Yearly Archives: 2006

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 82: Tigers at Pirates

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PREGAME: Ah, the rubber game. Zach Miner takes the hill for Detroit and he’ll be opposed by Ian Snell. Snell has struck out 7.15 batters per nine innings this year, but he’s only fanned 9 in his last 3 starts (16 2/3 innings).

And in the irony/coincidence department, Chris Shelton is of course facing the team that left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft. The Pirates let him go because his defense wasn’t good enough for the NL. Shelton has made 3 of his 4 errors this season in the last 2 games. One can’t help but wonder if he’s pressing, or if it’s just one of those things.

Game Time 1:05pm.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 81: Tigers at Pirates

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PREGAME: The Tigers look to make it 8 in a row and they have a favorable pitching match-up. Jeremy Bonderman who loved June, will take on Tom Gorzelanny. There isn’t much to know about about Gorzelanny. He’s making only his 2nd start and 3rd appearance.

Game Time 7:05pm

POSTGAME: That was a stinker. Lot’s of guys left on base, lot’s of opportunities with men in scoring position, 3 consecutive errors leading to a 7 run 7th inning…

If you’re looking for positives there were a couple. Jeremy Bonderman looked good again. Also, the bullpen came in and did their job. They kept inducing ground balls, they just weren’t being converted to outs. Also, while the team was awful with men in scoring position, I guess the good news is that they had at one point, 10 at-bats with RISP in the first 5 innings.

An ugly loss certainly isn’t a way to cap the end of the first half of the season. However, I think I’ll choose to focus on the 55-26 record instead.

2006 Season, Minors

Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 30th

Toledo 7, Indianapolis 0
Jordan Tata was spectacular tonight. He threw 7 scoreless innings, fanning 11 and walking none. He did throw 119 pitches, 80 for strikes. Dustin Mohr was 2 for 4 and Maxim St. PIerre homered and walked. Ryan Ludwick also hit his 13th homer. Daivd Espinosa was 0 for 2 but walked 3 times and stole 2 bases.

Erie 5, Reading 3
Nook Logan was 3 for 5 with 2 stolen bases. Bobby Jones walked 3, struck out 3, allowed 3 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings.

Clearwater 2, Lakeland 1
Jeff Larish and Jeff Frazier each walked and singled in 4 plate appearances. Dallas Trahern pitched a complete game and allowed 2 runs on 5 hits with one walk and one strikeout.

West MIchigan 4, Wisconsin 1
Michael Hernandez homered and doubled. Michael Hollimon and Cameron Maybin both singled, walked and stole a base. Sendy Vasquez pitched 6 innings allowing the lone run while fanning 5 and walking 1.

Lowell 4, Oneonta 2
Scott Sizemore continues to rake as he picks up a single, and his first homer. Zach Piccola was touched for 4 runs in 3 2/3 innings.

GCL Phillies 3, GCL Tigers 2

2006 Season, Pitching, Players

Jeremy’s June

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Everybody has been waiting for Jeremy Bonderman’s “arrival” for the last few years. Early in the season Bonderman vacillated between really good, and well, not very good. For a spell in late April and early May he was arguably the worst pitcher in the Tigers rotation. But with the arrival of the month of June, he hasn’t only been the best pitcher on the league’s best staff, he was amongst the best in baseball.

Continue reading Jeremy’s June →

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 80: Tigers at Pirates

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PREGAME: If the Tigers win tonight, they will match the pace of the 1984 Tigers. It would also give them their first 20 win month since 1979. The matchup certainly looks favorable with Kenny Rogers taking of Kip Wells.

Wells is making just his 3rd start of the season after coming back from surgery to repair an artery in his shoulder. He was knocked around for 5 hits as he stuggled to find the plate (5 walks, no strikeouts) in his last outing which lasted only 3 1/3 innings.

Game Time 7:05pm

POSTGAME You know things are going well when your team wins, and you are ready to criticize them. The offense was active early, which was fortunate because Kenny Rogers was getting hit hard. The early 7-2 lead was chipped away throughout the game. Meanwhile, the Tigers offense went to sleep. They were swinging early and often in the later innings, and never really threatened after the 5th inning. And then there were a couple of errors by Shelton.

