SEATTLE (AP) -Jim Leyland spent most of his off-day holed up in his Seattle hotel room trying to solve the riddle that is his fourth place Detroit Tigers.
Leyland’s answer: significant changes, the biggest being with pitcher Dontrelle Willis.
Leyland said after Friday night’s game that Willis will start for the Tigers on Tuesday in Oakland, with right-hander Armando Galarraga following Willis after about four innings.
It’s a chance to get Willis some action, since he has only pitched once since coming off the disabled list May 21. Leyland has no clue how this plan will work, and said it wasn’t pressure from the front-office that’s pushing this idea.
“I’ve got to try and get Dontrelle going,” Leyland said. “He’s not taking Galarraga’s place as we speak. I’m just trying to figure out a way to get him out there, get him going.”
Galarraga has been one of Detroit’s pleasant surprises, going 4-2 with a 3.44 ERA in eight starts this season. The Tigers are 6-2 overall in games the young right-hander has started.
But the Tigers are invested heavily in Willis, who started two games in April before going on the disabled list with a hyperextended right knee.
“In my heart, I believe I have to make some attempt to get this guy going,” Leyland said.
Some other tinkering Leyland made was already evident on Friday.
Marcus Thames is Detroit’s every day left fielder for now, following on his two home run performance on Wednesday against the Angels. Thames hit fifth in the Tigers’ batting order on Friday night, dropping Miguel Cabrera to sixth for the first time this season. Cabrera had hit in the five-spot in 51 of 52 games before Friday.
“At some point, track records have to do something too, or you look for someone else to play,” Leyland said. “You’ve got to play guys who are going to give you your best shot.”
The Tigers have been a surprising disappointment in the AL Central, now eight games under .500 after Friday night’s 7-4 win.
Along with his new plans, Leyland is also anticipating the return of a pair of relievers in the future. Fernando Rodney (right shoulder tendinitis) is expected to start a rehab assignment at Triple-A Toledo soon, and closer Joel Zumaya (right shoulder surgery) may be headed to Single-A Lakeland.
Leyland added that his changes weren’t sparked by how far back the Tigers are of Chicago, or that the season is now two months old.
“When you’re a manager and stuff isn’t working, you’ve got to make some changes,” he said. “If you don’t, you’re not doing your job.”
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