Pudge
I know it’s only the second game of spring training and results don’t mean anything, but Pudge leading off today reminded me of the first day he hit leadoff last season. It made no sense with his lack of walks, his aggressiveness at the plate, and a profound impatience with pitches, but then he stepped to the plate and took a 10-pitch walk. In a way, it was like the night Pudge had to fill in at second base: You get the feeling he can do just about anything if he has to. If someone dared him to try to steal more bases on offense than he allowed on defense, and the Tigers gave him the green light, you get the feeling he’d try to do it.
I’m not saying Pudge should be a leadoff hitter full time, obviously. But take away his walks problem, and he has a lot of abilities that fit into it, most notably his baserunning skills and his ability to fight off good pitches and hit them the other way. He’s an intriguing hitter to watch this month, because he’s a batter without an obvious place in the lineup. His days of hitting third or anywhere around the middle of the order are gone. He’s not that type of hitter anymore. You get the feeling Sean Casey and Craig Monroe would fit sixth and seventh in some combination.
When Jim Leyland was asked if Pudge became a more patient hitter than he gets credit for, Leyland said, "When he wants to be."
So can Ivan Rodriguez really be a No. 8 hitter? Would he fit that mold of second leadoff guy in the ninth spot, even though Brandon Inge seems adept there? But hey, like you’ve already read elsewhere, no lineup questions until later. That’s what we’re left with while camp is going so smoothly.
Other notes of interest:
- Hopefully Maroth’s outing Thursday starts to quiet the speculation about the fifth starter’s spot. Someone even asked me the other day about Maroth not looking good in a side session. He’s Mike Maroth! He doesn’t throw hard like the glamour starters. He’s not going to look good in side sessions. The way to judge guys like Maroth and Kenny Rogers is against opposing hitters.
- Every regular except Curtis Granderson and Gary Sheffield will make the trip to Kissimmee tomorrow to face the Astros. Pudge wasn’t originally on the list, but he was later. All five lefty relief candidates are on the travel list, as is Kyle Sleeth.
- No more insight into an Opening Day starting pitcher to go up against Roy Halladay, but Leyland said he’ll continue to use Kenny Rogers in the rotation between the young right-handers, Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman.
Jason Beck
We talked about this last year. The Tigers just don’t have the pure, prototypical leadoff hitter. My choice would be Placido, but he is just too good as the second hitter. Even if you took the best hitting qualities and approach of Curtis and Pudge and wrapped them into one you wouldn’t have the “prototypical” leadoff hitter. But that’s OK. Because the Tigers ARE going to get their runs this year. With the addition of Sheffield they’re even more formidable. I think JL is in the enviable position of pretty much being able to draw the lineup out of a hat and get the same results. I realize there’s more to it than that; chemistry for instance,power and baserunning ability, but point is, this lineup is full of aggresive free swinging hitters, all but Placido (and maybe now Pudge) hitting with legitimate power. It ain’t rocket science.
They’ll have stretches where they’ll just crush the ball and ring up the runs, but with their hitting styles and approaches, there will be those times, particularly when they run into a top pitcher who is on his game when they’ll look bad. Every team does.
I will continue to hope that they use their hitting abilities to their advantage by being more patient and drawing more walks all through the lineup. More baserunners, more runs…. Maybe Shef will lead the way in this regard.
Back to the lineup. Once a game begins the lineup becomes more of a cycle, each inning obviously has a new combination of opening 3 hitters after it cycles through the first time. I would assume that, (without checking any stats), over the course of a season, a leadoff hitter is going to get nearly 100 more plate appearances than an 8th or 9th hitter would. That certainly plays a big role imo on who hits up there. Pudge hit .300 last year, and that did seem “soft” as someone said, when he was struggling in Sept. and the Tigers needed him. Still .300 is .300 and a lot of us were pretty quick to (unfairly)use the aging, slower bat, can’t hit any more words. I was doubting him too, and very frustrated with what seemed like a lack of focus and patience at the plate (free swinging strikeouts) which diminished his leadership role in the Sept. stretch drive/swoon. He did make up for it defensively.
So finally, why not lead off Pudge occasionally. If not in that role then he falls to the bottom half of the lineup. And if that then either 6th with Casey 7th or 8th with Casey 6th. Reason being, that with Pudge’s baserunning ability you wouldn’t want to bat him after the fleet footed Casey; it would negate his agressiveness. When I was playing ball, I hated to have a slower runner ahead of me. It shut down my option to take that extra base. Like a boxcar in a train (to use a metaphor)..or is that simile?
