The Free Press recently ran an article grading Tiger players on their first half performances. It was laughably hometown biased and soft on the players. Here’s a more fair and balanced report.
Pudge Rodriguez, C
His batting average is up from last year, but the power numbers are non-existent. He still calls a solid game and his defense is well above average. He continues to strike out way too much and seems to step in the box behind in the count 0 and 2.
Carlos Guillen, B+
The Tigers only all star representative has endured 2 position changes and a bout with hemmoroids. He does what the Tigers ask, doesn’t complain and produces (Inge could learn a thing or 2 here). He’s been our most reliable and consistent performer for 4 years now. It’s good to see him rewarded as an all star.
Edgar Renteria, D-
How we gave up Jair Jurrjens for this guy is beyond me. His range is terrible, his batting average is sub-par and his power is non-existent (he has not had an extra base hit in 200+ at bats). Hopefully Ramon Santiago will get his playing time in the second half. Edgar has been a waste.
Placido Polanco, B+
Placido has been his usual solid self. As long as he’s healthy we should be able to expect more of the same. High batting and on base percentage and above average fielding.
Miguel Cabrera, B
After a bit of a rough start, Miguel has really come on of late. He too has endured a position change (although this one was brought on by his own failings). He seems to have a flair for the dramatic, with 2 walk off home runs under his belt already, as well as a walk off double.
Marcus Thames, A
The only A awarded, it’s hard to deny what Marcus has accomplished in minimal playing time this year. He leads the team in home runs despite having roughly half the at bats. This is especially fun for those of us who have been fans of Marcus for years.
Curtis Granderson, C
It’s hard to fault a player for an injury, but having Curtis out for the first month+ of the season really contributed to the team’s slow start. It’s a bit frustrating that he’s not greatly improved upon the issues that have plagued his 3+ seasons in the majors (hitting lefties, strikeouts and stolen bases).
Magglio Ordonez, B
As expected, his numbers are down a bit from his incredible 07. He got hurt at a really unfortunate time, just as we started to play our best baseball.
Brandon Inge, D
His offensive numbers are terrible, he got hurt pillow fighting with his son, and the constant drama that he brought on during spring training set the whole team back. If he’d shut up and catch his grade would be higher. He finally seems willing to do just that.
Ramon Santiago, B
He was a pleasent suprise early in the year. Hopefully he can stay healthy and take some time away from Edgar Renteria in the second half.
Gary Sheffield, F
What a mess of injuries and underperformance this guy has been. Only one way to go from here, right Sheff?
Mud Hen help, B+
It’s hard to imagine where we’d be without the contributions of Clete Thomas, Matt Joyce, Brett Cleven, etc. That statement is probably as much a testament to the dissapoint of the everyday players as anything. But still, Thomas and Joyce have been especially tough.
Justin Verlander, C-
He’s come on strong of late, but his struggles at the begining of the season were ridiculous for a “staff ace.” He helped to dig the hole, at least now he’s helping to dig out.
Nate Robertson, D
Chalk it up, when Nate’s pitching you can nearly guarantee 4-5 earned runs in 6-7 innings. The only question is whether or not the offense can keep up.
Jeremy Bonderman, I (incomplete)
Damn, have we had some key injuries this year or what? Bondo was pitching pretty well before he got hurt, although his inability to develop a changeup after 4 years of trying is getting a bit cliche.
Armando Galarraga, A
OK, I lied. One more A on the report card. Galarraga has been a god send. I figured he’d fade by now, but he continues to give one great start after another.
Dontrell Willis, F
I hear he’s trying to change his signature delivery. Whatever.
Kenny Rogers, C
The Roaster was cooking up stinkers for most of the early season. He’s been better lately. We’ll see which direction the second half takes.
Freddy Dolsi, B+
Dolsi could fit in the category of surprising Mud Hens. He’s been fantastic and his stuff seems legit.
