Tiger Geist

A few years ago, I used to think that people complaining about the lineup were crazy.  But tonight is absolutely inexcusable.

I’ll pick a number… and that’s 75%.  75% chance that if Will Rhymes and Don Kelly were both released tonight, they would pass through waivers and not be placed on a major league roster by Saturday.  Is that fair?  I think so.  The number might even be higher.  But let’s just say that Detroit has two players that right now are hitting poorly and have no track record that they might turn it around.

Now let me tell you that in a close game, after 6 innings, both of these players had more plate appearances then Detroit’s best player, and maybe the top 5 hitter in the league.

So.. 32 teams… 9 players in a starting lineup… 288 possible offensive hitters tonight.  Where would you rate Don Kelly and Will Rhymes on that list?  Bottom 10% (not including pitchers)?  And Jim Leyland just placed both players in front of Miguel Cabrera.

Sorry, this is insulting.  Worst case — they should have shifted the entire lineup up one spot — Cabrera hitting third, etc — and moved Kelly to bat ninth.  Is this a contract year for Leyland?  What is he possibly thinking?

Detroit currently has too many players on its roster that wouldn’t play for other teams in the AL Central.  If they continue to trot out lineups involving ALL of these players, they’re going to have a disappointing summer.  Yes, the pitching was disappointing tonight.  But Detroit’s payroll exceeds the requirement to try to win 1-0.