2008 Season, Game Post

Game 79: Rockies at Tigers

190 Comments

PREGAME: Ooohhh, subplots abound. There’s that whole Jim Leyland quitting on the Rockies thing, but he’s already made his one statement about that. Plus there is that Jason Grilli commenting on team chemistry thing, and the fact that he pitches awful at Comerica Park.

Of more concern though are the Tigers simultaneous marches to mediocrity and contention. The Tigers are 2 games below the .500 mark and Sunday marks the end of the first half of the season. If Detroit can somehow muster a sweep, they’d be +1 for the first half which isn’t a big deal on its own. But given the struggles of the first 2 months would be a mighty accomplishment.

The Rockies have lost their last 4 and are 15 games below .500. Tonight they send out Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenz has been on a bit of a roll of late allowing only 3 earned runs in his last 3 starts. He strikes out a fair amount, but walks a batter every other inning.

For the Tigers it will be Eddie Bonine making his 3rd career start. The red flag with Bonine in the early going is that he’s allowed 3 homers in his 12.1 innings. And those innings came at notorious non-homer parks Comerica Park and Petco.

COL @ DET, Friday, June 27, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 7:05

POSTGAME: I’d laud the outstanding efforts of Eddie Bonine and Curtis Granderson, but I’m leery. I touted Gary Sheffield’s awesomeness only to see a GIDP and a K in a hitless stat line. Maybe I should just let Bonine’s 8 innings of 1 run ball and 17 ground ball outs speak for themselves. And offensively, how much commentary is required when a player puts together back to back 4 hit games and extends a hitting streak to 15 games? Those kind of accomplishments don’t need to be propped up by some blogger. They stand on their own.

I will just reiterate a statement I made a few days ago. Watching Granderson go to third is a thing of beauty. There is that moment between first and second when you just know he’s going for the triple. It’s all so smooth with perfectly turned angles to the bases that an engineer can appreciate. But there’s still something about that moment when despite the smoothness, there is that one explosive step where he seems to get an extra gear as he braces himself to round second and head to third. Simply a joy to watch.

  • The Tigers plated 7 runs, but it felt like it should have been so much more. Like Wednesday’s game I can’t really bag on an offense that racks up 15 hits and forces a starter to throw over 100 pitches in 4 innings. But this game seemed like it had double digit runs written all over it.
  • Joel Zumaya had a nice outing. Sure there was the double and wild pitch. But a swinging strike out is what we really were looking for. Most important were no walks allowed.
  • Oh yeah. And Clete Thomas reached base 4 more times. That’s not too shabby.
  • Now if only the Twins would lose.

190 thoughts on “Game 79: Rockies at Tigers”

  1. I trust that Grilli’s trend of pitching poorly at Comerica continues. I can’t imagine Clint Hurdle would throw him to the wolves like that, but I expect him to be absolutely abused by Tiger fans if he does.

  2. Lets just hope the rain stays away…with the Tigers playing this well they need to get the games in. (Also I have tix for Saturday)

  3. I hope the fans don’t go overboard in booing Grilli if he makes an appearance. Better to let the past be the past and not send a message to the current players as to how ex-Tigers are treated.

  4. with grilli pitching for the visitors, i would hope he gets a standing o as he walks to the mound, i know i’d be excited for that as a tigers fan

  5. Dave – Looks like it should be clearing up right around game-time on Saturday (good thing, I’m going too), but the “strong thunderstorms” in the preceding 3 hours worry me a bit.

  6. I’m not sure why anyone would boo Grilli in particular. The comments about the clubhouse atmosphere? He was asked some questions and expressed an opinion that wasn’t exactly inflammatory on the face of it. When it became controversial, he made it clear that this had not been his intention. I don’t understand the opinion that players should “shut up” about their old teams. Speak your mind and let others speak theirs.

    Grilli had some memorably bad games that obscure the memory of more that were good. It’s not like he was Jose Mesa (my hero) or anything.

  7. I will definitely be cheering if Grilli makes an appearance, in anticipation of the many runs the Tigers will score that inning.

