Comments on: Game 53: Tigers at Angels

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:08:09 +0000

So you think Neifi Perez is missed? I won’t dispute that, but I’ll tell you one move that has really come back to haunt the Tigers: Letting go of Jose Mesa.

I just know, deep down inside, Jose would have gotten it done against the Angels. It was such a bitter pill to swallow when they let him go last year.

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:04:37 +0000

Very interesting comments on the lefty masher thing. I have nothing to add it but a question: Are the Tigers unique in this regard, or have other teams also show(ed) the same imbalance, either currently or traditionally?

The Tigers have had plenty of lefty pitching in recent years. It’s fun (even if pointless) to consider that, had things worked out slightly differently, the Tigers could have an all-southpaw starting rotation. Rogers, Willis, Robertson, Maroth, Miller. At least they could be an answer to a trivia question.

By: greg

greg — Fri, 30 May 2008 03:19:07 +0000

I was kidding, Casey is a good guy, but a masher he is not.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:59:06 +0000

Kaline was right-handed at the plate. Gibby had 5 straight years where he hit between 25-29 HR, but the highest he ever finished was 7th in the league. Very iffy to call that a “masher”

Nokes had one good year with 32 HR, but never came close to approaching that again. This is an interesting question, I don’t think anybody mentioned outside of Norm Cash is really in consideration.

By: T Smith

T Smith — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:25:30 +0000

Left handed mashers?

Al Kaline and Norm Cash come to mind….more recently? Hmmm… Kirk Gibson maybe…. but I don’t think Bobby Higginson counts.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:00:24 +0000

Casey, though gregarious, does not qualify as a “masher”. Didn’t Matt Nokes hit lefty? He had that one good year. Higgy had his moments of mash-dom. Of course my all-time Tiger was a lefty, but not exactly a slugger. That being Lou Whitaker. Anyway this is a nice discussion. It’s distracting me from the severe hemmorhoid flare-up that has been the 2008 Tigers.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:50:10 +0000

hmmmm, masher from the left side. Does Higginson count? probably not. Mickey Tettleton was a switch hitter.

Norm Cash? Ty Cobb?

that’s a good question, Chris, I really don’t know. Maybe they always felt they didn’t need one since the porch in right field at Tiger Stadium was so short. Or maybe it’s just one of those weird things, like goldfish named ‘fluffy’.

By: greg

greg — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:40:50 +0000

Last year – Sean Casey

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:37:46 +0000

Well, since I brought it up, the Tigs are a whopping 60-61 since the last time Neifi suited up. He was one fat little geeked up intangible, I’ll tell you what. Seriously, though, Guillen at #3 makes perfect sense. He’s a really good hitter, and the switch hitting thing does make it a little more difficult matchup-wise late in games for the opponent. Plus his back/neck hair is truly intimidating. Which, in a roundabout way, brings me to another point. This team has too many right handed hitters. Historically, even. When was the last time they had a true masher from the left side?

By: greg

greg — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:33:33 +0000

I think Chris in Dallas might be on to something. The lineup protection Neifi Perez provided is now missing, and the cascading lineup effects of his absence were too much for this offense to overcome, not to mention the chemistry he provided the entire team, now missing, his departure has lead to stagnant and lifeless clubhouse. This team has lost its way without Neifi providing the glue to hold them together.

Help us Neifi-won Perezi, you’re our only hope.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:19:52 +0000

That is a frightening point, Chris.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:11:25 +0000

Agree, Sean, Guillen in the third spot makes a ton of sense. He switch hits so he’s tough to go righty-lefty against out of the pen, he gets on base at a good clip, is a smart, though not especially fast baserunner and can drive in runs if there’s guy on in front of him. I’ve always thought he would be good in that role.

Although I was perfectly fine having Sheff at #3 last year while he was productive. He did a ton of damage in that spot in the first half last year before he got hurt. If he proves he’s healthy, I don’t mind seeing Sheff there.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 29 May 2008 21:08:41 +0000

Anyone care to look at the team’s record pre and post Neifi Perez? I think that is the pink elephant in the room that we’re all ignoring…

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:55:35 +0000

I want Thames batting 3rd.

No, really. I’m serious. At least against lefties. Or at least until he fails to have a 2-homer game.

I like Guillen #3 otherwise. It would be interesting to see Granderson there, but that is clearly not going to happen.

If they don’t start hitting with any consistency (the good kind), they may as well bat Inge or Pudge 3rd.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:23:06 +0000

Honestly, I think any combination of Senor Hemmorhoid, Ordonez and Fatty in 3-4-5 would work. Right now Guillen at 3 makes sense to me since Cabrera hasn’t exactly set the world on fire yet. I’m confident he will, though. OK maybe not confident. Hopeful is a better word. It could be a long 8 years with him…