Lineup Chaos: Detroit Tigers

Entering the season, the Tigers were supposed to have one of the top offenses in baseball. Led by Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen, Curtis Granderson, and others; the Tigers seemed loaded up and down the lineup.

But so far this season, the Tigers offense has been very inconsistent. Magglio Ordonez has struggled at the plate, Carlos Guillen and Marcus Thames are hurt, and Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco have struggled to get on base consistently. As a result, the Tigers offense has been merely average so far and Manager Jim Leyland finally decided that it was time to switch things up.

His solution:

1. have Clete Thomas, a career minor leaguer and a guy who is hitting just .236 in AAA, hit third after being called up to the majors just a few days prior.

I kid you not.

Hitters
C Granderson CF
P Polanco 2B
C Thomas RF
M Cabrera 1B
M Ordonez DH
G Laird C
B Inge 3B
R Raburn LF
A Everett SS

I'm sorry folks, but I really don't understand this move at all. Leyland is obviously trying to spark his club by having Thomas, a gritty and fast player, hit third in the lineup. But it's obvious that Thomas has no business hitting anywhere in the middle of the lineup. the third spot is normally reserved for the best hitter on the team, and even with the Tigers struggles, Clete Thomas is nowhere close to being one of the Tigers best hitters. There is very little upside in having Thomas bat third.

I doubt this lineup will last. There is no logical reasoning why it should. I think a more rational approach would be to have Granderson hit third and perhaps have Thomas lead off. A fast player like Thomas would be better off leading off, while Granderson would be a very good fit hitting in front of the incredible Miguel Cabrera.