-
A new play by play defensive metric. Inge rates well.
-
Eric notes a BP study about clutch hitting and highlights the Tigers on the list
Yearly Archives: 2007
Game 21: Tigers at White Sox
PREGAME: I’ll be home from traveling later tonight, so these game posts should have more robust information soon. In the meantime you guys have been awesome with the comments in the game threads.
Tonight it is Chad Durbin and John Danks.
Game Time 8:11pm
POSTGAME:
So I actually got to see all of this game. I got back from Chicago (and yes the weather was freakin’ miserable) just in time for the first inning. With nearly 200 comments I think everyone has covered everything, but just a few comments:
- Chad Durbin was quite awesome tonight. Some will point to a lineup and say he benefited from not facing Jim Thome and Jermaine Dye, to which I say “Duh.” Next I say “so what?”
- Durbin has now made 4 starts, and I’d contend he’s done his job in 2 of them. Of course last night we got way more than we hoped for. But in his prior start against the White Sox he only allowed 2 runs in 5 innings. That is more than serviceable from a 5th starter. Now the 6th inning in that last start was of course dicey, but he’d already done his job keeping the team in the game.
- As for leaving in Durbin to finish the job, he was really right in that gray area of pitch count. I certainly understand both camps here. On one hand, how often do you even have a chance at a complete game shutout? And at 106 pitches, he probably could have gone another one. On the other hand, it was a crappy night, it’s early in the season, he’s done his job.
- As for why Joel Zumaya in a blowout? I’d guess it’s because Zumaya had been warming up in the 7th inning when it was a 4 run game. If Leyland gets a pitcher up, he tends to use them. It wasn’t Leyland’s fault that Zumaya couldn’t find the plate to save his life and is now unavailable for tomorrow.
- With 13 hits, the offense is definitely coming around. Sure there are still 4 regulars struggling, but that number was at 6 a week and a half ago.
- And just because it came up in the comments, clutch hitting. There are definitely things such as clutch hits, but I’m still not sure there are clutch hitters. The basic contention being that if you can will yourself to a hit with runners on, why can’t you do it the rest of the time. That said, I’d be inclined to believe that there are “unclutch” hitters who to suffer under pressure but that the perception is overblown. For one thing defining clutch situations is difficult. For another, sample size becomes an issue. Third, athletes playing in the major leagues have faced pressure situations all through out their careers to get to that point in the first place. I think that would be a significant weeding out process for those who were “unclutch.”
Tigers Minor League Wrap – 4/24/2007
Toledo 2 Charlotte 4
Yorman Bazardo only allowed 3 hits, a walk, and an unearned run over 6 innings of work. Chris Shelton was 2 for 4 with a a walk.
Akron 9 Erie 2
Jon Connolly allowed 3 runs on 7 hits spanning 5 innings. Kyle Sleeth came on in relief and allowed 6 runs, 2 of which were earned in 1 2/3 innings. Jeff Larish homered and doubled to lead the offense.
Lakeland 7 Sarasota 5
Mike Hernandez went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and Wilkin Ramirez added 2 hits. Lucas French allowed 5 hits, a walk, and 2 runs while fanning 5 in 7 innings.
Wisconsin 3 West Michigan 6
Lauren Gagnier went 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 2 hits and 2 walks. Brennan Boesch, Jeremy Laster, and Audy Ciriaco all had 2 hit games.
links for 2007-04-25
-
Matt has all the Tigers minor league transactions so far
Game 20: Tigers at Angels
PREGAME: Jeremy Bonderman and the Tigers will take Kelvim Escobar and the Angels on get-away day.
Game Time 3:35pm
Tigers Minor League Wrap 4/23/07
Toledo 8 Charlotte 1
Timo Perez hit his 4th homer and added 2 other hits. Brent Clevlen went 2 for 4 with a walk. Chris Maples and Dane Sardinha each had 2 hit games. Dennis Tankersley pitched 7 innings allowing only 4 hits and 1 run while walking one and fanning 5.
Akron 4 Erie 9
Jeff Larish doubled and walked raising his season line to an impressive 268/344/554. Mike Hollimon hit his first homer of the season and added a walk. Kody Kirkland and Brent Dlugach had 2 hit games and Jackson Melian had 3 hits. Eddie Bonine started and went 5 2/3 innings fanning 7 and allowing 3 runs on 7 hits. Anthony Tomey who was just promoted from Lakeland retired all 4 batters he faced, striking out 2.
Lakeland 2 Sarasota 7
Cameron Maybin tripled and singled and is n ow hitting 321/465/661. Burke Badenhop allowed 4 runs, but only one was earned, over 5 innings.
Wisconsin 6 West Michigan 3
Not much offense for the Caps with only 4 hits posted. Ryan Strieby picked up 2 of them. Jonah Nickerson pitched shutout baseball for 5 innings before being touched for 5 runs in his last 1 1/3.
Minors News
Virgil Vasquez was named International League pitcher of the week.
