Tiger Geist

What do we know so far?  Part one, the generic version:

Starting Pitching:

Starting pitching has been average to bad.  Our best pitcher is a Texas Ranger reject.  The left-hander that we grabbed with our prize off-season acquisition and signed to a big extension can’t find the strike zone.  The ace of the staff has not been sharp.  The left-handed eatings eater has been eaten.  The 43 year old left hander is pitching like a 43 year old pitcher.  And Bonderman continues to be average.

Relief pitching:

Better then expected.  Reinforcements from Toledo have helped;  Denny Bautista has been better than advertised.  Todd Jones is Todd Jones.  Rodney can’t find the field.  Grilli was awful and got traded.  Zach Miner has improved.  Bullpen seems to be coming together.

Fielding:

Work in progress.  Corner infielders have switched.  Star third baseman can’t actually play third base and is now a first basemen.  Star shortstop gets moved to first, can’t play first, and now at third.  Second base has first errors in over a year, probably due to an injury.  Backup infielders are above average.

Hitting:

Heating up with the weather.  Hurt by injuries to star center fielder.  Hurt by injuries to star DH.  Hurt by Injuries to star second baseman.  Hurt by having to play Brandon Inge every day.  Not as much power as expected.  Team hits into too many double plays.  Team has little speed.

Coaching:

Hurt by limited hitting and injuries to star players.  Probably kept starters in too long to begin the season.  Limited flexibility due to too many DH type players and very few players with minor league options.  I have a concern that many of the starting pitchers are having mechanics problems… seems like something that should have been discussed in spring training.