Detroit Tigers Mid-Season Report Card
July 15, 2009 · Blake VandeBunte · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
I think we’re a little bit past mid-season. The Tigers have played out a bit more than half of their schedule, but over here at Spot Starters, we define “mid-season” as the All-Star Break.
Jay and I hand out some grades here (his first, then mine) and throw in a few other points just for good measure. Enjoy!
PITCHERS:
- Freddy Dolsi (B-, B): I think Dolsi is still a tick or two away from being ready for the big leagues. However, the guy has pitched pretty well so far. -Blake-
- Luke French (B, B): French has looked pretty decent so far, but hasn’t pitched enough to say so. We’ll see how he does against the Yankees later this week. -Blake-
- Armando Galarraga (C, C-): I still don’t trust Galarraga. I think he could be a decent number 4/5 guy. However, he’s still a bit too inconsistent for my liking. I think he’s getting closer though. -Blake-
- Edwin Jackson (A+, A+): He’s been way better than anyone anticipated. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop, but he just continues to impress. -Blake-
- Brandon Lyon (B, B): Was brought on to close games but lost the closer’s job before the season even started. That being said, he’s picked things up and I trust him a lot more than I trust Zumaya. -Blake-
- Zach Miner (C, C+): I’ve been this guys biggest fan for a couple of years now but my patience is wearing thin. He gives up way too many walks and is a pro at allowing inherited runners to score. -Blake-
- Fu-Te Ni (B, B): In his brief stint with the Tigers he has logged 8 innings. Striking out 8 and allowing only two runs, giving us a much needed quality second left handed reliever. -Jay-
- Ryan Perry (C, D+): Sure he’s a young guy, but he just did not look ready to be in the big leagues. He’s been better in the minors and maybe he should just stay there until next season. No point in rushing the guy. -Blake-
- Rick Porcello (B, A-): Porcello is being a rushed as well, but has responded better than the older Perry. I think he’ll struggle a bit down the stretch, but the future is bright for Porcello. He’s shown us a lot so far. -Blake-
- Nate Robertson (D-, F): Hey, Nate is on the disabled list until at least September, which is why I didn’t give him an F. At least he did that right. -Jay-
- Fernando Rodney (B, B+): Fernando is a perfect 19-19 is save situations and a perfect 100% in giving me a heart attack every time he takes the mound! -Jay-
- Bobby Seay (B+, B+): With an ERA of 2.89 an an AL leading 19 holds Seay is evolving as a critical part of the Tigers pen. -Jay-
- Justin Verlander (A+, A-): Verlander has an AL leading 149 strikeouts and team leading 10 wins. It is obvious that last season’s 11-17 disaster was a fluke. -Jay-
- Dontrelle Willis (D-, F): Despite a gem in May against Texas in which Willis went 6 1/3 surrendering just one hit and walking just two, the Willis experiment continued to be a train wreck. He is once again on the disabled list with anxiety disorder. As a fan of D-Train, Tiger or not, I hope he turns things around. -Jay-
- Joel Zumaya (B-, D): Zumaya is the biggest disappointment on the Tigers improved pitching staff. He seems to blow leads and ties more than he holds them. Sure he can thrown 100 mph, but who cares if he can’t throw it (or any other pitches) for strikes? -Blake-
CATCHERS:
- Gerald Laird (B-, B+): Despite a .241 average, Laird has been solid this season for us. He has thrown out runners at a clip of 44 percent and is handling our pitchers well. I have always believed that a catcher is payed for his work behind the dish. Unless he bats like Sardinha. -Jay-
- Dusty Ryan (C, C): Ryan was good last season in his call up. He’s been okay in 2009 for the Tigers, but he sure doesn’t look like the long term answer behind the plate. -Blake-
- Dane Sardinha (F, F): In 31 plate appearances, Sardinha recorded just three hits, good enough for a .097 average. Perhaps the only good thing about him was his nick name: Not So Great Dane. -Jay-
INFIELDERS:
- Miguel Cabrera (A, A-): I only give Cabrera an A- because I think he’s even better than his numbers show. I bet we see more home runs and RBI in the second half of the season. -Blake-
