Different defensive metrics serve different purposes. Our Fielding Runs Above Average is strongest in terms of comparing performances across eras or levels, but it can produce different results than the others, which seem unanimous in their condemnation of Cabrera's work in the field. Even if he can't play defense, Cabrera is an MVP candidate every year thanks to his bat. Using Bill James's similarity scores, which don't adjust for era, Cabrera's top statistical comp at every age has been Hank Aaron, and if the visual doesn't work very well, the numbers don't lie-he's in the early stages of a Hall of Fame career. Moving to the Tigers changes nothing for him, save the possibility that he'll spend some time at DH or even first base. Concerns about his weight are overblown; if he was ripped, they'd say other things about him.
From 2008 Baseball Prospectus
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06-15-2009, 10:47 PM
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