The Tigers and Boesch

Brennan Boesch exploded onto the scene for the Tigers in April of 2010, becoming an offensive force as a rookie with tremendous power.  Power that he still has.  He finished the second half off terrible and rebounded in 2011 before an injury and then this past year he had his worst year yet, falling out of favor.  Now look, I don’t think Boesch is a starter, but I know that even if he is inconsistent he could help the Tigers a lot from the bench.  He may have only hit 12 homers last year, but that number is bound to go up.  I know players such as Chase Headley who have increased their power.  Now I know  Boesch is no Chase Headley but he has power like him.  If the Tigers do trade Boesch, they’ll be getting a bunch of low grade, low level prospects and for a guy like Boesch, a guy who could possibly help out the Tigers like he did just two short years ago that’s not enough.  To just let him go isn’t smart either. I’d hold onto him at least through Spring Training and see how it goes with him.  If he can tweak his swing some, he could be a decent fourth or fifth outfielder and I think he’s waiting to help the Tigers out in 2013 and he could surprise you.  Boesch has a brighter future ahead if himself than 2012 no matter what and he will get off to a fast start somewhere if given the chance.  So, if the Tigers do trade him, they should ask for at least one half way decent prospect who has a shot.  Boesch has been a special talent I’ve watch move up in the system with his power  His defense may not be there but if he improves just a little, I can see him going on to be a great player who can play a few different roles.

What’s Happening With the Tigers?

• Brennan Boesch and Jhonny Peralta are hitting now and if they keep up and hit for some more power the Tigers are in luck and with Avila coming back and getting hotter and Dirks getting closer to continuing a great season, that should carry on, the offense looks a whole lot better
• Doug Fister is better than Drew Smyly, who needs to come back strong, so getting him back will be big.  Scherzer has to keep some more control and the Tigers pitching is pretty good, I wouldn’t worry about them right now.
• The bullpen is good and everything has clicked, just not all at the same time, and at some point pretty soon it will all start to click.
• Trade Candidates that make sense for Detroit this early are: Matt Garza, Ryan Dempster, Johnathan Broxton and Carlos Quinten
• Quintin Berry will be a very good reserve outfielder for the rest of the season and the Tigers need the speed off of the bench
• Matt Young should stick with Detroit until the end of interleague play at least, he can be helpful in these games
• This is a very talented team and I expect good things from here and beyond
• Brennan Boesch is 13-26 since June 7th not including tonight’s 0-5 and Peralta is 14-39 since June 2nd

Tigers Offseason Need List

A little late but here we go…
Needs: (In Order)

1. Starter
2. Second Baseman
3. Reliever
4. Third Baseman
5. Corner Outfielder

FAs To Target (In Order)

1. 3B Aramis Ramirez
2. SP Mark Buehrle
3. 2B Kelly Johnson
4. OF Josh Willingham
5. OF Coco Crisp
6. RP Octavio Dotel
7. RP Chad Qualls
8. RP Michael Wuertz
9. RP Mike Gonzlaez
10. SP Ted Lilly

Trade Options

1. 3B Chase Headley
2. 2B Orlando Hudson
3. RP Ramon Ramirez

Untouchables: Jaocb Turner, Nick Castellanos, Casey Crosby, Drew Smyly, Bruce Rondon, Rob Brantly
Touchable: Andrew Oliver (High numbers, sell while you can because I smell bust but could be an okay MLB pitcher)
Bullet Points

• Tender Delmon Young a contract, look what he did, sure he has his cons but he’s proven he can be a big offensive force and some of the other things the Tigers could get by signing a second or third baseman that offers those stats
• Do not trade Rick Porcello or Brennan Boesch.  Boesch looks as if he could be a good starter and Porcello can still live up to every bit of his potential and will have a great career
• If Magglio Ordonez stays on the market give him a look, but don’t do that with Carlos Guillen
• Wilson Betemit is a toss-up, he’s a good option but there is better so maybe if you can;t get any better because he could do well at 3B and give the Tigers more production there than Kelly or Inge likely
• Keep Brando Inge, he will be more productive this year

Can The Tigers Survive Without Magglio Ordonez?

