Melky Cabrera Comps Part II: The Legend Of Don Money

Yesterday I looked at the 25 players since 1950 that share common numbers with Melky Cabrera (2000+ PA's, 80-89 OPS+ through their age 25 season). Specifically I was hoping to find players that posted an OPS+ of 120 or higher at age 26 and was able to carry that success over into their age 27 season. I didn't find a one. Ed Kranepool and Steve Sax were the only two to post the required OPS+ at 26 but neither used that season as a springboard to greatness - Kranepool was no longer a full time player and Sax returned to being a light hitting middle infielder.

I decided to go back and take another look at the players from a different angle. I'll share their career OPS+ through their age 25 season again and then how they fared at 26 and 27. I was also going to look at their 28+ numbers but decided not to. I mean, we really don't care what Cabrera does when he's 28 or older, right?

Player	< 25	26	27
Jose Lopez	89	69	46
Jose Oquendo	89	85	88
Steve Sax	89	137	87
Ron Hansen	89	115	90
Don Money	88	114	120
Ed Kranepool	88	124	110
Luis Castillo	87	95	106
Rick Manning	87	89	89
Bill Russell	87	52	85
Kurt Stillwell	86	89	62
Bill Mazeroski	86	80	91
Leo Cardenas	85	115	93
Glenn Hubbard	84	95	75
Jerry Remy	84	85	88
Juan Uribe	83	73	74
Brian McRae	83	88	108
Juan Pierre	82	107	84
Aurelio Rodriguez	82	60	86
Tony Taylor	82	86	102
Corey Patterson	81	94	80
Derrel Thomas	81	91	74
Bucky Dent	80	72	57
Dalton Jones	80	89	94
Mike Hershberger	80	91	90

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used

If I had set the OPS+ minimum lower yesterday Kranepool and Sax would have been joined by four other players, one of which gives hope that Cabrera can repeat his performance. Hansen, Cardenas and Pierre joined Sax in returning to normal but Don Money improved dramatically. From ages 27-31 Money had a 120 OPS+ and was named an All Star four times, twice receiving MVP votes.

Now the difference between Cabrera and Money is that Money did have an above average season on his resume before turning 26. In 1970 at age 23 he posted a 122 OPS+ but he was pretty much useless offensively his other three seasons.

Year	Age	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS+
1969	22	.229	.296	.327	76
1971	24	.223	.276	.358	79
1972	25	.222	.278	.343	75

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Heading into the 1973 season I wonder if honestly believed that Money was about to turn into a legitimate All Star? I seriously doubt it.

Much like I doubt anyone saw Cabrera's 2011 performance coming. Will he regress or will he repeat? Unless Dayton Moore throws us a curveball and goes all in on Lorenzo Cain we'll find out next year.