Hey, has anyone thought about Casey as the number 2 hitter or is that just plain whacked?
Bat control, patience, left handed…Lots of options with, I believe, similar results. Not a bad position for JL to be in. And I didn’t even speak to where Curtis might bat when he wasn’t leading off. When you’re looking potentially at having Craig Monroe and Brandon Inge hitting 8th and 9th, you know you’re in pretty good shape.
I’m looking forward to seeing the Tigers play the Mets on March 14th in Lakeland even though I could only get cheap seats in General Admission. I hope Ernie Harwell’s around. Do you know Jason? By the way Jason, you are an excellent writer and we appreciate you’re insights. Thanks for the good work.
There is something a little different in the air today. The birds are chirping, the sun is asserting itself agianst the gloom, the girls left their winter coats at home and I’ve got the window open for the first time in 4 months and I’m smoking a wonderful Vegas Robaina Famoso.
Love in the air? Oh, most definitely; only a fool would suggest otherwise. Cuban cigar smoke? Thats there too and though the aroma is delicious I can detect another smell just beneath it that might be even better. Can the aroma of the outfield grass at Comerica really float all the way to New York City? Right now I almost believe it can.
What a day. A tremendously insightful piece from Jason on Pudge and what does Rodriguez do? He makes Mr Beck look like a genius by going 3 for 3 with a homer.Lots of interestings ideas there Jason – thanks.
I don’t think any of us last year — and Lord knows we’re all pretty smart, right? — really had an answer for the Tiger leadoff man problems. Dan and I were worried about Grandersons’ psyche during his slump but other than Guillen (who as Jason told us, doesn’t want the job) or Rodriguez its hard to come up with a good candidate. Mr Leyland had the notion that Nefarious might do the job but I still think Perez is more suited to playing the maracas in a Meringue Band (His brother Bubby is a famous Meringue singer in the Dominican Republic and sang the national anthem at opening day ceremonies this year in the Dominican Softball Bush League) As Jason points out Rodriguez rises to the occasion when challenged and maybe this is one way to make him more disciplined at the plate. He certainly needs it. I’m not sold on the idea but for today, well, I’m just happy there out on the diamond again and I’ll take the 3 for 3 with a leadoff HR.
And as if all that wasn’t enough we get a Tolstoy size entry from Marty with his usual hard-nosed insights.Marty, I agree that Polanco is too valuable hitting second and should stay there. While I should never refer to you as whacked I have to suggest that Casey stay in the bottom four of the lineup. Talk about boxcars. If Casey batted second poor Sheffield would finish the season with 3 doubles.
As for where Rodriguez hits, I could be wrong but i felt like he left a lot of guys on in the six hole.It was Dan i think who called Rodriguez a soft .300 hitter and I’m not sure it is fair but I think its true. I’m not sure why Monroe can’t be the 6th hitter and then Casey, Rodriguez and Inge.
Well it must really be spring because Pavano is hurt again.
Rube, I’m extremely jealous of your smoke………..I ran out of Monte Cristo’s a while ago, and now must “slum” with the Dominicans.
Is anyone else slightly concerned with Granderson’s new “two strike” approach at the plate? I know, he’ll put the ball in play more, but a shorter swing sometimes makes for fewer extra base hits. If bat speed is increased enough, that can be offset, but I see a couple of 30 dinger seasons in Curtis’ future, and would hate for him to become a slap hitter.
Ah, leadoff hitters, lineups, and cigars. Spring is definitely in the air here on the blog.
I’m going to again throw a curveball into the works and suggest Polanco lead off and Pudge in the two hole. Now, it’s common knowledge that Polly is a great two hitter, but maybe it’s to the greater good to have him up first. Pudge’s ability to drive the ball the other way and hit and run, hit and run, hit and run. Knock the opposing defense off their game right from the get-go. From what we’ve seen of Pudge, he’d probably make a great number two guy too. I’m half expecting him to take a turn on the mound. Anyway, this leaves Grandy to hit elsewhere and explore his slugging percentage horizons.
In two of the first four games, the Tigers have scored three touchdowns and kicked two field goals.
I don’t like Polanco-Pudge.
Pudge swings and misses too much. He can hit to right side but not as effortlessley as Polanco.
I think (I can’t believe I am saying this) Grandy is the leadoff guy this year. Polanco is MY idea of a perfect #2 guy. Grandy ain’t gonn aget in time in the middle of the order now with the solid addition of Sheff in the lineup.
