Detroit Tigers, 54-49, 2nd place, 1.5 back.
With the trade deadline past and the Tigers standing pat, perhaps it is time once more to look at the Detroit DH situation. The Tigers still rank 13th of 14 teams in DH performance, which is exactly where they stood when we looked at this a couple of months ago. Tiger DHs have combined for a .248 average and a measly .646 OPS, underwhelmed only by Seattle (.600). To put that in perspective, Brandon Inge currently has a .664 OPS with Oakland. In other words, the Tigers would be an improved team with Inge as their DH.
In addition, the 5th spot in the batting order is also 13th best in the AL, tied with Texas (how did THAT happen?), better than only KC, with a .254 average and .670 OPS. Not coincidentally, the DH and 5th spot in the order are the same guy (who may also be the worst LF in the league, but we’ll leave that now that he is full-time DH), Delmon Young. Somehow, batting behind Jackson, Cabrera, and Fielder, Young has only managed 44 RBI, and has the worst RBI production of any DH.
Last night’s game featured a perfect microcosm of the problem with the 5th spot in the Tiger lineup. In the 3rd inning with one out and Cabrera and Jackson on 1st and 2nd, Boston pitched around Prince Fielder, and Young obliged by hitting into an inning-ending double play.
So what is the solution? I have a feeling Detroit may have been playing Waiting For V-Mart to solve the problem. But it now looks like that is not going to happen.
Here is one suggestion. When Dirks finishes his rehab (he hit a home run today for Toledo by the way), someone needs to go. I think most likely (in order) is Don Kelly, Quintin Berry, or Ryan Raburn (Raburn benefitting from Too Many Left-Handers). How about instead dumping Young and bringing back Dirks as the DH?
It may seem a waste of the best corner outfield glove on the team, but it would help protect his sore achilles. It would leave the team short one more right-handed bat, but Dirks hits left-handers pretty well anyway (.799 career OPS vs .771 against RHP), at any rate much better than Young has been.
Another option of course is still Soriano, who the Cubs are keeping as of the deadline, but should clear waivers for an August deal.
Stat of the Day: Detroit has the best stolen base success rate in the AL (40-of-50, 80%)–they also have the fewest attempts in the league.
Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Justin Verlander. With the offense still struggling, it’s time for Justin to come up with one of his classic Justin games.
Today’s Un-Traded Lineup:
- Austin Jackson CF
- Quintin Berry LF
- Miguel Cabrera 3B
- Prince Fielder 1B
- Delmon Young DH
- Brennan Boesch RF
- Alex Avila C
- Jhonny Peralta SS
- Omar Infante 2B
That’s a very rational point, Coleman, which is exactly why it won’t happen. I’m guessing that AJax will get sent down for too many hits.
JV already 63 pitches through 3 innings…meaning the bullpen will be a big factor
Liriano pitching tonight for the CWS against the Twinkies…interesting
Whole lotta not good here
when it rains, it pours
We suck again! Even Verlander is screwed up… This offense forces all the Tigers pitchers to throw absolute gems, with no room for error. There have been so many opportunities to score runs in this game but they just stink…
This team is reverting back to playing sandlot baseball. Like everyone here keeps saying ….. this team has to many holes to be a playoff team ….. and it is very depressing and frustrating to watch this type of baseball!
This team has way too much money invested in the offense for it to be this flat… Ridiculous…
Just a bad stretch. Lots of game left.
i agree…its not likely any team is going to run away with the AL Central, the Tigers included. Offensive droughts and pitching woes are a part of just about every team’s season…minimizing the lows are key…that, and having one facet of the game compensate for lulls in other areas (pitching picking up offense and visa-versa) are important to finding ways to win in Aug & Sept.
Dickerson says at least an hour before we resume (responding to a very intelligent tweet).
BTW – Jud – I really liked the Boesch/Peralta/Avila/Young analysis you provided yesterday. Much appreciated.
Remember when Boesch got hot? And we won a few games? Then Peralta had 1 good game…and we won? Remember when Avila hit that homerun the 3rd game of the season…and we won?
You get my point.
speaking of team lulls
Q: which AL team has scored the most runs and has the best BA in July?
A: MIN 135 R .291 BA (fyi DET is 4th in Runs 121, and 5th in BA .269)
Worst in AL – TEX 79 Runs Scored total in July, and 4th from bottom in BA w/ .246
They called the game. Ouch.
You can add game 8 to my analysis of yesterday,,,it is just like all the rest except they got help from Rayburn tonight so the unholy four of Young~Avila~Boesch~Peralta~Rayburn accomplished
1/9…0r…0rbi
It just goes on and on and on
CWS won, 2.5 out.
Youngs last RBI was 9 games ago, yet he remains in Leylands Kinko printed lineups…..since that RBI. CABBY AND PRINCE have gotten on base 27 times…Young has stranded them all 27 times…..amazing
You think Young is bad get this…Avila had 2RBI on july 19….here is what he has done in the 10 games since…….AB 35…Runs scored 3…RBI…3
We’re gonna miss the playoffs, and Leyland’s gonna say “If I only had Victor Martinez” and DD is gonna believe him and give him an extension.