Jackson, Cabrera, Fielder Best Tigers Hitting Trio Since '61

When the Tigers signed first baseman Prince Fielder in January, fans knew that he and Cabrera had a good chance to be the best Tigers batting duo in a long time.  For the most part, they have not disappointed.  Cabrera is batting .326 with 29 homers and a .978 OPS and  Fielder is hitting .310 with a .911 OPS.  The big surprise is that lead-off man Austin Jackson is right there with them batting .320 with a .915 OPS.  So, rather than compare Cabrera and Fielder to past Tigers pairs, I'm going to see where Cabrera, Fielder and Jackson rank among threesomes.

 Hitting performance can be measured by Batting Runs (BR) which was discussed in an earlier post.  In Summary, Batting Runs is the estimated number of runs a player would contribute to an average team beyond what an average player would have contributed in his place.  The Batting Runs statistic is described in more detail towards the bottom of the linked article.  (Note that "average" includes pitchers as is done at FanGraphs.com.  Baseball-Reference.com does not include pitchers, so their Batting Runs totals are lower.)

Cabrera has 37 Batting Runs so far this year.  So, he has contributed 37 runs above what an average player would have been expected to contribute in the same number of outs.  In addition to Cabrera, Fielder and Jackson have 26 Batting Runs apiece giving them a total of 89 Batting Runs.  Over the course of a 162 game season that would translate to 130 Batting Runs.

The Tigers all-time best Batting Runs trios are shown in Table 1 below.  The list is headed by the 1961 group of Norm Cash (90 BR), Rocky Colavito (58) and Al Kaline (44) with a total of 192.  All of the other combinations did their work prior to World War II which is generally the case when one looks at all-time best Tigers offensive producers.  Cabrera, Fielder and AJax would need to pick up their current pace to crack the all-time top ten.


  Table 1: All-Time Best Tigers Batting Runs Trio

Year	Player 1	BR	Player 2	BR	Player 3	BR	Total BR
1961	Norm Cash	90	Rocky Colavito	58	Al Kaline	44	192
1911	Ty Cobb	93	Sam Crawford	59	Jim Delahanty	35	187
1940	Hank Greenberg	78	Rudy York	57	Charlie Gehringer	37	172
1938	Hank Greenberg	79	Rudy York	45	Charlie Gehringer	45	169
1937	Hank Greenberg	79	Charlie Gehringer	56	Rudy York	34	169
1921	Harry Heilmann	65	Ty Cobb	56	Bobby Veach	35	156
1925	Harry Heilmann	59	Ty Cobb	50	Al Wingo	39	149
1917	Ty Cobb	81	Bobby Veach	43	Donie Bush	17	141
1935	Hank Greenberg	66	Charlie Gehringer	42	Mickey Cochrane	33	140
1909	Ty Cobb	73	Sam Crawford	39	Donie Bush	25	137

Data Source: Baseball-Databank.org


Table 2 displays the best Tigers Batting Runs trios since 1946.  It shows that if Cabrera, Fielder, Jackson troika continues at the same pace for the rest of the season, they would have the best total since 1961.  Other recent groups include Magglio Ordonez, Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco with 122 in 2007 and Cabrera, Alex Avila and Victor Martinez with 116 in 2011.

So, the Tigers current big three of Cabrera, Fielder and Jackson is in good company if they can maintain their performance and there is no reason they can't.  
  

Table 2: Best Tigers Batting Runs Trios Since 1946

Year	Player 1	BR	Player 2	BR	Player 3	BR	Total BR
1961	Norm Cash	90	Rocky Colavito	58	Al Kaline	44	192
2012	Miguel Cabrera	54*	Prince Fielder	38*	Austin Jackson	38*	131*
1959	Eddie Yost	44	Al Kaline	43	Harvey Kuenn	41	129
2007	Magglio Ordonez	62	Curtis Granderson	37	Placido Polanco	23	122
1956	Charlie Maxwell	43	Al Kaline	42	Ray Boone	35	121
2011	Miguel Cabrera	65	Alex Avila	28	Victor Martinez	23	116
1950	Vic Wertz	42	Hoot Evers	39	George Kell	34	114
1946	Hank Greenberg	52	Roy Cullenbine	44	George Kell	17	113
1967	Al Kaline	49	Bill Freehan	33	Dick McAuliffe	27	109
1962	Rocky Colavito	37	Al Kaline	35	Norm Cash	34	107
1968	Willie Horton	43	Bill Freehan	36	Jim Northrup	25	104

Data Source: Baseball-Databank.org
*Extrapolated to 162 games

Connecticut Tigers and Danry Vasquez

 Sun setting on Dodd Stadium in Norwich, CT (photo credit: Lee Panas)

While the Detroit Tigers were beating the New York Yankees 6-5, I was down in Norwich, CT watching the Connecticut Tigers top the Staten Island Yankees 5-2 in NY Penn League action.  Traveling from northern , MA to Connecticut during rush hour is generally not an easy task, so I was very pleased at how easy the trip was.  There was very little traffic and it took me an hour and 45 minutes which is how long it's supposed to take.  The strangest part of the journey was that the stadium is built in the middle of a huge industrial park, so it took a while to get from the entrance of the park to the stadium.  You would never know you were approaching a baseball park if it weren't for the signs. 

