Detroit Tigers Links: Ian Kinsler should leadoff, VerHagen hits DL, International Tigers & Gibby

Ian Kinsler Is Still A Better Leadoff Option For Detroit Tigers Than Austin Jackson – Brad Faber, Rant Sports

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"Ever since Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus decided to move Austin Jackson back to the leadoff spot, his bat has seemingly perked up. Jackson is slashing an impressive .357/.403/.571 in the month of July, raising his line on the season to a much healthier .266/.328/.400. The only problem, however, is that putting Jackson back at the leadoff spot has bumped Ian Kinsler down to the two-hole, where he has not been nearly as effective this season. Kinsler is slashing an eye-popping .332/.363/.500 in the leadoff spot, compared to just .260/.291/.409 in the two-hole."

Brad Ausmus accomplished his goal of jump-starting Austin Jackson by entering him into the leadoff spot, but sent Ian Kinsler into a slump by moving him down to #2. Look, I think the whole “who hits where” arguments are tiring, however I think it matters for certain spots. I have never been upset that Miguel Cabrera hits third instead of fourth, but I do care when strikeout prone hitters such as Alex Avila and Andrew Romine hit back-to-back. I also care who is at number 1. While you can’t argue that it has helped Jackson, we’ve seen him streaky here and lower in the lineup. More often than not, when October hits, Jackson disappears regardless of his slot.

Tigers’ Drew VerHagen, back with Toledo, goes on DL with lower back strain – Lynn Henning, Detroit News

"The Tigers are not concerned that VerHagen, 23, and a right-hander who was charged with Saturday’s loss against Cleveland, will be sidelined for an extended period."

Could this hurt VerHagen’s trade value with the deadline rapidly approaching?

Detroit Tigers need to step up their international game – Matt Pelc, MCB special to the Detroit Free Press

"The Detroit Tigers have never really added an impact player of Tanaka’s caliber in the new age of the international market. Players such as Tanaka, Yu Darvish, Yoenis Cespedes and Jose Abreu have all had success in other professional leagues and each is entering the prime of their career.If the Tigers wish to remain one of baseball’s elite teams in 2015 and beyond, they need to retool on the fly. With a farm system ranked near the bottom of baseball, the best way to do that is by becoming aggressive internationally, not for a score of middle-tier players, but by landing an impact player in his prime."

One international signing that figures to hurt the Tigers now and for many years into the future is Jose Abreu with the Chicago White Sox. I, for one, am not looking forward to playing him 9-10 times annually at the bandbox that is U.S. Cellular for the next decade.

Kirk Gibson holds no ill will toward Detroit Tigers, recalls incident with ex-owner Tom Monaghan – James Schmehl, MLive

"“The biggest conflict I had with the Tigers, really, was when Tom Monaghan said I was a disgrace to the Tigers’ uniform,” Gibson said. “I wasn’t a disgrace to the uniform, but I was crazy.”"

I was really young when Gibby left the Tigers the first time in 1988, but I remember being happy for some reason. I guess I was a 10-year old happy to see a malcontent leave Detroit, believing everything that was told to me in the newspapers about Gibson’s clubhouse persona. The Tigers, coming off a divisional title the year prior, missed his fiery attitude and failed to make the postseason for the next 18 years. Be careful what you wish for, I suppose.

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