(Best E Casino) - Of all the things that have gone wrong for the
Detroit Tigers this season, hitting was not supposed to be one of them.
But as the team tries to regroup following a series sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics, manager Jim Leyland is trying to make sense of how his lineup could go so cold.
"If this club, up to this point, had hit like it was expected to, we'd be close to being in first place," Leyland told the Detroit Free Press. "We score one run, two runs. If this club was doing anything near what it's supposed to be doing offensively, we'd be in third place and not very far out of first."
As it stands, Detroit is a season-worst 11 games below .500, leading the last- place Kansas City Royals by just a game. The Tigers are also 8 1/2 games off the pace in the division.
They finished the month of May with a 10-17 record, and the start of June doesn't look so promising. Earlier in the season, it was the starting pitching that was struggling big time. Now, it's the bats. But, as Leyland put it, struggling really isn't the word.
"Everybody we face can't be Sandy Koufax," Leyland said in the Press. "Our offense basically has stunk. We look like we're swinging underwater. Some guys look like they're lost, like they don't know what they're doing."
That shouldn't be the case with a mostly veteran club. Not with a team made up largely of guys who had molded winning into their DNA over the last two seasons. But the standings don't lie.
In Wednesday's 10-2 loss to Oakland, the Tigers managed just four hits. It was the 23rd time this season the team has failed to score more than three runs in a game. And the Tigers weren't any more aggressive during Tuesday's 5-4 loss, in which both teams combined for 22 walks.
"Twenty-two walks in a Major League game is a disgrace," Leyland said, noting the Tigers accounted for 12 of those free passes. "It's very confusing, to be honest with you... Sometimes, it almost appears like we're sitting around, waiting to get beat."
WILLIS' RETURN CREATES LOGJAM IN ROTATION
When Dontrelle Willis came off the disabled list a couple weeks ago, his first action came out of the bullpen, something the southpaw hadn't done since the 2003 World Series. He got the nod to start Tuesday's game, pitching four innings of shutout ball. On the plus side, he allowed only two hits. On the negative side, he issued five walks, which is something that plagued Willis earlier in the season.
"I think you try to continue to work on the positive and not the negative," Leyland said, referring to how Willis was able to work out of the jams he created. "I'm just saying I thought there some signs of good hope there. I don't know how it's going to play out, but there were some signs."
While Willis was on the shelf, Armando Galarraga was called up and performed better than expected, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.76 ERA. Leyland has not yet announced who will get the nod Monday against Cleveland when that spot in the rotation comes up again.
ZUMAYA, RODNEY TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
For the Tigers, anticipating the return of relievers Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya has been like a season in itself. On Tuesday, both began their respective rehab assignments.
Of the two, Rodney is further along, and was sent to Triple-A Toledo to begin his rehab. He is said to be making progress from a recurring bout of tendinitis in his right shoulder.
Zumaya, meanwhile, breezed through two scoreless innings for Class-A Lakeland on Tuesday, allowing only one hit. Perhaps more importantly, he topped out at 101 mph according to the stadium radar gun. According to Leyland, the team is hopeful both can return sometime this month.
WHO'S HOT
At least two Tigers hitters are deserving of All-Star consideration at this point. Over the past month, Magglio Ordonez is hitting .340, while Placido Polanco is batting at a .323 clip.
Also, reliever Zach Miner has a 1.26 ERA in his last 10 appearances.
WHO'S NOT
While Curtis Granderson did manage to pelt a solo home run in Monday's 3-2 loss, the leadoff man is still trying to get his timing down at the plate. He is hitting just .245 on the season.
A LOOK AHEAD
It will be the battle of underachievers when the Indians come to town on Friday. Justin Verlander (2-8, 5.16) will square off with Paul Byrd (2-5, 4.66) in the opener. On Saturday, it will be Kenny Rogers (4-4, 5.54) against Aaron Laffey (3-3, 3.02). Jeremy Bonderman (3-4, 4.29) gets the nod against Jeremy Sowers (0-0, 5.23) on Sunday. Leyland will likely decide in the next day or two who will take the hill on Monday.
