Monthly Archives: September 2006

2006 Season, Managing & Strategy

The big inning – that almost wasn’t

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Yesterday the Tigers put the game out of reach early with a monstrous 9 run 2nd inning. But that inning almost didn’t happen. In fact, Jim Leyland tried to keep that inning from happening. Here is what transpired:

1. Craig Monroe led off the inning with a double down the line.

2. Brandon Inge was called on to sacrifice bunt. Essentially giving away an out to advance Monroe to 3rd, or playing for 1 run rather than for runs. Fortunately for the Tigers Brandon took the first pitch, and was drilled by the 2nd. Now there are runners on 1st and 2nd.

3. Omar Infante is now called on to sacrifice bunt, giving up an out to move runners into scoring position in the 2nd inning. Infante got the bunt down, but the Royals couldn’t field it cleanly and everyone was safe.

Now with the bases loaded the bunt was taken out of the equation. For the rest of the inning the Royals would be forced to earn their outs. In doing so the Tigers managed to push 9 runs across.
Continue reading The big inning – that almost wasn’t →

2006 Season, Playoffs

The Clinch: Playoffs

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The Tigers have secured their first playoff birth since 1987. I was 13 when the Tigers last sniffed the post season so this is a first in my adult life – and yet I feel like a kid!

Congratulations everyone! Players, Scouts, Coaches, Front Office Folks, Fans, Bloggers, Everyone!

Special congratulations go out to the following players:
Brandon Inge
Ramon Santiago
Craig Monroe
omar Infante
Jeremy Bonderman
Mike Maroth
Jamie Walker
Fernando Rodney
Wilfredo Ledezma
Nate Robertson

That was the worst of times, and here’s hoping for the best of times.

The story isn’t complete, but the first chapter is. Now let’s nail down the division.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 156: Tigers at Royals

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PREGAME: So maybe it’s just as well the Tigers didn’t clinch a playoff spot last night. They’d have wanted to party, and there would have been this pesky day game to play today. Hopefully they can take care of business today, have a boisterous flight home, and relax with an off day tomorrow.

It will be Justin Verlander against Runelvys Hernandez.

In terms of implications, the Tigers are 1 1/2 games up on the Twins and the Twins have a game in hand. If the Twins win out, the best they could do is 99 wins. The Tigers are at 93 wins so their magic number is 7. However, the Tigers hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Twins, so the real magic number is 6. As for the playoffs, a Tiger win or White Sox loss locks up a playoff spot. When it comes to home field, the Tigers are now only a half game behind the Yankees, so that is still very much a possibility.

Game Time 2:10pm

POSTGAME: Not a lot for me to say about this one. Let’s just be happy.

Oh yeah – and the Tigers once again have gained the best record in all of baseball.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 155: Tigers at Royals

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PREGAME: Things were looking good earlier this afternoon. Michigan was beating up on Wisconsin, and the Mariners held a 7-2 lead before a rain delay settled in moments after the 5th inning was completed. While the Wolverines held on, the Mariners collapsed when play resumed and as I write this they are trailing 11-7. So the Tigers will have to wait until at least tomorrow to have a chance to celebrate their first playoff birth since 1987.

Tonight the Tigers will turn to Kenny Rogers to get them one game closer. He’ll be opposed by Mark Redman in a battle of soft tossing lefties.

Game Time 7:10pm

POSTGAME: A certain Tiger returns to the lineup and the bats came alive. Welcome back Chris Shelton! I kid of course, but it was nice to see all the members of the early season lineup swinging the sticks together again. The first inning was, long, fruitful, unreal, fun…Curtis Granderson and Carlos Guillen combined for the cycle in that first inning.

Kenny Rogers did a good job of making sure this game didn’t turn interesting. Really the only downside from the game was Mike Maroth surrendering 3 runs in the 9th inning. In his last 2 outings he’s allowed 3 homers. Now in Maroth’s defense, he’s made 3 appearances spread out over 15 days. For someone used to going out every 5th day it is probably an adjustment, not to mention the fact he is coming off of surgery.

Maroth is teetering on the edge of not making the playoff roster. The Tigers can get by without him, but I’m rooting for Maroth. He endured so much during the 20 loss season and was a sacrificial lamb that season. For what he went through in 2003 and for being an all around good guy, I’d love for him to contribute to a post season run.

2006 Season, Playoffs

Playoff Positioning

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With the Tigers nearly a lock for the playoffs, there has been a lot of speculation about who the Tigers may face in the first round. I’ve read and heard quite a bit that the Tigers need to win the division so they don’t have to face the Yankees in the first round of the playoffs. I wholeheartedly disagree with this line of thinking.

It’s hard to argue that the Yankees aren’t the favorites to come out of the American League. Of course they will be a formidable opponent. But if the Tigers are capture the American League Pennant and advance to the World Series they would have to beat the Yankees at some point. If you are of the opinion that the Yankees are vastly superior to the Tigers, it’s actually better for the Tigers to face them in a 5 game series than a 7 game series. The longer the series, the better the chance that the team with superior talent will prevail. Besides, what does winning the ALDS really get you anyways? Is there that much difference between losing in the first round of the playoffs or losing in the 2nd?

