Tigers shake up lineup: Granderson fifth, Ordonez sixth

Tigers shake up lineup: Granderson fifth, Ordonez sixth

By JOHN LOWE • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • May 5, 2009

In conjunction with today's roster moves, manager Jim Leyland shook up the Tigers' lineup.

He moved Curtis Granderson from first to fifth, taking Carlos Guillen's spot behind cleanup man Miguel Cabrera.

He dropped slow-starting Magglio Ordonez from third to sixth.

He put Josh Anderson at leadoff and Clete Thomas in the third spot. Placido Polanco stayed in the second spot.

“We’re trying to shake it up, trying to get something going," Leyland said. "I, obviously, tried to get a little speed up top. One thing I know, there is some energy (at the top). They might run into some outs, but it will be because they’re running.”

Leyland said he has thought Granderson would become a middle-of-the-order hitter at some point. He didn’t say how long Granderson will be hitting fifth this time around.

On Ordoñez hitting sixth: “We’re trying to get Magglio going a little bit. Obviously, he’s huge for us. Get Magglio out of the focus. Let him settle in and relax a little bit.

“Some (people) are sure going to suggest that you’re panicking. So I’ll explain that. We’re 100 at-bats in. We’ve played quite a bit. ... I don’t think you can keep waiting (for) 200 at-bats. My job is to be creative if things aren’t working ... a few guys are struggling.”

Here's the full lineup for tonight's game against the Twins:

1. Josh Anderson, LF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Clete Thomas, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Curtis Granderson, CF
6. Magglio Ordonez, DH
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
8. Gerald Laird, C
9. Ramon Santiago, SS

Starting pitcher: Rick Porcello

What did he do, pick that lineup out of a hat?

I can understand almost all of the moves, except for Clete 3rd. That's usually reserved for you best hitter, not a rookie who wasn't good enough to make the opening day roster. But what do I know?

I'd have put Granderson third or something.

Clete Thomas is 3-4 today so people will say this was a brilliant move.

Lesson number one in statistics: Just because something works doesn't mean it was the correct thing to do.