Patti Engineering Insight

Offense: The offense performed better in the 4th inning than the previous anemic 3rd inning. 29 homeruns are the most in an inning in the 2.5 years I have been doing this analysis. Cabrera and Inge continue to be the most consistent hitters on the team. Thames has been thumping since coming off the DL. Granderson is hitting with nice power, but needs to get on base more if he is going to bat leadoff. Polanco had a nice performance in the 4th inning after being way under his career numbers the first third of the season. Kelly and Raburn have provided a nice platoon and Santiago and Everett are doing very well as a SS combination.

Magglio was benched as he has continued to perform way under his career numbers. Gerald Laird has struggled offensively all year and Dusty Ryan was called up to improve on the .068 batting average (NOT a misprint!) of the backup catchers. Clete Thomas was sent to Toledo to work with Hitting Coach Leon “Bull” Durham. Josh Anderson is fast, but appears to have few other major league talents. Porcello’s 2 hits helped the pitchers hit a collective .182.

The Tigers are a combined 36-18 in the 4th innings of the last three years, so they seem to usually play well this time of the year. How will they perform in August and September? That is the question. They are 23-11 at home and presently hold a 5-game lead in the division. They play 41 out of 75 post all-star games at home, so the schedule is favorable. If Magglio can get straightened out, they can find one more effective starter, and the backend of the bullpen throws strikes, October will be pretty fun at the COPA.

Offense: The offense which was on a pace to score over 900 runs at the end of the second inning are now pacing right around 800. That would put them right around where they were in 2006 and 2008 (they scored 887 runs in 2007). Miguel Cabrera is still raking but a pulled hammy has to have the Tigers concerned as they cannot afford to lose his bat for an extended period of time. Granderson and Inge are having solid season. Magglio is getting on base, but has still not found his extra base power. Raburn contributed nicely when given a chance to play as he was limited by the fact that by my count the Tigers faced only one left handed starter in the third inning. Wilkin Ramirez took advantage of his one game introduction to the Major Leagues to contribute a key homerun in the Tigers win on May 20th.

You do have to be concerned that the league seems to be catching up to some of the inexperienced lefties (Larish, Thomas, and Anderson). Gerald Laird is playing great defense in his first full season as a solid #1 catcher, but is not hitting as well as he did in Texas. The shortstop combo of Santiago and Everett came back to earth in the third inning as they had been hitting way over their heads. Polanco is hitting 50 points below his career batting average a third of the way through the season. Dane Sardinha is in the major leagues for one reason only and that reason is not his bat (he has a great defensive reputation)

The Tigers are by no means a great team. As I see it they battle Texas, Toronto, LAA for the mantle of 4th best team in the American League (behind TB, Bos, and NYY). They do look like the best team in their division and presently hold a 2.5 game lead at the 1/3 point of the season. You have to be encouraged with the starting pitching and the defense but I hesitate to crown them a clear cut favorites based on their past August and September struggles. I will judge Leyland based on his team performs in those months.