Tiger Geist

Lynn Henning had a thoughtful article today, so let’s discuss it.

1. Give Marcus Thames more playing time.  Not a bad idea, since Jacque Jones isn’t doing much either.  However, it does contradict his later statements about poor defense (Thames is not a defensive stalwart).
2. Move Cabrera.  Maybe if you aren’t going to move Inge this is a good idea.  Again, maybe we’re over-rating defense;  Inge is hitting well compared to everyone else, but still only .286.  Maybe its a good idea to work more with Cabrera — he still looks (on TV, not in person) like he could lose another 20 pounds and still be powerful.
3. Put Sheffield in left field and you’ll lose him for another 40 games due to injury.  Big reason Detroit missed the playoffs last year was Sheffield playing right field and getting hurt.
4. Agree.  More later.
5. No shit sherlock.  Tigers need a catcher in the minors?  Doesn’t every team need catchers in their farm system?  No one was expecting Pudge to be the starter next year (or, if you were, you were probably mistaken).
6. More later
7. More later
8. Agreed.  Maybe they should start (and bat leadoff) Clete Thomas more.  He’s batting almost .500.  Would love to have Granderson back, but why don’t we start guys who are hitting well?
9. Not much else to say about this.  He’s had 2 errors in 2 games (listening to the game as I write this), if you think he’s hurt put in Santiago.
10. more later (agreed)

Thoughts:

So what to do about the defense?  I think a lot of it is based on the hitting.  No one is hitting well.. WAY below their average.  So every little aspect of the game is being played over and over in their head.

(interruption:  Thames homers… Lynn Henning is a genius)

There have been plenty of reports that Guillen will be a good first basemen;  he needs to start thinking less and get more time at first.  Polanco is a gold glover, so he’s either hurt (#9 on Henning’s list) or just over-thinking due to his struggles at the plate.  Cabrera just signed for more money then he ever thought possible (he’s 24), in a new league, and struggling. Not saying he’s going to be good defensively (average would be nice), but let him straighten his bat out and have Guillen get a little better at first and maybe he’ll get improve.  Maybe the coaching staff will have to re-evaluate how they position him in certain situations.

Crazy thought:  What about swapping Guillen and Cabrera eventually?  Let one play first, one play third?

I had the same thought about the first base situation.  Not sure about jumping too fast onto the Jeff Larish bandwagon, but a powerful left-hander seems like it might help the team.  But where to play him?  Does he turn into the latest prospect - for - pro player trade?  If Larish can play at the major league level, do you see if Guillen can play third on Cabrera off-days and put another left-hander into the lineup?  Maybe a left-handed DH as well?  Maybe thats a situation that can play out if they can move Inge and Thames.

Next up… I’m going to try not to analyze what’s wrong with the team until April 30.  That should give us a better data set to examine.  At that point the bullpen should be back down to 7, and we can see if Grilli continues to get drilled.