But there were also a lot of little things to like:

  • Roman Colon was very good in relief. He faced 6 hitters, and allowed only a single while fanning 2
  • I haven’t been a big fan of the Alexis Gomez-as-a-defensive-replacement-for-Thames strategy, but I’m pretty sure Thames wouldn’t have reached that ball in the 9th
  • Curtis Granderson has been very clutch with the bat this season, tonight he was clutch with the glove.
  • Todd Jones had another nice outing. It was more interesting than you’d hope for, but it wasn’t his doing. He should also receive credit for helping to induce that bunt pop-out.
2006 Season

Dmitri, Gum, and a bunch of other links

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  • Dmitri Young talked with Rob Parker abouth is battle with alcoholism and his journey back. Young is facing a battle on 2 fronts. He has to overcome his off the field issues, and show that he deserves a spot on the team and in the starting lineup. It’s interesting that the Phillies and Brett Myers have received a lot of flack for their handling of Myers’s spousal abuse situation. Yet the Tigers and Young haven’t felt the same wrath. Maybe it’s because Young’s incident didn’t happen in front of a throng of people, or maybe it’s because Young has been MIA since the incident. In any case, the Tigers need to speak about their stance on the issue. I know there are legal ramifications for Young, but the organization can’t appear to condone the alleged behavior.
  • On a lighter note, Nate Robertson has started a Gum Time blog. At first I thought the gum thing was funny. It was a bunch of guys making millions of dollars acting like little leaguers – which is cool. I think at this point it’s a little silly, but who am I to mess with what works.
  • All 4 of the Tigers starters (I’m not counting Maroth/Miner) have allowed exactly 94 hits. This is insignificant but mildly interesting at the same time.
  • The Hardball Times has a nice piece on the Tigers success thus far. This looks to be part of a series so keep checking back.
  • The Baseball Crank took a look at how proficient teams are at not losing their baserunners by looking at GIDP, CS, SB, SH. Three teams that have been doing very well this year, the Mets, White Sox, and Reds, are at the top of the list. The Tigers however are in the bottom 3rd, which just shows there more than one way to skin a cat. In the Tigers case it comes back to pitching, defense and power.
  • Keith Law at ESPN Insider ranks the top 10 rookie pitchers. The top 4 are Francisco Liriano, Jon Papelbon, and then Zumaya and Verlander. I was a little surprised to see Zumaya ranked ahead, but I agree with Law when he says

    But unless there’s a compelling physical reason to make his move to the bullpen permanent, the Tigers should let Zumaya start and move him only if he pitches his way out of the rotation.

  • The Tigers have asked about Cliff Floyd, but the Mets aren’t sending him anywhere.
2006 Season, Minors

Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 29th

Toledo 5, Charlotte 3
The top of the order produced for the Mud Hens with the first 5 hitters having multi-hit games. Kevin Hooper was 4 for 5 and Josh Phelps was 3 for 4 with a homer. Colby Lewis allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on 7 hits, a walk, and 3 strikeouts over 6 innings. Chris Spurling allowed 1 run on 3 hits in 2 innings of relief.

Erie 13, Arkron 6
Erie staked Jair Jurrjens to a 7 run lead in the first inning, and they never looked back. Chris Maples, Jackson Melian, and Kelly Hunt (2) all homered while Kody Kirkland tripled. Brent Clevlen was 1 for 5 with 3 strikeouts. Jurrjens allowed 3 runs on 6 hits, one walk, and 5 K’s over 5 innings.

Clearwater 8, Lakeland 7 (11 innings)
Garth McKinney was 3 for 5 with a homer and Jeff Larish added a double, a single, and a walk. Andrew Kown started and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) in 5 2/3 innings. He scattered six hits, walked 3, and fanned 1. Kevin Whelan retired all 4 batter he faced, 2 via the strikeout.

West Michigan 4, Wisconsin 1
After allowing a first inning run, Lucas French kept Wisconsin off the board by scattering 9 hits, walking none, and fanning 4. French went 7 innings and then handed the ball over to Ricky Steik and Orlando Perdomo who both pitched scoreless innings. Cameon Maybin was 2 for 4 and Michael Hollimon was 2 for 3 with an intentional walk.

Oneonta 3, Lowell 1
Brennan Boesch hit his 2nd homer and Scott Sizemore added 2 hits. Thomas Thornton pitched 4 scoreless innings. Casey Fien allowed 1 run on 2 hits and a walk in 3 innings, but also fanned 5. Brett Jensen recorded his 4th save with a scoreless 9th.

GCL Tigers – OFF

2006 Season, Minors

Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 28th

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Toledo 7, Charlotte 3
Humberto Sanchez had another strong start. He went 5 2/3 innings and allowed 2 runs on 6 hits. He walked 3 and struck out 2. Newly signed Dustin Mohr was 1 for 3 with a walk while Ryan Raburn homered and singled. To make room for Mohr, Nook Logan was demoted to AA Erie.

Akron 7, Erie 6
Mike Rabelo doubled and singled in 4 at-bats. Brent Clevlen and Kody Kirkland were both 1 for 4. Virgil Vasquez was knocked around for 11 hits in 5 innings. He fanned 6 and walked 2.

Clearwater 7, Lakeland 3
Garth McKinney was 2 for 4 with a homer. Kevin Ardoin gave up 5 runs in 4 innings with a walk, a strikeout, and a homer.

