MIAMI -- In his second full Major League season, Miguel Cabrera is on the verge of doing what no Marlin has ever done before.

 

Cabrera is on pace to become the first Florida player to reach 30 homers and 100 RBIs in successive seasons. With 28 home runs and 94 runs batted in, the 22-year-old left fielder is compiling statistics that rival the elite hitters in the game.

 

Considering this is just his second full season, Cabrera's maturation process is amazing, yet not surprising.

 

Since being called up at the age of 20 from Double-A Carolina in June 2003, Cabrera has delivered in a big way.

 

A year ago, he batted .294 with 33 home runs and 112 RBIs. Now, he's even better, posting a .331 batting average. Cabrera also paces the club with 89 runs scored, and is on track to top 100 runs scored on the season.

 

Juan Pierre is the only Marlin to reach 100 runs in two different seasons. Cabrera is about to equal that standard, too.

 

Since he puts winning over individual numbers, Cabrera doesn't put much emphasis on his statistics.

 

"I have to do it year after year," said Cabrera, one of six Hank Aaron Award finalists in the National League. "Not just one or two years."

 

Cabrera strives for similar production by the likes of All-Stars Manny Ramirez and Albert Pujols.

 

Marlins first baseman Carlos Delgado also is on pace to reach 30 homers and 100 RBIs. Those figures have been pretty standard for Delgado, who had a string of six straight 100-RBI seasons end in 2004 when he finished with 99 in Toronto. Delgado does have a string of eight straight 30-home run seasons.

 

The slugger now has 26 homers and 95 RBIs.

 

Delgado is in line to pass Cliff Floyd for the most home runs and RBIs in a season by a Marlins left-handed hitter. Floyd went deep 31 times and drove in 103 during the 2001 season.

 

Cabrera and Delgado have been the Marlins' two most consistent run producers. The way Cabrera is developing, nothing the Venezuelan native does surprises Delgado.

 

"If he stays healthy, he can get that every year by mid-August," Delgado said of 30 homers and 100 RBIs. "For a good player, there is something about those two numbers. Those benchmarks are for pretty elite guys."

 

Cabrera had a big day on Thursday. His wife gave birth to a baby girl, Rosangel Brisel.

 

http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/...t=.jsp&c_id=fla

He's pretty good

He's alright

Underachiever.

It's so strange, he has such great numbers. But we all know he still has a lot to learn at the plate. I mean imagine what his numbers would be like if he could convert half of his strikeouts to walks. His plate dicipline leaves much to be disred when he matures in that aspect of the game MLB watch out......

My biggest fear is that he will want too much money and we wont be able to afford him when he becomes a FA. We need to lock this kid up rite NOW! Him, Dtrain, Hermida, Vargas,and hopefully Adino will be the future of this franchise, if so the future is looking bright...so bright its blinding! :cool

ya but the first step is lock up Cabrera! like 5 years

Why should we lock up Miguel for 5 years now when he won't be eligible for free agency for another 4 years?

 

Wait 3 years or so, then work on the long term deal.

Why should we lock up Miguel for 5 years now when he won't be eligible for free agency for another 4 years?

 

Wait 3 years or so, then work on the long term deal.

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no doubt im just saying that when we are nearing the end of his contract we have to do all in our power to keep this kid. He is gona b a phenom.

ya but the first step is lock up Cabrera! like 5 years

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Gotta get that stadium first. :confused