Should MLB disqualify Cabrera from batting title?

As of this writing, Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen still holds a healthy lead in the NL batting title race. His .359 average is 13 points higher than Melky Cabrera's .346. Still, as McCutchen has realized lately, it's hard to maintain that kind of an average, even when you're seeing the ball well and squaring it up. That's because in order to hit that well, a player usually has to have a BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) that is unsustainable over the long haul.

Now, the same would be true of Melky Cabrera, except his average is effectively locked in now that he's been suspended for 50 games for PED (Performance Enhancing Drug) usage. Cabrera admitted he took a banned substance in a statement released today. To qualify for the batting title, a player must have a minimum of 502 at-bats; Cabrera currently has 501. Of course, there's a loophole. MLB can award a player "hitless at-bats" to bring the total to 502. Thus, Melky Cabrera would end the season with a .345652 batting average. The real question is, will Major League Baseball prevent this from happening?

Major League Baseball has not shown much stomach for cracking down on PED users outside of suspensions. In fact, MLB ended up reducing the Manny Ramirez suspension by half when Ramirez sought to be reinstated prior to this season. Think about that. Ramirez retired suddenly when he had a second positive PED test rather than face discipline. Then, he was allowed to come back a year later at half of the suspension because some time had passed. It was Manny's decision to buck the system and retire, rather than face a 100-game ban; yet, he was rewarded by choosing the cowardly path. This leniency was granted to a multiple offender of the program.

MLB should be proud of its drug testing program. It works. It has stamped out a lot of the PED use in the game and those still trying to buck the system get caught eventually. But rather than stand proudly by it, MLB gets embarrassed when stars test positive and back off. Well, this is not the time to back off. Cabrera has put up career numbers this year, winning the MVP of the All-Star game and helping to keep his team in playoff contention. That's impressive, but if it was gained improperly, it should not be celebrated. MLB should take a stand and refuse to allow Cabrera to qualify for the batting title. It would be incredibly embarrassing to allow someone who tested positive during the season to win the title with tainted results. I hope Bud Selig is listening, because this is his legacy.