DETROIT -- From the not-very-shocking department came the news Tuesday that Miguel Cabrera is the American League Player of the Month for August.
Cabrera hit .357 with eight home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 runs scored in 26 games.
Cabrera beat out his own teammate, Prince Fielder, and Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre for the award. Fielder hit .370 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs, and Beltre hit .333 with seven home runs and 21 RBIs.
Ironically, Cabrera did not win the award for Tiger of the Month. That honor went to Fielder.
Cabrera was not aware of the honor when told before the game.
When shown his impressive August statistics, Cabrera said, "Great month. I need another one like it."
It's the second time Cabrera has won AL Player of the Month honors. He also got the award in July 2008.
Cabrera joins Alan Trammell as the only Tigers to have won the award twice in their careers.
Oh, that lineup
It didn't take long for the lineup critics to take to social media to attack Tuesday's lineup.
Manager Jim Leyland had planned for several days to sit Delmon Young against Cleveland's Justin Masterson and have Fielder be the designated hitter that day.
"I’ve talked to Prince five times this year about a day to get off his feet," Leyland said. "If Delmon wasn’t going to play, that’d be a good day for him to DH, so he said, 'I’d like to DH that day,' and I said, 'You got it.'
"And, that was it. So that’s how that all came about."
Fans are a little miffed that Young, who has a nine-game hitting streak and is batting .441 in that span, is not playing.
However, his numbers against Masterson aren't good. Young is 3-for-20 (.150) lifetime against him.
As for having Don Kelly play first?
"He’s getting the start tonight because this is the night I’m DHing Prince and he’s had some success against this guy," Leyland said. "He has not had a good year, obviously, this year, but that’s OK.
"I’m tickled for him. I’m glad for him. I’m glad he got back because we had to get a roster spot somehow to get him back on the roster. I’m tickled about that. I like good things to happen to good people and he deserved it."
Kelly is 5-for-15 against Masterson in his career.
Leyland appreciates that fans are passionate about the Tigers but doesn't quite understand the non-stop focus on the lineup.
"I don’t mind the second-guessing thing, but I’ve never been in a place where they talk about the lineup so much," Leyland said.
Raburn still hurting
Ryan Raburn, who was one of the Tigers' call-ups from Toledo when rosters expanded Sept. 1, has not been able to play because of a right quad muscle injury.
"I went out and ran, just couldn't run 100 percent," Raburn said. "But a lot better than it was the other day so I think if I have to, I can come off the bench. I just can't run all out right now."
Leyland said he might be able to use Raburn at first base if he were pinch hitting for Kelly.
Raburn just isn't ready for the outfield yet.
"I'd be scared to go out in the outfield, try to run one down," Raburn said. "Especially with the team, we're trying to win every game, I'd hate to put myself in that situation."
Raburn did believe he could pinch hit, but hoped to avoid trying to run out an infield single.
