You may remember May 31st of last year. It was the day that Carlos Pena was sent to Toledo and Chris Shelton made his 2005 debut. While Shelton was with the team in 2004, getting a start every other weak against other teams toughest pitchers is hardly worth counting. So now that we are into June of 2006, we can take a look at what a full season’s worth of Shelton looks like.
Continue reading Seasoning Shelton
Monthly Archives: June 2006
Monroe Hurt
I’m not having so much fun with these Tiger Hurt posts mid game. Craig Monroe went into the wall trying to track down a Scott Podsednik flyball. He got his foot stuck in the seam of the padding and seems to have hyperextended his knee or ankle.
I don’t know how much damage was done, but Monroe was having a tough time bearing any weight. I think it’s safe to say we won’t see him for the days.
UPDATE: FSN is reporting that X-Rays were negative and the early diagnosis is an ankle sprain.
Game 59: Tigers at White Sox
PREGAME: The Tigers will once again try and pick up their first win against their Central Division foes. It won’t be any easier tonight with Jose Contreras taking the mound. He shut down the Tigers earlier in the season.
Meanwhile Justin Verlander, who was rocked by the Sox in his second start, will try to play the role of stopper once again.
My big game pick tonight is Carlos Guillen.
Pudge Hurt
Ivan Rodriguez left tonights game with back spasms. Pudge is currently listed as day to day.
I’ll campaign for Marcus Thames to assume the #3 spot in the order until Rodriguez is able to return.
Game 58: Tigers at White Sox
PREGAME: The Tigers will look to avenge an early season sweep by the White Sox. While I’m trying not to place too much importance on any one game, it would be nice to get the series opener and get that first ChiSox win out of the way.
I know that Tiger fans are thinking, “The Sox are struggling, now is a great chance to get back at them and maybe build a little seperation.” Meanwhile, I’m sure White Sox fans are thinking, “The Tigers are stuggling, now is a great chance to keep piling on and close the gap.”
Nate Robertson will take the hill for Detroit and he will be opposed by Freddy Garcia who has been giving the Tigers fits for years.
Who’s your pick for Tiger hero tonight? I’m going to go with Chris Shelton and hope he breaks out of his slump.
POSTGAME: I’m late to the party on this. I saw it all last night, but I was up late and up early prepping for a presentation. The loss blew. There’s no getting around it. It seemed like the Tigers were cruising, but on closer inspection it wasn’t a complete game at all. They blew an easy double play – again. They made Freddy Garcia throw 100+ pitches in 5 innings, he didn’t have good stuff, but only managed 3 runs. Nate Robertson put men on in every inning, but worked his way out of numerous jams. The Tigers were teetering all night and it caught up with them.
Yes, it is frustrating to see Cintron hit his first homer of the year to give the team the lead. Much like it must have been frustrating for Twins fans to see Vance Wilson hit his first homer of the year for the only runs the Tigers scored off of Johan Santana.
Things happen. They just all seem to be happening at the same time and it doesn’t feel good.
Alexis Gomez returns
Alexis Gomez is the mystery player that the Tigers activated (thanks to Kyle for letting us know). To make room on the 40 man roster Mike Maroth was moved from the 15 to 60 day DL.
My only apprehension with Gomez is if Jim Leyland gets platoon happy with a hot hitting Marcus Thames. It looks like there will be a platoon tonight, but it will be with the struggling Craig Monroe in left field.
The Tigers Draft
As time permits, I’ll update the Tigers draft picks throughout the day. I will caution though that this isn’t my area of expertise. Any opinions or thoughts expressed are those I’ve gleaned from others.
UPDATE: Darn work kept me away from this all day. I’ll get caught up on the picks for the sake of completeness, but for more player detail check out the excellent work compiled by Kurt on Andrew Miller and the rest.
