The Tigers have announced their line-up for game one:
Jackson CF
Ordonez RF
Young LF
Cabrera 1B
Martinez DH
Avila C
Raburn 2B
Peralta SS
Inge 3B
Not surprisingly, they have loaded their line-up with right-handed batters versus the southpaw CC Sabathia. The biggest surprise is Ryan Raburn batting seventh in front of Jhonny Peralta, but he is the hotter hitter at the moment. Ramon Santiago and Wilson Betemit will likely replace Raburn and Brandon Inge when there is a right-handed starter.
Showing posts with label line-ups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label line-ups. Show all posts
Friday, September 30, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Ryan Raburn is the Tigers Second Baseman
With the puzzling trade of Scott Sizemore for David Purcey now complete, another candidate has has enterered the revolving door at second base. First it was Will Rhymes. Then it was Sizemore. Now, Tom Gage is reporting that Ryan Raburn is the new Tigers second baseman.
Raburn at second is not a new idea. He played 15 games there last year and 5 so far this year. I know it's strange to think of the awkward Raburn playing in the infield, but I think he's adequate at second. He won't field the position as well as Ramon Santiago or Danny Worth, but I think he plays second a little better than he plays the outfield. Still, I would imagine that he'll be pulled late in games for a defensive replacement
What Raburn can do that the others can't is hit. I know he's been awful this year - .204/.248/.345 with 51 strikeouts in 142 at bats. However, even the most rabid Raburn hater knows that he is better than that and will likely heat up soon. He has a .265/.322/.451 career line which would would be good numbers for a middle infielder. He's not the ideal second baseman but given the available choices, I think he's the best option they have at the moment.
Raburn at second is not a new idea. He played 15 games there last year and 5 so far this year. I know it's strange to think of the awkward Raburn playing in the infield, but I think he's adequate at second. He won't field the position as well as Ramon Santiago or Danny Worth, but I think he plays second a little better than he plays the outfield. Still, I would imagine that he'll be pulled late in games for a defensive replacement
What Raburn can do that the others can't is hit. I know he's been awful this year - .204/.248/.345 with 51 strikeouts in 142 at bats. However, even the most rabid Raburn hater knows that he is better than that and will likely heat up soon. He has a .265/.322/.451 career line which would would be good numbers for a middle infielder. He's not the ideal second baseman but given the available choices, I think he's the best option they have at the moment.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Same Old Line-up for Tigers
The Tigers are a opening a three-game series versus the first place Cleveland Indians tonight. I won't call three games this early in the season a crucial series, but the Tigers are already 4 1/2 games behind the Indians. Cleveland is not a great team by any means but the Tigers don't want to dig too much of a hole, no matter how early it may be.
Max Scherzer (31 IP, 3.19 ERA, 30/13 K/BB) starts for the Bengals and Jeanmar Gomez (7 1/3 IP, 7.36 ERA, 4/3 K/BB goes for the Indians. It certainly looks like a favorable match-up for the Tigers, especially since Scherzer is on a roll having given up only five runs in his last four starts.
The bad news is that Jim Leyland continues to roll out the same ineffective line-up:
Jackson cf
Rhymes 2b
Ordonez dh
Cabrera 1b
Boesch rf
Raburn lf
Peralta ss
Avila c
Inge 3b
Once again, the skipper has three batters - Austin Jackson, Will Rhymes and Magglio Ordonez - batting under .200 in front of Miguel Cabrera, one of the best hitters in the game. Of the three, only Rhymes at .308 has an OBP above .250. Cabrera hasn't been getting many RBIs with this arrangement. How long do they have to fail before Leyland tries something different?
Max Scherzer (31 IP, 3.19 ERA, 30/13 K/BB) starts for the Bengals and Jeanmar Gomez (7 1/3 IP, 7.36 ERA, 4/3 K/BB goes for the Indians. It certainly looks like a favorable match-up for the Tigers, especially since Scherzer is on a roll having given up only five runs in his last four starts.
The bad news is that Jim Leyland continues to roll out the same ineffective line-up:
Jackson cf
Rhymes 2b
Ordonez dh
Cabrera 1b
Boesch rf
Raburn lf
Peralta ss
Avila c
Inge 3b
Once again, the skipper has three batters - Austin Jackson, Will Rhymes and Magglio Ordonez - batting under .200 in front of Miguel Cabrera, one of the best hitters in the game. Of the three, only Rhymes at .308 has an OBP above .250. Cabrera hasn't been getting many RBIs with this arrangement. How long do they have to fail before Leyland tries something different?
Monday, April 18, 2011
Raburn Playing Second Base Tonight
Every day, there seems to be a little surprise in Jim Leyland's starting line-up. Tonight there is a pretty big surprise - Ryan Raburn is playing second base. The Tigers are desperate for some offense and, while he is struggling at the plate (.229/.283/.396), Raburn has been more productive than Will Rhymes (.222/.286/.222). So, the move makes sense on that basis.
But Ryan Raburn at second base? After watching him stumble around the outfield, do we really want to see him at second base? Before you panic, remember that he was moved from third base to second in the minors because the Tigers thought he was more suited to the position. He was eventually moved to the outfield, but he is adequate at second and has played 55 games at the position in the majors. That includes 18 games last year and they were fairly uneventful - just one error. He's not a permanent solution to the second base problem, but he should be OK for the short-term. Also, Rhymes is only an average fielder, so it's not like they are losing a strong defender in the process.
