If you were driving back from a weekend in Ohio on Sunday, you may have been stuck in extra traffic between the Toledo-to-Detroit leg. Of course, the Tigers have not had THAT many individuals making the trip between AAA and the majors, but you get the point. For a team that is doing as well as the Tigers have through nearly the first quarter of the season, it is incredible to think what a major impact the minor league call-ups have had for the team.
Danny Worth and Armando Galarraga were the latest duo to create some magic on the Comerica Park diamond. Worth replaces the highly heralded second baseman Scott Sizemore in the lineup, while Galarraga replaces right-hander Max Scherzer in the rotation. The rotation has been a great worry for Jim Leyland’s squad, and the question of Dontrelle Willis may have to come to the forefront if he struggles again in his next start or two.
Sizemore’s defense, however, was not too much of a concern for Tigers brass. What troubled Dombrowski and Co. was the bat that struggled more than it soared.
For a team that is looking for that fine mix of consistent pitching with solid hitting, the Tigers must get the feeling that the Red Sox and Yankees series’ could be more of a fluke than the reality. The 5-2 record in those recent games were good to see, and it will be interesting to see if things continue when they take on the White Sox this week. This team is gaining confidence, and that is very dangerous for a team that was reeling following a sweep in Minnesota. The battle for the AL Central is sure to make many twists and turns before Game 162.