Cabrera earns Aaron Award consideration

Cabrera earns Aaron Award consideration
Granderson, Inge join Tigers slugger with nominations

By Jason Beck / MLB.com

08/19/09 12:00 PM ET

DETROIT -- Slugger Miguel Cabrera is one of three Tigers nominated for Major League Baseball's annual Hank Aaron Award.

The Hank Aaron Award, presented by Sharp, is presented annually to the best overall offensive performer in each league, with each club having three nominees. This is the seventh consecutive year that fans have had a voice in selecting the award winners.

Fans can vote through Sept. 15 to determine the club nominee, and then voting will be held Sept. 16-30 to select the winner in each league. The winners will be announced during the World Series.

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Last year's winners were Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis and Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Originally introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th anniversary of Hank Aaron breaking Babe Ruth's all-time home run record, the Hank Aaron Award was the first major award to be introduced in 30 years.

Curtis Granderson and Brandon Inge were the other Tigers nominees, but the clear contender from Detroit would be Cabrera, who has kept his name among the American League leaders in batting average for much of the year. The Tigers' cleanup hitter entered Tuesday ranked fourth in the league in average, sixth in on-base and slugging percentages, third in OPS and sixth in total bases.

Statistically, Cabrera has been the clear-cut standout in a Tigers lineup that has struggled to produce runs on a consistent basis. He's on a second-half tear for the second straight year, batting .357 after the All-Star break, with seven doubles, six homers, 17 runs scored and 20 RBIs in 29 games.

Granderson has already clinched his second 20-homer, 20-steal season in the last three years and an outside shot at becoming the first Tigers player to post a 30-30 year. He has three leadoff home runs this season, and his four triples since the All-Star break tie him for the AL lead and give him a shot at what would be his third straight triples title.

Inge, known more for his glove than his bat the last several years, rediscovered his power at the plate this season to serve as a big catalyst in the Tigers' first-half run into the AL Central lead. His 23 homers are one off the team lead, while his 65 RBIs rank second only to Cabrera.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Cabrera should defiantly win this award..............he's putting up some beast stats this season

Granderson?? Definitely not the way is is performing at the plate at the moment...

Yeah but they're basing it on their overall season stats and Granderson should defiantly be up for that award he has a shot at a 30-30 season

I really hope he gets hot again. I have no clue why he looks so lost with the bat in hand.

swiss_tiger wrote:

Granderson?? Definitely not the way is is performing at the plate at the moment...

Inge isn't all that hot either.

But! Miguel Cabrera should most definitely win this award! =]

Yeah, he should

Hitting a consistent .330 all year, has tremendous power, whether numbers show or not, drives in runs regardless.