If nothing else, Leyland is showing some creativity in this move. Here is the rest of the line-up:
Jackson cf
Raburn 2b
Ordonez rf
Cabrera 1b
Martinez dh
Boesch rf
Peralta ss
Avila c
Inge 3b.
But Ryan Raburn at second base? After watching him stumble around the outfield, do we really want to see him at second base? Before you panic, remember that he was moved from third base to second in the minors because the Tigers thought he was more suited to the position. He was eventually moved to the outfield, but he is adequate at second and has played 55 games at the position in the majors. That includes 18 games last year and they were fairly uneventful - just one error. He's not a permanent solution to the second base problem, but he should be OK for the short-term. Also, Rhymes is only an average fielder, so it's not like they are losing a strong defender in the process.
If nothing else, Leyland is showing some creativity in this move. Here is the rest of the line-up:
Jackson cf
Raburn 2b
Ordonez rf
Cabrera 1b
Martinez dh
Boesch rf
Peralta ss
Avila c
Inge 3b.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Switching Jackson and Rhymes Not the Answer
Despite some explosive hitting by first baseman Miguel Cabrera and encouraging starts from youngsters Alex Avila and Brennan Boesch, the Tigers are struggling to score runs this April. After scoring 4.6 runs per game in 2010, the Tigers have scored only 4.1 runs per game so far this year. They are 8th in the American League in runs per game, 8th in batting average (.240), 9th in on base percentage and 7th in slugging (.392).
There are a number of players not carrying their weight in the early going. Victor Martinez, who was signed to a four-year deal to beef up the middle of the line-up, is off to a slow start. Magglio Ordonez has been in and out of the line-up with a sore ankle and hasn't hit when he has played. However, these guys have track records which suggest they'll do better soon. Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn have not been very productive, but we expect them to be hot and cold.
A bigger concern is the top of the line-up where sophomores Austin Jackson and Will Rhymes are not setting the table for the big hitters in the middle. Jackson is batting .175 with 19 strikeouts in 57 at bats and has an OBP of just .281. Rhymes is hitting .222 with a .286 OBP and has no extra base hits. It is very early, but the problem with these two is that we can't be too confident that they'll snap out of it.
Jackson batted .293 and reached base at a .345 pace in his rookie campaign. However, much of that was fueled by a .396 Batting Average on Balls in Play and a 24% line drive, numbers which most analysts agreed were unsustainable. Almost all statistical projections saw his batting average taking a big hit this year. He won't bat .175 all year, but he may not bat much higher than .250. If that's the case, then it won't be enough for a man who hits for little power and has a modest walk rate. Sure, he's young and athletic and has the potential to improve, but they need him to produce this year too.
Rhymes has never been a top prospect but impressed Jim Leyland with a .304 batting average in the 54 games in 2010. He was rewarded with the starting second base job this spring, in part, because he out played Scott Sizemore in limited playing time last year. Many analysts feel that Rhymes captured lightning in a bottle last year though and the fear is that he won't repeat his performance over a full season. Rhymes makes good contact, but it's very weak contact. Thus, he has to bat .300 on a consistent basis in order to be a valuable major league regular. You never want to count out a man who has played above expectations his whole life, but the odds are against him again.
Today, Leyland switched their positions in the line-up putting Rhymes at lead off and Jackson at number two. It appears to be a desperate attempt to spark the offense at the top of the order, but it's not likely to help. Jackson looks like a mess at the plate right now and it's going to take more than a move to the two hole to fix his swing and timing. Similarly, I don't see the advantage of Rhymes leading off. I think they both need more than a psychological push.
What happens if Jackson doesn't hit this year? AJax is going to be given a fairly long leash because he is a spectacular center fielder defensively. I can see him being dropped to the ninth spot in the line-up, but I doubt he'll be removed from the line-up any time soon. They don't have a replacement that can field quite like him and the other center field options - Casper Wells and Clete Thomas - have their own problems making contact. There is always Donnie Kelly, but Kelly as an every day player is something most of us don't want to think about.
Rhymes is in a tougher spot because his second base defense is only average and won't carry a weak bat. I think if he doesn't hit by early May, he'll be replaced by Sizemore. Sizemore struggled both offensively and defensively in his rookie campaign in 2010, but he was likely slowed by a bad ankle. There is also a feeling among some that he pressed during his time in the majors. If that's the case, he'll need to get over that but he seems to be pushing for another opportunity. He's batting .387 with a .472 OBP for Toledo and we'll probably see him soon if Rhymes doesn't turn it around quickly.
There are a number of players not carrying their weight in the early going. Victor Martinez, who was signed to a four-year deal to beef up the middle of the line-up, is off to a slow start. Magglio Ordonez has been in and out of the line-up with a sore ankle and hasn't hit when he has played. However, these guys have track records which suggest they'll do better soon. Brandon Inge and Ryan Raburn have not been very productive, but we expect them to be hot and cold.
A bigger concern is the top of the line-up where sophomores Austin Jackson and Will Rhymes are not setting the table for the big hitters in the middle. Jackson is batting .175 with 19 strikeouts in 57 at bats and has an OBP of just .281. Rhymes is hitting .222 with a .286 OBP and has no extra base hits. It is very early, but the problem with these two is that we can't be too confident that they'll snap out of it.
