He hit the HR in his next AB after making a big defensive play at 2b. Could well be the number of plays he wasnt making at 3d was keeping his daubers down.
I'm not sure why Hinch was so fixed on playing him there when you have both a RHH and LHH that are better 3B gloves than he is in McKinstry and Ibanez - though McKinstry is no great shakes there either - McK does throw well though.
I think you are correct. Divide his season at June 4 and his walk rate is 11.5% first half, 19% since, and more ominously, his sinker Velo took a subtle drop at about the same time.
Todd was the master of the semi-intentional pass to a left hander when a RHH was on deck. He had so much confidence against RHH he didn’t really care if he loaded the bases to get to one.
If I were the Tigers I try to get Lange throwing a 4 seamer against the curve instead of the sinker as he can't control the run on the sinker and you don't want to throw the chase pitch (the curve) in the zone. He needs to have a pitch he can throw for a strike when a hitter is taking.