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Sports

Melky Cabrera removed from NL batting title consideration

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

New York, NY – San Francisco Giants suspended outfielder Melky Cabrera has been removed from consideration for the National League batting title.

Cabrera requested that his name be removed from consideration for the title, leading to the Players' Association and the MLB working out a one-time amendment to Rule 10.22(a) on Friday.

The rule permits a player to be recognized as the official winner if extra hitless at-bats are added to his average and it remains higher than any qualifying player.

"After giving this matter the consideration it deserves, I have decided that Major League Baseball will comply with Mr. Cabrera's request," MLB commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "I respect his gesture as a sign of his regret and his desire to move forward, and I believe that, under these circumstances, the outcome is appropriate, particularly for Mr. Cabrera's peers who are contending for the batting crown."

Cabrera's average would not move from .346, which he was hitting prior to being suspended 50 games for testing positive for testosterone, as he is just one at-bat shy of qualifying for the title.

Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen is now the current leader in the NL with a .339 average, followed by the Giants' Buster Posey, who is batting .335.

"I have no wish to win an award that would be tainted. I believe it would be far better for someone more deserving to win," Cabrera said. "I asked the Players Association and the league to take the necessary steps to remove my name from consideration for the National League batting title.

"I am grateful that the Players Association and MLB were able to honor my request by suspending the rule for this season. I know that changing the rules mid-season can present problems, and I thank the Players Association and MLB for finding a way to get this done."