"Miguel Cabrera sure didn't look or sound like a guy worried about winning his first American League batting title this week.

Soft-spoken and all smiles, the league-leading Tigers slugger, boasting a .343 average after a 3-for-5 performance Monday, tried to downplay the potential milestone any way he could.

As reporters approached him in the clubhouse before Monday's game against the Indians, Cabrera finished signing an autograph, then juggled three baseballs before an attempt to embarrass teammate Ramon Santiago.

"Santiago stole a bible from the hotel!" yelled Cabrera, explaining a trip to the crowd gathered. "That's a bad man."

Once the laughing stopped and questions about Cabrera's hitting prowess were asked, he made one final attempt to dodge the subject as manager Jim Leyland walked by.

"Skip, I need some help here," Cabrera pleaded.

"What do you want me to do?" Leyland said, shrugging, as he headed to the field."