Marcus Thames is "country strong". He showed that Friday night, clubbing two big flies, propelling the Tigers to a 10-4 rain-shortened victory over Milwaukee.
After Armando Galarraga yielded a three-run bomb to Prince Fielder in the first, it was Thames who responded with a two-run shot off Braden Looper in the bottom of the inning to get the Tigers back into the game. Thames then capped the scoring with another two-run blast in the seventh, this one an opposite field shot on an 0-2 count just as the rain began to fall again, ending the Brewers chances and the game.
In 13 games since returning from injury, Thames has gone 12-36 with five home runs, and provided the pop this team has been missing from guys like Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen. He has three bombs in his last two games since being installed into the cleanup spot behind Miguel Cabrera.
It was partly with an eye toward getting regular at-bats for Thames that the Tigers decided to part ways with Gary Sheffield this spring, though Sheffield was still owed $14 million for this season. Unfortunately for Detroit, the Carlos Guillen injuries forced Jim Leyland to play Guillen at DH early this year, taking those at-bats from Marcus. By the time Guillen hit the DL, Thames was already there, having hurt an abdominal muscle during batting practice in April. But the timing couldn't have been better for his return in early June.
With Guillen still out of the lineup (he could yet miss the whole season), and Magglio Ordonez no longer the threat he once was, Detroit was severely lacking offensive production. While finishing up the last road trip in St. Louis, Leyland decided it was time to let Thames play everyday and see what he could do. The move has paid immediate dividends.
After being held to just three runs in the first game with Thames at cleanup, the Tigers have plated six and 10 in their last two. Slotting Thames to hit behind Cabrera has also allowed Curtis Granderson to move back to the top of the order, while still providing some measure of protection for El Martillo, who is now hitting third.
Thames has shown flashes of brilliance in the past, but this time, perhaps he will get the extended playing time that Leyland has promised before, only to take it away to give to another player. This time, the Tigers can't afford to not have Marcus and his long-ball ability in the lineup. He is a three-run homer waiting to happen.
The addition of Thames, along with the promotions of catcher Dusty Ryan, who made his season debut Friday, and pitcher Alfredo Figaro, slated to make his major league debut Saturday, are changes that are perhaps long over due for the first-place Tigers. The offense had gone cold, and the lack of production of catcher Dane Sardinha and Ordonez were two of the many reasons for that.
Ryan figures to take over for Sardinha's role and the upgrade offensively he should provide will allow more rest for starter Gerald Laird. The fresher Leyland can keep Laird, the better his numbers should become as the season goes forward. Ryan stepped into the lineup Friday and clubbed an RBI double to tie the game in the fourth inning, leading to a four-run rally that saw the Tigers take the lead they would not give back.
If Figaro, taking over for Dontrelle Willis, can hold down the fifth spot of the rotation, the Tigers are going to like their chances in a great many games the rest of the way. The additions of Thames and Ryan should allow for much better offensive numbers from the lineup, but it will hinge on whether or not Thames can stay productive over an extended period of time. It's the chance he's been waiting his whole career for.
Showing posts with label Dusty Ryan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dusty Ryan. Show all posts
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Shake-ups Continue in Tiger Town
Magglio Ordonez may be nearing the end of the line in Detroit. The former batting champion has lost his starting job, at least for now.
Prior to last night's game in St. Louis, a 6-3 Tigers victory, manager Jim Leyland announced that Maggs would not play, but did not elaborate on low long his benching would last. This could be the first step towards the door for the Tigers' beloved right fielder.
In addition to the Ordonez situation, the team announced that AA right hander Alfredo Figaro would make the jump to Detroit and will start Saturday versus Milwaukee, with much maligned Dontrelle Willis hitting the DL with an anxiety disorder for the second time this season.
Figaro has pitched well in Erie this season, and gets the call over Mud Hens' lefty Luke French, who was also in line for a call-up. The guess here is that Figaro will get an extended look in the fifth starter spot in Detroit, as he is considered one of the organization's better pitching prospects. Regardless of his performance on Saturday, expect him to make several turns through the rotation. It's time to see what the kid can do.
