Magglio Ordonez Situation Tough on Tigers and Fans: Stop the Insanity!

(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

But Ortiz has hit seven homers over the past month and appears to be breaking out of his cold spell, and Rodriguez has also hit more homers this month than Ordonez has all season.  All three remain with sub-.265 averages, so it could be the case after all.

This is all beside the point. The question is not "Why is Ordonez not hitting?" The question is "What should be done about it?"

Unlike Rodriguez, and to a lesser extent like Ortiz, Ordonez is not at the beginning of a lengthy contract or extended contract.  The Tigers are only on the hook for Ordonez for this season and potentially next season. 

This is where the real intrigue comes into play.

As mentioned earlier, Ordonez has an option year for 2010 that kicks in if he reaches 270 games started or 1080 plate appearances over the contract years 2008 and 2009 (this year). 

Last season, Ordonez had 146 starts and 623 plate appearances.  So far this year, he has 62 starts and 261 plate appearances.  If you're doing the math at home, that puts him at 208 starts and 884 plate appearances as of today (June 29, 2009). 

That leaves him at about 200 plate appearances or 62 starts away from the option.

Therefore, if Ordonez stays healthy and plays out this contract, the Tigers will be on the hook for $18 million next season for what should be only a backup outfielder or designated hitter.

Lately, there has been some intrigue surrounding Ordonez. Tigers manager Jim Leyland has sat Ordonez a few games in order to let the slugger work out his issues and figure out his game. 

Ordonez's agent, the infamous Scott Boras, blew a gasket and accused the Tigers of sabotaging his payday.

Obviously, Boras stands to lose a huge hunk of change if Ordonez misses out on his option, but that is beside the point. 

The point is that the Tigers need to bite the bullet and release the suddenly soft-hitting Ordonez.  Their future as a ball club truly depends on it.

Boras brought to the attention of the casual observer how much is riding on this situation, and how awkward it truly is for all involved.

For a Tigers fan, people are torn between rooting for Ordonez to supply his usual power to a contending team and rooting against him in order to secure his release. They have to compartmentalize their feelings for the slugger between what he was and what he is, what he meant to them and what he means to them.

Essentially, they have to subscribe to the most cruel, yet pragmatic idiom in baseball: "What have you done for me lately?"

For Leyland, he has to try to keep the respect of his players, and this is a tricky move.  On the one hand, players respect their manager if he sits a star, regardless of his past accomplishments, if he isn't getting the job done. 

However, if it is viewed as a money thing, they will turn on him.

Luckily for Leyland and the Tigers in this regard, Ordonez has not been hitting. Besides hitting a homer in his third game back since being benched, he has only two other hits in 18 at-bats. 

Furthermore, Ordonez seems to hit a ground out every at-bat.  Personally, I cannot bear even to watch when he comes to the plate with runners on base because I know that he will hit into a double play.  He is fourth in the league in grounding into double plays with 11.

I am a Tigers fan, and as such, I want what is best for my team.  I hate to say it, but that no longer means playing Magglio Ordonez. 

Every morning I wake up and look at the Detroit Free Press on-line (my morning source for Detroit news, and although it is not perfect, it is free) and hope that this is the day that the headline reads "Tigers release Magglio Ordonez."

It is a tough pill to swallow, but it is the sad truth.  The best move for Detroit to make is to release Ordonez.  It is not the easiest thing to do today, but it will make for a better tomorrow.

Hopefully tomorrow is the day.

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