to have gotten to experience so much of this great man's career. I lived through his Triple Crown season. (How was that already 10 years ago?!) I got to "see" him get 500 home runs and 3,000 hits and we'll soon see 600 doubles. It's something special and to live through it is a huge blessing and privilege. And he's on MY team!!! My hometown. I got to grow up watching Miguel Cabrera play baseball. I've taken it for granted for too long but not any more. I enjoy each and every game. Each and every moment. This has been one heck of a career and it's not over yet. He's special, and we all know it. 

Miggy, we love you 3,000 :)

Living Legend

Watch the 3,000th hit 

Miggy's career video 

Everything you need to know about Miggy's 3,000 hit

 

Photos taken by me in August 2016.

The Nightmare Is Over

I never thought I'd be glad to have a baseball season end. I hope to never feel this way again. My friend, trying to be optimistic, said, "The Tigers get the number one draft pick." Yes, and it's nice that they get something good out of this mess, but I'd rather not have the number one draft pick, if given the choice. 

This year was a nightmare. But even in the middle of that, there was good. The best and biggest things happened at the end of the season: the Tigers first triple play in sixteen years and Andrew Romine becoming just the fifth player in MLB history to play all nine positions in one game. Those were moments to treasure amidst upheaval and heartbreak. 

You might wonder why there is a picture of a sunrise. To me, the sunrise is a symbol of hope. Despite projections, despite anything anyone says, next season is a fresh start. To borrow from Anne of Green Gables, "the next season is always fresh, with no mistakes in it". I look forward to next season with anticipation. Maybe more than in previous years because of how badly we ended. 

February is a new start.