Jim Leyland: "I’m playing Don Kelly at third base tomorrow, and Magglio Ordonez in right field"

Leyland wants a LH bat playing 3rd base. So for better or worse, the Error Wizard remains in the lineup, Brandon Inge and Wilson Benemit stay on the bench.

MLB.com's Jason Beck also tells us Leyland's plan for the bullpen:

"Basically, being totally honest with you, I would like to get through this game tomorrow with Fister, Coke if necessary, Benoit and Valverde," Leyland said.

In a prefect world, Fister pitches deep into the game, making this all moot. Either way, this announcement is not exactly a surprise. At least we know there's a plan in place.

8 months ago BigAl 32 comments 0 recs |

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Please pull it off Fister

We’re all counting on you.

by H2OPoloPunk on Oct 5, 2011 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

I'll bet Leylands a shitty poker player

Probably good at smoking up the room though.

What possible benefit is it in telling the world what your bullpen plans are? Why not say “everybody is available” and if Girardi wants to worry about JV or Scherzer coming in, so be it.

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Oct 5, 2011 5:05 PM EDT reply actions

The only pull hitters I want in the lineup on Thursday are lefties. Afar as him not keeping his poker face; that doesn’t matter. We all hope for optimum scenario, but girardi already know that’s leyland will throw the kitchen sink at him that game if he has to.

God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.

by Siggzilla on Oct 5, 2011 5:08 PM EDT reply actions

Also...

Magglio is a money player. It’s no surprise to me he’s playing tomorrow. Kelly kind of makes sense, too. Let’s just hope the hot corner doesn’t go thermonuclear.

This is DBB, and this is what we do.

by V. on Oct 6, 2011 6:17 AM EDT up reply actions

As I said in lineup thread...

I think Kelly’s the best option to start at third for this game. Just don’t hit him higher than 8th, Jim. I’m begging you…

DesigNate Robertson

by Rogo on Oct 5, 2011 5:14 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs

He'll be sixth...or second. You can almost count on it.

And will come up in a key situation every at bat.

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Oct 5, 2011 5:26 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This is practically in the bank.

I can’t remember the last time he started a game that low in the order.

by Anthony Steven Lewis on Oct 5, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

STOP THE PRESSES!!!

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Oct 5, 2011 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Batting second

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Oct 6, 2011 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Why Don Kelly?

Betemit is playing like dog shit, and Inge is hot right now.

by tmyers09 on Oct 5, 2011 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Wants a lefty versus Nova in Yankee Stadium

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Oct 5, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

...but I do think that was the first time :"hot" and "Inge" were used in the same sentence.

Of course there was that post back in ’08……..

"I wonder if the tattoo needle machine had to get real hot to ink Inge’s arms?

Sabre Rose Tiger

"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"

by Honeyman on Oct 5, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions

This is the lineup I would run out there too...

First time for everything!

by BayesLaw on Oct 5, 2011 7:10 PM EDT reply actions

Still not sure what I would do about 2B though...

Probably start Santiago but have a quick hook, make an offensive substitution if we’re down in the middle innings.

by BayesLaw on Oct 5, 2011 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Id start raburn for the power

and go to Santiago if necessary

God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.

by Siggzilla on Oct 5, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd be happy either way.

I think it’s about a wash. I could see a plethora of ground balls heading that direction with the all lefties NY will roll out there, so I would probably start out with defense but switch to Raburn if they get down by more than a couple of runs.

by BayesLaw on Oct 5, 2011 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

But Ramon has sneaky power and can bat from the left side!!

I think he’ll be alright. His defense is a big plus for us.

Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Fight!

by Brand New Hero on Oct 5, 2011 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Unless he is

going to be able to bunt for a homerun I am not so sure his sneaky power will come into play.

by wilsonm24 on Oct 6, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

We have an NL manager managing an AL team

I wish he would just put in the top nine guys that can slam and cut it out with the bunting. I like small ball……against Kansas City and Cleveland. It gets you one run and you need more than that against the Yankees.

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Oct 5, 2011 7:22 PM EDT reply actions

What top 9 guys?

We got a top 4, then the next 8 guys are all about the same.

by Keith-Allen on Oct 5, 2011 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Then I guess we've got an NL-style team in the AL.

Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.

by Elfuego51 on Oct 5, 2011 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Had a top 4

in the regular season, not right now though!

by jeremy j on Oct 6, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I wish he would just put in the top nine guys

Somewhere, Rogo is slamming his head against the wall.

"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching

by Trout Jefferson on Oct 5, 2011 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Hopefully he writes a story about it.

Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Fight!

by Brand New Hero on Oct 5, 2011 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions

This move is either legendary (Kelly sterling defense plus grand slam)

or disaster (Kelly 3 errors 3 K’s)

If I was managing the Tigers Brandon Inge would START at third base for one reason, Doug Fister is pitching and there should be a fair amount of gropund balls. I wouldn’t care about Inge’s bat unless he came up with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning. I would play Brandon in this game even if Betemit was hitting. DEFENSE is that important against the Yankees. You simply cannot give these guys four outs in an inning. And I can already see Ganderson or Gradner pushing a bunt towards Donnie K.

Regardless, as much as I would like to second guess Leyland, I’ve learned this season, that more times than not his goofy moves work. I just hate that because of quiet bats, the Tigers are relying on one hitter to beat the Yankees.

I hope Don Kelly becomes a Tiger legend tonight and that this move is one we will talk about (for the RIGHT reasons) for years to come.

by Jim Bunn on Oct 6, 2011 8:05 AM EDT reply actions

Kelly is as good defensively

as Inge has been all season. I am not to worried about him in the field, it is his bat in the top 2/3 of the order that concerns me. Overall, I think Kelly is the best choice for this game.

by wilsonm24 on Oct 6, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

I realize we want to magnify this decision to have something to talk about

But isn’t it more likely to say Kelly will neither be a hero nor a goat? If the Tigers win, it will more likely be because of any of the number of big players we’ve had step up. Kelly could surely contribute with a hit or two, but I don’t expect this game to lie on the shoulders of Don Kelly.

by nicolas08 on Oct 6, 2011 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Damn I can't ype this morning - wish I had proofed my comments or there was an edit button

by Jim Bunn on Oct 6, 2011 8:07 AM EDT reply actions

I'd probably start Inge because I trust his D more

Their ground ball hits have been coming up the middle so I’m not sure how much 3rd base defense will be a factor, but it would be nice to have our best glove out there. As far as who has a hot bat, I’d say Inge is equal to Kelly as far as this series is concerned. I’m a little worried that Kelly’s 3rd base skills will be rusty and he’ll make a mental gaffe out there.

Bottom line is we need better production out of Jackson and Avila – they have been the big holes in our lineup so far. Jackson has at least drawn some walks, but you can’t count on him to drive in runners. Avila has been pretty much a 0 on offense.

by TheCrestedHelm on Oct 6, 2011 10:26 AM EDT reply actions