  9. i’ll be at the game tonight, weather permitting. I plan to cheer him if the Rockies put him in a tied game situation.

  10. since stats are stats, Jimenez has pitched at home his last 4 starts, where he has been really good. His away stats are awful.

  11. Actually, Grilli has been dominant the past few outings. Something like 1 hit over his past 25 ABs.

    If he does pitch this series, let’s just hope his stats regress to their rightful mean.

  12. I think the real irony will occur when Grilli comes into the game with a 1-run lead and runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out, and doesn’t allow run. And then retires the side in order the next two innings and we all say, “WTF Grilli?”

  13. Tiff I’ll be there too.
    As for Grilli, if he does make an appearance I just hope that the reaction doesn’t put Detroit as a whole in a bad light, having no class, because that’s what the media always likes to show.
    And as for his comments, they might have been inartfully stated, but hey, I think we all suspected that something was not gelling at the beginning of the season at least. Some truth in there, probably.
    Let bygones be bygones and let’s concentrate on winning tonight!

  14. I’ll be making an appearance at Comerica as well tonight. First time back in about a month, so I’m hoping the rain holds off.

    I heard someone at work mention a possible Polanco suspension for his ejection yesterday. I’m not sure I want him taking any more time off than necessary now that he has his bat going again. Anyone else hear anything?

  15. Wow, the NYY/NYM doubleheader tonight is played at two different stadiums. First at Yankee, second at Shea. Weird, yet awesome.

    How long have they been doing this?

  16. It would be weirder if one of them was at Shea and the other at Wrigley.

  17. I hope Grilli strikes the first guy he faces out, then gives up a homer b/c he can only locate his fastball. Which would be pretty typical of the Grill-Master

  18. DRILL ME returns. WOOO. I am pumped to be headed to the game tonight. Hopefully I can see a patented Grilli home run.

  19. Re: Suspension

    I’ve been trying to find any word on whether Polanco is to be suspended or not, and have also failed. I think it all depends on if the thrown bat and helmet are judged to have been in the direction of the umpire. I was at the game, but my view of the argument was obstructed, so I can’t say one way or the other. If it’s a really close call, I think the fact that the umpiring was genuinely bad may earn Polanco the benefit of the doubt. I also can’t seem to find any info on a possible Thames suspension. He touched the ump while arguing, and I think that’s an automatic three games. I kinda figured that was why so much effort went into not playing Thames yesterday; they are expecting a suspension and want to get it out of the way ASAP.

  20. Well, also weighing in each guy’s favor is that they have no track record of lunacy (see Bradley, Milton). I seriously doubt either would be suspended anyway. We would’ve already found out about it, as the league office usually issues suspensions the afternoon after the incedent.

  22. IMO, the best thing we could do if Mr. Grilli gets to pitch would be to ignore him. Then cheer like hell when he gives up a bomb.

  24. Did anybody see the umpire that got suspended for bumping the manager? Talk about bizarro world, but at least it’s a consistent enforcement of the rule by MLB.

  25. hey tiff, do you really think they won’t get the game in? it looks pretty clear to the west once the current mess moves on, and the stuff out here in Chicago won’t be there until tomorrow sometime.

    I’m really hoping for baseball, I have no plans tonight and I’m looking forward to a quiet evening watching the Tigers win.

  26. We need a contingency plan for rainouts and other such events.

    In the event of a rainout, I proposes that someone with a simulated computer/video baseball game play out the scheduled game for us. We get to vote on the Tigers lineup first (but not the starting pitcher). The chosen simulator will provide play by play for us. Two advisors will be chosen to make all important game decisions for the Tigers (steal, hit and run, pull the pitcher, substitutions), and if they disagree, it is simulator’s choice.

    We should do this on off days, too. In fact, let’s do it all the time. To hell with the real team. We have no voice in what they do, so why should we care?

  27. That’s a dangerous path you’re headed down, Sean. Come back, my man. It’s for your own good.

  29. Just trying to help, Mark. We’ll all be so bummed if they don’t get the game in.

  31. Or not, Chief. Lee, preparing for his future days as a Tiger, just hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Sox still lead 1-0.

