UPDATE: In addition to saying that Miguel Cabrera was going to have the biggest year of his life -- see below -- Jim Leyland just threw one right into my wheelhouse. Jeff Passan is on the scene passing quotes along:
The BSOML meme is officially broken. I can’t write about it with a straight face anymore. Well, I probably still will, but I’ll never top Leyland. Leyland went on to say this about Cabrera’s arrest:
I laud Leyland for having his player’s back. But that’s a bridge too far. Cabrera may have a good season because, after all, he’s a great player. But the man also has a serious problem with alcohol, and that’s not nothing. There will be an effect. There has to be, because Miguel Cabrera needs to change his life.
9:06 A.M.: Jim Leyland spoke to reporters this morning. I would not have guessed beforehand that this is something he’d say about Miguel Cabrera
Well, it has certainly started out with a bang.
Although I suppose it’s entirely possible too. If there is any bright side at all to this -- and yes, I realize I’m reaching -- it’s that this happened just as spring training is getting underway. There are obviously major issues to deal with here -- this was not a case of one too many beers at the barbecue -- but he has a month and a half in which his primary job is to focus on physical conditioning. And those around him, including Leyland, the front office, teammates and other, have more time to help him get his head right than they would if the routines of the regular season were underway.
At least that’s the hope.
