MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Tigers were happy to leave the heat and the dust of Texas behind them and fly into the more favorable weather of the Land of the 10,000 Lakes.
The Tigers dropped two games out of three to the Texas Rangers losing the series and losing ground to the Chicago White Sox.
For Tigers’ right fielder Brennan Boesch getting out of Dallas and leaving the memory of the Rangers behind could not come fast enough for him.
Boesch came off of the bench and pinched hit Saturday night with a chance to win the game but he failed. A bright sunny Sunday afternoon, Boesch did not get a hit in three appearance instead he swung at three pitches and hit three ground balls.
In his first season as a Tiger, Boesch hit .365 when he put the first pitch in play but his success is failing at getting a hold of the first pitch he is now hitting the first pitch at a mighty .191 clip.
When a young outfielder is playing in Detroit, he is expected to play like a major league player, the fans expect perfection and are use to excellence in the outfield.
At one time, Boesch roamed right field with a reputation of possessing a cannon for an arm and possessed the ability to aim straight and gun down runners, now he fumbles and rumbles around balls that should be handled by a major league outfielder, even a good little leaguer can surround the ball.
Sunday afternoon’s error by Boesch in the third inning when he trying to field a ball rolling his way slipped by him opening the gate for the Rangers and closing the day for Tigers starting pitcher Rick Porcello.
Detroit Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland is looking for any answer to help Boesch.
“He’s struggling right now,” Leyland said after the Sunday’s game. “He gets mad when we talk about relaxing but he’s fighting himself. But I do not know what to do with him, to be honest with you.”
Detroit Tiger legend and Hall of Fame member, Al Kaline is on the road for the Tigers and he way down in the farm system to teach and mentor Tigers prize draft selection Nick Castellanos on how to play the outfield.
How great is that for Castellanos just to be able to ask and get the answers to his question about the outfield especially playing right field from Kaline.
“He’s going to be in the big league pretty soon,” Kaline said about Castellanos. “I’m not going to say this year or next year. But one thing I’ve noticed with him is that he listen well. Since I’ve been retired, I’ve found very few players ask questions. But he’s very inquisitive. What did I do wrong? What did I do right? I admire him for that.”
If Kaline is too busy down in Erie, Pennsylvania, maybe the Tigers’ could contact another outfielder. A local icon that played left field for the Tigers with the world championship team of 1968 and if he is not too busy perhaps Willie Horton could help and mentor Boesch.
If Boesch is having trouble, it is time for him to respect the game and himself and get the help that is available that will help Boesch but would also help the Detroit Tigers. Leyland and the Tigers’ General Dave Dombrowski would provide the help needed if Boesch asks them for any kind of help.
The help for Boesch is staring right back at him every time he looks at mirror.