  32. I know it, Sean. But I felt I had to pull you in there. Human contact is good. Essential, even.

    We all be totally bummed, but I really think they’re playing this game tonight. It might start a little late, but they’re playing.

  33. Speaking of Derek Lee and his DP, do guys with good power who don’t strike out a lot and don’t ground into a lot of DPs even exist? Is it simply the downside of being a good line drive hitter that a lot of those would-be line drives turn into ground balls rather than fly balls?

  34. 4-0 Sox, turns out Dempster is the one imploding. 2 on, 1 out for the Sox still in the 4th

  35. Sean, that’s a good question. I can’t think of anybody offhand. The hardest part is finding a power guy who doesn’t strike out much.

  36. I caught some of the Cubs game yesterday up to the point where they were down 11-0 to the Orioles. A bit surreal.

  37. Swisher hits a slam to officially pummel Dempster out of the game.

    8-0 Sox.

  38. The Cubs just aren’t themselves lately, I guess. Too bad the Tigers aren’t playing them. Well, we did what we could for them. They’re on their own now. And they did sweep the Sox once already. I guess there’s a limit to their charity.

  41. im downtown it let up raining for a little bit but now its back to looking like armageddon. Rain is supposed to be here til 8.

  42. I like this Ubaldo Jimenez. He has a fun name. People looking for baby names should really check out MLB for candidates.

  43. The Twins will win their 10th game in a row Tonight. That’s guaransheed.

  44. Sean…

    While there are and have been some wonderful names (including Wonderful) in MLB, nothing can compete with college football. Perhaps it’s just the critical mass of players, but there have been some great ones.

    My wife and I are currently looking at names, and I’m pushing hard for Craphonso or D’Brickashaw… though Eulogio is a strong contender.*

    *by “strong contender,” I mean “name I enjoy making fun of”

  45. Ah, thanks, Chief. Why didn’t we think of this sooner?

    Joel, you have a point about the NFL, but I question the authenticity of many of those NFL names. That league will do anything to improve ratings. Stolid and staid MLB, now – them’s the ones to trust. You just can’t make up names like Ubaldo and Eulogio. This has been proven with computer simulations of making up names. A SETI-like networked computer project to this effect has been going on for 7 years now. Not one Ugeth, Jair, or Gorkys has turned up.

  46. Joel – Oh, you said college football. Yeah, I can read. Sometimes.

  47. So, I made a flippant “cancer” comment in another thread, but what does everyone think of Shawn Chacon?

    He’s a decent pitcher (though his stats this year are underwhelming) and would probably be cheap. Would he be worth signing and putting in the #5 spot in the rotation?

    Pedro Martinez showed us all how important it is to have a pitcher who doesn’t mind taking down an old man…

  48. OK, maybe “decent” in being generous… but he’s a major league pitcher, and he might be worth a shot. Or not.

  49. Joel – I read the story on the Chacon/Wade incident. From Chacon’s comments, I got the impression he’s a real head case, like most people with that first name in all its variations.

    I agree that his stats probably would be cheap. Are the Tigers really that desperate?

  50. Ooh, look. A post from Title Insurance Agency. Big Tigers fan, goes way back. You can tell because he was browsing Internet.

  51. From Beck’s blog:

    TIGERS (38-40)

    Granderson, CF
    Polanco, 2B
    Guillen, 3B
    Ordonez, RF
    Cabrera, 1B
    Thomas, LF
    Sheffield, DH
    Rodriguez, C
    Hollimon, SS

    ROCKIES (32-47)

    Willy Taveras, CF
    Scott Podsednik, DH
    Matt Holliday, LF
    Brad Hawpe, RF
    Garrett Atkins, 3B
    Jeff Baker, 1B
    Chris Iannetta, C
    Troy Tulowitzki, SS
    Clint Barmes, 2B

  52. I gather from his absence that Renteria must be hurting. Thames, too?

  53. Given that our corner infielders have played a grand total of 50 or so games combined at their respective positions, I would think the top guys in Colorado’s lineup will be bunting for a base hit at some point.