- Andrew Miller – LHP 6′ 6″ 210 lbs – North Carolina
Miller is the highest rate player on Baseball America’s list. He fell to the Tigers due mostly to signability issues. His pitching repertoire is outlined by BA:At 6-foot-7 and 210 pounds, Miller has an ideal frame with a clean delivery and easy arm action. His fastball registers consistently in the 93-95 mph range and can touch the upper 90s. Miller also has a major league offering with a mid-80s slider with a sharp bite.
BA also projects him to be in a major league rotation by 2007.
It’s nice once again to see the Tigers not scared off by a player’s bonus demands. They are thinking and acting like a big market team. Here’s hoping they sign him quickly, or at let’s hope there are shorter negotiations than Cameron Maybin and Justin Verlanders.
- Ronnie Bourquin 3B 6-3 210 L/R 21 Ohio State U. Canton, OH
Bourquin wasn’t on BA’s top 200 list, so it might seem like a reach. Yet the BA guys liked the pick of the Big Ten Player of the YearTigers Steal Another One
2:59 p.m.: The Tigers found a nice value when Andrew Miller dropped to them in the first round, and might have landed another gem in the second in Ohio State third baseman Ronnie Bourquin. He led the Big 10 with a .416 average, .612 slugging percentage, .492 on-base percentage and 66 RBIs. He’s the highest-drafted Buckeye since the A’s grabbed Nick Swisher in the first round (16th overall) in 2002. - Brennan Boesch CF 6-6 210 L/L 21 UC-Berkeley Santa Monica, CA
Two consecutive left handed sluggers for the Tigers. He ranked #125 on BA’s list. - Ryan Strieby 1B 6-5 235 R/R 20 U. of Kentucky Seattle, WA
- Scott Sizemore SS 6-0 185 R/R 21 Virginia Commonwealth Chesepeake, VA
- Jordan Newton C 5-10 195 R/R 20 Western Kentucky U. Elizabethtown, KY
- Jonah Nickerson RHP 6-1 200 R/R 21 Oregon State U. Casper, WY
- Chris Cody LHP 6-1 195 L/L 22 Manhattan College Brewster, NY
- Zach Piccola LHP 6-4 240 R/L 21 U. of South Alabama Nashua, NH
- Lauren Gagnier RHP 6-2 215 R/R 22 Cal St. Fullerton Santa Cruz, CA
- Russell Parrott 2B 6-1 195 R/R 18 Desert Mountain HS West Bloomfield, MI
- Joseph Bowen C 6-1 190 S/R 18 Vanguard HS Ocala, FL
- Angel Castro RHP 5-11 200 R/R 23 Western Oklahoma St. Dominican Republic
- Brett Jensen RHP 6-7 190 R/R 22 U. of Nebraska Eagle Grove, IA
- Franco Valdes C 5-10 200 S/R 17 Monsignor Edward Pace HS Miami, FL
- Jeffrey Gerbe RHP 6-3 200 R/R 21 Michigan State U. Detroit, MI
- Ben Petralli C 6-2 175 S/R 20 Sacramento CC Weatherford, TX
You may remember that the Tigers drafted Petralli in the 15ht round last year. - Deik Scram CF 6-0 170 L/R 20 Oklahoma State U. Arkansas City, KS
Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 5th
Toledo 4, Buffalo 2
Jack Hannahan homered and added two singles. Ryan Ludwick added two hits. Wil Ledezma had another strong start allowing 2 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks in 8 innings. He struck out 5.
Erie-DNP
Lakeland 9, Clearwater 3
Clete Thomas and Garth McKinney each had 3 hits. The offensive start though was Jeff Larish with two homers and two walks. Jair Jurrjens allowed 5 hits and 3 walks for 3 runs in 7 innings (3 K’s). Kevin Whelan pitched a scoreless ninth allowing one baserunner while fannings 2.
West Michigan 6, Quad Citiies 5 (11 innings)
Michael Hollimon had two hits and two singles. Pedro Cotto and Matt Joyce added two hits as well. Erik Averill threw 7 innings allowing 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits and two walks.
