Comments on: Game 2009.093: Mariners at Tigers

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:15:34 +0000

Polanco and Cabrera play just about every day, Polly is always in the the #2 slot while Cabrera is consistently 3rd or 4th in the lineup. They are second and third on the team in plate appearances. Magglio was given every opportunity to play earlier in the year and Leyland pretty much left him as the #3 hitter (for way too long). He didn’t produce, but he’s had enough playing time to rate 5th on the in plate appearances.

I don’t think they are suffering from Leyland’s linup changes, I think Polanco and Ordonez are starting to show their age (although Polly has been unlucky with his .268 BABIP) resulting in Cabrera having fewer opportunities to drive in runs.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:48:51 +0000

Folks, let’s face it. The manager is at fault when you have talent that isn’t performing. Watch a lot of baseball and NEVER see other teams do so much switcharoo in their lineup. Players can’t get in a rythem when they aren’t playing every day. Its disrupting to see so many lineups. They don’t play in the NL. Polonco is suffering from this. Put in a lineup that becomes a TEAM and let them play. If you have too many talents, trade for something you need. Maglio is also suffering from this. Last year isn’t that far away where Mags hit over 300, Polonco hit over 300 and Cabrera led the league. Don’t blame them for their situation when the manager won’t let them play. This “you’re not the starter, I’m going to platoon you” isn’t baseball, its punishment for having a good year. If they need a day off, they’ll ask for it.

By: Keith (Mr. X)

Keith (Mr. X) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 02:01:30 +0000

In the meantime,

Boston has lost 5 games in a row and are 2 games out of 1st place. They’ only scored 9 runs total in those 5 games. They don’t suck, they just ran into some great pitching performances like we did.

KC has lost 9 games in a row. They seem to losing every which way a team can.

By: Steve in Det

Steve in Det — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:54:44 +0000

Ok so over at Ian Casselberry’s blog, someone overheard Racardi, talking to DD about something. But not Halladay, but it was about something else.

He thinks its about MArco Scutaro. Well if that’s our upgrade, we might as well say the season is lost. Scutaro is having a nice season at .286, 8 hrs and 43 RBIs. However he would probably be in for third base for Inge when he goes on the DL. but subtract Inge’s power, and clutch hitting, there’s no way to make up for that in a lineup that’s already bad. Im afraid we are lost.

By: Keith (Mr. X)

Keith (Mr. X) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 01:31:49 +0000

I’d rather lose games 2-1 or even 1-0 than losing 6-5 or 10-9. In the past we had to out slug other teams, right now it’s just about getting a lucky break or just getting a few sacrifice flies. The biggest problem is we just faced AJ Burnett, CC Sabathia, Joba Chamberlain, King Felix, and Jarrod Washburn. Those are 5 premium pitchers right there. I doubt we’ll run into great pitching performances like again this year.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:09:54 +0000

Who do you suggest we replace those players with that makes them better today or in the future?

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:07:45 +0000

I don’t think firing McLendon is the answer, it’s the talent on this team. We were getting by earlier in the season with huge output from Inge, and occassional good games from Thomas, Santiago, Everett, Anderson, etc. But the fact is, these guys just aren’t good hitters, and their production was completely unsustainable. Throw in an aging Polanco and Ordonez and a missing Guillen and this is what you get.

I can’t see any of that being McLendon’s fault.

By: Matt

Matt — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:06:45 +0000

Morneau, Teixeira, A-Rod… those are examples of great hitters who also benefits from having other great hitters batting before and after them.

Pujols is obviously the exception but he’s literally a once-in-a-decade type player.

Bat Joe Mauer in front of Cabrera and I bet his numbers will improve. Until then, Cabrera is the only guy on our team with a .300 plus batting average. He’s simply NOT going to see many great pitches because we’ve got 8 other easy outs in the batting line-up.

By: billfer

billfer — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:55:57 +0000

I think that will be just about enough. You’re on timeout.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:36:52 +0000

I don’t see anything that indicates that he is lazy or has a bad attitude. I just know that he is supposed to be the kind of player who is capable of carrying the team from time to time. But it’s been a season and a half and I have yet to see that. Yes, he has put up some good numbers, but for the most part, I don’t feel that he is our Morneau, our Teixeira, our A-Rod, our Pujols. At this point, I think he barely makes it into the 2nd tier of hitters (your Tejadas, Kemps, Cuddyers).

Cabrera is a monster disappointment so far as a Tiger. I’m sorry, I was expecting so much more.

By: Andre in Chi

Andre in Chi — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:32:38 +0000

Nobody is saying they’re thrilled with Cabrera’s production, pal. But he’s hardly been a “pig”. But I guess its easy to call others pigs while maintaining anonymity.

By: Kevin in Dallas

Kevin in Dallas — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:30:28 +0000

He’s just pulling our leg. Chris is JLs twitter name.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:23:35 +0000

Not good enough, pal… Not even close to being good enough.

By: Andre in Chi

Andre in Chi — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:20:42 +0000

I don’t think Chris will be too happy with those eight days off.

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:20:15 +0000

Even the most pathetic hitting lineups (such as the ’07 Padres) were able to win a majority of games where they only gave up two runs.

This team should drop their heads in shame for this. It is inexcusable. It’s one thing when your team stinks because of poor pitching. It’s quite another to lose when your pitching is terrific but your hitters score runs as if they were a team of little girls. Good pitching is hard to come by and hitting lineups adequate to win with such good pitching is easy.

Its time to let Cabrera and the girls know that they suck.