Jeff Riger: Why It Was The Right Move To Pull Ordonez
Even before I leave Comerica Park, I know what I will hear on the radio and from Tiger fans after the Royals 11-8 win on Thursday afternoon. People will be upset that Jim Leyland decided to yank Magglio Ordonez out of the game in the 6th after the Tigers went up 8-6, and I hear ya. Maggs, to that point, had hit 2 doubles and a two run homer and seemed, at least for the day, that "Singlelio" had got his power back. But it was absolutely the right move!
Detroit had fought back from a 2-0 and 6-3 deficit throughout the game and when Ordonez was pulled, the Tigers needed just 9 outs to win the series against the Royals. Leyland had decided to leave Ryan Perry on the mound to start the 7th inning (which to me is a more legitimate beef then pulling Magglio) and then Phil Coke was forced to come in after Perry gave up a Melky Cabera double and recorded an out. Coke, who has been spectacular in his last 12 innings allowing no runs and holding the opposition to a .182 batting average was hit around. The former starter did not retire a batter and gave up 2 hits for 3 runs including a walk to Eric Hosmer who was the first batter that he faced before he was pulled. Kansas City ended up scoring four runs in that inning and led Detroit 10-8. The Royals would score another in the 8th to make it 11-8 and Detroit could never come back.
So what does Coke and the 7th inning have to do with Leyland replacing Magglio?
Well, I was getting to that. Ordonez is not a fast man and when the Tigers fought back to take an 8-6 lead there was no reason to leave Maggs in. The former batting champion had struck out in the 6th but got to first due to a wild pitch. At that point, a quicker pinch runner in Don Kelly seemed to be the right move considering he would have a chance to score on a single and definitely on a double, something you can not say about Maggs. Also Kelly is a better outfielder then Ordonez, so the move to me seemed like a no brainer. Also Magglio would have only gotten up one more time in the game, where as Kelly needed to try to help Detroit obtain three solid defensive innings.
As much as people love to bash Leyland, you can't for this move. What do you think? Should he have left Magglio in?