- Adam Everett (C+, B): Everett has been as good as advertised with the glove and has even contributed a bit at the plate. -Blake-
- Brandon Inge (A-, A): He still strikes out a bit more than you’d like, but other than that, I have no complaints at all about his game. He’s been amazing in 2009. -Blake-
- Placido Polanco (B-, C-): Polanco is only a step above Magglio Ordonez in the “has-been” column. Polanco’s average has been low all season and that’s brutal for a guy who never really worked walks anyway. -Blake-
- Ramon Santiago (C+, B): The utility infielder has hit an impressive .271 with six home runs in the first half all while playing solid defense as well. -Jay-
OUTFIELDERS:
- Josh Anderson (C-, C-): His average has dipped down to .250 and we are seeing less of him on a daily basis. However, his speed (12 stolen bases) will come in handy as a pinch-runner down the stretch. -Jay-
- Curtis Granderson (B, B+): Granderson’s average is low, but the home runs are way up. He continues to sparkle on defense, but a higher average or OBP would be really nice. -Blake-
- Don Kelly (D, C): He’s a career minor-leaguer who had a few nice moments in June with the Tigers. -Blake-
- Magglio Ordonez (D, D-): At .260, Maggs is hitting about 50 points off his career average. More importantly though his power is non-existent (4 HR). I would love a big turn around here, but reality looks like Maggs is past his prime. -Jay-
- Ryan Raburn (C, A-): Raburn has been great in 2009. He’s hitting for a decent average and has even shown some power. He’s also the same versatile defender he’s always been. If he keeps this up, I have to imagine he’ll stick in the lineup. -Blake-
- Clete Thomas (C+, B-): I’m not a huge Clete fan, but since his promotion a few weeks ago he’s been pretty good. He’s a fourth outfielder in the big leagues, but I’d rather he play than Magglio. -Blake-
- Marcus Thames (B+): Jay neglected to grade Thames, but he’s doing just what he’s always done: Struck out, hit about .250, and hit homers at a higher rate than any other Tiger. -Blake-
- Carlos Guillen (INC.): As well as things have gone for the Tigers, do they really want Guillen back? -Blake-
FIRST-HALF MVP:
- B: Brandon Inge has to be the MVP so far. Like, Jay, I’ve never been a big fan of Mr. Inge and still feel that he gets an unfair amount of love from Tigers “fans”…(yeah I just used quotes, big deal). However, Inge has 21 homers for a club that has struggled on offense at a few points this season and still plays Gold Glove defense at the hot corner.
- J: As hard as it is for me to say I have to speak the truth, Brandon Inge was the first-half MVP of the Detroit Tigers. Superstars Miguel Cabrera and Curtis Granderson had an equally impressive first half. However, Inge stepped it up and posted a very respectable .268/.360/.876 line with 21 home runs and 58 runs batted in. His production has helped a subpar offense. Nobody expected these type of numbers from Inge, let’s hope he doesn’t fade in the second half.
WHO WILL HEAT UP?
- B: My money is on Curtis Granderson. I think the home runs will go down, the double and triples will then rise along with the batting average. Even though Curtis made his first All-Star game this year, it hasn’t been his best season. I bet he gets that average up to .275 or .280 before the season ends.
- J: Placido Polanco is only batting .256 this season. His career average though of .303 and the fact that this is a contract year for Poly is one reason why I expect him to heat up.
WHO WILL COOL OFF?:
- B: I think it’ll be Rick Porcello, not that I’ll hold it against him. He’s only 20 years old and has probably already pitched more than the Tigers would have liked. He’s been better than expected so far this season and I just don’t see how his young arms keeps it up if his innings stay consistent.
- J: While this pick will draw a ton of negative feedback, history shows that Brandon Inge will cool down. How far will he fall? Well, I hope he doesn’t, but I believe both his power and average will drop significantly.
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