Yearly Archives: 2006

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 60: Tigers at White Sox

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PREGAME: Remember when I said not to make too much out of any one game? Well, if I were tempted to make too much out of a game, this would be it. The Tigers are looking to avoid a sweep against the White Sox. If they lose it would be their 6th straight to the Sox, and would also slide them out of first place.

At least in this series, the gap between the White Sox and Tigers doesn’t seem insumountable. Two 4-3 losses are tough to take, but they aren’t devastating. The pitching has been solid against a good offensive team in a good offensive park. The offense continues to sputter, but they are having better at-bats. They are working deeper into counts and typically restricting their swings to pitches near the strike zone. I’m also not particularly concerned about the 0-12 with runners in scoring position. It isn’t good, but I don’t think there is anything fundamentally different than two weeks ago when the Tigers were performing well in those situations.

All that being said, I would love to see the Tigers pile on Jon Garland early and keep this game from even being interesting.

I’ve done okay picking Tiger stars the last two nights. Tonight I’m going with Magglio Ordonez.

POSTGAME: The Tigers didn’t pile on Garland early, but they put enough seperation to make the game uneventful. And Rodney and Jones did their part in keeping the late innings boring.

For those that wondered by Kenny Rogers, who pitched excellent, was removed it appeared to be that his back was stiffening up. He’s come out of several games around the 7th inning for the same reason. What I though was impressive, and odd, is that inthe 6th innings with a foul ball back behind first base Rogers sprinted over and was right alongside Shelton and Polanco.

As for the hitting in scoring position, the Tigers got hits tonight. They didn’t hit the ball hard, but the hits dropped in. Also, the bigger factor was that while the team was 0 for 12 the first two night, I believe they had 11 ABs with RISP last night alone. The previous games were a general offensive funk, not just a problem of clutch hitting.

In any case, that whole “they can’t beat the White Sox” thing is off their backs.

And yes – Hawk Harrelson is awful – but please no swearing in the comments. Thanks guys!

2006 Season, Injuries, Players

Dmitri Young to Betty Ford

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There are reports circulating that Dmitri Young has checked himself into the Betty Ford Clinic. This is certainly sad and disappointing news. Between the injuries of the last couple years, the domestic violence charge, and this news, Young’s Tiger career has certainly taken a wrong turn. At this point I’d be surprised if we saw him in the Olde English D again.

Young is making $8 million this year. I wonder if the Tigers can recoup any of that due to the nature of this illness, or through insurance.

2006 Season, Injuries

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.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 59: Tigers at White Sox

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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.

2006 Season, Game Post

Game 58: Tigers at White Sox

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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.

2006 Season, Roster Management

Alexis Gomez returns

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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.

2006 Season, Uncategorized

The Tigers Draft

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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.

  1. 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.

  2. 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 Year

    Tigers 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.

  3. 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.
  4. Ryan Strieby 1B 6-5 235 R/R 20 U. of Kentucky Seattle, WA
  5. Scott Sizemore SS 6-0 185 R/R 21 Virginia Commonwealth Chesepeake, VA
  6. Jordan Newton C 5-10 195 R/R 20 Western Kentucky U. Elizabethtown, KY
  7. Jonah Nickerson RHP 6-1 200 R/R 21 Oregon State U. Casper, WY
  8. Chris Cody LHP 6-1 195 L/L 22 Manhattan College Brewster, NY
  9. Zach Piccola LHP 6-4 240 R/L 21 U. of South Alabama Nashua, NH
  10. Lauren Gagnier RHP 6-2 215 R/R 22 Cal St. Fullerton Santa Cruz, CA
  11. Russell Parrott 2B 6-1 195 R/R 18 Desert Mountain HS West Bloomfield, MI
  12. Joseph Bowen C 6-1 190 S/R 18 Vanguard HS Ocala, FL
  13. Angel Castro RHP 5-11 200 R/R 23 Western Oklahoma St. Dominican Republic
  14. Brett Jensen RHP 6-7 190 R/R 22 U. of Nebraska Eagle Grove, IA
  15. Franco Valdes C 5-10 200 S/R 17 Monsignor Edward Pace HS Miami, FL
  16. Jeffrey Gerbe RHP 6-3 200 R/R 21 Michigan State U. Detroit, MI
  17. 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.
  18. Deik Scram CF 6-0 170 L/R 20 Oklahoma State U. Arkansas City, KS
2006 Season, Minors

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.

2006 Season

Homestand Thoughts

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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 →

2006 Season

Draft Eve

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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 →