  54. Chris, I don’t know what’s up with Renteria, but I think Thomas got the start over Thames because of the at-bats he put together yesterday.

    and there’s yet another hit batter in an 0-2 count. Unreal.

  55. Sean:

    I think the good Dr. is out because Ubaldo is a righty… Clete’s been pretty good since coming back up, so why not play the platoon split?

  56. That’s probably the only way Tavares and Podsednik can get on. Have the Tigers faced a lineup with 2 speed guys up top who burned Guillen and Cabrera yet? Just asking – I can’t recall any games like this. Could be a new thang.

  58. Joel – I’m always one to prescribe the good Doctor, but I’m fine with Clete.

  59. That’s OK, Mark. Chris was going to steal that post from me anyway.

  61. Magglio really scuffling right now. I can’t remember the last time he hit a ball hard.

  62. I just got MLB.com’s gamecast to work on my work computer, and I discovered “light 3D” mode. It features a batter who looks like one of the hockey players in Strange Brew.

  63. Cabrera drives in a run, making it 2-0. It was only a single, though, because he sucks and doesn’t care about winning.

  64. Jiminez is having the kind of inning Tigers starters were having earlier in the year.

  67. Hey Joel, how about “Tshiminga Biakabutuka”? Played for Michigan some time back. People gave up trying to pronounce either of his names and called him “Touchdown Tim”.

  70. Mark, Dave:

    It’s Ubaldo. There is no Jimenez here.

    Anne:

    That is a great one…

  71. Hey! I can’t believe Gameday works with dial-up – first time I tried it, just for the hell of it. first inning ended about a minute ago – how far behind am I?

  72. Two runs in the 1st inning? I guess that’s better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. 🙂

  77. ‘Half an inning behind, you are, Sean”

    Thank you, Future Man Dave. Keep the details coming in case I get impatient with Gameday and want to peek into the days of future past.

  79. Feel like I oughta throw in James’On Curry and Longar Longar. But yeah, nothing beats Craphonso. Nothing says “you mean the rhythm method doesn’t work?” quite like Craphonso. I feel like names like Jair and Ubaldo and Ugueth are probably semi-normal names somewhere. Craphonso is not.

  80. Into the third, 2-0 Tigers. FSN showed a clip of Granderson in slow motion and Mario slowed down his voice to match. You guys out of state just don’t know what you’re missing.

  81. I hate the way Gameday tells me it’s an out before I know what the play is. Except when the Rockies are up.

    The players look like sailors moonlighting as motorcycle cops.

  82. Pudge singles in Cabrera. 3-0. Seven Tigers hits, and U-Ball is up to 76 pitches.

  84. Man, just to point out stuff that happened a while ago, that’s twice that Polanco failed to get the job done tonight. Failed to advance Granderson in the first inning and failed to score him in the second. That’s surprising, usually he’s omney in those spots.

  85. Pudge redeems himself. Ordonez and Sheffield have until the end of the game to do so.

    Ubaldo is at 307 pitches through 3. Hammer time.

  91. Passes are only good between games, Ryan. In game – zero recall, what have you done for me lately, as in the last at bat.

  92. Tigers who who GIDP

    Granderson 1
    Polanco 7
    Guillen 6
    Ordonez 12
    Cabrera 7
    Sheffield 9
    Renteria 10
    Inge 1
    Thames 1

  96. 4 innings in a row with man on 3rd. Pretty cool.

    Ordonez is off the hook with RBI single.

  97. Ordonez has a permanent free pass for agreeing to come to detroit when we weren’t good, for the 2007 batting title, and for sending us to the series

  98. Cabrera can’t buy a hit. Out of baseball by the break, more’n likely.

  103. Do we dfa cabrera or try and trade him from more of a position of strength? He’s clearly finished.

  104. Yeah eddie. Since we call him bovine and o’s look like zeroes, can I mooooooooooo whenever he throws up a 0?

  105. If we can just keep calling up kids from Toledo and Erie, we may not lose another series the rest of the year!

  107. Are you kidding? No team would take Cabrera now that he’s been EXPOSED. We probably couldn’t even convince the Rockies to take him for Grilli.

