Miguel Cabrera
When you're a star the fans love you. When you're a star on the way down, some boo you.
Slugger Miguel Cabrera, who is on the disabled list because of a bad hamstring, tells Chris McCosky of the Detroit News:
“Nobody appreciates when you play hurt. I’m going to take my time and play when I am good. I played a lot of years hurt here in Detroit. They (fans) don’t appreciate that.
“When you are doing bad, they crush you. They crush you. They say you are bad. They say you should go home. You don’t deserve anything. You are old. So I say, OK, I’m done playing hurt. Now, I am going to take my time.”
McCosky's colleague, Lynn Henning of the Detroit News weighs in on Cabrera's remarks:
Looking at Miguel Cabrera in May 2018, we come upon a man vexed by something mysterious. It could be bruised feelings tied to an overactive imagination. It might be despair as the Tigers migrate from playoff regular to a club getting an overdue facelift, even as that same club is soothing his stay to the tune of $184 million through at least 2023.
Cabrera, if these latest howls are to be taken as warnings, could be hinting this is no place for old men — in baseball chronology anyway — which could, if issues turn grave, be a death knell for one of the more incredible careers in Detroit's sports archives.
But before giving up on a man who seemed en route to an eventual statue at Comerica Park, a visit with reality might be wise.
Henning goes on to note that Cabrera, a week before making his remarks to McCosky, told him playing the game through injuries is simply part of baseball.
Henning concludes:
Pay heed to the big picture, Miguel. You’re more celebrated, in overwhelming ways, than nearly any athlete in this town’s sports history.
