# MLB: September 2023 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [September 3, 2023, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2023/989543 "2023-09-03T10:51:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2023/989543/121 "2023-10-02T15:24:12Z")
My understanding is that baseball contracts are all guaranteed. The moment you sign on the dotted line that money is yours, unless you decide to walk away. Maybe they should’ve dumped him and eaten the contract, this freeing up a roster spot, but there would have been no way of avoiding paying him the money he was due. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2023/989543/122 "2023-10-02T15:37:53Z")
I think it’s called the sunk cost fallacy. In Detroit’s case, it wouldn’t have made a difference one way or another. Cabrera wasn’t really blocking anyone in the DH/pinch hitter role. The team hasn’t been a contender since 2016 (they last made the postseason in 2014.) They have to pay him regardless, unless he chose retirement voluntarily, so why not? He was still a fan favorite. It’s a different problem for teams with postseason aspirations and payrolls year after year. Look at the Yankees and the Stanton contract. His skills are deteriorating rapidly and he can barely run, but the team is on the hook for $98 million over the next four seasons. At some point they’re going to have to release him and eat that money rather than playing him. It will be interesting to see what they choose, and when… ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2023/989543/123 "2023-10-02T15:53:36Z")
The last four years Cabrera batted .250, .256, .254, and .257. Certainly not great, especially compared to his earlier years. But it’s right around the overall MLB average, which generally hovers at the .250 mark. As @BlankSlate noted, he wasn’t standing in anybody’s way at DH, plus Detroit wasn’t exactly contending in those years, either. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2023/989543/124 "2023-10-02T17:52:31Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Minnesota had a great September and their pitching is nicely lined up. The Twins played very well in September–probably their best month. (checking–yes, 18-9; 18-10 if we count yesterday). Part of that is some of the players that were added to the roster–Kirilloff, Castro, Wallner, Larnach–and part of it is who they played–White Sox, Angels, Oakland, Colorado. They clinched early so they got people rested and lined up the pitching, and they played Toronto even up this year, even winning 2 out of 3 in Toronto, though traditionally they do not play well there. I’m thinking they will break their playoff jinx, even if they don’t win the series. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2023/989543/125 "2023-10-02T23:26:00Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > So, he took first base in the final inning and even made the final out. They said it was his first time playing defense(fielding) since 2021. Meanwhile, Adam Wainwright finished his career with the Cardinals by taking a couple of at-bats in his last series. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-september-2023/989543.md?page=6)