  108. Wow. Coming back from 3-0 to get the inning-ending DP is way cool. No matter who’s up. Who does this guy think he is, Kenny Rogers or Todd Jones?

  110. Oh man, don’t tease me Dave. Cabrera for Grilli would be sah-weet.

    No way the Rockies would do that.

  111. Hollimon, slightly more stoppable at the plate. But at least he can field. That bum we got at first can’t do either.

  112. I was really starting to believe in the Thomas-Sheffield clutch duo. That was a painful inning for me.

  113. on Beck’s blog he says that after the game the Tigers are planning ro release Cabrera and then take him out to old Tigers Stadium and shoot him.

  115. I am absolutely in love with these 3-groundout innings. Moooooo is good, Forty. Could be the start that establishes Mr. Bonine.

  116. If Hollimon can ever figure out this “hitting the ball” thing, I wouldn’t mind watching Guillen-Hollimon-Polanco-Cabrera in the infield for a couple years.

  117. Curtis, despite missing the first couple weeks of the season, still almost has all-star cailber numbers. He HAS to get consideration.

  118. Man, we can turn 1st and 3rd, 0 outs into the end of the inning in record time. 2 pitches.

    At least we got a run out of it, but jeeeez.

  120. I think we’re looking at the 1000-run Tigers here. At last. They keep coming at ya! Most unusual, most welcome. Usually it’s a big inning or 2, then sleep. Not lately, not tonight, except for that Cabrera bum and his DFA pal Gary..

  124. You Future People would already know, but I’m guessing that Eddie’s done for the day? Great job. Wow.

    Gameday is so cool. I feel sorry for you people who have to attend the games or watch on TV. Too bad.

  125. After that 7th inning K, let me be the first to question Sheff’s health. I think it’s time for Larish and his more interesting helmet at DH again, except that he’s already coming up to replace Cabrera tomorrow. What to do?

    Thomas IS unstoppable. Hey, HE can be the DH, which will get my boy Marcus back in.

  127. Was that 3 pitch K on Barmes as good as it looked from here? Man. Eddie!

  130. OH MY GOD! THE METS HAD A FIVE-CYCLE TODAY!

    In case anyone doesn’t know what it is, it’s basically one of the rarest things in Baseball. To do it, you have to score 15 runs (and only 15). You have to score 1,2,3,4, and 5 runs in separate innings. The rarest of these is a Five-Cycle in Natural Order.

    The Mets almost did it, but instead scored their runs like this: 1,2,3,5,4. Still, it’s freaking awesome.

  131. 2 out SB by Tavares, next pitch on 3-1 count, out by Podsednik, Something very satisfying about that sequence.

  134. If they put 15 on the Yankees, that’s even better still. Hate those guys.

  136. WHAT AN AWESOME TRIPLE! Man, did you see how fast he was going around second? Holy crap.

  140. Is Hawpe really crappy in right, or were the two 3Bs in a row a coincidence?

  142. Maggs’s last AB in the 8th looked like real good pitching by Vizcaino.

  144. A bit more old Zumaya, please. I’m not liking this (post-wild pitch).

  148. Terrific all-around ballgame, great win! Nice to win the first game of the series for the first time in a while. Let’s hope Verlander keeps his good streak going tomorrow.

  150. I think I’d like to see a first pitch strike once in a while from Zumaya, but he got it done.

    We must agree on Cabrera and Sheffield, but is anyone else headed for DFA postgame?

  151. Looks like every other AL Central team might win again tonight. Maybe not Minny.

    I hate that when we’re going good, it seems like we’re never able to pick up ground or push other teams back.

  153. Mark, you might be real close on June. What’s the optimum outcome, 17-9 now? Calling a game or an AB is one thing – getting that close on an entire month…. you might be elected psychic in residence for the entire month of July.

  155. “I hate that when we’re going good, it seems like we’re never able to pick up ground or push other teams back.”

    Hey, it’s only late June, Adam. Bit premature for the standings watch. Let’s get to .500 and beyond first.