Infante is a lock to make the club. Rayburn and Clevlen are impressing and Big Red is yet to be heard from and my guess is Thames is in and he is out.
With all the southpaws throiwng today I think JL has it in his mind he needs to add another to the pen to supplement Ledezma. My vote goes to Campusano.
Granderson
Polanco
Sheffield
Guillen
Ordonez
Monroe
Casey
Pudge
Inge
I’m not wild about Carlos batting cleanup but I do agree that it may be the best way to add balance to the attack as far as the LHB go. We still need some pop from the left side. We added a major piece of the power puzzle with Sheff but we still lack LH bat strength. It will hurt us this year.
I wonder how Alexis Gomez does this year?
I think Perez will get the nod over Santiago—I don’t think that is right but I do think it will go that way. I also think he will struggle this year and the fact he was a Gold Glove shortstop a few years ago will be very surprising to many.
Zumaya is going to be the closer this year. Not at first because JL is committed to Jones but it will happen.
Verlander will have a decent year but will need to overcome a little arrogance to really pull it all together. 16 or 17 wins seems about right
Bonderman is gonna win 20-22 games and Robertson 16 or 17.
I think Kenny will manage 14 or 15.
Maroth is good for 12 or 13 easy.
I think Miner throws real well as the swing guy this year.
I think Ledezma is not going to be able to handle the pressure of being THE lefty in the bullpen. We may see a successionof southpaws at various times this year.
Grandy is going to have a much better year. Polanco will be dependable but unspectacular. Pudge starts to show his age. Sheff may come close to career #500. Ordonez will get hurt. Monroe will hit .270 and hit 20-25 dingers.
Casey will keep everbody loose, even when he struggles, and I bet he hits about .280-.290
Inge will lead the team in strikeouts this year but may just win that Gold Glove if he can bring his bat avg up to about .275 with 20 long balls.
We are gonna fall in love with Infante this year. Super sub will get a lot of playing time.
Don’t you just love predictions in the spring?
Rube, you’re back! The length of my entry I’m sure is where me and Tolstoy part company. I have missed those poetic entries of yours though. Yes, spring was in the air today. I can almost see you in one of those Corona commercials…well your hand and cigar anyway…waves, sand, palm trees… You’re the man, the “language master”, the spinner of tall tales on this blog… Well Jason is
THE man but, alas, he must needs be constrained by the fetters of non-fiction, while you and the likes of us pirates can spin all kinds of dreams and…well, you know,… fiction.
Like Dan’s. Dan, your combined starters total 78 wins. Not a bad start, and I agree it’s possible. While that prediction, Dan, might be a little optimistic, the rest of your predictions seem very possible, almost like repeat performances of last year. The one I’m most intrigued with, or I should say hopeful for, is the success and playing time of Omar. He deserves it. One prediction I’ll make here, we’re all going to get frustrated and angry at some time or another and we’re going to have fun doing it whether we like it or not. And secondly, it WILL take all 40 players to get the Tigers to the promised land again this year. All 40.
Hey Scratch, I guess the trick would be for Curtis to be able to use either hitting approach, depending on the situation…power and average…he may just be good enough. These guys all should know when to and be capable of shortening their swings against top pitching, or am I dreaming? Tell you what, wasn’t Curtis amazing in center during the post season last year? He really stepped it up a couple notches didn’t he? He made us proud. By the way, will Big Red ever get back on the big stage? My prediction…I hope so.
“He stood there like the house by the side of the road”….metaphor or simile? Not much chance of that happening with these Tigers eh?
Dan, my Polanco-Pudge suggestion was just a clever ruse to force you to declare Grandy as your leadoff man. JK!
And it’s nice to see all you guys back here again.
Quotable: “I think the big thing about first base is that, in my opinion, baseball people forever have underrated it. I think it’s one of the most important defensive positions on the field.” — Leyland
Thank you, Jim. The man is a genius. I wish I could have played for him.
Marty, the only thing that scares me a little, is that Curtis will be using his “two strike approach” for an entire at-bat. Here’s hoping he only does it when the situation calls for it. I would hate to see him waste his natural power.
78 wins from 5 starters? Ummmmm, gonna have to go to dictionary.com, and look under “optimistic”, and make sure they change the definition…..lol. ON the other hand, it would urprise no one if, in fact, it happened.
Miller already looks a lot better’n he did last year. His motion seems to be easier, less forced. He truly has that “easy gas”, almost a Fred Couples style of pitching. Power from slow motion.