Tiger's Offense Alone not to Blame

Despite the victories they have squeaked out in the past two nights against the struggling Twins, the Detroit Tigers are showing signs of being a huge disappointment given the potential of their dynamic offense that essentially does not feature a bottom of the order. The Tigers' dreadful start can certainly be attributed to a lack of offense. They are supposed to have a lineup filled with run-producers from top to bottom. As of 4/16/08, Placido Polanco, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Cabrera, Ivan Rodriguez, Jacque Jones, and Marcus Thames are all hitting .216 or lower. RBI totals are extremely low as Sheffield (2 RBI), Ordonez (6), Cabrera (5), Edgar Renteria (4), and Carlos Guillen (6) are not driving in runs, partially because nobody is ever on base, and partly because they are just not hitting. Polanco, Renteria, and OF Clete Thomas have all seen time in the top two spots in the order, combining for just 9 runs scored. Polanco, a mainstay in the 2-hole, has scored just 2 runs, as has Thomas. Thomas has batted leadoff for the Tigers eight times this year (all 8 of his starts), carrying a .306 batting average, and has crossed the plate only twice. That is how collectively unproductive the Detroit offense has been, thus far.

Additionally, through 14 games, they are 4-10 and have been shut out 4 times. The list of starting pitchers who blanked the Tigers' supposedly high powered offense this season includes Kansas City number two starter Brian Bannister (3.66 career ERA, 3rd season), Daisuke Matsuzaka (4.22 career ERA, 2nd season), Gavin Floyd…remember him? (6.00 career ERA, 3rd full season), and Javier Vazquez (4.27 career ERA, 11th season). Floyd’s and Vazquez’s shutouts of the Tigers’ lineup came on back to back days, in which the White Sox outscored Detroit 18-0. All four of the aforementioned pitchers are right-handers. In fact, the Tigers’ generally right-handed lineup did not win a game until their eighth contest of the season in which they beat Boston lefty Jon Lester. Polanco, Sheffield, Ordonez, Cabrera, Renteria, Thames, Rodriguez, and Brandon Inge are all right handed. Only Jones and Thomas, who do not play every day, are left handed hitters, and Guillen is the only switch hitter in the lineup. Upon Curtis Granderson’s return, a much-needed speedy left hander will be added to the top of the lineup.

Pitching-wise it doesn't get much better. Ace Justin Verlander’s ERA has soared to 6.52 through three starts, and Kenny Rogers’ ERA is 6.75 and has an 8:8 ratio of K:BB in three starts. Jeremy Bonderman boasts the staff’s best ERA of 4.58 and has the same K:BB as Rogers. Thirty year old lefty Nate Robertson’s ERA has ballooned to 7.02, as he is 0-1 through three starts after inking his recent three-year extension with the club. Dontrelle Willis just joined the Tigers’ two key setup men, flamethrowing righty Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney, on the DL. Willis’ ERA topped all at the time of his injury at 7.20. Twenty-six year old rookie Armando Galarraga makes his season debut tonight for Detroit in Cleveland, where, by the way, he is set to face C.C. Sabathia. He carries a 6.23 ERA in three career appearances, including one start in 2007 for Texas, into tonight’s game.

In any case, don't be surprised when the bats come alive in the next few games.