A Tale of Two Left Fielders: Melky “The Milk Man” Cabrera and Barry Bonds, Part 1

When he got his 51^st hit yesterday, left fielder Melky Cabrera became the second San Francisco Giants to break Willie Mays’ record for most hits in the month of May. Now, he ties Randy Winn’s 2005 record. Mays made his record in 1958.

I was skeptical when I first heard the Giants signed Cabrera, Angel Pagan, and Gregor Blanco. I’m a baseball fan, but I hadn’t heard of Angel Pagan or Gregor Blanco. I’d heard of a M---- Cabrera, but I got him confused with Miguel Cabrera. I thought they were the same person. Ok, it wasn’t quite thinking. Ideas floated around in my brain. Once Cabrera came to the Giants, I started paying more attention and got clear on the Other Cabrera.

After signing Carlos Beltran last season and him coming over and not being the hot hitter that we needed, yes, I was skeptical. However, I noticed from the beginning of the season, Cabrera was hot. I remember thinking: he better be. I was worried about Pagan and Blanco too. Pagan is hitting well right now, but he started off kind of slow. His 20-game hitting streak that followed Pablo Sandoval’s own was a welcome surprise.

I don’t know Melky Cabrera. I have only watched him play all or parts of most games this season and have watched one interview, but I like what I see as a player and person. Even before yesterday’s record-tying and, of course, along the way. He hits and gets on base. He steals. He catches balls. He doesn’t just catch. He runs them down. He dives.

In the interview I saw early in the season, the interviewer asked him how he had made his hits. Cabrera mentioned with the help of God and he was doing his best. The interviewer asked him a few questions and each time Cabrera gave credit to God. I like that he didn’t crow about himself. He has athletic ability and was born with it or developed it and most likely both, but he didn’t puff out his chest and bang it. He deflected the praise. I admit this is a personal taste. Some folks love to pump themselves up and love when other folks do it. Sure, it’s ok to do. I just liked the way Cabrera didn’t this time.

Melky Cabrera is on my mind not only because of passing Mays and tying Winn and deflecting praise. But, he seems to be doing all he can to do the best he can to help his team. Melky is on my mind also because of another left hander who was in the stands and radio and TV booths during a game on Monday, Memorial Day: Barry Bonds.

Next part will be an overview of the other left fielder, Barry Bonds.