Yes they can but it’s a very tough blow and it will be hard to deal with, the Tigers can still win though.  Raburn is in left for Delmon Young this series which isn’t bad since Raburn kills the Rangers.  For Magglio’s replacement we will get to see Andy Dirks, a guy who fits in the two or seven hole and a guy who should hit both lefties and righties.  Dirks is a obvoius upgrade on defense and he may just surprise everybody and do what Maggs had been doing on offense lately.  His hitting won’t be as good likely but it will be good.  Losing Ordonez will be tough on the Tiger but I can still see them having an offensive outbreak and possibly winning the AL championship and World Series.  This injury on;ly makes it a little less likely they do and just a little.  Clete Thomas may replace him on the roster and if he does Clete may get a couple hits and make a contribution or two but nothing more.  Kelly may also see more playing time and I can see him hitting .280-ish in it.  Delmon young may be reinstated which is the best situation because you can pinch hit him in key situations for the next few games and he may get to start the last few games of the series.  Guillen getting reinstated for this series isn’t a bad move either, at this point I’d stick him out in left field and move Raburn to right for the first six innings and then put Kelly or Dirks in.  The last option is pure speculation but if Boesch could comeback and start and then Young in the World Series this team would barely miss a beat.  It seems likely that Dirks will start or Kelly will start and Thomas or Young ar reinstated, if Young is he probably won’t be ready to start right away like I said so he’s a good pinch hitter until he can, better than Thomas.  Dirks may breakout and losing Ordonez and Young makes this team on a little bit worse and if Young comes back at all the Tigers are in shape.  So yes, the Tigers can survive without Ordonez.

Tigers Line-ups

THE BEST: That’s what Leyland is putting out today but a close second would be

1. CF Jackson
2. LF Young
3. SS Peralta
4. 1B Cabrera
5. DH Martinez
6. C Avila
7. RF Boesch/Ordonez
8. 3B Betemit
9. 2B Raburn

Simply put the best line-up for the Tigers right now is the one where their best hitters get to bat the most and this is how I’d rank the guys

1. Cabrera
2. Martinez
3. Peralta
4. Avila
5. Young
6. Boesch

Jackson and Dirks are the only two who can hit leadoff and one of these guys would be good in the bottom along with Raburn and Betemit so the line-up can be feared all the way around.  Another way to spice the line=up is to start Don Kelly less, he hasn’t done much on offense lately.  Ordonez and Raburn could really show up soon too.

Best line-up with Maggs and Young hitting third

1. CF Jackson/Dirks
2. RF Ordonez
3. LF Young
4. 1B Cabrera
5. DH Martinez
6. C Avila
7. SS Peralta
8. RF Ordonez
9. 3B Betemit

Let’s also face this, Boesch is the Tigers two hitter and though he may not be the best two hitter he will give you something and actually show up in this year’s second half.  Ordonez could hit there too and if Raburn heats up, he’s okay there every once in a while.  Avila and Peralta may need to move up too they can’t miss the ball right now and with Young they could alternate.   This is a good group of players that can win even in a mismatched line-up.

A’s Acquire Scott Sizemore From Tigers for David Purcey

• The A’s got another second baseman and a decent one too.  I think he can start hitting in the MLB and in Oakland, you just have to stick with him.  With some more time he will get to hitting, he’s only played in a small parts of two seasons and his minor league numbers are more reliable to what he is.  He is a pretty good defender at second but needs work at third.  He will get better and by the end of the year he should be in the MLB again doing ok and showing some pop.  The A’s are now absolutly set at second and third and now they will get a lot out of Sizemore, who can still fully live up to his abilities and I think he will.
• The Tigers got David Purcey who will do some work out of the bullpen for now and I like him but he might now be as good as his last 10 games suggest but he still has ability and could even do better than he’s doing now and become a big part of the team.  He should keep a lower ERA for now, especially pitching at Comerica.  He may be built for the park and have success all year and beyond but he might struggle a little bit too.  Just expect him to be one of the Tigers better relievers for now and eventually develop into more.  I expect Will Rhymes to come up soon and start hitting the way he did last year, he should have a better career than Sizemore too.
• Ryan Perry has been sent down, which is okay because he needs some work but as soon as they can he needs to be back up with the club, Adam Wilk might not last or someone else and once he gets it going again he can start to dominate.  I expect Oliver to stick a lot longer this time too.  Danny Worth was called up and he should provide a little offense and a ton of glove until Rhymes can come back up.  Raburn is now the starting second baseman which means for now Boesch and Wells should play more and all three ould start to do a lot better.