South Bend 7, West Michigan 6
Cameron Maybin was 2 for 5, but once again struck out 3 times. His K’s are piling up. Burke Badenhop was touched for 10 h its and 6 runs (5 earned) in 5 innings.

Oneonta 10, Vermont 4
Scott Sizemore , Ronnie Bourquin, Ryan Strieby, Louis Ott, Deik Scram, and Santo De Leon all had multi-hit games. Bourquin added 2 walks as well. Randor Bierd pitched a scoreless inning of relief with a hit, a walk and 2 K’s.

GCL Indians 4, GCL Tigers 3

2006 Season, Pitching, Players

On the 6th Day…

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Justin Verlander had a dominating performance today throwing 8 shut out innings. He was making a start on 5 days rest, and it wasn’t the first time he seems to have benefited from an extra day of vacation. In fact, in his 4 top starts (ranked by Game Score) 3 have come when he’s had more than 4 days of rest.

In listening to today’s game, Jim & Dan indicated that Verlander seemed to be throwing free and easy with more bite and velocity than he had of late. So qualitatively he seemed to benefit from the extra rest, but what do the numbers show?
Continue reading On the 6th Day… →

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 79: Astros at Tigers

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PREGAME: Justin Verlander looks to keep things rolling. If I recall correctly this is Justin’s 3rd home start on get-away day. I remember the other 2 (one against the Angels and one against the White Sox) didn’t turn out so well.

The Tigers will be facing Andy Petitte and his 5.75 ERA. The Tigers will be sending out their regular starters, including a rare day-game-after-night-game start for Pudge Rodriguez. His lifetime 394/412/576 line against Pettite may have something to do with it. Also, the Tigers have an off day and then 3 against the Pirates so there may be a few more regulars resting this weekend.

Game Time 1:05.

POSTGAME: So was Justin Verlander tired of being overshadowed by Francisco Liriano? Verlander turned in his best performance in a month as he shut out the Stros for 8 innings.

Aside from Verlander, it seems like the Astros lost this game more than the Tigers winning it. With 3 runs being unearned, one walked in, and the last scoring on a wild pitch.

Things were a little scary when Magglio Ordonez left the game, but reports are that X-rays are negative and Maggs is day-to-day with a shin contusion.

A day off, and then on to Pittsburgh.

2006 Season, Players, Roster Management

Dmitri to rehab (baseball)

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Dmitri Young is heading to Lakeland to begin a strength and conditioning program. Upon completion of the program he’ll head to AAA Toledo for a rehab assignment.

I’m actually quite surprised by this. I fully expected that Young’s career as a Tiger was over. I expected he’d stay on the DL throughout the season and then the Tigers would decline his option.

I know he was granted time away from the team to deal with personal issues, but to the best of my knowledge there is still an arrest warrant for Young and his being out of state is a violation of his bond.

I’d love to see Dmitri return as the player he once was and help the team. However given the circumstances I just don’t know that it is possible.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 78: Astros at Tigers

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PREGAME: After beating up on Wandy Rodriguez last night, the Tigers will face a slightly more formidable challenge in Roger Clemens…I really don’t have much more to say. Roger Clemens is really good, and none of the current Tigers have had a great deal of success.

I’ve seen Clemens pitch in person one time. It was when he was with the Blue Jays and our seats were in the 2nd row by the visitor bullpen at Tiger Stadium. I don’t remember the game itself, but I distinctly remember being 15 feet away as Clemens was warming up. Very cool.

Big League Nate Robertson takes the ball for the Tigers. The Tigers are 2-2 in June when Robertson pitches, and he really pitched 4 winnable games. His bullpen let him down in 2 of his starts.

Game Time 7:05pm.

POSTGAME: I just got back from the game and it had exactly what I hoped for. The Tigers won. Roger Clemens was looking like a Hall of Famer. Nate Robertson battled and matched him.

Two of my favorite moments from this season came during the 7th inning of this game. In the top half of the inning, when Nate Robertson was in the midst of crawling out of a runner on 3rd no out jam, the crowd rose to its feet as Willy Taveras came to the plate. The park was electric as 40,000 willed Robertson to get that final out.

And then in the bottom half when Roger Clemens was taken out of the game, the Detroit faithful gave him a standing ovation out of respect for his effort that night, and for his complete resume. I’m tired of the Roger Clemens retirement/non-retirement saga every year, but I still fully recognize his stature in the history of the game.

I’ve been to sold out games at Comerica Park before, but they weren’t like this. Opening Day is a party, and the Yankees are the Yankees. Tonight was all about baseball. The fans were collectively engaged the whole game. The crowd sensed momentous turning points and rose in unison. This wasn’t a bunch of bandwagoners following a winner. These were baseball fans thrilled with finally having something to cheer about from the home team. This was a whole lot of fun.