Stoney's Blog: If I Had The Power To Fill Out Leyland's Lineup Card
We all know the feeling. It comes anytime during the week around 3:30 in the afternoon. It is about that time when you feel like running to the bathroom and losing the lunch you enjoyed earlier in the day. Yes it is at that time when word of the Tigers lineup filters to the masses. Like many of you I often wonder what is really in those Marlboro's that Jim Leyland smokes. From early in the season when his man love for Brandon Inge was over the top to now where he refuses to play Wilson Betemit every game, Leyland confounds all of us. To be fair, the lineup roulette is not the only reason for Tiger losses, it is just the most frustrating one. With that said if I was given the authority to make the lineup this is what it would look like on most nights.
WHEN FACING A RIGHTY
1. Andy Dirks RF
2. Brennan Boesch LF
3. Alex Avila C
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6 .Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Carlos Guillen 2B
8. Wilson Betemit 3B
9 Austin Jackson CF
WHEN FACING A LEFTY
1.Brennan Boesch LF
2,Ryan Raburn 2B
3.Jhonny Peralta SS
4.Miguel Cabrera 1B
5.Victor Martinez DH
6.Alex Avila C
7.Wilson Betamit 3B
8.Magglio Ordonez RF
9.Austin Jackson CF
Obviously the biggest thing that sticks out is the omission of Ordonez against righties and his placement of Jackson in the 9 hole. As much as I want to pull him from the lineup, his glove is too important. This is certainly not a cure-all solution, especially if they get performances like the one Porcello churned out in Cleveland Wednesday, but its a start.
