BYOBYB: Let's Play Some Catch-Up

by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2009 11:30 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

This might be a bit of a cop-out, but I got back in from Seattle last night and am still trying to catch up on the pertinent news in Tiger Town. So while I unpack and try to re-acclimate myself to Eastern Standard Time, I figured we'd do a little Open Thread to discuss recent events while I was Tiger-less in Seattle.

Kurt already covered the roster and lineup shuffles from yesterday, but maybe you have some thoughts on what the Tigers' batting order should ultimately look like. Are we really living in a world where Clete Thomas (Cult of Clete arise!) bats third and Curtis Granderson bats fifth? Do you like what Jim Leyland did to shake things up, or might he have acted too drastically?

And how do you feel about how the Tigers are playing overall? Were they disappointing against the Yankees, Indians, and Twins (the series that were played while I was away)? Or do you think they performed respectably?

Thanks again to Kurt for covering for me over the past week. The blog really wouldn't have been any good while I tried to update from Seattle, so I'm glad he kept things updated and fun around here. And if you aren't reading Mack Avenue Tigers regularly, you now know how Kurt likes to roll, so get on over there and check things out.

Okay, I need to do some laundry, but I'll be back later this afternoon. I'm ready to watch some Tigers baseball again. (The Mariners are nice, and I really enjoyed Safeco Field, but that just ain't my team.)

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Solid play so far.

I have to say – I have been pleasantly surprised from the Tigers so far. We are above 0.500 with Ordonez and Guillen struggling, Verlander just now remembering how to pitch, and Zumaya is just getting back. Anderson, Inge, and Jackson have been pleasant surprises.

One thing that drives me nuts (I am not sure if I am the only one) – the two game series. I hate them. Baseball is a long long season, and a great way to measure short-term success is by winning or losing series. We lost to the Yanks and then beat the Tribe – I really want that third game against the Twins for a gauge of where we are. Maybe I am alone on this, but I can’t stand 2 game or 4 game series.

by jkagey on May 6, 2009 12:14 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Absolutely no point to the two game series. Might as well have two consecutive two-game series… Seriously? What’s the rational behind it?

by TMadison25 on May 6, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

schedule filler

to make everything work out, I assume

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 6, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Welcome home, Ian.

by wepri31 on May 6, 2009 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

My lineups

And my post on lineups can be found at MAT.

Vs. RHP

   1. Anderson (RF)
   2. Polanco (2B)
   3. Granderson (CF)
   4. Cabrera (1B)
   5. Thomas (LF)
   6. Ordonez (DH)
   7. Inge (3B)
   8. Laird ©
   9. Everett (SS)

*If Polanco needs a day off, Santiago can slot into second

vs. LHP

   1. Santiago (SS) — he hits lefties well and has earned the counter-intuitive platoon
   2. Polanco (2B)
   3. Granderson (CF)
   4. Cabrera (1B)
   5. Thomas (LF) — small sample, but he hits them well enough
   6. Ordonez (DH)
   7. Anderson (RF)
   8. Inge (3B)
   9. Laird ©

I just can’t find any reason to play Raburn the way this roster is currently made up and I’d rather have more defense in the corner outfield spots.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 6, 2009 1:37 PM EDT reply actions

Santiago vs. LHP

You have it in reverse. Santiago has a career BA of .213 vs. LHP and .248 vs. RHP

by 63 Tiger on May 6, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions

I'm looking at 3 year splits

and seeing an .813 OPS vs LHP, though limited sample and all that jazz. Mostly I was trying to find a guy to lead off against LHP and no one really fits the bill at all.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=5178&type=batting3

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 6, 2009 3:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Santiago vs. LHP

I don’t think Leyland thinks much of him as a right handed hitter. Santiago has started 1 game this year at SS against a LHP and that was when Everett had the flu.

by 63 Tiger on May 6, 2009 3:43 PM EDT reply actions

oh I don't think it will happen

I don’t think anything close to my vs LHP lineup will happen. I wouldn’t doubt we see Grandeson there and Maggs back at the third slot. I am just making some conversation and pointing out how the splits aren’t always like you expect

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 6, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions

I was expecting Anderson leading off

I was thinking Granderson would eventually be at the 3 hole and Maggs at the 5 but putting Maggs at 6 is an interesting idea…he’ll see better pitches and keep pitchers scared further down into the lineup as opposed to just 1-5 (assuming Inge comes back to earth)

Detroit4lyfe

by Detroit4lyfe on May 6, 2009 3:58 PM EDT reply actions

Anderson should stay at leadoff

I think the first 4 should be Anderson, Polanco, Grandy and Cabrera. I will be honest I don’t know who I want batting 5th. With that being said, Magglio will get it back together soon (and hopefully done hitting into double plays and ground outs). I don’t see him hitting .300 but he should be about .290. If he gets back to hitting like he should I think he would be nice to put at the 3 hole and move Granderson to 5. He provides a lot of protection for Cabrera. Teams wont just be able to pitch around Miguel.

One more thing…Keep playing Ramon!!

by qbdoyle1 on May 6, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions

I realize this ain't gonna happen any time soon

but I would love to see what Anderson can do as the full-time, even versus lefties, lead-off hitter. Grandy has always been our lead-off guy because we didn’t have anyone else and now that he is maturing as a hitter, I think he’s best used as a middle of the order guy. Anderson’s career (small sample) vs LHP .258 hitter (.300 OBP), which would figure to improve with more exposure. So he’s not terrible against LHP, but obviously much better against RHP. I certainly do not like the idea of Raburn playing instead of Anderson, at least not at this point

by BigJP on May 6, 2009 4:01 PM EDT reply actions

Everett Should.....

…play against righties too…..he is on fire this year and is a huge reason the tigs are off to a great start…..hes at least gettig to balls at short that rentaria wouldnt have even got last year…..thats huge and the pitchers gota love that.

by BennieBladesFan on May 6, 2009 4:52 PM EDT reply actions

IAN!!!

Welcome back!

by Zappatista on May 6, 2009 6:04 PM EDT reply actions

Welcome back, Ian!

Did you miss us, too?

I love what Leland did last night with the lineup and putting Carlos on the DL which I have been crying for him to do for at least a week. The big thrill was to see Clete again . I just loved him last year and thought he contributed so much to the team.

I hate that the Tigers couldn’t help Edwin Jackson the other night. He was so sharp and the Tigers just fell apart and the offense looked like they died. Other than the stagnation of Maggs and Carlos, the team looks pretty good. Oh,and Inge looked like he was pressing last night at the plate. Trying too hard, probably.

Hope you had fun. We had a lot of fun with Kurt, too, but it’s good to see you back at home with BYB.

"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 6, 2009 9:33 PM EDT reply actions