Pathetic 4-3 loss tonight but to stay focused on something positive, at least Montero had an excellent start tonight.
Who knew Montero would transform into an above-average starter? I thought perhaps his future was as a reliever, but he's making a strong case for being a starter now.
Back to the negative:
Still befuddled why Zack Short was brought back. He pathetically bunted into a pop-out in the top of the 9th after McKinstry led off with a double. If you're going to leave Short in to bat in that situation you might as well see if he can draw a walk. That's
the one thing he can do sort of well. Most modern hitters can't bunt and Hinch hates to bunt so why try it?
But why not pinch hit Colt Keith in that situation? Keith at least might have been able to move Keith to 3B, or punch a single through the infield. He has been decent this season at punching singles through the infield. Instead, Keith later pinch hit in
the 9th for Jahmai Jones with 2 runners on and 2 outs but popped out to end the threat. Carpenter also had an opportunity to drive in runs that inning as a pinch hitter but he hit a weak flyout to RF with McGonigle at 1B and McKinstry at 2B. Sigh.
But ultimately Short shouldn't be on the team to begin with.
Keith still only has 6 RBIs on the season and 0 homers. I think the Tigers are mis-managing Keith's development as a hitter. They treated him as a top-tier hitting prospect when they signed him to the extension, but he's been reduced to a platoon punch-and-judy
hitter and pinch hitter. I think that's bordering on negligent development.
McGonigle isn't getting many hits lately. He's still having some good at-bats and drawing some walks, but the hits aren't falling right now.
Remember, he is a rookie, and it's very possible he ends up with an OPS in the .700s and not .800+. We can't expect him to be a superstar right away.
Wenceel Perez had a couple of hits, including a double, but he still had crappy luck as Isbel robbed him of a 3rd hit on a diving catch in CF.
Perez also committed a bad 2-base error in the 8th that might have contributed to the Royals' 3rd run. Perez let a single get by him in RF that basically turned into a triple. Sigh.
McKinstry, as bad as he his, should just start at 2B against righties and lefties while Torres is out. Forget Lee, who needs more time in the minors.
Finnegan picked the wrong time to have a poor outing. His K/W ratio this season is 13/13 and his K rate is only 6 K/9 (lowest of his career) so he was perhaps due for a bad outing. There were warning signs with Finnegan.
Peter