Cabrera on Pujols-like career path; Selig's windfall

	Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run home run against the Nationals on Opening Day. AP

Also in this column:
• Selig's golden parachute
• Moreno a big fan of A-Rod
• More news and notes

Is it too late to change my National League MVP pick?

Miguel Cabrera has been known as sort of an Albert Pujols in training (Pujols was my choice). But Cabrera is starting the season like he might supersede his model. I know, I know, it's just two games -- and two games against the gnats at that. But it's one heck of a start for the Marlins star, nonetheless.

Cabrera has five hits in seven at-bats, and takes a 1.429 slugging percentage into Wednesday's game against the Nationals. Which means that, according to the count of one NL scout, Nationals rookie manager Manny Acta has made at least seven mistakes.

"I told our manager never to pitch to him. You're crazy if you do," the scout said. "In that lineup he's in, he's a man among boys."

Cabrera, whose career path has been likened to that of Pujols, has averaged 31 home runs, 114 RBIs and .318 in his three full seasons, to Pujols' 45, 126 and .331 in his last three. Pujols is three years older, so that's one advantage he has (Pujols averaged 38, 127 and .334 his first three years, from ages 21-23, coincidentally Cabrera's ages his first three, as well). But also consider that Cabrera's degree of difficulty is much higher considering he isn't surrounded by seasoned stars and has to hit more often in the pitchers' parks of the NL East, where only Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park can be considered hitter friendly.

If Cabrera's career averages don't quite measure up to those of Pujols, it could be because Pujols has Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds, not exactly chumps, batting behind him. Cabrera currently has Mike Jacobs.

Not to take anything away from Pujols, but he operates mostly in a favorable hitting environment. In the NL Central, five of six parks are hitter friendly (especially the ones in Houston and Milwaukee), while Pittsburgh's PNC Park is the only one that favors pitchers.

Cabrera is money, Marlins are poor

It'll be interesting to see if the cash-poor Marlins will pay Cabrera close to $12 million next year, which is what he could make in arbitration next year. It might be especially tough if there's no new stadium deal in South Florida by then.

Cabrera started his year off right by beating Florida for $7.4 million in arbitration (topping Pujols' previous record of $7 million for a first-year-eligible player), up from the $472,000 he made in 2006. Of course, Pujols will be his measuring stick for future salaries.

Bud's golden years

I can now see why Bud Selig calls this time the Golden Era of baseball. Or maybe it should be called the Golden Parachute.

Not that Selig didn't have a good year, but according to Sports Business Journal, Selig made $14.5 million in salary, bonuses and expenses for fiscal 2005. That's not bad for a guy who's always had simple tastes. For instance, he eats lunch every day at Gilles Frozen Custard Stand (a hot dog and diet coke -- he must also be a small eater).