As you may be able to tell from the above photo, it's a pretty standard minor league park.  I like minor league parks so that is a good thing.  I was happy that they did not overdo the music and between innings entertainment as they do in LeLacheur Park in Lowell, MA and some other places.  As is generally the case at minor league games, the price was right - ten dollars for a front row seat and three dollar parking.  The food was especially cheap as it was one dollar hot dog night at the stadium.  Hot dogs are not good for my stomach, but it's a baseball game so I had to get my one-dollar dog,  I only had one though.

I got a chance to see 18-year-old Venezuelan outfielder Danry Vasquez for the first time and was impressed.  He jumps out as being a good player even if you're not looking for it.  I've heard mixed reviews about his fielding, but he looked smooth on the plays I saw and threw a bullet to second base to turn a fly out into a double play.  He can hit, but he is very skinny for his height (six-foot-three, 165-pounds) so he'll need to fill in a bit in order to hit for power.  He seems very energetic and alert, which is not the impression I get from every highly touted young prospect.   

Vasquez has a long way to go before he reaches even the high minors.  He struggled at low A West Michigan early in the year batting just .162 in 29 games.  However, he has done well at Connecticut posting a .323/.353/.413 line entering tonight's game.  He has just 16 walks in a little more than 300 plate appearances for the season, so he could stand to improve his patience.  On the positive side, he has struck out 48 times, which is not a high total for his age.  He'll be an interesting player to watch.  

Danry Vasquez batting for Connecticut Tigers (photo credit: Lee Panas)

Verlander Dominates Yankees

The only two Yankee runs scored after Verlander dropped a throw from first baseman Prince Fielder in the fifth allowing lead-off hitter Curtis Granderson to reach on what would have been the final out.  Two singles later, the Yankees had tied the game at two. 

The Tigers bounced right back with three runs in the bottom of the fifth which would be more than enough for Verlander.  The inning featured five consecutive singles including run scoring knocks by Jhonny Peralta, Omar Infante and Austin Jackson.  The Tigers added two more in the sixth on four straight singles.

The Tigers first two runs came on solo homers - a blast to right by Fielder in the second and a 454-foot bomb to center by Miguel Cabrera.  Cabrera now was 28 homers giving him a 42 home run pace for a full season.  If he keeps it up, it would be his first 40-homer season.

The story of the game though was Verlander's mastery of the Bronx Bombers.  He allowed 8 hits but just one walk and had at least one punch out every inning.   Perhaps most impressive was his three strikeouts of designated hitter Ichiro Suzuki.  While Suzuki is no longer a productive hitter at all, he is still a very difficult batter to strike out.  He came into the game with just 40 whiffs in 471 plate appearances and none in his last 52.   Verlander also retired Granderson and slugger Mark Teixeira three times on strikes. 

Verlander threw a career high 132 pitches which might be concerning to some fans.  He certainly did not appear tired at the end though as he retired the last three batters on strikes.  High pitch counts become more worrisome when a pitcher is constantly pitching under stress which did not appear to be the case tonight.  He has thrown 130 or more pitches twice in 120 plus pitches six times this year.  

The win puts the Tigers just one game in back of the first-place White Sox pending the outcome of their game with the Royals tonight.  Chicago currently leads that contest 4-2 going into the ninth.

Tigers Acquire Jeff Baker from Cubs

The Tigers have acquired utility man Jeff Baker from the Cubs in exchange for two players to be named later.  This move was announced shortly after the Tigers placed Ryan Raburn on the disabled list with a sprained right thumb. Prior to today's game, they recalled infielder Danny Worth for the fifth time this season.  Worth will likely be sent down to Toledo once again when Baker joins the team on Monday. 

The right-handed hitting Baker can play first, second third and both corner outfield spots.  So, that gives the Tigers the flexibility they lost when they designated Don Kelly for assignment on Friday.  As evidenced by his .269/.306/.448 batting line for the Cubs this year, Baker is a better hitter than Kelly. 

What makes Baker most useful to the Tigers is his right-handed bat and large lifetime platoon split: .869 OPS versus righties and .660 versus lefties.  With Quintin Berry, Brennan Boesch and Andy Dirks, they have three left-handed batting outfielders who could potentially need a platoon partner.  It seems logical that Baker and designated hitter Delmon Young who also has a large split versus lefties/righties (.822/.710) would play every day versus southpaws and seldom versus right handers. 

Andy Dirks Back, Don Kelly Out

The Tigers have reinstated outfielder Andy Dirks from the disabled list effective for tonight's game versus the Indians.  To make room, the Tigers have designated utility man Don Kelly for assignment.  The Tigers now have ten days to either place Kelly on Waivers, trade him or release him. 

