Detroit Tigers: Week 4 Heroes and Zeroes

May 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) looks on during batting practice prior to the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

#5 Zero: J.D. Martinez

We like to get the zeroes out of the way first in this column so we will start with J.D. Martinez.

There is no secret that J.D. Mart has struggled for the last couple weeks and has not been hitting for average for most of the season.

This has brought up the dreaded r-word, as in regression, or the one-year wonder worries for Detroit Tigers’ fans. All that talk is premature, especially considering when Martinez came up in late April last year it took him several weeks to come around and become the force he was for much of 2014. In other words, the guy is not immune from a slump here and there.

And slump he did last week, even getting a rare day off over the weekend in an attempt to get him back on track.

His slash line was .167/.200./.333, notching just four hits in 24 at-bats. Half of those hits were for extra bases (including a home run).

His struggles have been symbolic of most of the Tigers’ offense struggling since the first week and while J.D. find himself on the zero end of the list this week, he’s far from alone in his struggles.

Next: It's Not Easy Being Greene

Apr 29, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus walks to the mound as starting pitcher Shane Greene (61) leaves the game in the fifth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Zero: Shane Greene

What a pendulum swing for Shane Greene. From not allowing an earned run through 22 innings and posting a 0.39 ERA through three starts to allowing 15 runs in his last two outings, Greene’s season has been extremely bi-polar.

Though he started only one game this week, and his numbers were similar to that of Alfredo Simon‘s in his one start, Greene gets the nod in the tiebreaker because of his weak effort in his prior start.

Facing the Twins in the series finale on Wednesday, the Detroit Tigers’ offense was unusually potent, staking Greene to a lead in the fourth and tied it one inning later when their starter allowed three runs.

When Greene allowed a rare 2015 homer to Oswaldo Arcia, a three-run shot, it made the score 7-3 in favor of Minnesota, it seemed like the dagger for the Tigers. It would not be, however, as the Tigers’ bats came alive for a 10-7 win to save Shane from his second straight loss.

His line for that game was 4.1 innings pitched, allowing seven runs on nine hits. His command was still there, striking out eight and walking none, but when he threw a mistake pitch, the Twins were ready to jump on it.

Greene’s ERA has risen to 4.60, somewhat alarming when you consider how low it was just three games ago. He’ll get his next chance to right the ship Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox.

Next: The Ace Returns

May 2, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) celebrates an out against the Kansas City Royals in the ninth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Detroit won the game 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

#3 Hero: David Price

David Price found his way onto this list last week as a zero, but his rollercoaster year trended back up with a solid week for the lefty ace.

In two starts this week, Price was marvelous, going 15.1 innings, allowing four runs on 11 hits, striking out 10 and walking just two.

The Detroit Tigers staked Price to an early 4-0 lead and, after allowing a first inning run to the Twins, he sailed through the rest of the game last Monday. It was a very solid effort for Price who was coming off the disastrous 2+ inning start against the Yankees in which he allowed eight runs.

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Perhaps making his most important start of the season, Price went to the mound on Saturday looking to reverse his team’s fortunes against the Kansas City Royals.

There are never really any must-win games in May, and even if the Tigers were swept in Kansas City it wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, but just for psychological reasons (for fans) he threw his best game since Opening Day and became the first Tigers’ starter to go the distance this year.

He nearly earned a complete game shutout but shook off a two-out solo homer to close the game out and earn a 2-1 victory for his team. And that’s the David Price we expect to see every fifth day.

Next: Yo Yo

Apr 29, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) celebrates his run in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Detroit Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 10-7. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

#2 Hero: Yoenis Cespedes

With several regulars struggling in the lineup since the first week, Yoenis Cespedes had cooled off a bit but got right again last week.

Cespedes was seemingly all over the diamond for the Detroit Tigers last week, earning 10 hits in 28 at-bats with six extra base hits including a homer. He boasted an impressive slash line of .357/.357/.643 with an OPS of 1.000.

Yo also led the team with five runs scored.

Betsided

Because of his success amid J.D. Martinez’s struggles, some fans have called for Cespedes to move up in the lineup, possibly even to cleanup, pushing the Super Martinez Bros. down to #5 and #6.

Manager Brad Ausmus does not seem ready to make this switch, or any other major move for that matter, at this time.

Cespedes is batting .310, good for third on the team among players with qualifying at-bats, third on the team with four homers and second with 17 RBIs.

So it is clear that Yoenis Cespedes has come to play in his contract year and would do well in any spot in the Tigers’ lineup.

Next: Getting Miggy With It

May 3, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers first basemen Miguel Cabrera (24) singles against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Hero: Miguel Cabrera

Poor Miggy.

Could it be possible that we as fans demand too much from Miguel Cabrera? That he has set the bar so high that even good weeks do not warrant a mention among surprising weeks from other players?

Cabrera has been a victim in this column. While he has hit consistently well throughout the season’s first four weeks, this is the first time he landed in our list of heroes.

After being named the Detroit Tigers’ player of the month for April, he continued to mash the ball into May, hitting .333 with a 1.198 OPS. In 24 at-bats, #24 earned eight hits, including a double and three homers. He only struck out five times in those at-bats and walked five times as well.

His biggest hit of the week came in the sixth inning on Sunday. With the Tigers holding a 4-0 advantage, Cabrera launched a ball into one of the deeper recesses of Kauffman Stadium to make the game 6-0 and render a late KC surge meaningless.

Cabrera is beginning to hit the ball with more power than he had earlier this year and that should scare the pants off the rest of baseball.

Next: MCB Tiger Talk #7