Detroit Tigers' Ryan Raburn Needs to Get Cut ASAP

People who are quick to dismiss players who have a bad game, a bad week or a bad month, tend to be unrealistic about expectations, or they don't realize the player's potential or worth.

But Detroit Tigers fans calling for the release of Ryan Raburn are exactly right.

Raburn needs to go.

Since playing his first full year with the Tigers in 2007 (49 games), Raburn hasn't hit over .291 or had more than 62 RBI in a single season.

This year, Raburn is off to his worst start ever, hitting .130 with zero home runs and two RBI in 25 games.

Raburn has 10 hits in 77 at-bats, and he's struck out 21 times with only five walks.

In his last eight games, Raburn has gone 2-for-26 (.076) with one double, one RBI and 12 strikeouts. He is slugging .176 this season, and his OBP is only .207.

At 31 years old, Raburn is in his sixth full year in the Major Leagues and isn't getting any younger.

Raburn's resume would be more acceptable this season if he was a defensive asset, which would make up for his anemic effort at the plate. 

But he might worse in the field.

At second base, Raburn has no range, a below-average arm and has committed 11 errors in his last 69 appearances going back to last season.

When he's platooned in the outfield, he's been even worse. In his last 100 games in the outfield, he's earned only five assists, and he's recorded six errors. Also, he doesn't run well or make any difficult plays.

Raburn has found himself in the lineup the past few years because he has the ability to play virtually anywhere on the field, but he doesn't play well anywhere.

He's never been a consistent hitter, but he has provided value to the team because of his power. He hit at least 14 home runs in three consecutive years from 2009 to 2011, but he was never consistent, hitting the ball anywhere except the seats. It's feast or famine for Raburn.

And lately, there's been a lot of famine.

He's played in 25 of the Tigers' 30 games this season, and he is on pace to hit a whopping 13 RBI.

Luckily for Raburn, the Tigers don't have a dependable everyday option to replace him. Ramon Santiago is in his ninth year with the Tigers but has been a utility player his whole career.

In his last six seasons with the team, Santiago averaged just over 73 appearances per year, and he hasn't played more than 112 games in a single season. He's gotten his biggest opportunity the past three seasons, averaging 102 games per year with a respectful .268 average.

Maybe it's time to give him a shot to play every day. The continuity couldn't hurt, and the way Raburn is playing, it can't get any worse.

The Tigers have missed Placido Polanco badly since he left the Tigers after the 2009 season. Detroit desperately needs someone who can hit for average, manufacture runs and play solid defensively. 

So if not Santiago, the Tigers may need to look to their farm system.

Eric Patterson is hitting .286 in 30 games for the Tigers Triple-A affiliate Toledo Mud Hens. He hasn't played well at the Major League level in his career, but he's hitting over 150 points better than Raburn at this point.

Another option for the Tigers might be the furthest away. With Miguel Cabrera conceivably anchoring third base in Detroit for the next several years, the Tigers third baseman of the future might think about moving to second.

20-year-old Nick Castellanos, Detroit's 2010 Amateur Draft first round pick, is hitting .410 with 22 RBI in 31 games for upper Single-A Lakeland.

Castellanos completed his first year of professional baseball last season with the low Single-A West Michigan White Caps, hitting .312 with seven home runs and 76 RBI for the White Caps last year. But Single-A West Michigan is nowhere near the show.

He was the 44th overall selection in the 2010 draft and isn't ready for the big leagues, but the Tigers might need to move him along.

Whether it's Santiago, a minor-leaguer or a trade, someone needs to replace Raburn in the lineup.

Quickly.