Jackson batted .293 and reached base at a .345 pace in his rookie campaign. However, much of that was fueled by a .396 Batting Average on Balls in Play and a 24% line drive, numbers which most analysts agreed were unsustainable. Almost all statistical projections saw his batting average taking a big hit this year. He won't bat .175 all year, but he may not bat much higher than .250. If that's the case, then it won't be enough for a man who hits for little power and has a modest walk rate. Sure, he's young and athletic and has the potential to improve, but they need him to produce this year too.
Rhymes has never been a top prospect but impressed Jim Leyland with a .304 batting average in the 54 games in 2010. He was rewarded with the starting second base job this spring, in part, because he out played Scott Sizemore in limited playing time last year. Many analysts feel that Rhymes captured lightning in a bottle last year though and the fear is that he won't repeat his performance over a full season. Rhymes makes good contact, but it's very weak contact. Thus, he has to bat .300 on a consistent basis in order to be a valuable major league regular. You never want to count out a man who has played above expectations his whole life, but the odds are against him again.
Today, Leyland switched their positions in the line-up putting Rhymes at lead off and Jackson at number two. It appears to be a desperate attempt to spark the offense at the top of the order, but it's not likely to help. Jackson looks like a mess at the plate right now and it's going to take more than a move to the two hole to fix his swing and timing. Similarly, I don't see the advantage of Rhymes leading off. I think they both need more than a psychological push.
What happens if Jackson doesn't hit this year? AJax is going to be given a fairly long leash because he is a spectacular center fielder defensively. I can see him being dropped to the ninth spot in the line-up, but I doubt he'll be removed from the line-up any time soon. They don't have a replacement that can field quite like him and the other center field options - Casper Wells and Clete Thomas - have their own problems making contact. There is always Donnie Kelly, but Kelly as an every day player is something most of us don't want to think about.
Rhymes is in a tougher spot because his second base defense is only average and won't carry a weak bat. I think if he doesn't hit by early May, he'll be replaced by Sizemore. Sizemore struggled both offensively and defensively in his rookie campaign in 2010, but he was likely slowed by a bad ankle. There is also a feeling among some that he pressed during his time in the majors. If that's the case, he'll need to get over that but he seems to be pushing for another opportunity. He's batting .387 with a .472 OBP for Toledo and we'll probably see him soon if Rhymes doesn't turn it around quickly.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Ordonez and Jackson Back in Line-up
Magglio Ordonez is back in the line-up tonight after missing four games with pain and fluid in his ankle. He'll be batting third versus Oakland Athletics left-hander Dallas Braden. I'n not sure whether or not Magglio's return is good news. On one hand, they have been scuffling offensively and could use another big bat. On the other hand, he is batting .208 with one extra base hit in 24 at bats and just hasn't looked right. It could be just an early slump, but if his health is affecting his hitting, I'd rather they put him on the disabled list until he is totally healthy
Also returning to the line-up after a day off is center fielder Austin Jackson. He is currently batting an anemic .184 with strikeouts in 33% of his at bats. Most analysts projected a regression from Jackson .293 batting average last season, but nobody expected him to bat below the Mendoza Line.
Last year, Jackson had a spectacular .396 Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP) thanks to a 24% line drive rate (LD%) on batted balls and 12% infield hit rate on ground balls. Most felt he would not be able to sustain his BABIP and LD%, but now he is putting up numbers (.250 BABIP and 7% LD% ) which are unsustainable on the low side. The moral of the story other than "it's too early" is that he'll need to cut down is strikeouts in order to maintain a consistetly high batting average. So far, there are no signs of that happening.
The question is what do the Tigers do if AJax his is batting .250 with no power and a ridiculous K rate in another couple of weeks? Would they possibly send him down to the minors to work on his swing? That seems unlikely since they need his glove. However, I would have to think that they would move him down to the bottom of the order at some point.
The rest of tonight's lineup looks like this:
Jackson CF
Raburn LF
Ordonez DH
Cabrera 1B
Martinez C
Peralta SS
Boesch RF
Inge 3B
Santiago 2B
Also returning to the line-up after a day off is center fielder Austin Jackson. He is currently batting an anemic .184 with strikeouts in 33% of his at bats. Most analysts projected a regression from Jackson .293 batting average last season, but nobody expected him to bat below the Mendoza Line.
Last year, Jackson had a spectacular .396 Batting Average on Balls In Play (BABIP) thanks to a 24% line drive rate (LD%) on batted balls and 12% infield hit rate on ground balls. Most felt he would not be able to sustain his BABIP and LD%, but now he is putting up numbers (.250 BABIP and 7% LD% ) which are unsustainable on the low side. The moral of the story other than "it's too early" is that he'll need to cut down is strikeouts in order to maintain a consistetly high batting average. So far, there are no signs of that happening.
The question is what do the Tigers do if AJax his is batting .250 with no power and a ridiculous K rate in another couple of weeks? Would they possibly send him down to the minors to work on his swing? That seems unlikely since they need his glove. However, I would have to think that they would move him down to the bottom of the order at some point.
