JDM NOT IN TIGERS LONG-TERM PLANS?

J.D. Martinez was a failure with the Astros and was released.

The Tigers took a shot.

He reworked his swing and crushed it in Triple-A with 10 homers and 22 RBI in 17 games at that level in 2014.

He was called up to the majors.

Boom goes the dynamite.

In 2014 JDM went .315-23-76 over 123 games.

He was a star in 2015 going .282-38-102-93.

Last season he was beaten down a bit by injuries that limited him to 120 games played, he broke his elbow and missed about six weeks, but he was still an outright star with a .307-22-68-69 line when on the field.

That’s a three year run with an OPS of .912, .879 and .908.

The dude can mash.

Sounds like, because of a myriad of reasons (too much age, too many big money deals), that JDM may not be in the long-term plans of the Tigers. “I don’t foresee any talks of a long-term contract at this point,” GM Al Avila said. “In saying that, we’re going to keep an open mind in what possibilities come across this winter, this coming summer. I’m not going to rule out that we wouldn’t consider a long-term deal, but sitting here today, we’re not thinking that way right now. Can’t say we wouldn’t be thinking about that down the road.”

JDM is due $11.75 million next year before becoming a free agent 12 months from now. Given that teammate Justin Upton got 6-years, $132.75 million you can certainly imagine that JDM is looking for a $100 million extension.

Speaking of Upton… what a mess his season was. He started frigid before ending white hot reminding me of two of my favorite holiday characters in Snow and Heat Miser.

In the end Upton hit, and if you checked out of the season early and didn’t pay attention to the end you might be surprised, .246 with 31 homers, 87 RBI and 81 runs scored (also nine steals). That means he tied his career best in homers, had the third most RBI of his career and that he scored at least 77 runs for the 6th straight season. It was nowhere near consistent, but check out those numbers again. Turns out Upton was pretty good after all thanks to his tremendous second half: .260-22-49 with a .916 OPS over 68 games.

PLAYOFF TALK – AMERICAN LEAGUE

The Indians got nothing from Michael Brantley this season. They are getting nothing from Danny Salazar, Carlos Carrasco and Trevor Bauer at the moment. They are headed to the World Series after dispatching with the Blue Jays. Lots of keys of course, but it really came down to the Indians arms stepping up and shutting down the big bats of the Jays. Check out the following data points (thanks to Richard Justice).

In the ALCS the Indians starters threw 22 innings with a 1.23 ERA.
The Indians relievers threw 22 innings with a 1.64 ERA.

Andrew Miller, Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw combined to throw 15.2 innings. The trio of relievers allowed 10 hits and just two walks. They allowed one run while striking out 25 batters.

Miller, by the way, won the ALCS MVP award. Miller posted 14 strikeouts in the ALCS, tying the all-time record for strikeouts by a reliever in one LCS (Brad Lidge in 2004). He’s struck out 21 of the 37 batters he’s faced in the postseason. He hasn’t allowed a run.

The Indians won the series while scoring just 12 runs. In a series of five games or more, only three teams can match that (1915 Red Sox, Phillies in 1918, Diamondbacks in 2001).

PLAYOFF TALK – NATIONAL LEAGUE

The Cubs went 57-24 at home in 2016 where the final two games of the series will be played if it goes that far.

The last time the Cubs played in a World Series was 1945.

Kenta Maeda will start in Game 5 for the Dodgers with Clayton Kershaw ready to rock in Game 6. Maeda has thrown seven innings in his two postseason starts and it sure seems like he’s wearing down. Looking further back, he’s failed to throw more than five innings an any of his last six starts.

Anthony Rizzo went 3-for-5 in Game 4 with three RBI. He entered the game with two RBI in 65 postseason plate appearances. He’s hitting .161/.357/.258 over the course of eight postseason games this year. Some other Cubs’ strugglers: Jason Heyward (.328 OPS), Addison Russell (.408 OPS), Ben Zobrist (.509 OPS).

Josh Reddick had a .642 OPS in 47 games with the Dodgers after coming over in a deal. He has a .577 OPS over eight postseason games. He stinks.

Corey Seager started strong but he now owns a .189/.250/.378 slash line.

 

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday/Tuesday and Thursday/Friday, 8 PM EDT, Wednesday 7 PM EDT on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 9 PM EDT PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).