Homestand Thoughts
Okay, I got a little giddy and deemed this past 10 games the most significant homestand in Comerica Park’s history. I’m not sure it lived up to the billing, but I still can’t think of another stretch in the last 6 years that was on par in terms of the talent coming in and the Tigers stature.
I was going to be content with 5-5, and thrilled with anything beyond that. Considering they finished 4-6 I shouldn’t be too disappointed, and I’m not really. I am a little concerned though in that they didn’t seem to play good baseball consistently. I’ve often heard that they could have very easily been 6-4, but they also could have very easily been 2-8. The fact that they really only had a chance to win 6 or maybe 7 of the games is what’s more disturbing. Continue reading Homestand Thoughts
Draft Eve
I feel bad that here it is the night before the draft, and I’ve yet to mention anything. The current Tigers have been interesting enough to keep me busy. Plus, I just don’t know that much about the players except what I read from Baseball America.
The Tigers appear to have locked in on two players, Texas outfielder Drew Stubbs and high school pitcher Clayton Kershaw. However, in the latest Baseball America mock draft the Tigers are slated to pick righthander Luke Hochevar. Now mock drafts are historically inaccurate, but BA nailed the early portions of the first round last year so it is worth a look.
Here is some paraphrasing on each of the likely candidates from BA’s premium content: Continue reading Draft Eve
Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 4th
Toledo 6, Ottawa 2
Ryan Raburn doubled and singled to continue his hot hitting. Josh Phelps had 3 hits, including his 6th homer. Victor Mendez who was recently promoted from Lakeland added a double. Colby Lewis started and was one out short of a complete game (7 inning CG). He allowed six hits and a walk against six strikeouts.
Ottawa 6, Toledo 1
Jordan Tata went 5 innings and was knocked around for 8 hits and 2 walks. He allowed 5 runs (4 earned) with only one strikeout. Josh Phelps had two hits, as did Tike Redman.
Akron 4, Erie 3
Kody Kirkland singled and doubled twice. Brent Clevlen posted yet another 0’fer dropping his average to .199. Preston Larrison started and allowed 4 runs on 4 hits in 4 innings. Eulogio De La Cruz struck out 7 in 4 innings of scoreless work. He allowed one hit and two walks.
Lakeland – PPD
Quad Cities 6, West Michigan 0
The Caps managed only 4 hits so there isn’t a lot to report. Michael Hollimon doubled and walked. Sendy Vasquez allowed 8 hits, 3 walks, and 6 runs (4 earned) in 5 1/3 inning of work.
Spurling Optioned to Toledo
Jason Beck reports that Chris Spurling was optioned to Toledo following today’s game. It does sound like Chris took the news well:
“I just get the impression I’m not well-liked anymore around here,” Spurling said, “which is fine. The staff changed, the opinions changed.”
I can’t blame him for being discouraged, especially considering the way some his bullpen mates threw today.
Since his recall on May 26th, he made 3 appearances and wasn’t charged with any runs. It included a 2 2/3 inning effort in mop-up duty against he Indians, and 1 1/3 innings today where he followed Jason Grilli. He hasn’t been used in high leverage situations, but he’s still been effective.
Frankly I’m perplexed by the move. Yes he has options, as does Roman Colon. And I’m not convinced that they couldn’t pass Jason Grilli through waivers
I understood when he was sent down the first time. He wasn’t pitching well, and Toledo pitching coach Jeff Jones was able to fix him. This time it makes little sense.
The Tigers were carrying 13 pitchers because they thought they would need an extra bullpen arm. Fortunately Nate Robertson, Kenny Rogers, and Jeremy Bonderman were able to go deep into games. The Tigers also have an off day tomorrow meaning the full complement of arms will be available. A yet to be named position player will be recalled. Ryan Raburn has been hitting well, but he currently isn’t on the 40 man roster which is now full. Essentially an additional move (ie Mike Maroth going to the 60 day DL) would have to be made to get someone other than Jack Hannahan back.