The rest of tonight's lineup looks like this:
Jackson CF
Raburn LF
Ordonez DH
Cabrera 1B
Martinez C
Peralta SS
Boesch RF
Inge 3B
Santiago 2B
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Game Six Line-up
Tonight's line-up makes it look like we are back in spring training. Magglio Ordonez, Brandon Inge and Jhonny Peralta are out. Ryan Raburn, Don Kelly and Ramon Santiago are in. And why is Kelly batting before Raburn? (Now watch Kelly go four for four)
Jackson CF
Rhymes 2B
Boesch RF
Cabrera 1B
Martinez DH
Kelly 3B
Raburn LF
Avila C
Santiago 2B
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Rhymes will be Starting Second Baseman
Jason Beck, Tom Gage and Mario Impemba have all tweeted that Will Rhymes has won the second base job to start the season. Jim Leyland is not guaranteeing that he will start opening day versus the left-handed CC Sabathia though. So, it could be somewhat of a platoon situation. Anyway, the starting line-up looks like this:
Austin Jackson CF
Will Rhymes 2B
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Ryan Raburn LF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Brandon Inge 3B
Alex Avila C
When they face a left-hander, Casper Wells would probably replace Avila in the line-up and perhaps Danny Worth or Ramon Santiago would replace Rhymes. In that case, Raburn would probably bat second, Wells sixth and the second baseman ninth.
Austin Jackson CF
Will Rhymes 2B
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Ryan Raburn LF
Jhonny Peralta SS
Brandon Inge 3B
Alex Avila C
When they face a left-hander, Casper Wells would probably replace Avila in the line-up and perhaps Danny Worth or Ramon Santiago would replace Rhymes. In that case, Raburn would probably bat second, Wells sixth and the second baseman ninth.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Jackson Back in Line-up Tonight
Austin Jackson, who was hit in the head by a Ramon Troncoso fastball on Saturday evening in Los Angeles, is back in the line-up tonight. He had major swelling over his left eye when he woke up on Sunday morning, but that's pretty much gone now. Additionally, tests have shown that he has no concussion so he is good to go after missing just one game. That is all great news considering how scary it looked when he was first hit. Hopefully, it won't affect him psychologically.
One important player who won't be in the line-up tonight or tomorrow is Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is going home to Florida where his wife is giving birth to their child. Without him the line-up looks less than imposing:
One important player who won't be in the line-up tonight or tomorrow is Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is going home to Florida where his wife is giving birth to their child. Without him the line-up looks less than imposing:
- Jackson, CF
- Santiago, SS
- Damon, DH
- Ordonez, RF
- Boesch, LF
- Inge, 3B
- Kelly, 1B
- Avila, C
- Worth, 2B
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Line-ups for Game 3
MLive has the line-ups for game 3:
Minnesota Twins
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, RF
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Jose Morales, DH
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B
Detroit Tigers
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Clete Thomas, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Magglio Ordonez, DH
6. Carlos Guillen, LF
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Ramon Santiago, SS
The big change is Aubrey Huff sitting versus right-hander Carl Pavano. Magglio Ordonez replaces him at DH and takes his 5th spot in the order. Clete Thomas is playing right field and batting third. Swapping Huff for Thomas is a good move as it improves their defense without hurting the offense. I'd rather not see Thomas batting third though. It would make more sense sense to have Ordonez third and Carlos Guillen fifth.
Minnesota Twins
1. Denard Span, CF
2. Orlando Cabrera, SS
3. Joe Mauer, C
4. Jason Kubel, RF
5. Michael Cuddyer, 1B
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Jose Morales, DH
8. Matt Tolbert, 3B
9. Nick Punto, 2B
Detroit Tigers
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Clete Thomas, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Magglio Ordonez, DH
6. Carlos Guillen, LF
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Ramon Santiago, SS
The big change is Aubrey Huff sitting versus right-hander Carl Pavano. Magglio Ordonez replaces him at DH and takes his 5th spot in the order. Clete Thomas is playing right field and batting third. Swapping Huff for Thomas is a good move as it improves their defense without hurting the offense. I'd rather not see Thomas batting third though. It would make more sense sense to have Ordonez third and Carlos Guillen fifth.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Guillen to DL, Radical New Line-up
Carlos Guillen has been placed on the 15 day disabled list with a sore shoulder and Jeff Larish and Clete Thomas have been recalled from Toledo. Clay Rapada was optioned to Toledo. Jim Leyland also has a crazy new line-up tonight:
Josh Anderson LF
Placido Polanco 2B
Clete Thomas RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Magglio Ordonez DH
Brandon Inge 3B
Gerald Laird C
Ramon Santiago SS
I don't know if this is a one night deal designed to spark the offense or whether it will be line-up during Guillen's absence. It's certainly a strong defensive unit but the order does not make a lot of sense to me. As Billfer points out, Curtis Granderson batting fifth behind Miguel Cabrera puts one of the fastest runners in back of one of the slowest in Cabrera. It also means fewer at bats for Curtis. If Leyland had to move him out of the leadoff spot, why not have him bat third ? instead of Clete Thomas? Thomas was batting just .236 at AAA this year.
I don't know if Anderson will get on base enough to be good leadoff hitter but he currently has a hot bat so I'm not surprised they are trying him there. Ordonez moving down to the sixth spot makes sense given his early season slump. This is something that Leyland never would have done in the past.