  156. Very nice outing by Bonine. I didn’t expect anything like this, to be honest.

    I love the way the offense kept coming. I guess I have to let them off the hook for early opportunities to tack on another 4 or so.

    Does anyone else have the strange feeling that 2 triples in a row is somehow wrong? Same with a triple and then a HR. It’s like, OK, first you’re supposed to drive in the guy on 3rd with a single, and THEN get your 2nd triple or HR. I feel cheated somehow. But both guys on 3rd got in – how sweet was that?

  157. Yeah, the beauty of a division race is we’ll get plenty of chances to give them losses ourselves. And we need to win 90+ to make the playoffs, so let’s just focus on continuing to win.

  158. I’m pretty sure the Twins aren’t going to see the same Tigers team they saw last time. It’s a whole new ballgame. I’m even anxious for the next Royals series.

  161. Well Sean, I still have a couple days left, but I feel good about the way they are playing. That’s all I really care about. I remember saying a few days ago that they needed a 12-4 stretch to finish the month to get to .500 and I was fairly skeptical about it. Yet here they are, with a shot to finish there if they go 2-1.

    Amazing.

  162. Oh, and thanks to all who suggested I try Gameday and put up with my blah-blah-blah “can’t do it ’cause of dial-up.” Worked fine, a major advance in potential enjoyment of Tigers games. Of course, the Tigers have to win these games, or else Gameday sucks.

  163. Mark, I really thought it was going to be a slow crawl to .500, well after the break. May left me so pessimistic. So much was wrong. Things seem to be coming together for the Tigers now in a way fairly analogous to the improbable wrongness of April-May.

    Now about that bullpen…

  164. ““Strikes Bovine” for Cy Young”

    No kidding. I expected no more than a serviceable performance, 4-5 runs, hoping the bats would again carry the day. It was all there tonight.

  165. JAIR JURRJENS: 8IP 3H 0R

    Gorkys is going to the all-star futures game, but even without that, Great trade. I’m betting Jair would be looking pretty good in a Tigers uniform right now.

    Never, never trade with the Braves ever again.

  166. billfer – Nate Robertson’s line drive rate isn’t significantly higher than it has been in years past. In fact, it’s actually lower than in 2006 when he posted what would be considered his best season (19.4% in ‘08 vs. 20.0% in ‘06). He’s really right in line with his career norm as far as that goes. His main problem would seem to be that his GB rate has plummeted from 46.7% in ‘06 to 41.0% this year. You would think that would lead to a spike in his HR/FB rate, but it’s the opposite (13.2% of his FB were HR in ‘06 vs. 9.6% this year). Again, I have no idea what to make of Robertson other than the fact he’s unlucky a lot with the .340 BABiP.

  168. Not the Renteria trade again. It’s done. The Tigers don’t need Jair, they don’t need Gorkys. They needed a SS and got pretty much what they bargained for. If Renteria disappoints a little too often… well, unless Jair can play SS, he’s irrelevant as far as that goes.

  169. Yep. All Central teams won.

    I know, I know. But it would be nice to gain some ground too.

  170. The Twins won again? Well, that does stink. But there’s something to be said for holding ground. And there’s payback to deal out later with certain teams in the division.

  171. Sean,

    Revisiting the Renteria trade will never die. Just accept it, ignore it, and move on.

    I’m seriously considering writing out a detailed defense of the trade in word and just cutting and pasting in here every time somebody brings it up.

  172. I think there are two parts to every trade: need and valuation. Clearly we got the need right. Valuation just seems skewed to atl’s benefit…I have no issues with edgar, just that we gave too much up.

  173. wasn’t able to type with you guys tonight //just want to add about the Atlanta trade…if it wasn’t made..maybe no Gallaraga,, maybe no Bonine….maybe no Thomas…would there be a guarantee that JJ and Gorky would have contributed more than Battlestar and Thomas…….who is to say JJ would not be 4-5 with the Tigers….