Ordonez, on the other hand, is likely nearing the end of his days in Detroit. The once feared slugger has managed only two home runs this season, and frequently seems content to loop soft singles the other way. His average is a respectable .273, but well off the pace that his track record demands. His extra base power has all but completely vanished, and he carries a .690 OPS this season.
Another issue with Ordonez has become his contract. If he were to reach 135 games started this season, his 2010 option will automatically vest, locking him in for $18million next season. His production has not warranted a spot on this team, and it certainly does not warrant paying him that kind of money next year.
There had been much speculation before the season that the Tigers might release Magglio prior to his option vesting, and that certainly would have drawn the ire (and possibly a grievance) of the player's union. Ordonez hasn't done much to help the Tigers on the field this year, but his below average performance has probably allowed the team to cut him now and make a viable argument that the decision is based solely on performance.
The simple fact is that the Tigers could easily get the kind of production Magglio has given them from a much younger and cheaper player. In limited at-bats this season, Ryan Raburn, who replaced Ordonez in the starting lineup, and Clete Thomas (currently in AAA) have put up OPS's of .731 and .727 respectively. While those are not great numbers, they are significantly better than Ordonez.
The argument to release Magglio is growing stronger. Now is the time to do so.
UPDATE (3:29pm): Lee is reporting that Dusty Ryan is on his way to Detroit. No word on who might be moved out, but I think it's safe to assume it will be Sardinha. With Laird having caught the past four games, look for Ryan to be in the lineup tonight versus Milwaukee.
Prior to last night's game in St. Louis, a 6-3 Tigers victory, manager Jim Leyland announced that Maggs would not play, but did not elaborate on low long his benching would last. This could be the first step towards the door for the Tigers' beloved right fielder.
In addition to the Ordonez situation, the team announced that AA right hander Alfredo Figaro would make the jump to Detroit and will start Saturday versus Milwaukee, with much maligned Dontrelle Willis hitting the DL with an anxiety disorder for the second time this season.
Figaro has pitched well in Erie this season, and gets the call over Mud Hens' lefty Luke French, who was also in line for a call-up. The guess here is that Figaro will get an extended look in the fifth starter spot in Detroit, as he is considered one of the organization's better pitching prospects. Regardless of his performance on Saturday, expect him to make several turns through the rotation. It's time to see what the kid can do.
Ordonez, on the other hand, is likely nearing the end of his days in Detroit. The once feared slugger has managed only two home runs this season, and frequently seems content to loop soft singles the other way. His average is a respectable .273, but well off the pace that his track record demands. His extra base power has all but completely vanished, and he carries a .690 OPS this season.
Another issue with Ordonez has become his contract. If he were to reach 135 games started this season, his 2010 option will automatically vest, locking him in for $18million next season. His production has not warranted a spot on this team, and it certainly does not warrant paying him that kind of money next year.
There had been much speculation before the season that the Tigers might release Magglio prior to his option vesting, and that certainly would have drawn the ire (and possibly a grievance) of the player's union. Ordonez hasn't done much to help the Tigers on the field this year, but his below average performance has probably allowed the team to cut him now and make a viable argument that the decision is based solely on performance.
The simple fact is that the Tigers could easily get the kind of production Magglio has given them from a much younger and cheaper player. In limited at-bats this season, Ryan Raburn, who replaced Ordonez in the starting lineup, and Clete Thomas (currently in AAA) have put up OPS's of .731 and .727 respectively. While those are not great numbers, they are significantly better than Ordonez.
The argument to release Magglio is growing stronger. Now is the time to do so.