Josh Anderson LF
Placido Polanco 2B
Clete Thomas RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Magglio Ordonez DH
Brandon Inge 3B
Gerald Laird C
Ramon Santiago SS
I don't know if this is a one night deal designed to spark the offense or whether it will be line-up during Guillen's absence. It's certainly a strong defensive unit but the order does not make a lot of sense to me. As Billfer points out, Curtis Granderson batting fifth behind Miguel Cabrera puts one of the fastest runners in back of one of the slowest in Cabrera. It also means fewer at bats for Curtis. If Leyland had to move him out of the leadoff spot, why not have him bat third ? instead of Clete Thomas? Thomas was batting just .236 at AAA this year.
I don't know if Anderson will get on base enough to be good leadoff hitter but he currently has a hot bat so I'm not surprised they are trying him there. Ordonez moving down to the sixth spot makes sense given his early season slump. This is something that Leyland never would have done in the past.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Inge to third Guillen to left
The Carlos Guillen Brandon Inge positional shuffle took another turn today when Jim Leyland announced that Inge will move back to third and Guillen to left field in 2009. Inge has been struggling offensively and defensively as a catcher and has always been more comfortable at third. He is currently batting .204/.300/.366 which won't be good enough even with his strong defense at third. He'll likely hit a little better at third than he did at catcher but there is no guarantee of that.
Guillen has not played much outfield (just two games this year) but I suspect he'll be adequate. It will be mostly a matter of staying healthy. The move will make it very difficult for rookie Matt Joyce to get regular playing time and could mean that Marcus Thames will be dealt during the off-season. What I'd like to see is for them to trade Gary Sheffield (even if the Tigers have to eat a large portion of his salary), move Guillen to designated hitter and go with a Matt Joyce/Marcus Thames platoon in left field. Despite Sheffield's improved offense in the second half (.798 OPS since the all-star break), I'm still wary of his age and injury issues going forward.
The decision also leaves the Tigers without an experienced catcher. Dusty Ryan has looked good this September batting .306 with two homers in 36 at bats and displaying solid defense. He also showed good power in the minors hitting 17 homers and 24 doubles in 369 at bats with Erie and Toledo. However, he also struck out 122 times and,while I do like his future, he might need more time at AAA. Their only other catcher is Dane Sardinha who is batting a paltry .140. Ryan might indeed be ready for some kind of major league role but they'll almost surely add another catcher during the off-season to at least split time with him.
Ultimately, the reason for the move is they need to improve their defense next year. Depending on which defensive statistic you use, the Tigers rank anywhere from 24th (Defensive Efficiency Ratio at baseball Prospectus) to 28th (+/- at Hardball Times) in the majors. A big part of the problem is the left side of the infield. Carlos Guillen ranks 12th out of 20 third basemen in Revised Zone Rating and is 8 plays below the average third basemen according to the Fielding Bible +/- system (listed at Bill James Online). Edgar Renteria is 18th out of 20 shortstops in RZR and is 8 plays below average on the Fielding Bible +/- system. It's been well documented on this site that Inge is one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball. That should help them at both third and short as Renteria (making the shaky assumption he'll be back next year) does not move well to his right.
So, I have a mixed reaction to the announcement. I like what it will do for their defense but I'm not sure if Inge will hit well enough to justify playing regularly. I also don't like that it potentially keeps Joyce out of the running for a starting job next year. I like that Inge won't be catching and that Ryan will probably get a shot but I'm not sure if Dusty is ready.
Now, of course, Leyland has a history of saying one thing one day and changing his mind two days later so this could be much ado about nothing.
Guillen has not played much outfield (just two games this year) but I suspect he'll be adequate. It will be mostly a matter of staying healthy. The move will make it very difficult for rookie Matt Joyce to get regular playing time and could mean that Marcus Thames will be dealt during the off-season. What I'd like to see is for them to trade Gary Sheffield (even if the Tigers have to eat a large portion of his salary), move Guillen to designated hitter and go with a Matt Joyce/Marcus Thames platoon in left field. Despite Sheffield's improved offense in the second half (.798 OPS since the all-star break), I'm still wary of his age and injury issues going forward.
The decision also leaves the Tigers without an experienced catcher. Dusty Ryan has looked good this September batting .306 with two homers in 36 at bats and displaying solid defense. He also showed good power in the minors hitting 17 homers and 24 doubles in 369 at bats with Erie and Toledo. However, he also struck out 122 times and,while I do like his future, he might need more time at AAA. Their only other catcher is Dane Sardinha who is batting a paltry .140. Ryan might indeed be ready for some kind of major league role but they'll almost surely add another catcher during the off-season to at least split time with him.
Ultimately, the reason for the move is they need to improve their defense next year. Depending on which defensive statistic you use, the Tigers rank anywhere from 24th (Defensive Efficiency Ratio at baseball Prospectus) to 28th (+/- at Hardball Times) in the majors. A big part of the problem is the left side of the infield. Carlos Guillen ranks 12th out of 20 third basemen in Revised Zone Rating and is 8 plays below the average third basemen according to the Fielding Bible +/- system (listed at Bill James Online). Edgar Renteria is 18th out of 20 shortstops in RZR and is 8 plays below average on the Fielding Bible +/- system. It's been well documented on this site that Inge is one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball. That should help them at both third and short as Renteria (making the shaky assumption he'll be back next year) does not move well to his right.
