Yearly Archives: 2006

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 69: Tigers at Cubs

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PREGAME: It’s a rookie pitching battle today as Justin Verlander takes on Carlos Marmol. We know about Verlander already, but there isn’t much to know about Marmol. He’s only made one start and 2 relief appearances – and been very impressive. In his 10 innings he has 13 K’s against 3 walks, and has allowed only one run.

We’ll see who the true home team is today, with the crowd pro-Tigers yesterday.

POSTGAME: The Tigers continued to pound the ball against the ivy. Even pinch hitter Omar Infante hit a homer – er a triple thanks to crappy umpiring. And despite the fact that the Tigers picked up 14 hits, 7 for extra bases, they were still robbed on several occasions. In fact the last two outs of the 4th, and the entire 5th innings were basically web gem nominees for the Cubs.

Verlander’s control wasn’t entirely there, but he battled through and held the Cubs to one run. Wil Ledezma was awesome in relief coming into a bases loaded situation and stranding all 3 runner. Fernando Rodney pitched about as well as he hit, but with a 8 run cushion you could laugh about both.

With the win the Tigers move to 21 games over .500. That matches their highest point which they last achieved after a Verlander win against Cleveland on May 27th. So since racing out to a 35-14 record, they played .500 ball over the last 20 games.

2006 Season, Minors

Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 16th

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Toledo 0, Syracuse 0 (14th inning, in progress)
Can you say pitchers duel? Mark Woodyard started and pitched 3 scoreless innings despite walking 4 and he only allowed one hit. Chris Spurling threw 4 innings fanning 4 and only allowing two hits. Ryan Raburn has 3 of the Hens 5 hits.

Harrisburg 7, Erie 3
Jair Jurrgens made his AA debut for Erie. He allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks in 5 innings. He also struck out 5. Not a bad outing for a debut at a new level. Eulogio De La Cruz allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, in 2 innings. Brian Rogers allowed a solo homer, but recorded 5 of his 6 outs via the strike out. Tony Giarratano who had been heatin up was placed on the disabled list with a sprained wrist.

Lakeland – DNP

West Michigan 7, Fort Wayne 1
Michael Hollimon was 2 for 3 with a walk. Cameron Maybin doubled in 4 at-bats and struck out twice. Mark Haske was 3 for 3 with a walk. Burke Badenhop spread 10 hits over 8 innings. He allowed a solo homer and no walks against 6 strikeouts. Orlando Perdomo pitched a scoreless 9th.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 68: Tigers at Cubs

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PREGAME: The Tigers travel to Wrigley Field to take on the Cubs. It’s the occasional match-up like this that makes me actually like interleague play.

On a personal note, I made the trip to Chicago in 2000 to see the Tigers take on the Cubs. My wife and I took in two games. What made it even more memorable is that the morning we left we found out we were pregnant with my son.

But on to the game itself…Nate Robertson will be taking on Glendon Rusch. Rusch has been pretty awful and has allowed 14 homers in his 31 innings as a starter this season. He’s been particularly ineffective at Wrigley allowing a .387 BAA and 10 homers in 13 1/3 innings. Rusch is also the 4th lefty starter the Tigers have faced in the last 5 games.

POSTGAME: That game ended up a lot closer than it felt like it would be early on. I happened to be at home today, so I was able to see the game. While the Tigers only posted 5 runs, they hit the ball hard up and down the order (well except for Guillen). Pudge and Thames both had balls caught at the wall and Shelton and Granderson both had line drives that Jacque Jones made nice plays on. Even Nate Robertson had a hit taken away on a nice diving play by Juan Pierre.

Robertson was dominant, I think he only had one 1-2-3 inning, but he also was never really in trouble.

Marcus Thames homer was to the opposite field, which is a rarity. I mentioned his flyout to the wall which was also to right-center.

Todd Jones pitched an uneventful 1-2-3 inning. And it may be hard to believe, but that was the 3rd 1-2-3 inning he’s pitched this week. It’s just that one of them was followed by a disastorous 4 run inning.