    ..I agree with let it die…move on to tomorrow..cause tomorrow could bring us something we didn’t think would happen for quite awhile yet,that elusive .500…one game at a time

  174. Amen to letting the hashing and rehashing of the Trade for Edgar die.

    I like Mark’s solution.

  175. Anne, pronouncing Touchdown Tim’s name is one thing, but spelling it correctly is another. I’ll bet you graduated from U of M.

  177. The Central Division has been lagging all year and now they’re coming back to the pack. I see the wild card coming out of our division now. The Yankees can’t hang with their pitching.

  178. If we wouldn’t have made that trade, JJ would have been included in the Miggy and D-Train trade. They obviously asked for our best 5 prospects, JJ would have been third.

  179. Is it true that Inge aggravated his injury by bending over his baby’s crib and changing his/her diaper or something like that?

  180. Obviously, we are systematically moving around the bases backwards to trash our team. Last year it was Inge, this year Edgar and Polly next year.

  181. I am guardedly optimistic, but the real test will come next week when they start playing MLB teams again. Over the last ten games (and I’m pretty sure beyond, but am too lazy to check) exactly 2 AL teams have losing records (CLE, TOR). The Royals (9-1!) and Twins! (10-0!) have the best records in baseball over that time.

    Like bilfer, I still see some missed opportunities with the offense, and not only in last night’s game. They have been getting some officiating breaks of the type that were going the other way earlier in the season. And, for me anyway, the jury is still out with the bullpen, although the rotation appears to have come together even with the loss of Bonderman.

    Fortunately Leyland hasn’t been much of a negative factor, but how much can a manager screw up when playing AAAA opposition?

  182. I still can’t believe how quick Grandy raised his average. Just a few weeks ago…struggling around .230…and now nearly .300! Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone pull it up that fast.

  183. Ron, I guess you don’t believe in the Rays? They are still well up on even the Twins for the WC if they don’t win the AL East.

    I am going to the Saturday and Sunday games in Baltimore 3 weeks from today. And I sure I hope I see a Granderson triple. And since I am staying in the same hotel as the team, I hope I see him in person as well.

  184. I saw the MLB power rankings and they have the Twins 3rd and the Tigers 16th. I will have to research how they come up with that.

  185. David C.

    How do you know in what hotel they are staying? My kid wanted to go when they were in town the las couple of weeks and I didn’t research it in time.

  187. David G. park yoursef outside the elevators. The Orioles ain’t gonna be no pushover either.

  188. IMO, JJ is probably the best thing to leave the Tigers since Jeff Weaver. Weaver had a better track record and was even a better pitcher than JJ though.

  189. great game, kind of quiet crowd, but the game went by so fast and there was rarely any drama there wasn’t anything to get too riled up about I guess. Grandy running to third is a beautiful thing, and LOVED the back to back triples, mostly because Hollimon got denied his other triple with the Cardinals and because it would’ve been a double but the guy lost the ball for a second and he straight hustled.

    We were a little bummed about Magglio dropping the ball for Bonine’s no-no, but it was still a nicely pitched game. No walks!

    Very funny about DFA Cabrera. If we’re still speaking in opposites.

  190. Obviously, we are systematically moving around the bases backwards to trash our team. Last year it was Inge, this year Edgar and Polly next year.

    I will never trash talk Polly. I don’t care what kind of slump he goes in. Make fun of his head size, yes. Trash talk, no. He’s just that good.

    Also, Sheff has a lot of good will deposited in the bank right now. He single-handedly won at least one, and probably two games for the Tigers against the Redbirds. That’s a lot of pop-ups and GIDP he has to withdrawal, folks, before you hear this fan grumbling.

    I’m also an equal opportunity complainer. Once Renteria or Inge (more so Renteria — I really have no gripe with Inge these days) carry the team on their backs a couple games, a la Gary Sheffield, I’ll lay off them, too. Hasn’t happened. Renteria has done nothing but hurt the team (which has nothing to do with the JJ trade. I evaluate Renteria based on his play — not on the trade/cost). Holliman made at least two plays last night Renteria doesn’t make. I think the Tigers are a better team with Holliman at SS.

Comments are closed.