Is Scott Sizemore an Everyday Option Now?, Tigers Line-Up, Boesch’s Power

• I think he couldn’t do better so far and he will be hot for a while.  I think you could see him doing what he did last September all year.  He’s a decent hitter and he will be a really good hitter.  If Rhymes improves him and Sizemore would make a great platoon.  Sizemore will always be an above average big leaguer and do a good job.  He can hit second but he should also be big at the bottom of the order in some games.  Sizemore will have a lot better season this year and just do a great job all around.  He will step up and is a legit option.
• I like the batting order tonight but Ordonez should move back up pretty soon because when he does good he will do his best in that spot.  Boesch’s numbers will get better third and he will be slightly more productive.  Martinez is fine and will rack up RBIs.  It will be a good line-up for now.
• Brennan Boesch may not have as much power as last year but soon he will breakout and hit a lot of homers, but for now he will keep it up and when his power breaks out his average will go down a bit.
• Al Albuquerque is going to be a great late innings power pitcher, this year.  He’s a great talent.

How good can Casper Wells do?

This season he will be a good fourth outfielder with a lot of power who will hit decent.  His average will probably be at .270 or .275 when the season ends but when he gets hot he could get it up to .300.  In the future he could be even better but this year he should be a great back-up for the Tigers and could get close to 10 homers along with stealing a few bases.  His tools could carry him farther than most people think and even though he won’t always hit as good as he did last year he can go on streaks like that a lot.  This year he could see a lot of playing time in left field and if he gets he will take advantage on both defense and offense and he should help the Tigers a lot this season.  I see him as being a great platoon guy anywhere in the outfield someday but he could do even better.  This year he will do pretty good and do his role very good.  His numbers should look very nice at the end of the season.   I could see both him and Boesch excelling in their roles which will the Tigers a ton even though Wells isn’t quite as good as Boesch.

How good can Brennan Boesch do?

I think he’s good but not an all-star or a .300 hitter.  Once he gets steady again he should hit 20 to 25 homers and 70-75 RBIs a year and hit .275 at best.  he will go on a lot of hot streaks and cold streaks like last year but he belongs in the majors and in 2011 he will be a good fourth outfielder.  He won’t have a big crash again this year and should have a ton of power as his biggest contribution.  he will be decent in the outfield and productive.  he will get off to a big start again and if he does good the Tigers have an even better chance at the playoffs.  I think he will be decent and this year he will have a good year but nto as good as last year.  Boesch is going to have a way better first half again but he won’t tail off that bad in the second half.  His average will fall a bit in the second half but his power won’t fade that much.  I think he will be just above average this year and beyond.  GOOD SEASON?: Mostly

Should Celte Thomas make the Tigers?

ANALYSIS: He’s coming off of surgery and he still is one of the better defenders in the system but I don’t see him hitting over .250 and I think there are better options.  Thomas could be .250-5-40 at best but he probably won’t get there.  If he does make the roster, when he plays should bat him eighth or last because he won’t do that much this year.  He could have a better year in 2012 but he’s coming off of an injury and he won’t hit very well no matter what.  i think he should play in AAA and if he earns it get called up and play twice a week.  He could do some good things for the Tigers but I just don’t think he will make the cut.
HERE’S HOW I SEE IT: I think Boesch, Wells and Kelly are all better.  Kelly is more versatile and he can hit at times and Wells and Boesch could mash at times and will always be better than Thomas.  I think the back-ups should be Boesch, Kelly and Wells coming out of Spring Training and Thomas should start the season in AA.   He could be productive in 2011, but not that much.