Tigers’ Cabrera arrested on DUI charge in Fla.
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera was arrested late Wednesday on suspicion of drunken driving in Florida, police said, the latest episode for the first baseman who has struggled with drinking-related problems.
Cabrera, 27, was spotted by a deputy in a car with a smoking engine alongside a road in Fort Pierce. Inside the vehicle, Cabrera smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and took a swig from a bottle of scotch in front of a deputy, according to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office. He refused to cooperate and more deputies were called to the scene.
The arrest occurred about 110 miles southeast of Lakeland, where the Tigers hold spring training. Pitchers and catchers began workouts earlier this week, but position players like Cabrera don’t start until Saturday.
“It’s hard,” said second baseman Carlos Guillen, who is in camp recovering from an injury. “He’s a really good friend. I know he was working hard in the winter to have a good season this year.”
According to the police report, Cabrera was wandering into the road with his hands up before he was handcuffed. He kept saying, “Do you know who I am? You don’t know anything about my problems,” and cursed at deputies who tried to get him into a patrol car.
One deputy struck Cabrera in the left thigh several times with his knee after Cabrera pushed into him, causing the ballplayer to fall into the patrol car. Cabrera refused to take a breath test, deputies said.
He was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and resisting an officer without violence. He posted $1,350 bond and was released from jail at 7:45 a.m. Thursday.
The news was slow to reach the Tigers’ spring training complex, but Guillen, who like Cabrera is from Venezuela, was shaken when he found out.
“I worry about him. He’s got a lot of talent,” Guillen said. “It’s tough for him, for us, for Venezuelans.”
Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Cabrera is coming off perhaps his best season. He hit .328 with 38 home runs and 126 RBIs in 2010 and finished second to Josh Hamilton in the American League MVP vote.
In 2009, police said the All-Star first baseman got into a fight with his wife after a night of drinking, right before his team surrendered the American League Central Division title to the Twins.
Dombrowski had to pick up Cabrera at the station after that incident. No charges were filed.
During spring training last year, Cabrera said he was done drinking alcohol after he spent much of the offseason in counseling.
“You guys write in the paper ’alcoholic,’ that’s not right,” he said last March before a spring training workout. “I don’t know how to explain, but it’s not an alcohol problem.”
Cabrera has a home in Boca Raton, about 75 miles south of Fort Pierce. There was no phone listing for him.
6 comments:
Can't believe it.
I thought this was the year he'd hit 40 HRs with a 350 avg.
Now he might be gone the whole season.
Paul, I'd be happy to take him off your hands in the fantasy league...
Not happening Eddie. I don't have character clauses for my players.
Paul P.
Look, who hasn’t’ been there. You’re pulled over on the side of the road, an officer approaches, you quickly run down your mental checklist: Driver’s license. Registration. Proof of insurance. Proper suck up attitude. Quick breath mint. You practice the alphabet. Forward and backwards. But reaching for the brown bottle of courage isn’t on anyone’s list. Or at least it shouldn’t be. And not only did he throw the "do you know who I am card," but he put a new twist on it: “Do you know who I am; you don’t know anything about my problems.” Maybe not then, but they do now. And if you’re slamming scotch as they’re breaking out the silver bracelets, you still have a major problem. And once again, if you have to ask "do you know who I am," they don’t know or they don’t care. And either way, you are headed right to the slam.
And how about that mug shot: my man, that’s not for your baseball card. You’re getting your picture taken by the cops. Not Topps.
Clutch
Ha Ha to bad you stole that entire paragraph from jim rome on espn
Clutch, I listen to Rome every day, that was his take word for word.
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