Just when it looked like the Tigers had started to turn the corner offensively, they manage to post 13 runs during the 6 game homestand. Sunday’s loss was particularly frustrating because it highlighted just how far apart the Mariners and Tigers are. Joel Piniero was very vulnerable at the start of the game yesterday. He had little control, and was routinely leaving the ball up in the first two innings. Andres Torres led off by working a full count, and then forced what should have been a walk, except he was hosed (nothing you can do about that). Ramon Santiago follows up with a walk, and Bobby Higginson hits a two-run homer on the first pitch. And that’s where it ended. Young flew out on a full count pitch and Pena flew out after a 5 pitch at-bat. In the second, Piniero was still having trouble with his command. Craig Monroe grounded to second, but only after fouling off a 2-2 hanging curveball that should have been tagged. Munson followed with a walk and then Piniero shut the door. He retired 11 of the next 12 batters on only 35 pitches, allowing only a two out single to Omar Infante. Meanwhile, Maroth was struggling and the M’s hitters weren’t going to let him off the hook. Three times they deposited his mistakes in the stands (or more precisely between the stands and the fence).
The Tigers truly have only one “crafty” veteran hitter and that is Higginson. While Young is a veteran (and a pretty decent hitter despite his struggles this year), his success is more from the way he handles the bat. In Higginson’s first at-bat, he’d seen that Piniero struggle to throw his breaking balls (or any pitches for strikes). That’s why when Piniero grooved a first pitch fastball down the middle, Higginson was ready and he didn’t miss it. It’s this type of approach that is lacking from the rest of the team, as is to be expected with a team so young. The point being that this series, and in particular Sunday’s game illustrated just how far away this team is from being competitive. It also illustrated why Alan Trammell is the right man for this job (as well as his coaching staff) because so much teaching needs to be done. Camera shots of the dugout repeatedly show the coaches talking with the players, right after a questionable play happens. This staff is the right staff to teach the kids how to play the game.
Stat note of the day:
Dmitri Young’s having a tough time from the right side of the plate this season. As a righty he’s hitting .182/.233/.236 in 55 AB. From the left side he’s .252/.391/.539. Which caused me to wonder, why does he switch hit? Surely he wouldn’t fare worse against left handed hitters hitting left handed. A quick look at his last 3 years reveal he has a marginally higher average batting right handed (.302/.334/.452) albeit with a little less power than left handed (.298/.349/.483).