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Leyland's Handling Of Ordonez Pays Off For Entire Outfield

One of Jim Leyland's strengths as a manager is that he gets a lot out of his players.

His handling of Magglio Ordonez gives some insight as to how he does it.

Ordonez was signed between seasons for $10 million after Detroit turned down his $15 million option, which failed to vest because he broke his right ankle late last July.

While the medical community signed off on Detroit's signing of Ordonez, his ankle did not. It plagued him in spring training and continued to bother him until the Tigers put him on the disabled list to give him a chance to strengthen it.

Leyland got tired of not knowing from day to day whether Ordonez's ankle was going to let him play or not.

The manager had to walk a tight and narrow line when Ordonez returned from a rehab assignment.

Production would decide when and how much Ordonez would play, Leyland said.

So Leyland picked when and how often Ordonez was in the lineup. If he showed signs of struggling, he was given a day off. With a group of talented outfielders, Leyland could afford to rest Ordonez with little drop to the team's offense.

Ordonez wasn't handed his spot, but he was given the opportunity to earn it back and played judiciously to minimize the wear and tear on his ankle and yet given enough at-bats to hone his timing. In addition, as soon as Leyland gets a chance to run in a late-game pinch-hitter, pinch-runner or defensive replacement, the manager does it.

It benefits the outfielders who would not play much were Ordonez in the lineup every day, and it benefits Ordonez because he gets the playing time he needs to stay sharp enough to contribute.

Ordonez ripped a two-run home run in the first to start Detroit on its way to a 6-4 win over Kansas City and the Tigers' second straight over the Royals. He also walked and singled before being removed for defensive purposes.

Early in his return from the disabled list Ordonez was not hitting fastballs thrown above 93 mph on a consistent basis. Now he's beginning to as he responds to more and more playing time.

Leyland has done a good job handling what could be a ticklish situation with Ordonez, Casper Wells and Andy Dirks all competing for essentially one lineup spot. Brennan Boesch and Austin Jackson gobble the bulk of the playing time in left and center, respectively.

The three might not be happy they aren't regulars. But they're happy to at least be playing some of the time and the manager has a lot to do with that.

Copyright (C) 2011 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

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