Don’t get me wrong, I want the Tigers to win the division. I want the Tigers facing Oakland in the first round, not because I fear the Yankees but because at the end of this year I want the Tigers to have a title of some sort. Whether that title is AL Central Division Champion, American League Champion, or World Series Champion I’ll be happy. The latter 2 are certainly possibilities, but the former is the most immediate and most within the Tigers grasp.

Want the division because you want the title, don’t want it because you think the Tigers can’t beat the Yankees.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 154: Tigers at Royals

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PREGAME: So the Tigers magic number to clinch the division is 10, but they only have 9 games left. Essentially they can’t guarantee their own fate anymore. It’s time that they took control again.

The first step will be with a 3 game set in Kansas City. Wil Ledezma will start for the Tigers. After making a big splash when he first entered the rotation, he’s struggled his last 2 games.

He’ll be opposed by Luke Hudson. Will it be the Hudson that retired one Indians batter and allowed 10 runs, or will it be the Luke Hudson who fanned 10 Yankees?

Game Time 8:10pm

POSTGAME: I’m glad this one turned out the way it did, because I was getting frustrated watching Detroit hit ball after ball hard but at people. Meanwhile the Royals cobbled together a rally out of a bunt, a groundball through the middle, and a comebacker gone awry.

Ledezma was very solid and the Royals weren’t able to get good swing off him. He nibbled around the edges too much as he battled with control, but he kept the Royals off balance and the Tigers in the game.

And with the Twins losing, the Tigers now have the opportunity to “control their own destiny.”

2006 Season

Camden Linking

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I’ll be off to Camden Yards for Thursday’s game against the Orioles. With Southwest flights for $98 roundtrip from Detroit it was just too good an opportunity to pass up.

With that, here’s some reading material:

  • Deadspin’s Will Leitch went Pete Rose and is apologizing to Tiger fans for jinxing them in August. (hat tip Mack Avenue Tigers)
  • Kurt notes that while there are many applicable comparisons of the 2006 Tigers to the 2005 White Sox, the 2002 A’s may be a better match.
  • Big Al makes the case for Kenny Rogers to get some AL MVP love. Al’s realistic about Kenny’s chances, but does make an argument that he should at least receive some consideration.
  • Peter Gammons is back. The trade deadline wasn’t the same without him, but he’ll be a part of the post season. I’ve been a long time Gammons fan and it is great to see him back. He’s been very supportive of bloggers and the Tigers. How could I not like him?
  • USA Today takes a look at some high impact rookies and has a poll for ROY. Verlander is by far in the lead with just over half the vote. (Thanks to Joel)
  • ESPN.com Page 2’s Eric Neel breaks down the race in the least scientific way possible, but he likes the Tigers mojo and uni’s. (I’m pretty sure somebody left this link in the comments a couple days back but I can’t find it now. But thank you)
  • And the Tigers look like they’ll be closing out next season in Chicago. The White Sox announced their tentative schedule which concludes with them hosting the Tigers for 3 games.
2006 Season, Game Post

Game 152: Tigers at White Sox

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PREGAME: Tonight is one of those games that is much bigger if the Tigers win than it is if they lose. After tonight there will be 10 games left and the Tigers will have either a 4 or 6 game lead over the White Sox. Both put the team in line for the playoffs, but the 6 game lead would probably be enough to assure the postseason practically speaking. Now of course there is that other matter of the division title of which the Tigers hold a precarious 1/2 game lead.

Tonight it will be Jeremy Bonderman taking on Jon Garland. The last time the Tigers faced Garland they were shut out. The time before that they were held to one run. And the time before that they shelled him. And the time before that they shelled him. Now Garland is throwing much better now than he did early in the season, so the Tigers will have their work cut out.

Jeremy Bonderman will try to minimize the extent of that work. He bounced back in his last start on Friday night after struggling in his previous 5. His last start against the White Sox was a 4 hit 7 run effort. On another Bonderman note, he is on pace to set the Tigers season record for strikeouts per 9 innings. He’s current at 8.83 which narrowly eclipses Mickey Lolich’s 8.68 mark from the 1969 season.

Game Time 8:05

POSTGAME: When Tiger killer Joe Crede grounds into 3 double plays, I think you know something is going Detroit’s way. Bonderman turned in his 2nd strong performance in a row and hopefully he’s shaken off that late August slump. The bullpen once again didn’t give the opposition much of a chance. And the offense had another solid game.

Number 8 hitter Marcus Thames, number 9 hitter Brandon Inge, and leadoff man Curtis Granderson went a combined 7 for 12 which will help get some runs.

Magglio Ordonez had another fine game with a solo homer to straight away centerfield and a fine diving catch.

Finally, Omar Infante who’s defense isn’t good enough to keep him in the lineup each day made 2 great defensive plays. He made one ranging to his right that save a run, and another play ranging far to his left to take a hit away.

Today didn’t insure a playoff spot, but it certainly made it pretty darn likely.