And finally, the most encouraging item may have been Chris Shelton. Yesterday he doubled and walked twice. Today he doubled down the right field line and sent another line drive to the warning track. He also drew another walk today. And even when he struck out his last time up, he didn’t take the monster swing, he looked like he was trying to flilp it to right again. I’m not saying his slump is over, or that he’s even breaking out. But Chris Shelton today looked a lot more like the Chris Shelton of last year.

Tiger History

Tiger Stadium to get wrecking ball

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Finally, something is going to happen with Tiger Stadium. It is going to be demolished this fall. There don’t appear to be a ton of details, but the macro idea is to replace it with retail shops and housing. The area that comprises the playing field will be preserved, along with the dugouts, and used as a little league diamond and park.

I think this is all pretty good news if it comes to fruition. The city loses one more vacant building, and the field area itself will be preserved in some fashion. Also, the people in the Corktown community were invovled in the planning and are on board.

Of course there are plans to auction off anything that people will pay for.

What I really hope they’ll do is allow fans one more time to be inside the stadium. I know there are safety concerns, but people were allowed onto the field for the Super Bowl party. I’d be satisfied with that, and would even pay a nomial fee for the opportunity. It would be a chance for one last glimpse. I would be a chance to show my son where I became a Tiger fan.

2006 Season, Minors

Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 15th

Toledo 7, Syracuse 3
Ryan Ludwick was 2 for 4 with a homer. Josh Phelps and Brian Peterson each added two hits as well. Jordan Tata scattered 10 hits over 8 innings for only 3 runs. He fanned 7 and walked 1.

Erie 5, Reading 4
Brent Clevlen was 2 for 3 with a double. Virgil Vasquez pitched 7 innings and allowed 3 runs on 6 hits with 6 K’s.

Lakeland 10, Tampa 2
Clete Thomas had two hits and Jeff Larish drew 3 walks. Chris Robinson was 3 for 4 and is now hitting 263. Jon Connolly, who you may remember was part of the Tigers organization and traded for Felix Sanchez, returned and made the start. He pitched 6 innings and allowed 2 runs on 2 walks and 3 hits without any strike outs.

Fort Wayne 8, West Michigan 0
West Michigan was 3 hits so there isn’t any offense to report. Sendy Vasquez was knocked around for 6 runs in 3 1/3 innings.

West Michigan 5, Fort Wayne 5 (in progress 8th inning)
Michael Hollimon singled and walked. Cameron Maybin was 0 for 2 with 2 walks. Erik Averill allowed 5 runs (4 earned) in 4 innings.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 67: Devil Rays at Tigers

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PREGAME The Tigers will try and recover from last night’s extra-inning loss to take the series. Zach Miner will make his 3rd start and we’d all be happy if he could repeat his performance from Toronto. Casey Fossum will pitch for the Devil Rays.

And in case anyone noticed, the Tigers no longer have the best record in baseball. The Tigers and Mets are both 18 games over .500, but the Mets edge the Tig’s by .005 in winning percentage.

POSTGAME: So if I were to say one Tiger would go 0 for 5 with 3 stikeouts, you might guess it was Chris Shelton. And if I told you one Tiger doubled and walked twice, you might guess Curtis Granderson. Well, it was role reversal day. I’m not at all worried about Granderson, but I am hopeful about Shelton. Last night he only K’d once and was at least putting the ball in play. Today he drew a couple walks and had a bloop drop in. Maybe he’s turning it around?

I don’t think we could ask anymore from Zach Miner in his first 3 starts. Today he didn’t allow an earned run. Early on he was far from efficient, but managed to get through 7 innings on 100 pitches. Wil Ledezma also got his first action and had a walk and 2 strikeouts.

And in an oddity, the Tigers didn’t homer in the 4 game series.

2006 Season, Pitching, Roster Management

Bullpen shake-up, Ledezma gets the call

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Bobby Seay was designated for assignment and Wil Ledezma will get his spot in the bulllpen. Ledezma has been outstanding for Toledo with a 2.52 ERA and 66 strikeouts against 23 walks in 71 innings. It appears that this was less of a case of Seay earning a demotion, and more a case of Ledezma earning a promtion.

