Detroit Tigers Links: V-Mart channels Tram, Romine Mr. September, Avila out another day

Victor Martinez’s move to clean up mirrors Alan Trammell’s – Matt Pelc, MCB Special to the Detroit Free Press

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"More than 27 years ago, Detroit Tigers’ Hall-of-Fame manager Sparky Anderson asked his star player, Alan Trammell, to do something he was unfamiliar with: bat clean-up. At the time, spring training 1987, fans and media members likely questioned the move by Sparky. Trammell was not known for his power to that point, usually notching homers in the mid-teens throughout the first nine years of his career. Advancing into the 20-plus home run plateau for the first time in 1986 (21), Anderson recognized that Trammell could hit for power just as much as for average. The results paid dividends as Trammell posted his best season of what should be a Hall-of-Fame career. He had career highs in average (.343), home runs (28), RBIs (105) and OPS (.953). Fast forward to spring training 2014 when rookie manager Brad Ausmus installed Victor Martinez as the team’s everyday cleanup hitter."

Much like Trammell in 1987, V-Mart is having an MVP-caliber season.

Detroit Tigers’ Andrew Romine Performing Well in Return to Increased Role – Brad Faber, Rant Sports

"In early June, Worth was designated for assignment and Romine’s playing time was drastically reduced when the club called up middle infield prospect Eugenio Suarez. The young Suarez immediately proved to be an upgrade offensively, posting a healthy .265 batting average with three home runs and a .774 OPS in the first half. As of late, however, Suarez has made a few mistakes in the field, and his bat has also cooled off a bit, hitting just .233 with one home run in the second half."

We had a poll last week on the Motor City Bengals Twitter page asking who do fans want as their 2015 starting shortstop, Jose Iglesias or Eugenio Suarez. It was unanimous for Iggy, though there would likely would have been a few votes for Suarez when he first came up. It just shows you how far he’s fallen if Romine has taken over the full-time duties.

Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila out of action after symptoms return during workout – Chris Iott, MLive

"“Alex did some baseball activity today and felt a little bit lightheaded, so he’s going to be off,” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. “He’ll continue to be day-to-day until we get through a day where he does activity and doesn’t have any side effects from that activity.”Ausmus wouldn’t fully rule out the idea of Avila returning Wednesday for the series finale against the Minnesota Twins, but that seems unlikely based on the requirement that he get through a full day that involves a workout without symptoms."

No need to rush, let him rest a couple more days and into the off-day on Thursday before hitting Kansas City. The Tigers will need the full lineup in last head-to-head series of the season with the second-place Royals.

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