Miguel Cabrera's chase for Triple Crown history is just about over, but he's still involved in an interesting race to win his second consecutive American League MVP.
When September started, the Detroit third baseman had a legitimate shot at becoming the first player in baseball's long history to win Triple Crowns in back-to-back seasons, but a recent slump -- helped by a nagging groin injury -- threw a wrench into that plan.
Through Thursday, Cabrera owns just one homer since Aug. 26. The slump allowed Baltimore's Chris Davis to widen his home run lead and catch Cabrera in RBI.
Last fall Cabrera won the first Triple Crown since Carl Yastrzemski did with the Red Sox in 1967. But with the Tigers having nine regular-season games left this season, Miggy would have to produce a final week for the ages to catch Davis in homers.
In the race for the AL batting title, Davis isn't a threat to Cabrera. At this point, no one really is -- Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout, is second in batting average, .017 points back at .330.
So will Cabrera, who won the Triple Crown last season by hitting .330 with 44 homers and 139 RBI, win back-to-back AL MVPs?
The majors' home run leader Davis, who trailed by as many 12 RBI on Aug. 26, could win the vote, which is announced in early November. His 134 RBI and 51 homers are career-bests. Last season, he finished with 85 RBI and 33 homers.
The Angels' Trout, who finished runner-up to Cabrera in last year's MVP voting, will likely get some votes, too.
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