So, I have a mixed reaction to the announcement. I like what it will do for their defense but I'm not sure if Inge will hit well enough to justify playing regularly. I also don't like that it potentially keeps Joyce out of the running for a starting job next year. I like that Inge won't be catching and that Ryan will probably get a shot but I'm not sure if Dusty is ready.
Now, of course, Leyland has a history of saying one thing one day and changing his mind two days later so this could be much ado about nothing.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Tigers take series from Athletics
The Tigers topped the Athletics 6-1 today to take the three game series two games to one. Winning a series at home from a team that had previously lost ten in a row and has one of the weakest line-ups in baseball is no great feat. Still, it's nice to see that the Tigers are not mailing in the season as they apparently did in 2005 under similar circumstances. Friday night, it looked like they might be ready to do just that but they bounced back yesterday and today.
It's a shame the Tigers have fallen so far out of the race because all 19 of the remaining games this month are against teams that are at about .500 or below - Toronto (4 games), Baltimore (3), Texas (3), Kansas City (6) and Cleveland (3). Not only that, but 13 of those games are at home. It would have been a good opportunity to make a move in the pennant race but now it looks like it won't make a difference. It would still be nice if they can give us a good show and win most of those series though.
One guy who is entertaining us as of late is Miguel Cabrera. He is batting .346/.399/.654 in 168 plate appearances since June 27. His 1.053 OPS over that span is best in the American League. With pitchers now pitching around him - six walks in his last four games - it might be a good time for a line-up change. I'd like to see Cabrera moved into the third spot in front of Magglio Ordonez. That way he would get more at bats and wouldn't be pitched around very much. Either that or have Ordonez bat third and Cabrera fourth with Carlos Guillen batting fifth. Jim Leyland doesn't like to change the batting order though so this is a move I'm not expecting.
They will continue to pitch around Cabrera as long as Gary Sheffield struggles. Sheffield has shown a little more power since the all-star break but .234/.318/.468 is not good enough for a designated hitter. Sheffield is hitting a paltry .225/.326/.380 for the season. According to The Boston Globe, Sheffield says he would waive his no trade clause in order to be traded to a contender. He is still owed about $19 million this year and next though so I don't know who would want him. It's possible some team might think he will get hot for a few weeks and make a deal if the Tigers agree to pay a good proportion of the remainder of his contract. That's another move I'm not expecting though.
It's a shame the Tigers have fallen so far out of the race because all 19 of the remaining games this month are against teams that are at about .500 or below - Toronto (4 games), Baltimore (3), Texas (3), Kansas City (6) and Cleveland (3). Not only that, but 13 of those games are at home. It would have been a good opportunity to make a move in the pennant race but now it looks like it won't make a difference. It would still be nice if they can give us a good show and win most of those series though.
One guy who is entertaining us as of late is Miguel Cabrera. He is batting .346/.399/.654 in 168 plate appearances since June 27. His 1.053 OPS over that span is best in the American League. With pitchers now pitching around him - six walks in his last four games - it might be a good time for a line-up change. I'd like to see Cabrera moved into the third spot in front of Magglio Ordonez. That way he would get more at bats and wouldn't be pitched around very much. Either that or have Ordonez bat third and Cabrera fourth with Carlos Guillen batting fifth. Jim Leyland doesn't like to change the batting order though so this is a move I'm not expecting.
They will continue to pitch around Cabrera as long as Gary Sheffield struggles. Sheffield has shown a little more power since the all-star break but .234/.318/.468 is not good enough for a designated hitter. Sheffield is hitting a paltry .225/.326/.380 for the season. According to The Boston Globe, Sheffield says he would waive his no trade clause in order to be traded to a contender. He is still owed about $19 million this year and next though so I don't know who would want him. It's possible some team might think he will get hot for a few weeks and make a deal if the Tigers agree to pay a good proportion of the remainder of his contract. That's another move I'm not expecting though.
Monday, July 14, 2008
What to do about Gary Sheffield?
Gary Sheffield has had what should be a Hall of Fame career. In 2,417 games over 21 seasons, he is batting .294 with 2,564 hits and 485 homers. He has a lifetime OBP of .395, a .517 slugging percentage and a 142 OPS+. He has also played in nine all-star games and has finished in the top ten in MVP voting 7 times.
When the Tigers acquired Sheffield for three pitching prospects immediately after the 2006 season, they hoped that he would be the middle of the order hitter which they lacked in the second half of the season. They immediately signed him to a two year $28 million extension through 2009. After a slow start in April, 2007, he was one of the hottest hitters in the league for the next couple of months. His batting line for the first half of the season was .303/.410/.560.
However, he injured his shoulder in an outfield collision on July 21, 2007 and has not been the same since. He batted a woeful .203/.324/.299 after the all-star break last year. Off-season surgery does not seem to have helped much as he is batting .217/.323/.338 in 55 games this year. After spending time on the disabled list with an oblique strain , he appeared to be the Sheffield of old in a series versus the Cardinals lashing line drives all over the park for six hits and two homers including a walk off. It was short lived however and he is currently mired in an 8 for 49 slump with one extra base hit since June 26.
The former all-star appears to be pretty much done but his contract is not. None of the pitchers they traded for him has reached the majors and they don't appear to be headed towards great careers. The problem is Sheffield is owed about $20 million through the end of this year and next making it hard to release him or even bench him. He has been rested a couple of times recently with more time going to Matt Joyce, Clete Thomas, Marcus Thames and Jeff Larish. Joyce, Thomas, Thames and Ryan Raburn for that matter are all hitting considerably better than the 39 year old Sheffield but Gary is still the designated hitter most days and there has been no indication that this is going to change any time soon.
