Monday, April 18, 2011

Surprised the Tigers didn't score runs with that lineup yesterday? I'm not

The Tigers had Casper Wells, Ryan Raburn, Donald Kelly, Brennan Boesch, Alex Avila and Will Rhymes leading the charge Sunday against a starting pitcher who won 18 games with an ERA below 3.00 last year.
Surprised they didn't score many runs? I'm not.
In my opinion, Tigers manager Jim Leyland needs to play proven regulars more often. That's what you have a $105 million player payroll for. The lineup he sent out against Oakland's Trevor Cahill Sunday didn't have much of a chance.
There were three, for certain, long-term major leaguers in the batting order - Austin Jackson, Miguel Cabrera and Jhonny Peralta. And Jackson is in a nasty slump to start the season. Brandon Inge isn't that old. He was rested. Magglio Ordonez has some obvious injury issues. Victor Martinez is also ailing, with a "tweaked" groin. If they're not playing, Inge certainly should be. So should Ramon Santiago, who is a much better hitter than Rhymes.
If players are slumping, the best get way to get out of it, especially early in the season, is by playing. At least they have track records.
Also, the top of the order is killing the Tigers. With Jackson slumping, and Rhymes hitting .222 with few walks, there always seem to be two outs when the Tigers get to the middle of their lineup.
Also, Scott Sizemore is hitting well at Triple-A; get him up to the major leagues. Every hit he gets at Toledo is a waste. The Tigers should ride the hot hand at second base - if they can find one. Maybe Sizemore would be it for awhile.

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8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Agree with you absolutely, Pat.

Leyland does this all the time even in late season.

He thinks he is managing to 'optimize' teams' long-term chances vs. a good pitcher that could win anyway.

He's outhinking himself.

But he is throwing away games.

6-8 games like this could jeapardize a pennant.

11:56 AM 
Anonymous Michael C said...

Completely agree about calling Sizemore up. Through 9 games he's hitting .387/.472/.548 in Toledo. And remember how well calling up the hot bat worked last year with Boesch.

And once again Leyland bats Kelly 6th ... argh ... it's like he's scared of changing the batting order even when subbing in a guy that can't hit.

What's really ridiculous is our 3 worst hitters in the lineup last night were in the top 6 spots (Jackson, Rhymes, and Kelly). Even if you keep the players the same, I think this lineup would've been more dangerous:

1 - Jackson
2 - Peralta
3 - Boesch
4 - Cabrera
5 - Raburn
6 - Wells
7 - Avila
8 - Rhymes
9 - Kelly

12:10 PM 
Blogger Fred Brill said...

I think we became so familiar with Jackson last year - we forgot this was his sophmore season. Let's pray to the baseball gods that this Austin doesn't fall prey to the sophmore jinx - although it sure smells like it.

While Rhymes has been doing well defensively - I'm all for bringing Sizemore back - he will have something to prove as well.

This is the first season I have been critical of Leyland - I almost feel dirty about it - but he seems to be .. not thinking clearly ... this season.

Perhaps we could sacrafice a chicken or something?

12:26 PM 
Blogger Contrary Guy said...

It's a Leyland "Sunday lineup". I have quite a few Sunday games in my plan so I quite familiar with them. I have seen a whole lot of Dane Sardinia, Ryan Raburn, Jeff Larish, Mike Hessman, Jeff Frazier, Don Kelly etc. on Sundays over the years. I think Mr. Leyland thinks Sunday games are less important than games on other days of the week.

Hey Jim! The Toledo Mudhens cannot beat a major league team! They just can't.

It mystifies me why this goes on unchecked.

4:01 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Anonymous,
Leyland manages by feel, which I consider a strength. But it does lead, at times, to overthinking things.
Caputo

3:59 AM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Michael C,
He is trying Raburn at second, which may work. I have thought about Peralta second, but he doesn't hit behind the runner that much. Would be better than Rhymes there, though.
Caputo

4:01 AM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Fred Brill,
Good point about Rhymes. The one thing I like about him as a player is his glove. Solid defensively.
Caputo

4:02 AM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Core Contrarian,
Great post. This has been going on for years. Don't mind it so much later in the season, but this early, it's a bit hard to swallow sometimes.
Caputo

4:03 AM 

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