Want versus Need

For all of us, we have wants.

A new car, a big house, a private island. Hell, I want a real life Iron Man suit. But one of the great lessons we all learn in life is the difference between wants and needs. Of course, I want a huge theater in my apartment, or a tricked out VW Passat. But do I NEED them?

Take the new iPhone. 

Of course I'd love to be up with the latest and greatest in the tech realm but what am I getting really? With the previous Phone I already have the space to shoot video, have a great selection of my music AND have cool movies to watch. In reality I don't need a new phone. What's funny is this applies to other parts of society. In this case, Baseball.

It's at this point you're probably wondering what I'm going on about.

Well, I'll put it plainly:

Detroit. Needs. This. Championship.

Before we go any further, let me shoot down any negative criticism of the Giants. I like the Giants, if I had an NL team, they'd be up there for consideration. And it's nice to see some competitive baseball on the west coast. Plus, keeping this year of baseball craziness going in the Bay Area should serve as a testament that this game works everywhere.

However.....

The Giants went on an awesome run 2 years ago, Fear The Beard and all. It was great to see the childish Rangers beaten to a pulp. But that's just it. The Giants have won RECENTLY. Now before this gets misunderstood, let me be clear: Winning multiple championships isn't bad, in fact I welcome it. 

But where San Francisco WANTS another title, this year Detroit NEEDS a championship. Yes, it's great that the Giants won at Zombie Baseball and that Marco Scutaro is doing well, especially after an MVP series. But whereas the narrative of Marco Scutaro finally going to the World Series is nice, I'm gonna go ahead and say a city finally going back to the World Series is way more appropriate. Back in 2006, we had a run to the fall classic that ended in what looked like a Globetrotters Game. The Giants have already proven themselves to be a team that can get things done in the Postseason. This Tigers team didn't exactly wow the world during the regular season and yes, we did kinda eff around. Detroit hasn't been so successful after 1984 and since the nightmare season of 119 losses, this team needs to return to greatness. Not just for them, but for the city.

We've all seen the positive effects a championship can have on a city. For Detroit, it means a bit more. We all know what the score has been for Detroit. Bad breaks, an absurd crime rate, unemployment and poor leadership have had this city in a death grip. Indeed there's been unfair press. Ranging from certain people posting 10 year old pics of downtown and labeling them as current to FOX and ESPN's gross agenda to somehow always remind everyone of the riots. Or one rival fan's supremely awful post about our star pitcher Justin Verlander. 

But.... 

There is a renaissance going on here. This has been the grand plan Mike Ilitch has had for some time. Use these great teams to bring people back downtown. For the most part it's worked, starting with the Red Wings in 1996. But there's still ground to make up, still work to be done. I'm not saying a Tigers Championship will cure Detroit.

But it sure as shit will help.

Miguel Cabrera: Beast, Machine, and Triple Crown Winner

                          Ok kids, it's been a great run, but Miguel Effing Cabrera just got the first Triple Crown in 45 years. Even without it, the man is the MVP. Mike Trout is a hell of a ballplayer. He's had a great year, but he's the Rook. If he was a second or third year player, we'd have a race. But Trout is setting records as a rookie. Cabby has been putting up comparable numbers FOR 9 YEARS. Machine doesn't even begin to describe. Trout has a great career ahead of him. But there's a reason there's a Rookie of the Year award. I'm not discounting what he's done. But I find it to be completely insane to see "Experts" use Trout's numbers to discount what Cabrera has done, when no one has done that to Trout's numbers. As I've said before, the MVP does have stats considered, but intangibles make the call. In this case, Cabby and Trout have comparable numbers....

But Miguel Cabrera's character has been strengthened, he's a leader, he battles and has matured into an amazing athlete. Trout got called up and grabbed the Bull by the horns. Cabrera has OWNED the Bull for some time now. I know it's real easy to say that Miggy deserves the MVP because the Tigers are in the postseason and the Angels aren't. But yes, the Angels do have the better record. However, I see that record is just 1 game better, so that argument has gone the way of the dodo. Trout is a very big positive for the Angels to take away from this year. He's an outstanding talent and makes the Angels better. Cabrera, however, put the team on his back. He's the player we needed and deserved. Played through injury and WON THE F***ING TRIPLE CROWN.

For this year, we are extremely fortunate to see 2 amazing seasons for 2 great players. It's made me appreciate the game even more than I thought possible. But you can't become "The Best Hitter on the Planet", win a division title and the first TRIPLE CROWN in 45 years and NOT WIN THE MVP. So for this year, 2012, Miguel Cabrera has got to be the MVP. The dude is a monster and has had an above and beyond career year. Si Motherf***er!