Leyland makes moves, unveils new lineup

by Kurt Mensching on May 5, 2009 5:53 PM EDT in News Comment 13 comments

As I mentioned earlier, the Tigers made some shuffling in their 25-man roster today to address some key problems -- notable outfield defense being horrible, and Carlos Guillen being sore. So the moves today:

Carlos Guillen to the 15-day DL
Clay Rapada optioned back to Triple-A Toledo
Left-handed infielder Jeff Larish recalled from Toledo
Left-handed outfielder Clete Thomas called up from Toledo.

The lineup has been shaken up as well. I think this was a good idea by Leyland. Although we know your leadoff batter being able to hit home runs is no problem -- and we saw Curtis Granderson's Cleveland counterpart, Grady Sizemore, is leadoff as well. We know Tigers superslugger Miguel Cabrera wasn't getting enough protection as the cleanup batter, as he could be pitched around to, to get to the injured Guillen, who very well might hit into a double play.

Leyland told reporters:

“We’re trying to shake it up, trying to get something going," Leyland said. "I, obviously, tried to get a little speed up top. One thing I know, there is some energy (at the top). They might run into some outs, but it will be because they’re running.”

Tonight's lineup looks something like this, though I imagine the day-to-day lineup would involve Adam Everett playing at shortstop, rather than Ramon Santiago. What I like about this is the improved defense in the corner outfield spots. Thomas has always been a solid outfielder. What I don't like isThomas batting third, as he has never been real exciting with the bat. I assume Leyland did this to keep the pitcher looking at different sides of the plate, as he's mentioned that as a desire in the past.

Anderson lf (LH)
Polanco 2b (RH)
Thomas rf (LH)
Cabrera 1b (RH)
Granderson cf (LH)
Ordonez dh (RH)
Inge 3b (RH)
Laird c (RH)
Santiago ss (S)

More reading:

Oakland Press beat writer Jim Hawkins' blog (This has the most information and quotes)
Beck's blog
John Lowe at the Freep
Billfer at Detroit Tigers Weblog

So does this stink of desperation to you? Does it make sense? Do you have a better idea? Let's here it.

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Comments

Batting Order

I would have Granderson batting 3rd. He will wear his brakes out running behind MC. Inge should be batting 5th.

by 63 Tiger on May 5, 2009 6:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

?

I don’t mind Grandy batting 3rd, but Maggs should be 5th…Inge is best at the bottom…he’s already cooling off and “no pressure” is a much better approach for him than to suddenly start relying on the first 20+ games, rather than his career performance.

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by rings on May 6, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Granderson should be leading off

Why mess with a good thing? Anderson should bat 2nd, followed by Thomas and Cabrera. Magglio should hit 5th and Polanco 6th. If Polanco has to hit 2nd, then Anderson should be hitting 6th or 7th. I also like Inge at the bottom of the order. Even if he keeps hitting hot, he is best utilized at the bottom of the order.

That said, I always thought that one of your best hitters should be batting 3rd, so that if teams decide to pitch around them they either have to pitch around 2 guys in a row or pitch to one of the 2 best hitters on the team. Power wise, I think Ordonez and Cabrera are our best power hitters. Why isn’t Magglio batting 3rd with Cabrera being the cleanup man? Ideally, this would be my lineup (without Guillen and with the current guys listed in the lineup):
1) Granderson (LH)
2) Polanco (RH)
3) Ordonez (RH)
4) Cabrera (RH)
5) Thomas (LH)
6) Laird (RH)
7) Anderson (LH)
8) Inge (RH)
9) Santiago (S)
This would still keep the pitcher looking at opposite sides of the plate, and it would still have 3 right handers in a row, just like the original lineup stated. Plus it puts your two best power hitters back to back at 3 and 4, and puts your fastest and best leadoff hittter where he belongs.

by KDawg on May 6, 2009 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Makes plenty of sense to me

Just putting Carlos on the DL is a start. My man, Cletus is back!

"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone". A. Bartlett Giamatti

by densogirl on May 5, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still have reservations...

but all I smell at this time is a slight whiff of desperation, not a full-fledged stench. I’m not one to question manager moves all that often, but if I were gonna change something, I would also have Granderson batting third. Billfer makes a strong argument for putting Grandy in the 3-slot (if you must take him out of the leadoff spot at all). Then maybe put Maggs in the 5-hole once he rediscovers his power stroke.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on May 5, 2009 6:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What the ****...

…is Ordonez doing batting 6th?

This team’s offense sucks. And unfortunately, the pitching and defense are nothing to write home about either.

by BigDaddyJC on May 5, 2009 6:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Motivations not clear...

I would prefer to see Grandy 3rd and Maggs 5th, but I guess they’re the experts. Obviously that option was debated by better baseball minds than mine. I love seeing Anderson in the leadoff spot for now. My only hope is that this can bring some spark to the team, rather than leave everyone hanging from day to day as to where they are batting like most of last season.

Either way, I’m glad to see Guillen out of the way for now until he can figure things out. I don’t want to call him this year’s Sheff yet, but Good Lord he’s looked rough out there.

by SkylineSeats on May 5, 2009 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

as long as they catch the balls in the outfield

i could care less where they hit

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 5, 2009 6:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

personally

I’m for Granderson third, Magglio fifth and Larish sixth.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 5, 2009 6:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

meant thomas

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 5, 2009 7:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And.......

Why is Inge still batting 7th? He has probably been the most consistent batter on the roster. Just doesn’t make since that Clete Thomas who has proven nothing to be batting 3rd. Yet, Inge who has proven everything this year is still at the 7th spot.

I don’t know.. I suppose I don’t see practice everyday… but what I see in the games… This lineup just doesn’t seem right.

by chuckyj1 on May 5, 2009 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like Anderson at leadoff

If he can get a base hit it’s almost like a 60% chance he’ll score.

I’d like to see Granderson at 3 and Clete at 7, then move Inge up to 5. Granderson has definitely started to turn it around and Inge has been hot all year. We haven’t seen anything from Clete yet.

by ZWC11 on May 5, 2009 7:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs