Last night I was excited. I was going to a Tiger game for the first time in a month. The team was riding a 5 game win streak with their ace taking the mound, and it was a beautiful night. And then the game started.
Jeremy Bonderman wasn’t ace like, and the Tigers offense sputtered. The baserunners they did get were cut down with double plays while Oakland just kept hitting the ball out of the park.
Then there was that horribly loud “thwack” sound that emanated from Bonderman’s forearm as it was struck by a line drive. After hearing it, and watching Bonderman writhe in pain I couldn’t help but see the next several seasons flash before my eyes. As a Tiger fan, Jeremy Bonderman may be the singular most important ray of hope the organization has seen in a dozen years. Which is why it is understandable that I actually felt a little ill.
Fortunately, the early read of the x-ray is that it is only a bruise. I’m guessing that internist Michael Workings did the initial read at the stadium. Hopefully it will remain negative after a radiologist reads it today, and a subsequent MRI.
The Tigers played a stinker last night. It happens, and is easier to stomach when it happens amidst a string of pretty good baseball. The real test will be to see how the team plays in its next several games. Is the hot streak over, or was this just a bump in the road?
Other notes and thoughts from the game:
- An umpire problem that occurred at the same time as Bonderman’s injury caused an excruciatingly long delay. The delay was made more frustrating by a complete lack of updates in the stadium as to the nature of the delay, and no activity other than players warming up. An announcement would have been nice, as would utilizing the big fancy scoreboard to show something.
- Curtis Granderson’s homer saving catch looked pretty spectacular from our seats. I’m glad to see him getting regular playing time.
- Speaking of playing time, it is basically impossible now to keep Carlos Pena out of the starting lineup. I didn’t want to see Shelton lose at-bats, but Pena has provided all the scoring the last two nights. Last night’s homer was majestic to say the least.
- Finally, while not a game note, this is fairly significant. Rondell White will undergo surgery to fix his rotator cuff and end his season. According to John Lowe, Mike Illitch called Rondell to say that he wanted White back next year. Now I’m a big White fan, and I love what he’s done for and with the Tigers. But I just don’t see how from a roster perspective this will work out. It may mean that the Tigers are looking to move Craig Monroe. It may mean that the Tigers will rely on Brandon Inge and Chris Shelton to handle back up catcher duties.
In any case it was a classy thing for Illitch to do for a classy player. It was also the second time that Illitch has gotten involved with the team this week.
Billfer, I agree that Illitch telling White he’s coming back is not cool. There is zero room for the guy. And I’m growing increasingly concerned with this guy meddling with the personel. I worry that Dumbro may be the guy who’s pushed out the door at seasons end.
I wish someone would buy this team.
While I certainly want to hold on to Dumbro, the team won’t collapse simply because he leaves. The hardest part of his mission has already been accomplished. What used to be a barren wasteland, now has legitimate talent at each level. It may not be an overabundance, but it’s on par.
There were probably only a couple guys in the sport that could have pulled off the turnaround as quickly as he has, but now we’re at a point where there are maybe 10 guys that are capable of taking us to the next step.
I’d hate for it to come to that, because there would be atleast a 25% chance that we hire someone that trades all of our talent to the good state of Texas, but we need to keep in mind that the Savior has already worked a good deal of his magic and we can now get by with a mortal GM.
I just read the White article. I wouldn’t be worried. Illitch didn’t even make a statement to the press, so it’s not like he’s saying “We’re gonna bring White back at all costs”. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to have White on the roster if it can be done for less than $2 mil/yr. Maybe you cut his playing time by 1/2 or 2/3, but he’s still gonna be pretty good for a 4th outfielder.
Earlier in the season, I would not have wanted Rondell White back. But when he dislocated his shoulder, and Rod Allen pointed out all the contributions he had made along with his offensive output in Detroit, it seems foolish to let him go. Do we have a bit of a logjam in the outfield? Yes. Would I rather have a veteran, professional hitter who is a clubhouse presence over a young guy who still struggles to be a consistent offensive force? Yes.
Looking back at what Rondell brings to this team, it might be a smart idea to deal Monroe or Logan. Rondell can start in left field, and DY can platoon with him. We have DY for another year anyways, so we are stuck with him. Rondell is a prototypical “professional hitter”, and if he can be retained for the right price, I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all.
I can’t really comment about the front office politics, but I have confidence in Ilitch rebuilding this team the way he rebuilt his other franchise.
The rumor here in SoCal is DY and J Walker to the Angels for player(s)to be named, possibly even including Dallas McPherson. This is probably BS but if true it would solve a lot of problems.
They don’t need White. They need a fulltime 3B, more pitching and better defense. White may be a great guy but he is a middle of the pack LF. Marcus Thames is probably just as good. Monroe, Granderson, Ordonez, Thames and Logan is a good enough OF to win. Address other problems, not ones you don’t have. They also don’t need Ilitch meddling. DD has credentials: he can build a team and he can get a team over the hump. There are not many people around with his pedigree. He is the second most valuable person in the organization (after Jeremy Bonderman and his “bruised” forearm). They have arrived at mediocrity, coming from oblivion. Now is NOT the time to get a new GM and change over the whole front office.
I second the notion that it would be nice if Ilitch sold the time, although who knows wht you would get.
Another stinker today, worse than last night. This team has been really streaky. Hopefully they nip this in the bud, but they have three in Fenway coming up.
They need a fulltime 3B? What is Inge? And there is no way in hell that I think the Angels are going to trade McPherson for DY and Walker.
And Ilitch understands how to build a winner. He brought back the Red Wings from much worse circumstances.
Inge is a nice bench guy. He is stretched as a regular.
I am only reporting what I’m hearing on the radio, seeing in the paper here in SoCal.
Illitch’s track record with the Wings is astonishing. Which makes his failure with the Tigers even more mind-boggling. You know he’s owned this team for nearly 15 years now and it’s been bad the whole time. I kinda think that we’re all still expecting him to turn this team around, like he’s the new guy whose full of promise. But at some point I have to start believing that what I’m seeing is reality. 15 years of terrible management decisions is enough for me.
Joey, your answer is right here
http://www.detroitredwings.com/wings/staffbio.jsp?id=79
With the Wings, Illitch managed to get top notch people in the key positions. With the Tigers, he wasted a lot of time with the Smith regime. The Wings scouts were able to pluck an incredible amount of talent from countries that other teams weren’t even looking at. The Tigers had a track record of picking the worst available guys despite having high picks. You can attribute some of it to bad luck, but it mostly just comes down to scouting.
I love Kenny Holland! And don’t forget about Devellano.
No doubt Illitch put the right people in charge of the Wings. He gave them the resources and then let them to their jobs. That’s what a good executive does and I give him credit for it.
The Tigers have been the exact opposite. He put the wrong people in charge and then after Comerica was completed, he stripped them of necessary resources.
Now I’m worried because it seems that, although he has good people in charge and is dumping cash into the team, he’s decided to start interfering with the way the front office does its job.
I could be totally overreacting–as I’m sure you guys no I’m prone to do–but I do see things that I find unsettling in Illitch’s inolvement the past few weeks.
Ugh, what a mess. I’m just happy that I was out when Bonderman went down, and didn’t have to see it or try to divine what was happening from message boards.
It would be nice if they could step up big in Fenway, but really I’d be happy either way with this series. So long as it’s not too hot and no one gets hurt.