Detroit Tigers Links: J.D. Martinez the next Jose Bautista, Ease off Miggy & Dan Dickerson hammers ESPN

Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

Could Detroit Tigers’ J.D. Martinez Be The Next Jose Bautista? – Brad Faber, Rant Sports

"It is interesting to compare Martinez to Bautista as they are both powerful right-handed swingers who showed promising power potential in the minor leagues but were slow to show it against MLB pitching. Although Bautista eventually found success at the big-league level, it remains to be seen whether or not Martinez can follow suit. There is, however, some evidence that suggests that Martinez is capable of doing so.Many believe that Bautista’s power simply came out of nowhere in 2010, but it is very important to note that he did in fact have a season in the minor leagues back in 2005 where he hit 24 home runs and drove in 94 runs. Likewise, Martinez had a season in the minors back in 2010 where he batted .341 and hit 18 home runs with 89 RBIs. He was certainly on pace to hit an incredible amount of homers this season in Toledo as well."

If I had to answer the question poised in that headline in one word, I’d have to choose “no.” Bautista was something exceedingly rare, something that only comes around every 10 years or so. Of course, it is possible because I’m sure no one expected Bautista to become the force he has become.  While it’s been a while, the Tigers once had a zero become a hero seemingly overnight. When Cecil Fielder signed with the Tigers after the 1989 season, which he spent in Japan, it was an afterthought. His career high in homers was 14 in 1987. Of course, he went on to have 51, 44, 35, 30, 28, 31 homers in his full season in Detroit from 1990 to 1995 (he had 28 homers before being traded to the New York Yankees mid-year 1996).

So who knows, right?

In midst of deep slump, Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera deserves benefit of doubt – James Schmehl, MLive

"After deflecting a half-dozen questions specific to his early-season slump, it became abundantly clear Cabrera wasn’t going to crack, and the press quickly dispersed. Cabrera, however, remained in his seat — head in hands, alone with his thoughts.It marked the second straight day Cabrera offered little or no comment about his rough start to the season, which has seen him hit a dismal .206 in the Tigers’ first 16 games. It’s the lowest his average has dipped in his first 60 at-bats of any season in 12 years.Still, Cabrera had reason to be encouraged Monday. In his first at-bat, he barreled the ball up and drove Danks’ cutter to the deepest part of the ballpark for a 370-foot out.In the third inning, he took Danks to a 3-0 count before ripping a four-seamer to deep right field, an estimated 365-foot shot, which Dayan Viciedo caught at the warning track.“That guy is killing the ball,” outfielder Torii Hunter said. “Any other ballpark, that might be a homer.”"

Is it too early to pronounce “Miggy’s back” after his four RBI performance with a single, double, homer, and another deep fly to the right field warning track on Tuesday night? Maybe, but we all know Miggy goes on tears and he is definitely overdue for a tear.

Dan Dickerson schooled ESPN on Twitter, and it was awesome – HookSlide, Bless You Boys

"Last Wednesday, Jim Bowden of ESPN Insider published a list of “Top 10 big-game pitchers in MLB,” with Clayton Kershaw taking top honors, and Justin Verlander coming in at the number-nine slot. The “Voice of Tigers Baseball,” Dan Dickerson, took ESPN to task via Twitter today, citing multiple statistics to support his case that Verlander belongs at the top of that list."

Our friends at Bless You Boys lists all of the tweets of Dan’s rant, and it’s pretty glorious.