San Francisco Giants outfielder and All-Star MVP Melky Cabrera has been suspended by Major League Baseball for violating the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. What does this now mean for the Giants as they attempt a postseason run?
The following is a statement released by MLB earlier today:
“The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Testosterone, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
The suspension of Cabrera is effective immediately.”
San Francisco is currently tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West division. Both teams are 0.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves for a wild card spot.
Everyone is aware there will be a battle between the Giants and the Dodgers for the division that will most likely consume the rest of the regular season. Without Cabrera in the lineup for San Francisco, I just do not see them having enough fire power to knockout the Dodgers. Do not get me wrong, the Giants still have a very good team but Cabrera was the heart and soul of the lineup this season. Buster Posey and newly acquired outfielder Hunter Pence should help the team stay afloat but it is difficult to say for how long.
It is certainly shocking to find out that Cabrera was doping but as many people have already stated, it really comes as no surprise considering his numbers this season. He is having by far the best season of his career, as his statistics are off the charts from previous years. The only number that would prove he was not doping is his home run count, which currently sits at 11. Cabrera has hit double-digit homers twice in his career with the last time coming in 2011 when he hit 18 while playing for the Kansas City Royals.
I am sure Giants fans are very disappointed as they had their eyes set on another run at a World Series title. San Francisco will have a hard time replacing Cabrera in the lineup, even with Posey’s .331 batting average, 19 home runs, and 76 RBI. Postseason contenders need more than one person with those kinds of statistics to make a decent run at the whole thing.
Cabrera is batting .346 with 25 doubles, 10 triples, 11 homers, 60 RBI, 36 walks, 13 stolen bases and a .906 OPS in 459 plate appearances this season.