Joel Zumaya, C
He was hurt, now he’s back. He still has great stuff, although I feel a lot less confident when he’s on the mound then I did back in 06.
Todd Jones, C
He’s been really rocky lately. This guy has to be on the way out, doesn’t he?
Fernando Rodney, D
Another season, another injury. Not sure how a guy can miss 3+ months with tendonitis. When he’s on he’s tough. Problem is, you never know what you are going to get.
Bobby Seay/Casey Fossum/Aquilion Lopez, C
Lopez has been pretty good at times. Fossum has been very bad at times. Seay has been all over the map.
DetTigers, B+
Talk about inconsistent. DetTigers will post some of the most thought provoking and influential posts on the net, but they just seem to come rather inconsistently. 2 or 3 one day, a week without a post another. It’s almost like you have a job or something, DetTigers. Work to a more consistent pace and you’ll see this coach give you the third “A” on this list!
Actually Granderson has dramatically improved his numbers against left handers. Jones is his usual self, 17 saves 19 chances, one of the blown saves came on an error and an UNearned run. How can you give Rogers a C and Verlander a C-. Is it Verlander’s fault that 7 out of the 9 loses his offense scored 3 runs or less, and 5 out of 9 they were blanked, he deserves a little better.
Thanks for the response, i think their grades have to be measured against expectations and not in a vacuum. Verlander is a C- because he is supposed to be an ace. A 7-9 record and 4.15 ERA is not ace like. Regarding the Rogers/Verlander comparison, their numbers are actually pretty close. Both have ERAs over 4 and comparable WHIPs. Both have pitched better lately.
Granderson has improved against lefties, but dramatically? his BA, OBP, SLG and OPS are all considerably lower against lefties. Better yes, but for a leadoff hitter and star like Granderson, there is still room for improvement. And how can you explain 6 stolen bases, and 4 caught stealing? Upon further review, i think the C grade is dead on.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes the T Jones grade may be a bit low.
Bottom line, the Tigers are .500 at the break. Is this what we expected at the begining of the year? You can nit pick here and there, but for the most part I’ll stand behind the grades.
I agree with almost every rating except I would put Granderson at a B-. The previous comment about being better vs. lefties this season is definitely true, but he still chokes at the plate when the pressures on (usually by striking out). I would give him a slightly higher grade though, just for his defense, period. I would also put Jones and Rodney at C- and I would give Lopez a B-.
Oh and I think Joyce should have his own rating and not have to be in a grouping. He deserves better than that. I would give him a B, mainly because of that error the other night… which I still kind of blame Jones for..
Other than that, good stuff.
Hey, these are good solid ratings. That bloody Jones makes me so uncomfortable. I am really impressed that the Tigers have been able to throw in the Mud Hen boys and get good solid contributions. Sheff has disappointed me, but my man Marcus has really been a bright spot. JV threw really well the other night, hopefully a sign that he is ready for the second half of play. We gotta have him. There is no room for error now. Go Tigers!
Why does Willis get an F and Bonderman an I? Shouldn’t both be the same?
i don’t think so. bonderman pitched fairly well before he got hurt. can’t say the same about willis.
Alright, then Bonderman should be graded on that basis, right? I.e. B- or so.
Does anyone want to predict a grade for Kyle Farnsworth for the rest of the season? He’s not real happy about coming back to the D, I predict a grade of C-.
*Oh, and someone asked where I found this blog on another thread, and I don’t remember… but whenever I found it I bookmarked it!
I would question a couple of your grades… Granderson is much better than C. Announcers have said Leyland has not given him green light to steal bases this year, so he’s down 20 less. He’s hitting close to .300 and fielding is great, what more can he do. Thames with an A is way too high. Hits’em long, but plays left field like an adventure. Leyland did not give Grilli much of a chance and what rest of bull pen has accomplished, his 3.61 era would grade to atleast a B. Maybe some coaches need to look in the mirror.