The left-handed Kelly was batting just .175 with a .510 OPS in limited duty for the Tigers this year, so it's not a surprising move.  In four years with the Tigers, the versatile Kelly batted .234/.282/.353 while playing every position on the field.  That includes one game as a pitcher and one as a catcher.

There was some thought that Ryan Raburn might be the one to go when Dirks was ready, but the Tigers have apparently decided  that a right-handed batter is a better fit for them at the moment.  With outfielders Quintin Berry, Brennan Boesch and Dirks all being left handed, they have more of a need for a right-handed bat off the bench.

More important than who Dirks replaces on the roster is who he replaces in the line-up.  Tonight's line-up features Dirks in right field, Boesch at designated hitter and Delmon Young on the Bench.  Those are all the right moves.  They improve the team both offensively (Dirks over Young) and defensively (Dirks over Boesch).

With Dirks back on the team, there is no need for the right-handed hitting Young to face another right-handed starter.  Young has a career OPS of .822 versus lefties, but only .711 versus righties.  So, not only is Young out of the fifth spot, he has now lost a regular job.  That is probably the most significant outcome of today's move. 

Waiting for Andy Dirks

Because I was on vacation in Ontario and mostly away from the computer, this is my first post since last Monday's trade for second baseman Omar Infante and pitcher Anibal Sanchez.  The Tigers have not done well since the deal - two wins and six losses - so I picked a good time to not be paying as much attention to my favorite team. 

The one game I did see in full was on Sunday in person at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, a stadium which has been accused of lacking baseball character.  I agree with that assessment, but it's still a great place to watch a game.  It was very comfortable with big padded seats - at least the ones I was in which were pretty good but certainly not the most expensive in the park (second row of the first upper deck on the third base side).  The park seems well laid out with good views from most seats and it's very clean.  It helped that the Tigers decided to play well and won the game that day.

The primary problem with their recent play may be that they have stopped hitting again scoring just 2.8 runs per game in their last 8 contests.  It seems that any time sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder don't hit, the team is helpless due to a poor supporting cast.  At the center of their woes are designated hitter Delmon Young and right fielder Brennan Boesch who have slowed down again after showing brief signs of life.  I called two of Boesch's strikeous on Sunday.  My friend who does not know much about baseball asked me how I knew he would strikeout.  How did I know?

The acquisition of Infante was supposed to alleviate their offensive problem at second base.  So far, it hasn't.  His .491 OPS is even worse from what we were seeing from the combination of Ryan Raburn, Ramon Santiago and Danny Worth.  Infante should get better but right now they are back to where there were in the first half - no production from three positions - second base, right field and designated hitter.

More than anything the Tigers could use another right-handed hitter, preferably a corner outfielder or designated hitter.  They are currently unbalanced with a .762 OPS versus right handers and a .717 OPS versus left handers.  Young and Raburn have been little help and general manager Dave Dombrowski was unable to acquire another righty at the trading deadline.

What the Tigers should get pretty soon is another left handed bat in outfielder Andrew Dirks.  Still recovering from an achilles injury, Dirks is now rehabilitating at Triple-A Toledo.  He is batting just .182, but is working on his timing and should be back in the majors very soon. 

Dirks was batting a very healthy .328/.379/.515 before the injury boosting a team that was struggling offensively as they are again now.  Garret Craig of Motor City Bengals explains why we probably won't see Dirks hit at quite the same level when he returns.  Still, he will probably do better than his ..251/.296/.406 line of 2011.  At the very least, he should be a significant improvement - offensively and defensively - over Boesch, Raburn and Young.

Who will get removed from the twenty-five man roster when Dirks is brought back?  The prime Candidates include utility men Donny Kelly and Ryan Raburn.  Because he bats right handed, Raburn would have more of a role than the left-handed Kelly.  Raburn is not hitting, but neither is Kelly, so I'm guessing that Kelly would be the one to go.

More importantly, who loses at bats upon Dirks' return?  I'm going to predict (maybe it's more hope than prediction) that it's Young and, to a lesser extent, Boesch.  Manager Jim Leyland has stubbornly left Young in the fifth spot in the batting order all season against all kinds of pitchers.  While his .775 OPS versus southpaws justifies his position in the order, his .650 mark versus righties does not.

Leyland can not very well sit Quintin Berry versus right handers.  You can say that he's a slap hitter who strikes out too much and is bound to stop producing sooner or later.  And you'd probably be correct, but right now he's a solid contributor at the second spot in the line-up and needs to keep playing.

So, the only real choices for reduced playing team would be Boesch and Young.  If Dirks pick up where he left off before the injury the logical choice would be to let him play every day while platooning Boesch and Young.  Realistically, it won't be that easy and we'll see some kind of rotation of Boesch, Dirks and Young depending on matchups.  However, Boesch and Young will almost surely see less playing time though which will help the Tigers at the plate and in the field.