UPDATE (3:29pm): Lee is reporting that Dusty Ryan is on his way to Detroit. No word on who might be moved out, but I think it's safe to assume it will be Sardinha. With Laird having caught the past four games, look for Ryan to be in the lineup tonight versus Milwaukee.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Dusty Ryan Could be Answer to Catching Woes
The role of backup catcher on a major league team, is one frequently overlooked. Entering the 2009 season, the Tigers had added two catchers to replace Ivan Rodriguez, who was traded at the deadline last season, Brandon Inge, who was making his return to third base, and Vance Wilson, who had missed most of the previous two seasons with injuries.
Enter Gerald Laird as the new starter and Misty May-Treanor's husband, Matt to back him up. The Tigers appeared to be set at catcher with two good defenders and a starter that was capable of producing solid offensive numbers.
So far this season, Laird has been as advertised with the glove and has done a very good job working with the pitchers, as the staff currently leads the American League in ERA. His hitting has been erratic at best however, as he has been prone to long slumps. Entering play today, Laird is sporting just a .221 batting average, with a .645 OPS, contributing to overall below average performance of the team's offense. Laird, however has proven his worth with the glove and his game-calling. He is not the glaring weakness of this team.
That honor undoubtedly goes to the backup catcher. Matt Treanor began the season with a hip problem, and it was soon discovered that he needed more surgery and would be lost for the year. Before the surgery, Treanor managed to record an out in each of his 13 at bats for Detroit. In his stead, the Tigers recalled veteran minor leaguer Dane Sardinha.
Sardinha spent 17 games with the Tigers in 2008, following the trade of Pudge Rodriguez. He has always been regarded as a good game-caller from his days in the minors. Unfortunately, he has never really hit. 2008 was no exception, as he posted a .159 BA, with an OPS of just .434, albeit in only 44 at bats. His minor league numbers haven't exactly inspired hope, either. In parts of nine seasons on the farm, he has a career line of .222/.262/.336. So the Tigers didn't have any reason to think he could hit major league pitching. And hit, he has not.
So far this season, Sardinha has been worse than advertised. He has just three hits in 31 at bats, one of them a double. He has also failed to draw a single walk. He has struck out 16 times, an alarming 52% of his at bats. His line (.097/.091/.129) is just poor, and only one player in the major leagues with as many as 31 AB's has been worse, and that player is Randy Wolf, a pitcher, with the Dodgers. Defensively, Sardinha has failed miserably to control the running game, nabbing just two of the 12 runners who have attempted to steal against him. By all accounts however, he does call a good game, and seems to work well with the staff.
But the Tigers need a catcher who can do something measurable. In several games this year, Sardinha has started, only to see Laird have to enter in the late innings as a pinch hitter, then catch the rest of the game. Laird will need rest at some point this season, but Sardinha's poor performances, especially offensively, just don't allow for that. He has become the glaring weakness on a team that is trying to distance themselves from the rest of the division.
Where else can the Tigers turn? With Treanor probably lost for the year, they could look back to Toledo for another catcher. Dusty Ryan has seen some time in the majors last year with Detroit, and did reasonably well. He showed enough that many a Tiger fan wondered why the team signed Mr. Misty May to begin with.
As a 23 year old last year, Ryan caught six of the 13 potential base stealers against him, and put up very good numbers offensively, though in just 44 at bats. He finished at .318/.380/.500, with two homeruns and seven RBI. A very good showing, indeed. Ryan's minor league career line is slightly lower at .238/.331/.391, but he has improved his hitting as he has progressed though the minor leagues, posting an .817 OPS in AA and an .848 OPS in AAA.
Laird does have one arbitration year remaining, so he is under team control through 2010, but Ryan may be the Tigers catcher of the future, although they also like AA prospect Alex Avila, as well. But the future needs to be now for Dusty Ryan and the Tigers. Ryan was kept in Toledo in part to get him more seasoning, but with the failure of Sardinha, and the loss of Treanor, the Tigers have no choice but to bring in a new catcher.
The Tigers' farm system is largely void of talent, so a trade for a capable backup catcher seems unlikely. Dusty Ryan should be getting the call to come to Detroit soon, if the Tigers are serious about winning this year. His recall would allow for more rest for Laird, and get Ryan acclimated to the pitchers on the major league staff, while working a couple of games per week. I'm sure there will bumps along the way, but he would be a huge upgrade to the performance Sardinha has offered.
