2008 Season, Game Post

Game 111: Tigers at Rays

198 Comments

PREGAME: Detroit will face James Shields. Shields is really good and he owned the Tigers last year. But that won’t really matter if the starting pitching can’t keep the team in the game and help out the bullpen a little. It’s been a week since a starter made it through the 6th inning with Zach Miner last doing it against the White Sox. Only once in the last 12 games has a starter recorded an out in the 7th inning. Coincidentally that one time was Armando Galarraga who will be starting today for Detroit.

DET @ TBR, Sunday, August 3, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 1:40

POSTGAME: Well, Armando Galarraga was great again. Bobby Seay was great again. The offense was good enough, getting a small lead (Ordonez x 2), adding an insurance run (Sheffield), coming back to tie the game off their closer (Granderson), and taking the lead (Cabrera). But it was undone by Farnsworth, Rodney, and Leyland. That list is in chronological order, not in order of crapulence.

Leyland’s negligence in the final inning will be the subject of a future post.

In the end it is another entry into the poll for worst loss of the year.

198 thoughts on “Game 111: Tigers at Rays”

  1. after watching the past two games i see why the rays have a 30% jump in attendance, aside from the winning record i mean. they are just a fun club to watch good young club with outstanding pitching and we didn’t even see matt garza on this trip. gotta like what theyve put together…could be a model for major league clubs to follow.

  2. Other teams have followed the model of stinginess. Oakland for 1, Florida for another. TB, like them, will never be able to afford their players once they become Free Agent eligible. It all depends on how they can turn their talent over in trades.

    TB is just in phase 1. They finally got some good players now, that was the easy part. The hard part is either keeping them or trading them when they are FA elgible for other top prospects.

  3. For those that are interested, you can watch Pudge catch for the Yankees on TBS this afternoon.

  8. We’re hitting Shields hard, just at people.

    I don’t think the Rays have a ball out of the infield on Battlestar yet.

  11. hey Brandon none of those were strikes. perhaps you could look a few of those balls over better

  12. I remember dreading the Armando call-up. So foolish. So naive. He would have a no-hitter if it weren’t for Guillen’s misplay at third.

  13. It wouldn’t matter, Brian. There’s no way he’d get to pitch nine. Too many pitches.

  15. He only has 80 thus far. It may take 110+, but he could still do it.

    But that’s all moot now.

  19. White Sox down 10 – 0 in the 6th inning vs KC. Looks like they’ll only win 2 out of 7 games this week.

  20. Twins up 5-1 in the 7th vs the Indians. Looks like they’ll move into 1st place by .5 game.

  22. Galarraga seems to hit some kind of wall right around the 7th inning no matter how many pitches. Just like the potential no hitter he was lights out for a long stretch and then just becomes very hitable. Both games he had <90 pitches I believe.

  34. Did anyone really expect anything else?.A few weeks ago this would have upset me. Now it is what I plan to see so I do not get too bent out by it.

    Two homers in the one inning! That was really quite a debut, Farnsworth! You heard about what relief pitchers are supposed to do on this team, eh?

  35. Every game, somebody performs like crap and loses the game. I HATE THIS SEASON. I HATE THIS BULLPEN. IHATE THIS TEAM.

  39. Unreal. I’d say “nice trade” but that’s been taken care of already.

    As I’ve said before, I’m with Sky. My mind is back in pre-06 mode. I don’t expect to win anygames, anything better than that is a bonus.

    Have a nice Sunday evening, all.

  40. This has to be the most disappointing team in franchise history. I’d be open to hear of other candidates but this is just comically bad.

  41. I swear, right after the top of the 8th, I turned to my wife and said that the bullpen was going to blow this game and the Tigers will lose….. Some things are just too predictable

  45. Expecting the Tigers to win this game is much like a man getting married for a second time: it reflects a triumph of hope over experience.