With Magglio Ordonez coming off the disabled list after the all-star break, the outfield/designated positions will become even more crowd. If he continues to struggle as he has, how long can they stay patient when superior options are available? The loyal Jim Leyland tends to stay faithful to his veterans through tough periods and there is the feeling among some that the Tigers will not be a serious contender down the stretch unless Sheffield gets hot. However, his problems have been going on for a year now and it is becoming increasingly apparent that he has little left in the tank.
What can they do? I think it's pretty clear that they won't be able to trade him. Would they release him? It's easy for fans to talk about cutting losses and dumping his salary but not so easy for Mike Illitch and Dave Dombrowski. I think he'll get more days off down the stretch but I don't think he'll be going away this year.
What about next year? Is it possible that he'll retire after the season? Not too many players walk away from $14 million so I don't know how likely that is. It would certainly help the Tigers if they could use that money to get some pitching help. Regardless, unless he suddenly finds himself down the stretch this year, I can't see the Tigers bringing him back next year. Playing out the end of a disappointing season is one thing but bringing him back to start a fresh new season is another.
For now though, I think we'll be watching Sheffield a little longer.
When the Tigers acquired Sheffield for three pitching prospects immediately after the 2006 season, they hoped that he would be the middle of the order hitter which they lacked in the second half of the season. They immediately signed him to a two year $28 million extension through 2009. After a slow start in April, 2007, he was one of the hottest hitters in the league for the next couple of months. His batting line for the first half of the season was .303/.410/.560.
However, he injured his shoulder in an outfield collision on July 21, 2007 and has not been the same since. He batted a woeful .203/.324/.299 after the all-star break last year. Off-season surgery does not seem to have helped much as he is batting .217/.323/.338 in 55 games this year. After spending time on the disabled list with an oblique strain , he appeared to be the Sheffield of old in a series versus the Cardinals lashing line drives all over the park for six hits and two homers including a walk off. It was short lived however and he is currently mired in an 8 for 49 slump with one extra base hit since June 26.
The former all-star appears to be pretty much done but his contract is not. None of the pitchers they traded for him has reached the majors and they don't appear to be headed towards great careers. The problem is Sheffield is owed about $20 million through the end of this year and next making it hard to release him or even bench him. He has been rested a couple of times recently with more time going to Matt Joyce, Clete Thomas, Marcus Thames and Jeff Larish. Joyce, Thomas, Thames and Ryan Raburn for that matter are all hitting considerably better than the 39 year old Sheffield but Gary is still the designated hitter most days and there has been no indication that this is going to change any time soon.
With Magglio Ordonez coming off the disabled list after the all-star break, the outfield/designated positions will become even more crowd. If he continues to struggle as he has, how long can they stay patient when superior options are available? The loyal Jim Leyland tends to stay faithful to his veterans through tough periods and there is the feeling among some that the Tigers will not be a serious contender down the stretch unless Sheffield gets hot. However, his problems have been going on for a year now and it is becoming increasingly apparent that he has little left in the tank.
What can they do? I think it's pretty clear that they won't be able to trade him. Would they release him? It's easy for fans to talk about cutting losses and dumping his salary but not so easy for Mike Illitch and Dave Dombrowski. I think he'll get more days off down the stretch but I don't think he'll be going away this year.
What about next year? Is it possible that he'll retire after the season? Not too many players walk away from $14 million so I don't know how likely that is. It would certainly help the Tigers if they could use that money to get some pitching help. Regardless, unless he suddenly finds himself down the stretch this year, I can't see the Tigers bringing him back next year. Playing out the end of a disappointing season is one thing but bringing him back to start a fresh new season is another.
For now though, I think we'll be watching Sheffield a little longer.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sheffield is back
Gary Sheffield has finished his rehabilitation stint in Lakeland and is in the Tigers Starting line-up tonight. Jeff Larish (.200/.273/.300 in 40 at bats) has been optioned to Toledo to make room on the 25 man roster. For those like me, who were worried that Jim Leyland would insert Sheffield into the third spot in the order, you can rest easy. He's batting seventh tonight:
Curtis Granderson CF
Placido Polanco 2B
Carlos Guillen 3B
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Marcus Thames LF
Gary Sheffield DH
Edgar Renteria SS
Ivan Rodriguez C
Larish had been struggling quite a bit in his first stint in the majors so Sheffield should be an upgrade even if he's not 100%. If he is 100% (I don't have my hopes up) and hits like he did last May and June, he obviously would give a big boost at the bottom of the line-up.
Curtis Granderson CF
Placido Polanco 2B
Carlos Guillen 3B
Magglio Ordonez RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Marcus Thames LF
Gary Sheffield DH
Edgar Renteria SS
Ivan Rodriguez C
Larish had been struggling quite a bit in his first stint in the majors so Sheffield should be an upgrade even if he's not 100%. If he is 100% (I don't have my hopes up) and hits like he did last May and June, he obviously would give a big boost at the bottom of the line-up.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Inge to split time with Pudge?