Enter Gerald Laird as the new starter and Misty May-Treanor's husband, Matt to back him up. The Tigers appeared to be set at catcher with two good defenders and a starter that was capable of producing solid offensive numbers.
So far this season, Laird has been as advertised with the glove and has done a very good job working with the pitchers, as the staff currently leads the American League in ERA. His hitting has been erratic at best however, as he has been prone to long slumps. Entering play today, Laird is sporting just a .221 batting average, with a .645 OPS, contributing to overall below average performance of the team's offense. Laird, however has proven his worth with the glove and his game-calling. He is not the glaring weakness of this team.
That honor undoubtedly goes to the backup catcher. Matt Treanor began the season with a hip problem, and it was soon discovered that he needed more surgery and would be lost for the year. Before the surgery, Treanor managed to record an out in each of his 13 at bats for Detroit. In his stead, the Tigers recalled veteran minor leaguer Dane Sardinha.
Sardinha spent 17 games with the Tigers in 2008, following the trade of Pudge Rodriguez. He has always been regarded as a good game-caller from his days in the minors. Unfortunately, he has never really hit. 2008 was no exception, as he posted a .159 BA, with an OPS of just .434, albeit in only 44 at bats. His minor league numbers haven't exactly inspired hope, either. In parts of nine seasons on the farm, he has a career line of .222/.262/.336. So the Tigers didn't have any reason to think he could hit major league pitching. And hit, he has not.
So far this season, Sardinha has been worse than advertised. He has just three hits in 31 at bats, one of them a double. He has also failed to draw a single walk. He has struck out 16 times, an alarming 52% of his at bats. His line (.097/.091/.129) is just poor, and only one player in the major leagues with as many as 31 AB's has been worse, and that player is Randy Wolf, a pitcher, with the Dodgers. Defensively, Sardinha has failed miserably to control the running game, nabbing just two of the 12 runners who have attempted to steal against him. By all accounts however, he does call a good game, and seems to work well with the staff.
But the Tigers need a catcher who can do something measurable. In several games this year, Sardinha has started, only to see Laird have to enter in the late innings as a pinch hitter, then catch the rest of the game. Laird will need rest at some point this season, but Sardinha's poor performances, especially offensively, just don't allow for that. He has become the glaring weakness on a team that is trying to distance themselves from the rest of the division.
Where else can the Tigers turn? With Treanor probably lost for the year, they could look back to Toledo for another catcher. Dusty Ryan has seen some time in the majors last year with Detroit, and did reasonably well. He showed enough that many a Tiger fan wondered why the team signed Mr. Misty May to begin with.
As a 23 year old last year, Ryan caught six of the 13 potential base stealers against him, and put up very good numbers offensively, though in just 44 at bats. He finished at .318/.380/.500, with two homeruns and seven RBI. A very good showing, indeed. Ryan's minor league career line is slightly lower at .238/.331/.391, but he has improved his hitting as he has progressed though the minor leagues, posting an .817 OPS in AA and an .848 OPS in AAA.
Laird does have one arbitration year remaining, so he is under team control through 2010, but Ryan may be the Tigers catcher of the future, although they also like AA prospect Alex Avila, as well. But the future needs to be now for Dusty Ryan and the Tigers. Ryan was kept in Toledo in part to get him more seasoning, but with the failure of Sardinha, and the loss of Treanor, the Tigers have no choice but to bring in a new catcher.
The Tigers' farm system is largely void of talent, so a trade for a capable backup catcher seems unlikely. Dusty Ryan should be getting the call to come to Detroit soon, if the Tigers are serious about winning this year. His recall would allow for more rest for Laird, and get Ryan acclimated to the pitchers on the major league staff, while working a couple of games per week. I'm sure there will bumps along the way, but he would be a huge upgrade to the performance Sardinha has offered.
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