Detroit Tigers Links: J.D. Mart thrills, Anibal throws, Fields visits

J.D. Martinez’s Breakout Season – Owen Sanborn, Call to the Pen

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"Martinez has been a benefited greatly from hitting behind professional hitters such as Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. Not only do these great players offer great RBI opportunities, they have helped J.D. develop a better mental approach to hitting. Yogi Berra said it best, “90 percent of the game is half mental.”Over 108 games so far this season, Martinez is hitting .305/.347/.553 with 21 home runs and 69 runs batted in. More importantly, he appears to be more comfortable with the pitching he is facing at the major league level. His K/BB ratio (109/25) is still nothing to write home about, but he is making the most of the contact that he does make."

Believe it or not, Christmas is just around the corner and I hope every Tigers fan will be sending the Houston Astros a present to show our gratitude for J.D. Martinez, the gift that keeps on giving.

Anibal Sanchez could throw off mound early next week, remains optimistic – James Schmehl, MLive

"Sanchez didn’t complain of any soreness after he threw long toss from about 120 feet Saturday prior to the Tigers’ game against the Cleveland Indians.“I feel great,” Sanchez told reporters Saturday."

I think it is key that Sanchez returns to pitch in the regular season before a possible postseason outing, should the Tigers get there. Anibal pitched the best he’d pitched all season after returning from an earlier DL stint in May, however you don’t want to chance that, especially when there is little margin for error in a wild card game or ALDS.

OF prospect Daniel Fields visits Detroit Tigers, is eyeing 2015 – George Sipple, Detroit Free Press

"Fields was in 2013, hitting .284 with 10 home runs and 58 RBIs in 118 games in his first full season at Double-A Erie. But things didn’t go smoothly in 2014. After struggling early at Triple-A Toledo, he missed almost two months with a broken hand. Overall, he played in 85 minor league games this season. He batted .219 with 10 doubles, six home runs and 26 RBIs for the Mud Hens."

Fields will have a tough time breaking into a potential 2015 Detroit Tigers outfield that will could feature some combination of J.D. Mart, Andy Dirks, Rajai Davis, Tyler Collins, Steven Moya, and perhaps Devon Travis.