Batting third in the biggest Detroit Tigers' game of the year: Clete Thomas?

In many ways, Jim Leyland is a very good manager.

But his handling of the most important spot in the Detroit Tigers' batting order this year has been puzzling, to say the least.

Most people in baseball consider the No. 3 hitter to be the best hitter on the team. If that's the case, many days Jim Leyland thinks Detroit's best hitter is Clete Thomas.

Thomas has often batted third since it became clear that Magglio Ordonez, the No. 3 hitter at the beginning of the season, isn't the player he once was.

Going into today's doubleheader, Thomas had a .243 batting average. But that doesn't even begin to explain what a poor choice he is as the No. 3 hitter.

In his best minor-league season, Thomas hit .280 with 8 homers in AA ball.

Last year he hit .247 in nearly 300 at bats in AAA.

He doesn't hit for average. He doesn't hit for power. He strikes out a lot.

Thomas is a borderline major league player. He was never a highly regarded prospect. Batting him third for a team fighting to make the playoffs is a strategy that defies any reasonable explanation.

I've heard broadcasters say that Leyland likes to bat Thomas third because he adds some speed to the top of the order. He does, but at what expense?

At one point this season, Thomas was demoted to the minor leagues. He went from the No. 3 hitter in Detroit to the minor leagues.

Why isn't Miguel Cabrera batting third? He's by far the best offensive player on the team. Wouldn't it behoove the Tigers to have him batting in the first inning every game? Don't you want to get Cabrera as many plate appearances as you can, and have him batting behind the best hitters on the team rather than Clete Thomas.

The only reason I can see for not batting Cabrera third is that he struggled during a brief cameo in that role earlier this season. So does that mean he's not capable of batting third? Probably not. It could have easily been random luck that Cabrera happened to slump when he was moved to a new spot in the batting order.

Even if you were to conclude that Cabrera should bat fourth, why not bat Carlos Guillen third? He's an accomplished major league hitter. So is Aubrey Huff. His batting average isn't good this year, but neither is Clete Thomas'.