Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Tuiasosopo never played regularly in the major leagues, but his early year or so success has earned him the possibility to significantly increase his playing time frame.
This season, Tuiasosopo is used in left field and first base. But with Andy Dirks struggling for the primary left fielder, it truly is time that Tigers manager Jim Leyland pencils Tuiasosopo's name within the starting lineup.
Dirks has struggled terribly this year and hasn't been in a position to contribute anything at this plate. In 81 at-bats, Dirks should be hitting. 235 with several home runs and several runs batted in.
This is because of the fact that Dirks is solely hitting. 236 when facing right-handed pitchers after being so excellent last season against them.
In 2012, Dirks possessed hit. 336 against righties in addition to helped the Tigers feel confident about making her their primary left fielder around 2013. Yet if Dirks can't show a significant improvement, then the advantage of him being in that lineup is nullified.
Opposed to this of equation, and which has a much smaller sample size, Tuiasosopo is batting. 343 in 35 at-bats and contains impressive power that Dirks isn't capable of producing. He's only had two home runs up to now, but in spring training he had four home runs as well.
While Tuiasosopo has solely batted. 202 in 228 at-bats with his major league occupation, some hitters develop later inside their careers and his potential power is sufficient for the Tigers to allow him a greater opportunity.
Tuiasosopo may drop off with his batting average, but Dirks isn't issuing the Tigers much today and Leyland needs to help you ride the hot baseball bat.
With one swing of the bat on May 9, Tuiasosopo changed the dynamic for the game against the Houston Nationals by hitting some pinch-hit three-run home run in a very 5-4 Tigers loss. Previous to that home run, the Tigers were having limited success for the plate and this gave the Tigers an opportunity to pull out the acquire.
Then again, most Tigers fans realize that once prospect Nick Castellanos is usually ready to contribute for the Tigers for a full-time basis, then Tuiasosopo and Dirks should have their at-bats reduced significantly and potentially quite possibly their roster spots. However, Castellanos is currently unable at Triple-A and Tuiasosopo might fill the void temporarily in positioned field until Castellanos is ready with the major leagues.
With the Tigers going all out within their bid to win their first World Series due to the fact 1984, management and the coaching staff ought to gamble and take possibilities. Even with Dirks' frosty bat, he is considered a safe choice here—which is not the kind of choice they need to earn.
Tuiasosopo is the old card and he represents a low-risk, high-reward gamble for ones Tigers. Besides, if Tuiasosopo fails out, then the Tigers always have options.
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