Avila's Solid Hitting Gives Leyland Options

Jim Leyland learned something he probably already knew -- batting Alex Avila higher than sixth, seventh or eighth in the batting order doesn't faze him one bit.

Not able to use a designated hitter in Colorado and next in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, Leyland concocted a plan to get both Avila and Victor Martinez in the lineup at the same time -- put Avila at third base.

In the series finisher against the Rockies, Leyland gave Martinez the day off and bumped Avila up to fifth in the batting order for the first time this season.

The result? Two singles and a sacrifice fly in five trips to the plate in Detroit's 9-1 victory at Colorado. The sacrifice fly and one of the singles came with a runner on third and less than two out, a situation in which Avila has driven in the run 13 times in 18 chances.

Leyland has kept Avila, who now has 41 RBI, down in the batting order under the theory that it isn't broken, so why try to fix it? Avila played like he had a blindfold on last season, his first full year in the majors.

After struggling early this season, Leyland reminded Avila it might not be a bad idea to hark back to his days at Alabama; just play baseball and have fun. Soon thereafter, Avila began attacking hittable pitches and working the count to increase his number of hittable pitches.

His approach against Colorado batting fifth was the same as it was when he hit lower in the order. Take outside pitches to left and pull or hit to center any pitch middle of the plate or in.

It would not be a big surprise when Detroit returns to American League competition late in the week if Avila bats directly behind Martinez in the batting order.

This would put Jhonny Peralta at seventh or eighth, with either Andy Dirks or Magglio Ordonez occupying the spot the shortstop is not.

When Brandon Inge returns, Dirks or Ordonez might hit second, with the third baseman ninth.

It gives Detroit the same kind of deep, run-producing lineup it had in 2006, when it made a surprising appearance in the World Series.

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