Austin Jackson a solid player who bats too high

In talking about what the Tigers should add this off-season, the focus tends to be on position. Yet getting someone who can consistently get on base at the top of the order is probably more important. This would allow Jackson to move down to the 8-9 spots where he belongs. Yes, a number of positions are locked up (DH, C, 1B, CF) but there’s also a great deal of positional flexibility in the rest of the regulars (e.g., Raburn, Peralta, Inge, Santiago), at least in theory – Inge may be unwilling to move from 3B.

The greatest improvement would come if the Tigers could add an top-of-the-order infielder. That infielder could squeeze aside Inge or Santiago into a utility role and allow Jackson to slide down the order without feeling demoted or disrespected.

Because last year was a B

But I couldn’t. His defense is too good.

I would like to see him avg these last 2 seasons at the plate. If he can figure out his issues at the plate and become a .270 hitter, I would be beyond elated.

I think his fielding deserves an A; his batting a C. I agree with most on this post that he needs to be in the 8 or 9 spot in the batting order. Hopefully, he will start hitting better, maybe bunting once in a while for a base hit, or to move another runner up. I watched the game where Jackson made the catch which is posted in the picture above (at KC’s Kaufman Stadium). I cheered out loud. It’s easy to make a comparison between Jackson and Curtis Granderson because of their outfield positions and top of the batting order. I think Jackson will improve at the plate. I remember when Granderson struck out a lot. Look at him now.

Fielding, he was a god. Half man, half amazing. He like Vince Carter slam dunking a basketball.

Hitting. He had problems with his timing and hitting approach. I don’t think it so was much about luck on why he had a poor swing.

At the beginning of the year, he tried a different hitting approach, like he was always in a 2 strike count. He kept his leg kick down and was just trying to make weak contact with the ball. Leyland can take some of the blame here because that’s what he wanted AJax to do thinking that it would cut down on his strikeouts. This approach failed miserably. He had his worst month ever.

In May, he got some of his timing back by going with his bigger leg kick, but he was still hitting in that compromising 2 strike contact mode. His numbers were better, but not nearly as good as the previous season.

Finally, in mid-August, he gave up that silly 2 strike contract approach. This is where he had his only great stretch of the season. From August 12th to September 4th, in 23 games, 105 PA’s, he hit .352 AVG, .404 OBP, and .997 OPS. At this time, he had a well timed leg kick, was swinging the bat hard, and spraying the ball everywhere.

Unfortunately, that didn’t last, by the end of the year, he had went from one extreme to another. His leg kick was off and his swing got overly aggressive.

He had growing pains. He’ll make more progress if he learns from this season. Overall, I liked what I saw from a 24 year old in his 2nd season. The C grade means he was satisfactory and I was satisfied. I’d be happy to have AJax again as my starting CF and lead-off hitter. I think he’ll only get better.

Best CF in all of baseball by some measures (4th best according to UZR, which is the low outlier) and below-average-but-not-bad production at the plate (90 wRC+). He may never be a truly plus hitter, but as an up the middle defender with great glove skills, he’s already a plus ballplayer at 24. Barring another crazy BABIP-fueled season, he probably has a 4-5 win ceiling if he develops some power or baserunning skills. Of course, when he’s batting 7th or 8th he’ll be able to steal much more often because he won’t be risking making an out in front of Miggy.

But, he really should have won the gold glove. If you cloned him you could cover the Boston outfield with just those two players.

There is no doubt that he is one of the best Centerfielders in the game today. That no diving complaint is one I understand but do not neccesarily agree with. Too many time Austin pulled up and fielded a single that appeared to be catchable had he stretched out and dove for it. But remember, like the young Brandon Inge, he gets close to balls that no one else would so when he fails to dive it looks like he is giving up on the ball. It’s Comerica Park though and we have to remember that if the ball gets by him the runner doesn’t stop his parade around the bases until he is standing on third. Those balls that become singles when A-Jax doesn’t dive become singles instead of doubles and triples. I can live with that.

Hios performance at the plate is a different story. Too many called third strikes. Too many 0-2 counts. Too many stirkeouts period for a leadoff hitter. That being said I hope that in Lakeland Austin gets to spend some quality time with Leon Durham. It’s obvious that Legendaryy Lloyd cannot assist this young talent maybe the Bull can get through to him. If it works and A-jax then stumbles durting the season, a week or two at Toledo may help.

Course my real hope is that Legendary Lloyd gets interviewed and hired as a Manager somewhere leaving an opening for Durham on Leyland’s crew.