Detroit — Kerry Carpenter was back in the starting lineup Thursday. His relative absence from it in the first two games against the Athletics incited some consternation among a segment of Tigers Nation.
That consternation was heard by manager AJ Hinch.
“I know that’s been a hot topic,” he said. “I’ve heard everything, from the whispers to the screams.”
The left-handed-hitting Carpenter wasn’t in the starting lineup on Tuesday against Oakland’s left-handed starter JP Sears. He did, however, end up getting one of the critical at-bats in the game in the eighth inning. The Athletics used a right-handed opener Wednesday but had announced that lefty Ken Waldichuk would get the bulk innings.
Carpenter ended up not playing when the game got out of hand.
Hinch, while steadily sprinkling in more at-bats against left-handers, has mostly used Carpenter against right-handed pitching — alternating him with Miguel Cabrera as the designated hitter or with either Eric Haase, Andy Ibanez or Matt Vierling in the outfield.
“The matchups are different for different hitters, and I don’t want to tell the other side why we might favor one lefty over the other in a certain situation,” Hinch said. “We obviously know Carp the best. We also want to deploy our guys the best we can.
“The example of that was when Carp got the most important at-bat with two runners on and the game on the line (Tuesday).”
When Oakland manager Mark Kotsay finally went to a right-handed reliever in the eighth inning of a scoreless game Tuesday, Hinch had Carpenter ready.
“He walked, which is probably the one time you don’t want him to walk, with guys on base like that,” Hinch said. “But, that at-bat is not there for him if we didn’t hold him out of the starting lineup. I know historically, everyone thinks getting him multiple at-bats would be better, but they get to dictate who faces him.
“Whereas, in that situation, we dictated who he faced.”
Wednesday’s strategy got doused by the Tigers’ ineffectiveness against right-handed opener Austin Pruit and the 12-3 rout.
“So, when the game doesn’t lead itself to that, like last night, Carp is on the bench the entire game,” Hinch said. “I wasn’t going to pinch-hit down 10. You wish you would’ve had other at-bats for him. But, it’s not a perfect science. It’s not a perfect decision-making process all the time.”
Hinch started one left-handed hitter against Pruitt and he chose Zach McKinstry at the top of the lineup. There was no expectation of Pruitt covering three innings and nine hitters.
“No opener for them had gone three innings,” Hinch said. “They’ve gone one or two, depending on which guy they used. Some of it is guesswork when it comes to how long they’re going to leave their guy in … If we had better at-bats, we’d have chased him out of the game faster.”
But, Pruitt blew through the Tigers’ lineup in 34 pitches. And then Waldichuk, who came in with an ERA just under 7, cruised into the eighth, and by then, the game was out of reach.
“Some of that was strategy and some of that was our at-bats,” Hinch said. “It begged for (Pruitt) to stay in the game. It ended up being the reverse of what we’ve done. We love the bullpen games because we get to dictate who faces who.”
With left-handed-hitting Akil Baddoo (expected back Friday) and Riley Greene (possibly Saturday) returning to the lineup, these decisions will be easier for Hinch. He will be able to use multiple left-handed hitters to start and have a couple more on the bench.
“The problem with having only two left-handed bats is if you start them both, you have no bullets for when someone comes in later in the game,” he said. “They get to dictate, with four left-handed relievers, how they’re going to deploy them against McKinstry or Carp.
“We were in a tight spot but we didn’t do ourselves any favors by not forcing them to have to make any tough decisions.”
This isn’t just about Carpenter, though. The matchup-style roster has been a design choice by team president Scott Harris for this season. Javier Baez, Spencer Torkelson and — before he was injured — Greene, were the only everyday players on the roster.
The Tigers hope Carpenter will develop into a more regular player. But, he’s not there yet.
“There are some styles of left-handed pitchers we like him against more than others,” Hinch said. “I think he’s going to creep his way into seeing more at-bats against lefties. But, we also need him to get better defensively. The defensive side of the game counts, too.
“There’s a lot of reasons why guys are in and out of the lineup. But, I wasn’t going to go three days without starting Carp. We picked the big at-bat in the first game and he didn’t play in the second. It’s not perfect. And I’m not sure it’ll be this way the whole time. But, as of now, that’s the way it is.”
Prayers up
Long-time Tigers clubhouse and equipment manager Jim Schmakel is scheduled for open-heart surgery Friday at Henry Ford Hospital.
“He’s been incredible for this organization and has touched a lot of players, coaches and people in and around this organization,” Hinch said. “We’re rooting for his health and well-being.”
Schmakel, who ran the Tigers’ clubhouse from 1978 until this season, when he was moved to the visitors’ clubhouse, continued to work, up until Thursday, even though he knew he had a 70% blockage in his heart.
“He’s been such a fixture here,” Hinch said. “There isn’t a player that’s come through here that doesn’t have a story or a memory. We’re all rooting for him.”
Around the horn
… Right-hander Alex Faedo (finger) will be activated off the injured list and start the game for the Tigers on Friday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Hinch said his innings will be limited to the point where it will likely be a modified bullpen game. Faedo, who last started for the Tigers on May 30, threw 57 pitches in his last rehab start for Toledo.
… The Tigers are expected to announce roster moves after the game Thursday to accommodate the return of Baddoo and Faedo.
Twitter: @cmccosky