Everyday players
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Miguel Cabrera - A - he's one of the best players in baseball, putting up his usual big numbers.
Jhonny Peralta - A - he's giving them everything they wanted when they moved him to shortstop, earning an All-Star nod.
Brandon Inge - F - Sorry Brandon. I like you. You're a class guy, a hustle player, and been a Tiger for more than 10 years. But .190 with 1 home run and 14 RBI is staggeringly bad. I expect a low average but I figured 12-15 homers and 50-60 RBI would be reasonable for the season. But the power seems to be totally gone. He's also committed around 8 errors. That's pretty average. Given that his defense has excused his fading bat the last 3 seasons that's just not cutting it.
Alex Avila - A - He got handed the starting catcher job after Detroit let Gerald Laird go for providing offense about on the level that Brandon Inge now is. He responded by leading AL catchers in RBIs so far this season and being named the starting catcher for the American League All-Star Team.
Ryan Raburn - D- - he barely escapes an F here. His batting average has risen to .216 after being Inge-esque most of the season. But he's hitting a bit better and has at least added 7 homers and 32 RBIs. He's adding some offense to the second base void when he plays there, or is part of the rotating corner outfield monster.
Magglio Ordonez - D- - speaking of corner outfielders...like Raburn he escapes an F barely. His ankle was still not recovered from last season's season ending ankle break. He's slowly starting to hit better and has his batting average over .210 with 3 homers and 14 RBIs. He's finally driving the ball on a healthy ankle. 2 of his 3 homers were in the last 10 games or so before the break.
Brennan Boesch - B+ - more corner outfield by committee. He's hit 11 homers and has 42 RBIs, while hitting just over .300. Gets a high B just because he's had a couple slumps where he disappeared. He's hoping he doesn't disappear like he did the second half of 2010.
Austin Jackson - C - he's hit alot better lately after a horrible first 2 months. His average is near .250 at least and he has 13 stolen bases. They need more of him fueling the top of the order though.
Victor Martinez A- He's pretty much given them all he was advertised for when they signed him. .317, 6 HR 50 RBIs as the regular DH and catching occasionally to rest Avila.
Casper Wells - B - he's had some production for what he's needed to do and played some good defense as part of the corner outfield by committee.
Andy Dirks - B+ = He almost hit his way onto the team out of spring training, when most everyone thought he needed one more year in the minor leagues. He got called up when Magglio Ordonez went to the DL. He's hit about .250 with 6 HR and 17 RBIs in limited at bats. He plays in the corner outfield by committee but also has played some center field in place of Jackson, and hit leadoff a few times because he can draw a walk and has some speed. I can't really give an A for that limited number of at-bats but he generated buzz in spring training. That buzz came with him when he got called back up, and he's lived up to it pretty well.
Don Kelly - B-. The bat's a bit light. But he can play a bunch of positions. He actually pitched in a game when Detroit got crushed at Colorado. That makes him the only active major league player to have played all 9 positions at some point. He's delivered a bit of offense when he's been in there. You'd like to see better than .230. But he's hit a couple pinch hit home runs.
Ramon Santiago B- - his bat's a bit light too. But he plays a good backup shortstop and second, and even played third at least 1 game when Inge was on the DL.
Pitchers
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Justin Verlander - A+. Dominant after a mediocre first 2 starts. He's thrown a no-hitter. Taken another into the 8th inning. Had a 14 srikeout game. Second in the AL in wins. AL Pitcher of the Month in June. 12-4 with an ERA of about 2.17. He's got to be the AL Cy Young Award leader at this early stage.
Max Scherzer - B+ - he has 10 wins. He's had a number of dominant starts. He was better than Verlander through April and May. But he's had some horrendous starts in there afterwards.
Rick Porcello - B-. He has 7 wins. He's been brilliant at times and terrible at others.
Brad Penny - C+ - 6 wins - he's been solid at times but hasn't gone deep into games enough. He's pitched well in some no decisions. He essentially gets the same grade as Porcello, but it feels like Porcello has had a few more games when he was very sharp.
Phil Coke - D- - 1-8 as a starter. He was very sharp in the 1 win, and sharp in a few other losses and no decisions. But he also got hammered around in alot of 3 and 4 inning outings. Deservedly out of the rotation now, especially as good as he was in the bullpen last season. He could be a strength there.
Charlie Furbush - C - Very good as a reliever after he came up. Not any better as a starter than Phil Coke was once he replaced him.
Jose Valverde - A - he's lost a couple tied games but he hasn't blown a save yet. He hasn't seemed as dominant as last season but 22-22 saves or whatever it is earns an A
Joaquin Benoit - C - he was terrible early. But he's been what they thought they would get when they signed him as a free agent the last 6 weeks or so. He was a D up until 6 weeks ago or so.
Al Alburquerque - B+ - wicked stuff. He cam be another dominant arm in the bullpen when he's on. He's nasty most of the time. But some times he loses command and walks a ton and gets hit around.
Daniel Schlereth - D - he was good for about a month then lost it. He's in the minors now.
Ryan Perry - D- - he was in the minors for a good stretch and is now back again trying to get on track.
David Purcey - B- - he's been pretty solid in some hold situations since Detroit traded Scott Sizemore to Oakland to get him, but he's gotten rocked in a couple blowout losses too.
There've been 2 or 3 other middle relievers who have been up and down throught the season but their effects were obviously negligible if they couldn't hang around. D's there.
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