Miguel Cabrera Faces DUI Charge

[Valid]

FORT PIERCE, Fla. -- Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has been arrested on drunken driving charges in Florida.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office said the 27-year-old's car engine was smoking alongside a road late Wednesday when a deputy spotted the vehicle.

According to the arrest report, Cabrera smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and took a swig from a bottle of Scotch in front of a deputy. Police say Cabrera repeatedly refused to cooperate, saying, "Do you know who I am, you don't know anything about my problems." In 2009, the All-Star first baseman got into a fight with his wife after a night of drinking, right before his team surrendered the American League Central Division title to the Minnesota Twins.

Cabrera posted $1,350 bond and was released Thursday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring...ory?id=6131020

Looks like he isn't clean after all...

Sad.

[Swifty]

I mean, until it starts to adversely affect his on field production it's nothing more than "oh I feel bad for him, wish he could get it together" right? That's not to say this is insignificant, but it's kind of a non-story in that it's not a new revelation he has a drinking problem nor is it surprising a professional athlete makes a dumb decision about driving.

[emkayseven]

the only reason I think it's a big issue is that he had that problem with his wife due to alcohol and did a rehab type thing. now this is known to be a recurring problem and not a one time mistake and you don't want to pay a guy whose life could be over in a split second 20 million bucks

[Swifty]

I don't agree. You pay the guy to hit .330, not be a model citizen. The drinking problem didn't develop in 2009, it was a very real problem when Miggy was here, and it was a not so well kept secret in baseball circles. Detroit knew what they were getting in Miggy. This event doesn't make it a recurring problem, it already was that by the time he got to Detroit. There's still nothing to suggest it's going to impact his on the field performance because, generously, this is year 6 of "Miggy likes the fire-water". So really, I fail to see the controversy other than dude drove drunk, which is stupid.

I mean, you listen to Olney's tweets it sounds like if he were Dombrowski he'd give Miggy away to the first offer. I hope that's the case and we bring him back.

[emkayseven]

I'm not saying he's being paid to be a model citizen, but he is being paid long term while having an issue that can manifest itself in several different ways that ends his career - killing someone while driving, getting into a bar fight, fighting with his wife again, and so on. I'm not saying that no one else runs those risks but when you're paying a top 10 player in baseball you'd really like to minimize your risks. Say what you will about ARod or even Texieira or Howard being overpaid but their careers aren't in jeopardy as much as Cabrera's is. At least that's how I see it.

[MiamiHomer]

LeBatardShow Dan LeBatard Show
Re cabrera DUI drinking straight from scotch bottle: at 20, he showed up at espn the mag photo shoot so drunk he frightened everybody

LeBatard's tweet

[CrimsonCane]

I'm not saying he's being paid to be a model citizen, but he is being paid long term while having an issue that can manifest itself in several different ways that ends his career - killing someone while driving, getting into a bar fight, fighting with his wife again, and so on. I'm not saying that no one else runs those risks but when you're paying a top 10 player in baseball you'd really like to minimize your risks. Say what you will about ARod or even Texieira or Howard being overpaid but their careers aren't in jeopardy as much as Cabrera's is. At least that's how I see it.

This is where it's on the team to have a well-written contract with some morality clauses. They knew he had these issues when they signed him to a long-term deal.

[Ralph]

Atleast he looks happy...

[Flum]

Best mugshot ever.

[Namaste]

I wonder if it was a single malt or a blend.

Taking a swig in front of the cops is mucho awesome.

[FishFF]

haha the swig is awesome....the mug is even awesomerrer

[Miamarlin21]

Miggy has been drinking for a while (from what I heard back when he was with the Marlins.) I'm not sure how much he drank, I just know he did. The thing is, it was 11pm. Who gets drunk before 11?

[FishFF]

Miggy has been drinking for a while (from what I heard back when he was with the Marlins.) I'm not sure how much he drank, I just know he did. The thing is, it was 11pm. Who gets drunk before 11?

that's pretty easy...

Could have started drinking at dinner, pregamed before going out and so on.

[Miamarlin21]

that's pretty easy...

Could have started drinking at dinner, pregamed before going out and so on.

Yea, never mind, you're right. Didn't think about that.

[Fish Tank Frenzy]

You guys realize he was picked up in Fort Pierce, FL. on the side of the road with his car engine smoking. There is no pre game drinking in Fort Pierce, the game is drinking. I could imagine what state of mind he was in. I mean I can guarantee you he is not vacationing in Ft. Pierce or St. Lucie County. IMO he got into a fight with someone close to him and decided to get in his car drunk as shit and drive to Lakeland, where the Tigers spring train and he probably hit something with his car or red lined his engine and was just stuck on the side of the road. Decided fuck it I'm gonna drink more. That's when the St. Lucie Sheriffs Department picked him up.