TIGER GRADES: V MARTINEZ SUPER; LOW MARKS FOR VERLANDER, GM - George Sipple (Detroit Free Press) The Detroit Tigers won a fourth straight American League Central Division title this season. But the season came to a quick end after being swept in three games by the Baltimore Orioles in the American League Division Series. The Tigers did not draw more than 3 million to Comerica Park. It was, by almost any measure, a less successful season by their recent standards. These Tigers were under the microscope since the start of spring training. Anything short of winning the World Series was going to seem like a disappointment. Given the clubs late-season struggles to win another division title and the playoff sweep, it might suggest the window to win a World Series might have closed. Heres a look at how everyone currently on the 40-man roster fared this season. Grades are for the entire season, including the playoffs. Some on the 40-man roster did not play enough, or in some cases at all, to merit more than an incomplete grade. Pitchers Al Alburquerque: B-plus Appeared in a team-high 72 games in the regular season. Then, inexplicably, didnt pitch in the playoffs. In the second half, he had a 1.93 ERA with a 1.11 WHIP and 25 strikeouts in 231/3 innings. Joba Chamberlain: C He had a great first half — 2.63 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 372/3 innings. Things fell apart in the second half with a 4.97 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. It got worse in the playoffs — a 108.0 ERA and 9.00 WHIP. Phil Coke: C He was 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP. Much better in the second half of the season — 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 242/3 innings. Allowed a walk, a hit and a run in 1/3 of an inning in the playoffs. Buck Farmer: Inc. Hadnt pitched above Double-A before a no-decision in his major league debut against the Pirates in August. He got pounded against the Twins in his next start. Joel Hanrahan: Inc. Has there ever been more ink wasted on a guy who never threw a pitch for the Tigers? Blaine Hardy: C-plus Solid first season for the 27-year-old. Had a 2.54 ERA and a 1.385 WHIP with 31 strikeouts in 39 innings over 38 games. Seemed to wear down over his final nine games and was left off the playoff roster. Jim Johnson: D Tigers took a shot on the former closer for the Orioles. Had a 6.92 ERA in 16 games with 14 strikeouts in 13 innings. Ian Krol: C-minus Had a 2.33 ERA over his first 27 games before things unraveled. Gave up 11 runs over 92/3 innings in 15 games in June and July. Demoted to Triple-A and wasnt recalled when the roster expanded in September. Kyle Lobstein: C-plus Pitched better in first stint in the majors than he did at Triple-A. Allowed two runs or fewer in four of six starts for the Tigers. The Tigers won four of the seven games he pitched in. Made the playoff roster. Pat McCoy: Inc. Another one who made his major league debut in 2014. Had 3.86 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 14 innings. Melvin Mercedes: Inc. Made major league debut in August and had two strikeouts in two scoreless innings. Joe Nathan: C-minus Gave up 21 earned runs over his first 292/3 innings, then gave up 10 earned runs over the final 281/3 innings in the regular season. The Tigers won 15 of the final 16 games he appeared in, and he finished with 35 saves. Rick Porcello: A His ERA (3.43) and WHIP (1.231) were the lowest in his six seasons. Also set career highs for wins (15) and innings (2042/3). Would have been worthy of an All-Star spot after going 12-5 with a 3.39 ERA in the first half. David Price: C-plus He was 4-4 in 11 starts for the Tigers with 82 strikeouts in 772/3 innings. Had a one-hit eight-inning shutout over the Rays in August and won each of his last two regular-season starts. Luke Putkonen: Inc. Pitched in two games this season. Had arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in his right elbow in June. Robbie Ray: C-minus Key piece of the deal that sent Doug Fister to the Nationals. Ray made his major league debut and went 1-4 with an 8.16 ERA in nine games for the Tigers, including six starts. Gave up 10 runs over final 31/3 innings. Evan Reed: C-minus Tough season personally and professionally. He had a 3.57 ERA over first 20 games for the Tigers. Sent to Triple-A before being recalled in the second half. Didnt make the playoff roster. George Sipple: Shake-up in Detroit Tigers bullpen should include Joakim Soria as closer Bruce Rondon: Inc. Sidelined the whole season with a torn ligament in his right elbow. Kyle Ryan: Inc. Another pitcher who made his major league debut this season. Went 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in six games for the Tigers. Anibal Sanchez: B-minus Dealt with injuries, including a torn pectoral muscle in August. Went 8-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 126 innings. Fans will spend the off-season convinced that Sanchez should have pitched more in the playoffs. Max Scherzer: A Followed up Cy Young season by setting highs for strikeouts (252) and innings (2201/3). Went 18-5 with a 3.15 ERA. Improved his curveball. Whether he has pitched his final game for the Tigers remains to be seen. Chad Smith: C-minus Made his major league debut this season and appeared in 10 games. Had a 5.40 ERA with nine strikeouts in 112/3 innings. Joakim Soria: C-minus Struggled in his first couple of appearances and then suffered an oblique injury. Didnt allow a run in his final six regular-season appearances, then gave up five runs in two postseason appearances. Jose Valdez: Inc. Had 18 saves and a 4.11 ERA with 66 strikeouts in 57 innings at Double-A Erie. Drew VerHagen: Inc. Made major league debut