Even Dillon Dingler's horrible slump probably won't stop him from securing Tigers Silver Slugger

Though he started to show some signs of life toward the end, August wasn't kind to Tigers breakout Dillon Dingler this month. He hit .173 with a .518 OPS last month, down from .286/.843 in July. He hasn't had a extra-base hit since Aug. 16, or a multi-hit game since Aug. 6.

But let's zoom out a little. Entering Tuesday's game, Dingler was hitting .248 with a .781 OPS, 26 homers, and 82 RBI on this season. He's still one of the most valuable pieces in the Tigers' lineup. His entire body of work hints that he could be turning into the kind of slugging catcher the Tigers haven't seen since the 1980s and early 90s, with Lance Parrish and Mickey Tettleton.

Parrish, Tettleton, and Matt Nokes basically dominated Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger Award voting for catchers from the award's inception to 1992. Only two have won since: Pudge Rodriguez and Alex Avila.

Dingler could very well be the next, especially if he can break out of this August swoon and have a productive September. There may be a few other American League catchers who could mount an argument, but their chances seem distant.

Dillon Dingler should top Shea Langeliers, Carter Jensen for Silver Slugger this year

The Athletics' Shea Langeliers and Royals' Carter Jensen arguably have the two best cases behind Dingler. Langeliers is trailing Dingler by just three home runs and has a higher OPS (.829), but he's been on the IL since late July, underwent surgery on a torn meniscus, and only just began a hitting and throwing progression.

Jensen has played in two more games than Dingler and has had a productive rookie season, which included a franchise-high 20-game hitting streak, but Dingler has logged more innings behind the plate.

He still tops both in RBI ... by a lot. His 82 aren't just a team best, they lead catchers across both leagues. They're the 13th-most of any major league hitter.

If that isn't an argument for Dingler to take home a Silver Slugger easily, it's hard to see what is. Of course, having a September that's almost as bad as his August has been would hurt his case, but it's hard to see how either of the distant seconds catch up with him in just a month.

Dingler has been going through it, but it's clear that the guy is exhausted. If he can just find a second wind and finish the year strong, it's all but locked up.

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