At Melky Caberera’s request, the players association and Major League Baseball have agreed to change the rules concerning individual batting, slugging, and on-base percentages titles. Thus, disqualifying Cabrera from the NL batting title honor.
Cabrera had been serving a 50-game suspension for testing positive for testosterone on August 15th. He was not going to return to playing baseball this season, due to the fact there were only 45 games remaining.
Cabrera had sent an email through his agent Seth Levinson to Michael Weiner, the head of the players’ union. An excerpt of the email, written in English and Spanish, read:
”I ask the Players Association to take the necessary steps, in conjunction with the Office of the Commissioner, to remove my name from for the National League batting title,”
He added, “To be plain, I personally have no wish to win an award that would widely be seen as tainted, and I believe that it would be far better for the remaining contenders to compete for that distinction,” ”So too, the removal of my name from consideration will permit me to focus on my goal of working hard upon my return to baseball so that I may be able to win that distinction in a season played in full compliance with league rules. To be plain, I plan to work hard to vindicate myself in that very manner.”
Even though Cabrera had 501 plate appearances, just 1 shy of the required minimum to qualify for the title, under section 10.22(a) of the Official baseball Rules he would have had an extra hitless at-bat added to his average allowing him to win the title anyway, if he had remained in the lead.
On Wednesday, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig had stated that he wasn’t going to interfere with the issue. Due to the fact that both the MLB and union agreed to the one time only rule change, Cabrera’s petition was able to be implemented this season.
As it stands, Pittsburgh Pirates’ outfielder Andrew McCutchen becomes the new de facto batting champion. He was in 2nd place, behind Cabrera, with a .339 batting average. He leads Cabrera’s San Francisco Giants teammate Buster Posey, who has a .335 average.
H/T: Associated Press & Yahoo! Sports.