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The Detroit Tigers, Max Scherzer and why nobody should be complaining about The Trade now?
When the Tigers dealt a couple premier prospects, starting pitcher Jacob Turner and catcher Rob Brantly, to the Miami Marlins for second baseman Omar Infante and starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez, most of the local excitement centered on Infante.
Second base had been a problem for the Tigers and Infante, who has been an All Star in his career and finished third in the National League in batting average as recently as 2010, is signed through next year. Conversely, starting pitching has been a strength for the Tigers, and Sanchez, whose career has been up-and-down, is eligible for free agency following this season.
But as the Tigers have moved into first-place in the American League Central, who appears more valuable now? After a rough beginning with the Tigers, during which fans grumbled endlessly about him, Sanchez has been brilliant of late. His shutout of the Royals Tuesday was outstanding. In the meantime, Max Scherzer, who had become ace 1-A to Tigers' longtime ace Justin Verlander, is having shoulder issues. He will miss his start Friday. Rick Porcello has struggled. Drew Smyly is not ready for postseason starts.
Yet, the Tigers should still have a Big Three of starters ready for the postseason in Verlander, Doug Fister and Sanchez.
It makes them very much a threat ahead of most teams if they get into playoffs and provides a valuable lesson about baseball:
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH STARTING PITCHING!!!
Second base had been a problem for the Tigers and Infante, who has been an All Star in his career and finished third in the National League in batting average as recently as 2010, is signed through next year. Conversely, starting pitching has been a strength for the Tigers, and Sanchez, whose career has been up-and-down, is eligible for free agency following this season.But as the Tigers have moved into first-place in the American League Central, who appears more valuable now? After a rough beginning with the Tigers, during which fans grumbled endlessly about him, Sanchez has been brilliant of late. His shutout of the Royals Tuesday was outstanding. In the meantime, Max Scherzer, who had become ace 1-A to Tigers' longtime ace Justin Verlander, is having shoulder issues. He will miss his start Friday. Rick Porcello has struggled. Drew Smyly is not ready for postseason starts.
Yet, the Tigers should still have a Big Three of starters ready for the postseason in Verlander, Doug Fister and Sanchez.
It makes them very much a threat ahead of most teams if they get into playoffs and provides a valuable lesson about baseball:
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MUCH STARTING PITCHING!!!
posted by Pat Caputo at
12:34 PM
2 Comments:
Pat, ASanchez is like the old Max, either he throws a gem or not. Tigers would be wise to rest Max amd let him throw 5 innings when he is ready for his next start and make him the 4th starter in the playoff if they make it. I would not count out Smyly in the playoff because I would rather have him pitch against left handed line-up than Procello.
Scherzer has been hot for a couple months and now the homers start thinking he's been Roger or Nolan all along. So was Brandon Inge a few years ago. Give me a break.
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