The other part of this move is that the Tigers are in a long stretch of games without a day off. Jim Leyland has hinted about using a 6th starter on occasion to spell the rotation. Ledezma could easily be that guy, where Seay never could.

As for Todd Jones, Leyland addressed it in his comments as reported by Danny Knobler:

“(Jones) didn’t really have much to do with the game, in my opinion (because the Tigers scored only 1 run in 12 innings). … If you just pitch Todd Jones in save situations, it’s different. I think if he’d have had a one run lead in the ninth, he’d have saved the game. … I think we’re talking too much about Todd Jones and not enough about one run in 12 innings.”

I would have been frustrated had Jones given up a run in extra innings, but I could have at least tolerated it. Somebody on one of the teams was going to give up a run at some point. It was the fact that he allowed the D-Rays to put the game out of reach with 4 runs. It isn’t the little blown save, it is the huge innings he’s allowing that are most troublesome.

2006 Season, Minors

Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 14th

Syracuse 4, Toledo 2
Tike Redman was 2 for 4 with a double and Josh Phelps hit his 7th homer. Mike Hessman chipped in with his 13th homer. Colby Lewis went 6 innings allowing 3 runs on 8 hits while fanning 4.

Reading 4, Erie 3 (10 innings)
Nate Bumstead started and allowed 3 runs on 3 walks and 7 hits in 6 innings. Eulogio De La Cruz pitched two scoreless innings of relief. Kody Kirkland had two doubles and Brent Clevlen was 2 for 4.

Lakeland 4, Tampa 1
Jeff Larish homered (12) and singled while Jeff Frazier also picked up 2 hits. Jeremy Johnson went 7 2/3 innings allowing 1 run on 5 hits with a BB/K ratio of 2/3. Kevin Whelan allowed a walk but fanned two in a scoreless 9th inning.

West Michigan – DNP

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 66: Devil Rays at Tigers

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PREGAME: After a strong outing by Kenny Rogers, the Tigers bullpen is back at full strength. Hopefully they won’t be needed as Jeremy Bonderman will take the mound for the Tigers. Lifetime against the D-Rays Bonderman is 3-1 with a 2.20 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 28 2/3 innings.

He’ll be opposed by lefty Mark Hendrickson who sports a better ERA than Bonderman at 4.11, but has mustered only a 3-7 record.

I’m off to the game!

POSTGAME: It’s not just Todd Jones giving up runs in crucial situations. It’s the fact that for the 3rd time in 2 weeks he’s turned a close game into a blowout. Ergh! Awesome outing by both starting pitchers. Bonderman of course deserved better. Ergh!

2006 Season, Minors

Tigers Minor League Wrap – June 13th

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Toledo 1, Syracuse 0
Humberto Sanchez was the story with 7 innings of 3 hit ball, one walk, and 7 K’s. Not bad for his second start at AAA and has continued the success he saw in the Arizona Fall League. Chris Spurling pitched a scoreless inning of relief. Nook Logan singled and walked and Ryan Ludwick added two singles and a walk.

Reading 15, Erie 3 (9th inning in progress)
Mike Rabelo was 3 for 3 with a walk and Kurt Airoso homered. Erie’s lineup tonight had one hitter, Rabelo, who was hitting over .250. Brian Jones was tagged for 7 runs, but only one was earned, in 4 2/3 innings. He walked 4 and fanned 2. Brent Clevlen made and error (his 3rd) and Kody Kirkland added two (his 13th and 14th).

Dunedin 3, Lakeland 0
Clete Thomas doubled twice to collect half of Lakeland’s hits. Andrew Kown pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs on 4 hits, 4 walks, and 5 K’s.

Dunedin 6, Lakeland 0
Yes, the Lakeland Tigers were shut out in both ends of a double header. Jeff Larish managed a double for one of the 4 hits. Kevin Ardoin was chased after 3 innings and 6 runs on 6 hits.

Dayton 5, West Michigan 2
Justin Justice had two hits and Cameron Maybin was 1 for 3 with a walk. Maybin also picked up his 8th steal. Michael Hollimon fanned 3 times and walked once. Ramon Garcia went six innings and allowed 4 runs (3 earned) on 6 hits.