Detroit Tigers Links: “Mock”ing Tigers draft pick, offense concerns, missing Jose & possible trade deadline deal

Oct 17, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias (1) runs to third base against the Boston Red Sox during the seventh inning in game five of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

MLB mock draft: Detroit Tigers select outfielder Derek Hill, according to ESPN’s Keith Law – Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press

"In the Detroit Tigers’ case, they don’t often go with a position player in the first round. But ESPN’s Keith Law, in his MLB mock draft 3.0, has them going with outfielder Derek Hill out of Elk Grove (Calif.) High School with the No. 23 overall pick.“I’ve heard them strongly with Hill, who would be an unusual (but very good) pick for a team that rarely takes prep bats this high — just twice in the first round in the past 20 drafts (Cameron Maybin in 2005 and Scott Moore in 2002),” Law writes."

Dave Dombrowski’s approach has always been to draft pitching high in the draft betting that the raw talent of pitchers available is better than hitters. Cameron Maybin has never panned out (unless you consider he was one of the pieces that brought Miguel Cabrera to Detroit) and Scott WHO? Perhaps they should stick to pitching…

Detroit Tigers’ offense is biggest concern right now – Jamie Samuelsen, Detroit Free Press

"ISSUE — The fifth through ninth spots in the order (8): To say that the Tigers are top-heavy right now would be an understatement. The 5-9 holes in the order are hitting a combined .236 right now with 18 homers and 106 RBIs. Worse yet, the combined on-base percentage is a paltry .276. Not only are they not bringing home Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez ahead of them, they’re also not getting on base so that the top part of the order can cycle them around. We knew that the Tigers lineup would have some holes. But we also should have realized that the track records of guys like Austin Jackson, Rajai Davis, Andrew Romine and Alex Avila simply couldn’t be ignored. Some of those players got off to hot starts, but have cooled considerably over the past week as the Tigers have."

7-8-9 are usually weak spots for any major league lineup, but the usual five and six guys like Jackson, Hunter, Avila, Castellanos all need to be more patient at the place. How many times does each swing on the first pitch and if they don’t fly out or bounce out weakly, they’re already in an 0-1 hole, likely (judging from their stats) on the way to a strikeout?

Detroit Tigers: why Jose Iglesias means so much – Joe White, ISportsWeb

"I honestly wouldn’t expect Iglesias to hit much better than .240 or so if he is able to make it back to Detroit this summer. But .240 sounds like a mini jackpot compared to what has gone on in his absence. He slugged .386 and sported a .349 on-base % a season ago in time split between Boston and Detroit. Combine that with his upper crust defensive ability and the Tigers would essentially be adding Iglesias to their roster for the 2nd consecutive season in anticipation of a deep playoff run without the hassle of having to trade away some of the team’s few viable minor league pieces."

Iglesias hasn’t been officially ruled out for the season. He will be reevaluated sometime in August with the goal of a possible September return. This scenario, however, reminds me a bit of 2012 when the team did not completely rule out a return from Victor Martinez in August or September. That year the Tigers struggled for most of the regular season and that had fans dreaming of the day V-Mart would return. It didn’t even come close to happening as Martinez was officially ruled out for the rest of 2012 in July. Sadly, I have a feeling the same thing will happen with Jose.

Will Detroit Tigers make move at trade deadline? Should Austin Jackson move down lineup? – James Schmehl, MLive

"— I highly doubt Boston will be willing to part with Nava given the recent injury to Mike Carp. The Red Sox are only 6 1/2 games out of first place in the East, and there are rumblings that they plan on being buyers, not sellers, at the non-waiver trade deadline.Personally, I don’t think the Tigers have any intention of addressing their outfield spots in July. They like J.D. Martinez‘s power off the bench and they’re happy with Rajai Davis in left field. Plus, Andy Dirks is expected to arrive later this season — likely after the All-Star break — and outfielders Ezequiel Carrera and Tyler Collins are available in Toledo, if needed. The Tigers are set in the outfield."

I don’t see the Tigers being major players at the trading deadline. I think they’ll hope that the expected June or July arrivals of Dirks and Joel Hanrahan will be like a pair of trading deadline additions without having to give anyone up.