The Best-Kept Secret in South Florida

Here are the top five things to know about South Florida:

1. Don’t go outside when a hurricane comes rolling through!
2. South Beach really is the place to be.
3. Old people, people sixty-five and older (no offense), should not have a driver’s license.
4. The education here sucks.
5. The fans here are, for the most part, all bandwagon fans.

For all those who live in South Florida, these five things are no brainers. These people are probably saying something like, “We already know this. So what.”

To this I say: Fine. You probably did know this. But here is the thing. You may know these simple and obvious things about South Florida, but do you know what ‘the best kept secret’ in South Florida is?
Confused? All right, let me help. It’s a person, and no it’s not Governor Jeb Bush, although I wish he were the best-kept secret!

Drum roll please…

And the winner is…

Miguel Cabrera!

Yup, it’s Miggy.

In all the hoopla surrounding this place, from South Beach to Bayside, from the Dolphins to the Heat, Shaq, Wade, Dante, Ronnie, Jason, Zach, and even Roberto Luongo, people often look past Miguel Cabrera.

And I for one am ashamed.

This guy deserves so much more credit and appreciation for what he has accomplished thus far.

In just two full seasons in the Major League, Cabrera has averaged 33 homeruns, 114 RBI’s, a .309 batting average, and an All-Star selection.

It’s a shame that he is playing for a team as bad as the Florida Marlins, which is causing him to be overlooked by almost everyone.

Forget about National recognition, Cabrera isn’t even getting recognition here in South Florida. Unless you are a die-hard Marlins fan (and there are only like 2,000 out there), you probably couldn’t pick this guy out of a lineup.

Even worse than all of that, is the fact that Cabrera isn’t even getting recognition from his own team. Don’t get me wrong. His teammates and coaches know how special Miguel truly is, but Florida’s cheapskate ownership isn’t doing its part.

Miguel is unarguably the best player on that Marlin team, yet he is sixth on the team’s payroll, making a mere $472,000. In baseball terms, that’s nothing near what a Superstar should be making.

I have stuck with this team through thick and thin. I have been around for two World Series, a dismantling, and a fire sale. Even at that, I have stayed loyal to this team. I am fine with all the moves the team made this off-season, as it has loaded up with a plethora of young stars. But, should this team not re-sign Miggy to a multi-year contract, wrapping him up for a good five to seven years, I am afraid I will not be able to bare the betrayal. I will not be able to support such a team.

This is the value I place in Miguel. I have seen the Marlins part ways with Gary Sheffield, Kevin Brown, and Derek Lee, who at the time were my favorite players. But if this team parts with Miguel, I won’t be able to support such a team.

Not re-signing Miguel Cabrera would be like the Cardinals not re-signing Albert Pujols. Yes, I mentioned Albert and Miguel in the same sentence, and in a year or two, everyone will be doing the same. In a couple of years, Pujols and Cabrera will shine as the faces of Major League Baseball, as they wreak terror on opposing pitchers.

Everyone already knows about Albert, but now it’s time to learn about Miguel. Miguel has only been in the big leagues for three seasons, out of which only two are full seasons.

This year, Cabrera is first in the National League in batting average and doubles. He is second in hits and OPS (on base plus slugging), third in slugging percentage, fourth in on base percentage, and sixth in RBI’s.

It’s about time this young Superstar started getting his props.

This year’s All-Star Game is a good place to start. Miguel deservers to be voted in as the starting third baseman for the National League, but it doesn’t look like its going to happen. Thus far, the leading vote getter for the National League, at third base, is Scott Rolen.

Scott Rolen! Give me a break. Miguel is outdoing him in every offensive category there is, except for number of times caught stealing. As Scott has outdone Miggy, by being caught three times to Cabrera’s one.

It’s a shame the fans don’t see the greatness that is Miguel Cabrera, as there is a slim chance he will get the nod from the fans, as people like Scott Rolen, Chipper Jones, Morgan Ensberg, and David Wright have a better shot. The biggest crack about the whole thing is that Miguel has put up better stats than all of these guys. I just hope the coaches see what I see and pick Miguel onto the team.

I hope than in a year or two, fans realize their folly and correct this wrong, giving Miguel the respect and appreciation he deserves.

Normally, I don’t trust the average fan too much, as he would probably still overlook Miguel, but I can rest assured that in a couple of years even regular fans will be forced to recognize Miguel Cabrera as one of the game’s elite players, as his stats will not allow fans to do otherwise.

But, as for now, I am afraid, Miguel will have to remain as one of Major League Baseball and South Florida’s best-kept secrets.

In sunny South Florida, a place marked by it’s Hispanic population, Venezuelan native Miguel Cabrera will have to remain just another face in the crowd for some time longer.