Back in the high life again
Its nice that Detroit is sticking right around .500 to keep everything interesting. After a little losing streak, they put up a big lead, give it right back, and then stage a come from behind victory on a Curtis Granderson home run in the bottom of the eighth.
From what I’ve read and listened to, if it was my decision, Ryan Raburn would have played his last game as a Tiger on Saturday. They can send him down, then can ‘designate him for assignment’, they can trade him. But he’s done as a part time defensive player in my book.
So what to do? Bring up Brent Clevlen. No, he’s not tearing up Toledo. No he may or may not hit better then Raburn, but he seems more consistent at the plate and is definitely a better fielder. And right now, Detroit doesn’t need any more average fielders. If Clevlen had options remaining, he would probably have been promoted over Raburn in the first place.
I might go far as to say that Detroit doesn’t need Marcus Thames. Why? Gerald Laird and Brandon Inge. Both have been a pleasant surprise this year (maybe a huge understatement for Inge), and they’re hitting better (esp Inge) power then expected. So why bring back an average fielder who hits .250 (Thames) to backup average fielders who hit .275 – .300 (Guillen and Ordonez). The MO of the 2009 Tigers seems to be pitching, defense and speed, and Thames doesn’t bring it. Its not his fault, he’s just the third outfielder who is a poor fielder, and the other two make $10mil+ more then he does. You’d think he has value, but if he doesn’t get a trade, let him go. Someone will give him the at-bats he deserves.
So there you go. Moving forward, Detroit should drop Raburn, bring up Clevlen (or any other defensive right handed batter), and start looking to move Marcus Thames when he gets healthy. No, I don’t think Clevlen has ‘deserved’ a promotion, but I think its obvious that if Raburn is viewed as only an outfielder, he is not Detroit’s best option. I’m not into snap decisions, but how much longer can this be tolerated?