PITTSBURGH -- You might hear the Detroit Tigers employing the phrase “going big” or “hitting big,” and despite what their offensive stats might suggest, that is not what they are trying to do.
The Tigers are trying to avoid the temptation to muscle up at the plate and swing for the fences. Rather, their approach to at-bats lately seems to be much more focused on discipline and getting on base.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia talked about it after Wednesday’s game -- though he smacked a grand slam in the sixth inning, ironically. He insisted he was simply looking to hit it over the shortstop’s head.
Slugger Miguel Cabrera has referred to it, too, telling MLB.com’s Jason Beck recently: "We're looking to focus when they come in with some guy who throws hard. We don't get big. We fight the at-bat."
This seems to be a particular point of emphasis, especially against some of the hard-throwing pitchers the Tigers have faced early in the season, guys such as Miami’s Jose Fernandez and Pittsburgh’s Arquimedes Caminero, pitchers against whom the Tigers have had success this season.
The idea is to trust the process and the person behind you. Try to get on base and have faith that others will do the same. Keep chipping away. Let the pitchers provide the power.
So far, the strategy has yielded results.
Entering Thursday's game, a 7-4 win over the Pirates, the Tigers led the majors in batting average at .296, ranked third in OPS at .842, and were fourth in runs per game, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
“A lot of times when guys try to hit home runs and kill the ball, so to speak, you get a little bit long and hard throwers can throw the ball by you; you end up getting jammed,” manager Brad Ausmus explained. “And I think there’s more of an approach of if you shorten your swing, get on base and let the next guy in the order do his job as well, keep moving the line, that it probably works as a unit better that way than trying to swing from your heels trying to hit home runs 1 through 9.”
Cabrera might be the best example of this approach, and he sets the tone for the rest of the team, Saltalamacchia said.
“You see Miggy, and here’s a Triple Crown winner hitting singles [and trying to get on base],” he said.
J.D. Martinez’s plate discipline and offensive production have also stood out lately.
The 28-year-old outfielder, who led the team with 38 home runs last year and entered Thursday’s game with a team-best .500 OBP, saw his seven-game hitting streak end on Thursday. But he worked two walks, including his second inning-extending two-out walk in as many games, and he drove in Ian Kinsler with a sacrifice fly.
