Carlos Guillen has been placed on the 15 day disabled list with a sore shoulder and Jeff Larish and Clete Thomas have been recalled from Toledo. Clay Rapada was optioned to Toledo. Jim Leyland also has a crazy new line-up tonight:
Josh Anderson LF
Placido Polanco 2B
Clete Thomas RF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Curtis Granderson CF
Magglio Ordonez DH
Brandon Inge 3B
Gerald Laird C
Ramon Santiago SS
I don't know if this is a one night deal designed to spark the offense or whether it will be line-up during Guillen's absence. It's certainly a strong defensive unit but the order does not make a lot of sense to me. As Billfer points out, Curtis Granderson batting fifth behind Miguel Cabrera puts one of the fastest runners in back of one of the slowest in Cabrera. It also means fewer at bats for Curtis. If Leyland had to move him out of the leadoff spot, why not have him bat third ? instead of Clete Thomas? Thomas was batting just .236 at AAA this year.
I don't know if Anderson will get on base enough to be good leadoff hitter but he currently has a hot bat so I'm not surprised they are trying him there. Ordonez moving down to the sixth spot makes sense given his early season slump. This is something that Leyland never would have done in the past.
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It's certainly working tonight!
ReplyDeleteYup, Leyland is a genius tonight. :-)
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