"I want it right," Tigers manager Jim Leyland told MLive.com. "We talked about that today: 'Get it right.' I don't want him to come back 85 percent and try to play and then do it again. Try to get it as close to 100 percent as you can. You might not get it to 100 percent. Who knows."
Jackson strained his left hamstring nearly two weeks ago and last week seemed to be on track to make it back when first eligible. He has .272/.333/.371 with two home runs and five stolen bases in 16 plate appearances this season.
Analysis:Arcia delivered a pinch-hit home run Wednesday against the Braves, but he is mired in a 3-for-26 slump (.115) in his last 10 games (seven starts).
Analysis:Jones is batting .300 (24 for 80) with two home runs, five doubles, seven stolen bases, 10 RBI and 11 runs in 19 May games.
Analysis:"Martin is a very good baseball player and he certainly has the ceiling to get better," Washington said. "How good? I think we'll just have to wait and see."
Martin continues to split playing time in center field with Craig Gentry as he learns how to adjust to a 162-game schedule. However, his playing time has been on the rise lately because his offensive production has taken off. Martin has started eight of the last 10 games through Wednesday and has hit safely in seven straight (.381).
Still, Washington feels Martin has plenty of room to improve offensively.
"I think he's still trying to find that," Washington said. "The thing is he's getting comfortable and getting his confidence together, and that's the key."
Analysis:Brantley is having a productive May, batting .338 (25 for 74) with a home run, a double, 10 runs and 15 RBI in 21 games (18 starts).
Analysis:"At some point you will probably get to where you will try and put out the same lineup every day," Girardi said.
Girardi has a simple message for his outfielders.
"Just go out and play, that’s all you can do," Girardi said. "As we have seen there are so many things that can happen in this game that we might need to play all four of them."
Analysis:Hamilton will tell you, however, nothing in his approach has changed.
"The ball is finding holes," Hamilton said, per the Los Angeles Times. "It's irritating for me to try to explain. Before … the results weren't there. So when the results finally get there, it's like something different happened. But it really hasn't. That's irritating."
Analysis:Granderson was batting just .174 entering Wednesday's game.
"It’s just a matter of getting comfortable and getting timing right and getting in a rhythm and going from there," Granderson said, per The Journal News. "It’s one of those baseball things. You can’t really pinpoint it exactly. It’s just going to end up happening one day. Could be one swing. Could be one at-bat. Could be one day."
Granderson certainly was encouraged by his performance Wednesday.
"It’s a result-oriented game, so you always want to see that stuff," Granderson said. "At the same time, the feel is the most important thing. Whenever you do get the feel, then you’re in a better situation to get the results that you want. That’s what I’m still working on right now, just getting that feel."
Analysis:
