Nope. We don't have anyone better. Does it matter anyways? It's like complaining that Kirk Maltby shouldn't be playing on the '09 Red Wings. They're averaging close to 6 runs per game right now, and Kelly was batting in the 9 hole anyways, so he would see the least at bats in a game and have the least amount of high leverage situations.
Why play 3 outfielders? Let's just shade Hunter and Jackson in the power alleys and stick an extra infielder behind second base as a rover, softball-style.
So thrilled at how well Hunter has fit in with this team...he and Jackson are tremendous together. All you need is any of the next 3 guys to hit well each night and get solid pitching and you're almost a sure thing to take 2 of every 3 game series.
Yeah, it's not a huge deal right now. A bigger deal is Martinez and Avila rounding into form. I'm not real worried about Martinez, figure he has a lot of rust to work off, but he'll get there. I don't like that they apparently asked Avila to hit more homers. I think it was at SB Nation that I read that Avila flyball rate is now way up from his career norm, and I wonder if we're just going to see more long fly outs rather than sharply hit singles and doubles.
Martinez has been making a lot of contact with the ball. Avila is what makes me nervous. He really needs to get it going. He takes a way too cautious approach at the plate, which shows in his team leading 15 Ks. He needs to make more contact with the ball.
He's got such a long swing its not surprising. He's fine at the 7 or 8 spot though.
I didn't like last night's lineup with Kelly (or whoever would be) batting 9th. I'd rather Infante always bat 9th, even if that meant 4 straight right-handed batters.
Extra innings in baseball put me to sleep. They should follow in suit of the NHL and add a shootout style gimmick to end games.
Rapid fire home run derby?
That'd be unfair for a team like the Tigers who have Miggy and Prince.
but they lead the AL in batting average, and are 2nd in OBP so I'll take the trade off.
Am I reading that right? 9 runs in the first inning?
Tigers just got Joyced on a force out at 2nd. Should have had runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs in the 9th. Infante beat the throw by 3 feet.