Game 19: Tigers at Angels
PREGAME: The Tigers kick off an asinine 4 game road trip that takes them to California for 2 games and Chicago for 2 games. The team flight arrived in LA about midnight eastern time last night.
It will be Mike Maroth taking on Jered Weaver. Let’s hope they can avoid extra innings tonight.
Game time 10:05pm
links for 2007-04-23
-
Is Rodney pitching injured? He said his neck has been stiff. Hopefully it hasn’t altered his mechanics causing another injury
-
Are the Tigers thinking about Ohman? I saw this in a Chicago paper yesterday as well.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – 4/22/07
Toledo 7 Durham 4 16 innings
It was a nice day, so they almost played two. The Hens pushed across a run in the 12th, only to see Durham answer. The Mud Hens broke through for 3 in the top of the 16th to end it. Ron Chiavacci allowed 2 runs and fanned 10 in 6 innings starting. He was the first of 8 pitchers used. Chris Shelton was 2 for 7 and scored the winning run in the 16th. Mike Hessman had 4 hits, and Ramon Santiago had 3. Ryan Raburn had a rough night going 0 for 7. Brent Clevlen had a rougher night also posting an 0 for 7, but with 6 K’s.
Bowie 6 Erie 11
Jeff Larish was a triple short of the cycle and drove in 6 runs. Mike Hollimon doubled and walked twice. Eulogio De La Cruz went 6 innings and allowed 4 runs on 7 hits, 3 walks, 2 K’s, and a homer. Andrew Kown came on in relief and allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, on a hit, and a walk. He fanned 5.
Lakeland – DNP
Wisconsin 2 West Michigan 8
The dream is over, Chris Cody allowed a run. Well, just the one actually in 7 innings of work to go along with 7 strikeouts. His ERA now stands at 0.34. In 26 2/3 innings he’s fanned 28 and walked only 6. Ryan Strieby and Louis Ott had a 3 hit game and Jeremy Laster hit his 2nd homer. Gorkys Hernandez singled, stole a base, and walked twice.
Game 18: White Sox at Tigers
PREGAME The Tigers need this win to salvage a .500 homestand, and to keep their record from sliding back to .500 overall.
One thing that definitely isn’t a key to the game is grabbing the lead early.
Gary Sheffield gets the day off today, so naturally Omar Infante will get the start at designated hitter and bat 3rd. It should be noted that Infante has amassed 32 at-bats against Jon Garland and is hitting .438 against him. Infante won’t be any less productive than Gary Sheffield has been at driving in Placido Polanco and Curtis Granderson, but it is a curious decision nonetheless. If Infante comes up with a big hit it is Leyland’s magic touch. If not …
Marcus Thames will start in leftfield and Mike Rabelo will start behind the plate.
Jon Garland gets the start for the White Sox. The Tigers end out Justin Verlander who’s been great this year. Last year the White Sox were the team Justin struggled with the most posting a 7.84 ERA over 5 starts.
Game Time 1:05pm
POSTGAME: Ah, so many thoughts and so many emotions. To hard to string them together logically, so I’m going bulletized: Continue reading Game 18: White Sox at Tigers
Tigers Minor League Wrap – 4/21/2007
Toledo 10 Durham 2
The bats came out in a a big way with Kevin Hooper, Brent Clevlen, Timo Perez and Ramon Santiago all having multi-hit games including a homer for Hooper. Chris Shelton was one of the few who didn’t get in on the party with an 0 for 4 and 3 K’s. Virgil Vasquez didn’t need much help with 6 shut out innings allowing only 4 hits and a walk while striking out 10. If nothing else it keeps the pressure on Chad Durbin.
Bowie 4 Erie 8
Mike Hollimon doubled and walked. Hollimon is 24 and the organization skipped him over Lakeland. So far with a 324/480/514 line things are looking good. Kody Kirkland doubled and singled and Jeff Larish drove in 3 runs without a hit. Jair Jurrjens pitched 6 innings allowing 2 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks and 5 K’s. He had people pounding the ball into the ground with an 11:1 GO to FO ratio.
Dunedin 8 Lakeland 1
Andrew Miller was knocked around for 9 hits (singles), 2 walks, and 5 runs. He fanned 3, and posted the same 11:1 ground ball-fly ball ratio that Jurrjens did. Cameron Maybin doubled and walked and is now hitting 308/463/635.
Wisconsin 3 West Michigan 4
Duane Below had a very good start allowing 4 hits and no walk for 2 runs over 6 innings. He also struck out 9 and induced 8 ground ball outs. Scott Sizemore and Gorkys Hernandez each had 2 hit games.
Brian Bluhm Memorial Fund
The community at Motown Sports is collecting donations to send to the Brian Bluhm memorial fund. I’ll be making my contribution as part of that group effort. The thread can be found here.
If you’re interested in contributing as part of that group, but not interested in registering for the site, drop me a line here. We’ll work it out so that we can get your donation in with the rest of the group.
If you want to donate directly you can do it via: Brian Bluhm Virginia Tech Civil Engineering Scholarship Fund, c/o Marathon Bank, 4095 Valley Pike, Winchester VA 22601