Johnny Damon's Ninth Inning At-Bat: Which Tigers Hitter Could've Done That?

by Ian Casselberry on Nov 2, 2009 2:10 PM EST in Detroit Tigers News

Here's a question for you, Tigers fans: If you were watching Game 4 of the World Series last night, and were still tuned in for the ninth inning and Johnny Damon's pivotal at-bat against Brad Lidge, did you find yourself wondering if anyone in Detroit's current lineup would've (or could've) pulled off a battle like that?

The Yankees were down to their last out of the inning, with the score tied 4-4. And Damon apparently knew he couldn't handle Lidge's slider, because each time he saw it, he fouled it off. For three straight pitches, to be exact.

So Lidge knew he wouldn't get Damon out with the slider, and began throwing his fastball. The first two were way out of the strike zone, trying to get Damon to chase, but he wouldn't go for it.

With the count 3-2, Lidge had to come in with a strike - and probably knew he wouldn't get one with his slider - so he stayed with the fastball. Damon fouled those off, too. Then he finally got the pitch he could do something with, a fastball out over the plate. Damon slapped it to left for a single.

But that nine-pitch at-bat wasn't the end of Damon's contribution. With the Phillies' infield on a shift against Mark Teixeira (batting left-handed), Damon took off for second, knowing third baseman Pedro Feliz would have to cover the base. But when the catcher's throw pulled Feliz off the bag, toward right field, Damon saw a chance to make a dash for third, as well. Suddenly, Lidge has a runner on third, and probably can't risk throwing a slider in the dirt while facing Teixeira (or Alex Rodriguez or Jorge Posada, to follow).

As it turns out, Lidge melted down and ended up allowing three runs. But Damon scored the go-ahead run, and turned the game around with his at-bat and baserunning.

There are many, many differences between this year's New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers. But with the calls for Lloyd McClendon's job from the fanbase, and Dave Dombrowski's edict that hitters throughout the organization improve their plate discipline next season (and in seasons to come), it seems worth asking if any Tigers hitter could've pulled off what Damon did in that ninth inning.

And we're not just talking about fighting out a nine-pitch at-bat. What about the baserunning?

Could anyone in the Tigers' expected 2010 lineup influence a game in similar fashion? Who do you think might have been able to make those plays with his bat and his legs?

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I'm thinking maybe if Polly and G$ morphed into one person

Polly for the at-bat and G$ for the heads-up base running (hey, he has wheels.. sometimes)… could have pulled it off.

No Run Support

by allikazoo on Nov 2, 2009 2:19 PM EST reply actions

I like this idea

Tigers Amateur Analysis

by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 2, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

Pollaird? Laironco?

by ChrisDTX on Nov 2, 2009 7:34 PM EST up reply actions

Ramon Santiago?

Every once in a while Ramon will pull a long, disciplined AB out of his pocket. Maggs, Polly, and Miggy could get the hit, but not the stolen bases. Grandy would have stuck-out on the slider.

by StringTheory on Nov 2, 2009 2:33 PM EST reply actions

Great question, Ian

I like this sort of thought provocation.

As much as I ponder, I just can’t think of a Tiger who could manage both the hit and the baserunning. When healthy, Guillen is probably the best at producing long ABs and fouling off tough pitches. As StringTheory stated, Polanco and Maggs might also be capable of getting the hit (since they’re both contact hitters who don’t strike out that often), and Miggy’s just that good of a hitter. But I don’t think any of those guys would have managed the baserunning (although somehow Miggy did end up with six stolen bases, and if I remember correctly, several of those were stolen without a throw). Granderson has the speed but probably would not have been able to produce the long AB. Laird is a very good baserunner (and, as Alli pointed out, he runs pretty well for a catcher), but again, I don’t think he would’ve gotten the hit. The only plausible scenario that I can think of is that if Guillen or Maggs (and only those two) had gotten the hit, they would almost certainly have been pinch-run for (likely Clete Thomas, but maybe Ryan Raburn). Whoever was PRing might have been able to steal second, but I don’t see either Clete or Raburn being heads-up enough to take off for third.

It’s worth pointing out, though, that Damon was able to get to third because the Phillies had the shift on for Teixiera, and there is really no Tigers hitter against whom opposing teams employ that “lefty pull-hitter” shift. They did do that on Aubrey Huff, but he wouldn’t be playing since this game would have no DH.

Tigers Amateur Analysis

by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 2, 2009 2:56 PM EST reply actions

Inge has done the "at bat thing" a few times. Polly too.

but I can’t think of anyone who would have taken 3rd like Damon did. I’ve never seen anything like that. If any Tiger would have done so it would have been Sheffield (and that probably doesn’t count). I think he was the best base runner the Tigers have had in a while.

by murrajo on Nov 2, 2009 2:57 PM EST reply actions

I'm with the majority...

There’s no Tiger on the roster with the combination of baseball IQ, base running skill and plate discipline it took to pull off what Damon did in the 9th inning.

I wholeheartedly agree with murrajo, By far, Gary Sheffield was the best base runner to come thru Detroit in years. I could see Sheff, who had great baseball instincts, pulling it off.

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by BigAl on Nov 2, 2009 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Guillen is the best bet

For plate discipline and baseball IQ, he’s the guy who could make the most of his skills. Would he be faster than the third baseman with the ball? Not sure.

But as has been said, Gary Sheffield for sure would have been the guy in the past.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on Nov 2, 2009 3:12 PM EST reply actions

I agree with this statement...

Guillen definitely can pull out the gutsy at bat with the hit in the end. His baseball IQ is pretty high up there. His speed is OK as well between bases. Guillen definitely would be our best shot at this.

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by madpoopz on Nov 2, 2009 10:16 PM EST up reply actions

carlos...at the plate anyway

Guillen actually came to mind as I watched. The baserunning play? Well, not Guillen, among the worst baserunners alive. Laird is a heads up guy and might have been able to do that, though he doesn’t spend much time on the basepaths.

by rook34 on Nov 2, 2009 3:18 PM EST via mobile reply actions

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I convince myself that Laird is our most heads-up baserunner

But like I said, I think he’s a better hitter than what he showed, but I don’t think he’d be able to hang in there against Lidge. That said, he most definitely would’ve thrown out Ryan Howard trying to steal second earlier in the game.

Tigers Amateur Analysis

by SabreRoseTiger on Nov 2, 2009 3:31 PM EST up reply actions