Let's face it. Our Tigers team isn't looking too hot, or lukewarm, they look brisk, really brisk.
Going into the season, the Detroit Tigers were most analysts' favorite for the American League pennant. Boy, how things have changed. So, what has gone wrong?
I can answer that: you need to score more runs than the other team to win. "Yeah, okay Captain Obvious" is probably what you're thinking. Yes, it is obvious. But it is the truth.
With the loss of slugger and clean-up hitter, Victor Martinez which looks to be for an extended period of time, this is the root of the problem with the offense and overall success of this ball club. It is never easy losing a big bat in your lineup. It forces others to step up and deliver at the plate on a more consistent basis... That has yet to happen.
Ian Kinsler. The man, no doubt. Sorry man, but what the hell are you doing out there? After the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim series, Kinsler is now somewhere in the ballpark (haha, that is funny) of 4-40 at the plate. Simply unacceptable.
Miguel Cabrera is gonna do his thing, when he can. With Martinez not there in the lineup to back up Miggy, pitchers are now prone to pitch around Cabrera, whether that is in the first inning or ninth; it is becoming an annoying trend. Annoying for us fans, but can you imagine how it is on Miggy? We have arguably the greatest hitter in baseball history on the Detroit Tigers, and yet we are only 4 games above .500 with a record of 28-24.
If there is one positive you can take out of the batting lineup, it is the addition of Yoenis Cespedes, an amazing left fielder with a steady bat. Give it to the General Manager of the Tigers, Dave Dombrowski, for going out and dealing former Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello for Cespedes. I mean, can you imagine the shape the Tigers would be in if that move wasn't made? Or the move made by Dombrowski at last years trade deadline: acquiring pitcher David Price, an absolute lethal arm.
If it isn't for the heroics of GM Dave Dombrowski over the past year, this team is a lot worse off. We can thank our GM for being one of the best in the game. He has made all the right moves to this point, on paper. The problem is that is isn't transcending to wins at the ballparks. This team needs to demand more out of itself or this star-studded team may be sitting on the couch watching another team claim the American League Central Division title.
So, what is the solution? I'm no baseball expert by any means, but I can say that having Kinsler in the two spot in the batting lineup isn't helping anyone out. As noted before, he is on a hitting drought, although one of those four hits he has had in the past 40 at-bats was his first home run of the year. He needs to be pushed back in the lineup for his sake and the team's sake. If he isn't getting on base, that puts an extraordinary amount of pressure on Cabrera and Cespedes to get hit after hit after hit. These two can only carry the load for so long.
My Tigers Lineup:
1. Anthony Gose - CF
2. Jose Iglesias - SS
3. Miguel Cabrera - 1B
4. Yoenis Cespedes - LF
5. J.D. Martinez - DH
6. Ian Kinsler - 2B
7. Brian McCann - C
8. Nick Castellanos - 3B
9. Rajai Davis - RF
C'mon Ausmus let's get the dice rolling. Now is the time.
GO TIGERS.
