Miguel Cabrera Played Through Postseason with Serious Groin Tear

Miguel Cabrera played through the postseason, and much of August and September with a Grade 2-3 groin strain. Anyone watching the American League MVP could tell he was hurting, yet stayed in the lineup. Tigers GM Dave Drombowski confirmed the injury today during the press conference to announce Jim Leyland would step down from his managerial role with Detroit.

Surgery remains a possibility for Cabrera, who injured himself running the bases in August. He hit only one of his 44 homers in September.

Dombrowski confirmed that Cabrera was playing with a serious groin tear.
— Dave Hogg (@stareagle) October 21, 2013

Cabrera managed a .716 OPS in 11 postseason games, but that number is nearly 300 points below what he posted during the regular season — which might net him his second straight American League MVP award. Perhaps the best proof that Cabrera wasn’t himself was in three high-leverage, late-inning spots in the ALCS, he couldn’t come through against Red Sox reliever Junichi Tazawa.

A better example? Cabrera being thrown out by a mile at the plate during Game 5, another Red Sox victory.

Despite the injury and playing at far below 100-percent Cabrera didn’t make excuses after the Game 6 loss in Boston ended Detroit’s season. Cabrera told the Detroit Free Press he wouldn’t play the ‘what if’ game in the offseason.

"“You don’t know about that,” he said. “Anything could happen. It’s what it is. It’s over. We move on.”"

It’s doubtful Tigers fans will follow suit, instead wonder what was Prince Fielder’s excuse?