Riffing on the latest Tigers moves
Welcome to the bigs, kid
Image: Ed Betz - AP Photo
Cameron Maybin was called up last night and played left field for the Tigers. It generated quite a bit of excitement amongst Tigers fans. It looks like his call-up resulted in the end of Craig Monroe’s career as a Detroit Tiger. The move was necessary in order to insure Maybin could be called up if necessary when team rosters expand next month. Big Al over at the Wayne Fontes Experience has a nice send off for Monroe.
The Tigers also sent Omar Infante down to the minors in order to call up Ramon Santiago. With the move the Tigers are sacrificing offense in order to improve their defense. If the Tigers end up trading for Jack Wilson, who has cleared waivers, then bringing up Santiago really doesn’t make much sense. But if the team has no plans to acquire the Pittsburgh shortstop then using Santiago as a backup/utility infielder would make some sense. He’s been very solid in the field at both shortstop and second, while Infante has been a defensive liability at short. I don’t think the Tigers can really get away with using him on a regular basis in the lineup. If he plays it probably has to be sporadically in order to give Guillen or Polanco a rest or as a defensive specialist late in games where Detroit is trying to protect a lead.
Lots of questions are being asked about these moves, but I think it all comes down to providing the team with flexibility. It was believed Cameron Maybin wouldn’t get a call-up this season, but that was back when the team was playing great ball. With the team struggling of late it’s better to have an option of bringing him up than to have your hands tied and not have him available for the stretch run of the playoff race. With Jack Wilson possibly no longer being an option having a defensive specialist like Santiago on the roster would allow Detroit to rest Guillen and Polanco to keep both players healthy and fresh.
I think Michael Rosenberg from the Free Press has the right idea:
When Leyland wants offense, he can put Guillen at short, Casey at first and Thames in leftfield. When he wants defense, he can put Santiago at short and Maybin in left, with either Guillen or Casey at first.
There is no obvious solution that allows the Tigers to play a very solid defensive infield that’s also comprised of offensive threats at each position. Brandon Inge is struggling at the plate this season and Sean Casey has never been a power hitter. The team has two solid bats in Guillen and Polanco. If the idea is to use Santiago to give them days off and to play him as a situational fielder later in games then it could work.
If Inge can somehow get back on track and you can get both Guillen and Polanco into the lineup the team suddenly has a lot more punch. Maybin has excelled in the minors and provides Detroit with another option as they attempt to figure out how to handle left field as Marcus Thames has struggled to stay in the lineup. Ryan Raburn has looked solid but having another player in contention increases your chances of finding the best solution. Moving Thames to first might be an option if either Raburn or Maybin can secure the LF spot.
Here are some options if you are looking to increase your offensive potential:
Outfield
Raburn - Granderson - Ordonez
Infield
Inge-Guillen-Polanco-Thames
Catcher
Rodriguez
DH
Sheffield
And here’s a lineup that focuses more on defensive-play
Outfield
Maybin - Granderson - Raburn
Infield
Inge-Santiago-Polanco-Casey
Catcher
Rodriguez
DH
Sheffield
So the way I look at the recent moves is they give the team some more flexibility and allow both Guillen and Polanco to get days off when necessary.
Cameron Maybin Carlos Guillen Craig Monroe Omar Infante Placido Polanco Ramon Santiago Sean Casey TigersNo Comments
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