in a spot start in July but went on the disabled list with a stress fracture in his lower back. Justin Verlander: C-minus After a dismal first half — 8-8, 4.88 ERA, 1.457 WHIP — he made a mechanics overhaul and saw improvement (7-4, 3.97 ERA, 1.299 WHIP). Went 3-1 with a 3.89 ERA and a 1.154 WHIP in September before the ALDS. Catchers Alex Avila: C-plus His value is measured more by what he does behind the plate. Caught-stealing percentage was 36%, up from 17% in 2013. Multiple concussions over the past month are alarming. Bryan Holaday: C-minus Appeared in 62 games as the backup. Batted .182 in 27 games in the second half after batting .278 in 35 games in the first half. James McCann: Inc. Made his major league debut and batted .250 in nine games. Seems like he should have been called up a lot sooner than he was after batting .295 in first season at Triple-A. Infielders 1B Miguel Cabrera: A-minus An off-year for the two-time AL MVP meant leading the league with 52 doubles and batting .313 with 25 home runs and 109 RBIs. Batted .364 with a home run in the ALDS. 3B Nick Castellanos: C-plus Needs to improve defensively. Was often replaced late in games. Had a solid first full season in the majors. Batted .259 with 31 doubles, 11 home runs and 66 RBIs. Batted .100 with one home run in the ALDS. SS Jose Iglesias: Inc. Was supposed to be the everyday shortstop but missed 2014 with a bilateral tibial stress fractures. Will be interesting to see what he can do in spring training and whether he can make it through a full season. U Don Kelly: C-plus Once again showed value in his versatility, playing all three outfield positions, as well as first, second and third. Batted .245 in 95 games. Played in two ALDS games, starting Game 3 in center and reaching base twice. 2B Ian Kinsler: B-plus Solid in the field and played every game. Hit .275 with 40 doubles, 17 home runs and 92 RBIs with 15 stolen bases. Struggled in the second half, batting .239. Went 1-for-12 (.083) in the ALDS. U Hernan Perez: Inc. After playing in 34 games in 2013, he saw action in eight games in 2014. Batted .287 in 133 games at Triple-A Toledo. Made playoff roster and went 0-for-2, including grounding into a double play to end Game 3. SS Andrew Romine: C Romine batted .217 in 52 games in the first half and .241 in 42 games in the second half, including .298 in September. Got the bulk of the playing time late because of his defense. Batted .182 in the ALDS. SS Eugenio Suarez: C Batted .242 with nine doubles, four home runs and 23 RBIs in his first season in the majors. The bulk of his playing time came in June-August. Made the playoff roster and went 0-for-1. Outfielders Ezequiel Carrera: C-minus Batted .261 with 12 runs and seven stolen bases in 45 games this season. Appeared in three postseason games and had one walk and one stolen base. Tyler Collins: Inc. Made his debut this season and batted .250 in 18 games. Seemed much more comfortable when he returned in September. Probably should have been on the postseason roster. Rajai Davis: B-minus Became a key contributor for the Tigers in left and center. Batted .282 with 27 doubles, eight home runs and 51 RBIs with 36 steals. Probably shouldnt have played in the postseason with injury. Andy Dirks: Inc. Missed the entire season, first with back surgery, then his rehab efforts were continuously interrupted by various setbacks, including a hamstring injury. Daniel Fields: Inc. Struggled early in the season before suffering a broken hand. Batted .219 in 75 games for Triple-A Toledo. Making up for the lost at-bats by playing in the Arizona Fall League. Torii Hunter: B-minus Not as good defensively as he once was, but didnt show signs of slowing down at the plate. Batted .200 in the ALDS in what may have been his last chance to win a World Series. J.D. Martinez: A Hard to imagine that the Astros couldnt have used a player like Martinez. Batted .315 with 30 doubles, 23 home runs and 76 RBIs in 123 games. Hit two home runs with five RBIs in ALDS. Steven Moya: Inc. Hit .375 in 11 games in September after dominating Double-A Erie with 33 doubles, 35 home runs and 105 RBIs in 133 games. Designated hitter Victor Martinez: A-plus Made a case for a DH being the MVP of the American League. Stronger than ever after missing 2012 with a knee injury, Martinez hit a career-high 32 home runs and led the AL with a .974 OPS and a .409 OBP. Will be a big hole to fill behind Miguel Cabrera in the batting order if he doesnt return. Coaching staff Brad Ausmus: C-minus The Tigers won the division for the fourth straight year, but struggled down the stretch and didnt clinch until the final day of the regular season. Call it stubborn or loyal, he could have made changes to the back end of the bullpen but refused. Its hard to fathom how a team with three Cy Young winners could be swept in three games in the ALDS by the Orioles. Nothing short of a World Series was going to satisfy expectations, and the Tigers fell way short. Front office Dave Dombrowski: D-plus Give Dombrowski credit for transforming the team after trading Prince Fielder for Ian Kinsler in the off-season. Picking up J.D. Martinez, Rajai Davis and others is a credit to assistant GM Al Avila and the scouts. Of course, not everything worked out peachy. The Doug Fister trade proved to be a disaster for what Detroit got in return. While attempts to improve the bullpen were made — taking a chance on Joel Hanrahan and trading two key prospects in the farm system to acquire Joakim Soria — those moves didnt help. The bullpens performance was one of the biggest reasons for the teams collapse.
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 16:56:05 +0000
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