Jim Leyland said today that Brandon Inge is going to split time at catcher with Pudge Rodriguez with each playing every other day. The Tigers manager wants to give more rest to the 36 year old Rodriguez, who has caught 51 of the first 62 games. He also wants to see if Inge can catch.
Pudge is batting .245/.286/.349 and isn't the elite defensive catcher he once was. Inge is not exactly tearing it up either but his .228/.324/.425 line is superior to Rodriguez. I don't think they lose that much defensively with Inge either. One question is how well he can hit as a catcher as that has been a problem for him in the past. Leyland wouldn't admit to it, but with Pudge on the decline and his contract coming to and end, this could be a signal they plan to use Inge at catcher in 2009.
Of course, we need to remember that Leyland's plans have been changing every few days. A couple weeks ago, Marcus Thames was going to be the regular left fielder. Last week, Inge was going to see more time at third base with Carlos Guillen playing some left field. So this could be just Leyland's thought of the day. We'll see what happens.
Pudge is batting .245/.286/.349 and isn't the elite defensive catcher he once was. Inge is not exactly tearing it up either but his .228/.324/.425 line is superior to Rodriguez. I don't think they lose that much defensively with Inge either. One question is how well he can hit as a catcher as that has been a problem for him in the past. Leyland wouldn't admit to it, but with Pudge on the decline and his contract coming to and end, this could be a signal they plan to use Inge at catcher in 2009.
Of course, we need to remember that Leyland's plans have been changing every few days. A couple weeks ago, Marcus Thames was going to be the regular left fielder. Last week, Inge was going to see more time at third base with Carlos Guillen playing some left field. So this could be just Leyland's thought of the day. We'll see what happens.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Guillen working out in left
Last year, Guillen was the shortstop. He started out this year at first base and later moved to third base. Could his next move be to left field? He has been working out there and Jim Leyland says that it's possible he could play out there eventually. He is trying to think of a way to have Brandon Inge play third base more often which I think is a good thing. Moving Guillen to left field doesn't seem like the best solution though. Carlos has never played the outfield before and his reactions to infield plays over the last couple of years does not give me much confidence that he will play well anywhere defensively.
My solution would be to give up on Gary Sheffield and move Guillen to designated hitter. As with the Willis/Galarraga move however, not every move is purely a baseball decision. Guillen is a veteran team leader who doesn't want to be designated hitter so it's difficult for Leyland to just pencil him into that slot even though it seems the logical thing to do. It's also difficult for the Tigers to give up on Sheffield who is owed a lot of money this year and next year.
For now, Marcus Thames is the regular left fielder but I suspect another shake up will happen once he stops hitting for a few games. I do have to give Leyland credit for one thing this year. He is not sitting on his hands waiting for things to happen. He is restricted by economics and politics but he's trying to do something even if it doesn't always make sense on the surface.
My solution would be to give up on Gary Sheffield and move Guillen to designated hitter. As with the Willis/Galarraga move however, not every move is purely a baseball decision. Guillen is a veteran team leader who doesn't want to be designated hitter so it's difficult for Leyland to just pencil him into that slot even though it seems the logical thing to do. It's also difficult for the Tigers to give up on Sheffield who is owed a lot of money this year and next year.
For now, Marcus Thames is the regular left fielder but I suspect another shake up will happen once he stops hitting for a few games. I do have to give Leyland credit for one thing this year. He is not sitting on his hands waiting for things to happen. He is restricted by economics and politics but he's trying to do something even if it doesn't always make sense on the surface.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Thames, Granderson and Guillen
Some notes about tonight's game and beyond:
According to Jason Beck, Marcus Thames is going to be the regular left fielder for a while. I'm not sure if he's going to bat third against right-handers as well as left-handers but he got a homer the first time up against lefty starter Joe Saunders tonight. The next time up, he just missed another when he hit a deep fly to left. As I type this, Thames is batting .254/.315/.462 with 4 home runs in 65 at bats. He replaces Matt Joyce who was batting .212/.276/.519 with 5 homers in 52 at bats. Joyce had gone 0 for 9 with 6 strike outs in his last 2 games.
Jim Leyland also announced that Curtis Granderson is going to bat against most lefties from now on. This is a good move because they need his glove in center and he isn't going to learn to hit lefties if he doesn't face them. He is one for two with a great diving catch so far tonight.
Carlos Guillen is sitting tonight and tomorrow to deal with his hemorrhoid problem. Brandon Inge is playing third. I think he should stay at third with Guillen at DH but I don't think that's the plan.
According to Jason Beck, Marcus Thames is going to be the regular left fielder for a while. I'm not sure if he's going to bat third against right-handers as well as left-handers but he got a homer the first time up against lefty starter Joe Saunders tonight. The next time up, he just missed another when he hit a deep fly to left. As I type this, Thames is batting .254/.315/.462 with 4 home runs in 65 at bats. He replaces Matt Joyce who was batting .212/.276/.519 with 5 homers in 52 at bats. Joyce had gone 0 for 9 with 6 strike outs in his last 2 games.
Jim Leyland also announced that Curtis Granderson is going to bat against most lefties from now on. This is a good move because they need his glove in center and he isn't going to learn to hit lefties if he doesn't face them. He is one for two with a great diving catch so far tonight.
Carlos Guillen is sitting tonight and tomorrow to deal with his hemorrhoid problem. Brandon Inge is playing third. I think he should stay at third with Guillen at DH but I don't think that's the plan.
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