  46. Hey, I hope the team comes back and wins the game. But even if they do, you just acquired a set up guy for a hall of fame catcher and he just spit the bit. There’s been way, way too much spitting the bit this year.

  47. All right so the season’s over. Why bother even continuing to complain? Come back next year, when we’ll squander even more talent and expectations.

  48. Pudge is a future HOF catcher on his last leg. He’s been nothing more than an overpaid below average catcher for the past few years. We were lucky that anybody wanted a 36 year old catcher. That’s the truth of it.

  49. Following the Tigers is like smoking, you know it will kill you, but it’s a hard habit to break.

  54. Yes Chief Monday, we were lucky to get Farnsworth in return for Pudge. We should have just received a bag of chips.

  55. I just hope and pray that Leyland leaves Seay in the game!

    At least he was getting them out

  59. I hear ya stephen.. Could of easily went to bed early last night when they were getting smoked. But I for one am not a “fair-weather” fan.. Was fun watching them still.. and also to see Farnsworth’s debut.

  61. I agree. Seay should close this game. He only has 16 pitches, and again, there’s two lefties coming up next inning.

  62. Minny going to be in 1st after tonight :O 6GB if we win.

    I hope Ozzie doesn’t explode before the series. That would be bad.

  64. With Liriano back and apparently healthy (six shutout innings today), we probably have to assume it’s the Twins, not the White Sox, that we need to catch. Seems like a longshot the way we’re playing, notwithstanding heroics such as the Fossum miracle the other night and Curtis and Miggy this afternoon.

  65. I’ve been watching KC pummel the Chisox off and on all afternoon. It’s been delightful.

  66. Let me say this before the bottom of the inning. A few games back I said the same thing about Zumaya, only about 15 pitches, BUT he gave up a HR in his 2nd inning. This is where Leyland earns his money. TOUGH CALL!

  67. The WhiteSox are doing their part in helping the Tigers stay in the playoff race. Now the Tigers just have to do their part.

  71. ron: I presume that the poor woman has been secretly wearing headphones while watching games with him for years

  73. Sure enough, Rodney is coming in. I have no confidence. I REALLY WANT TO BE WRONG. But I just do not trust him to prevent a run or more in situations like this.

  76. At least he has more strikeouts than walks, which is more than I can say for SOME of our relievers

  77. I don’t know if this will work but it is at least the right move at the moment….that can change of course instantly come on crooked hat!!

  78. I can’t help but notice that no one commented on Rod’s extremely disturbing story about how Kenny Rogers’ dad (the oft mentioned Big Earl) sent Rod several packages of underwear. Rod’s stories have now progressed to a whole new level.

  89. I have been saying this for a long time. Has anyone yet been convinced?

    Rodney is just plain no good!

    Look at what this ass has done this inning! Why does Leyland let him pitch?

  96. the weird thing is the pitch wasnt even that far out of the strike zone…the guy made a full turn and ended up taking it in the sternum instead of the arm or side…

  97. Don’t blame Rodney, I’m sure he just has that same mysterious, possibly communicable ailment that sent Jones and Gobble to the DL

  98. After watching Fernando come in and pitch and almost always we end of loosing, HOW ON EARTH CAN YOU KEEP THIS SCREW UP!

  102. that guy didn’t get down to first very quickly after the bunt and i thought, wow either he’s dogging it or he’s really slow, then I saw the flak jacket under the jersey and it made more sense…

  107. I can possibly understand leaving Rodney in during a tied game. But why on Earth would you leave him in after seeing the first three batters he faced?

  108. Jeez…Renteria with his best Carlos Guillen 2007 SS impression on what could have been a DP ball.

  112. Exactly how bad does a reliver need to be for Leyland to take him out?
    Leyland takes out a starter at the slightlest sign of trouble, but leaves relivers in until the game is lost!

  116. Walk off walk! Awesome. It doesn’t have the charm of a walk off hit batter, though.

  118. Another epic collapse from the bullpen, wasting a brillliant start from Battlestar.

    We’re desperate for a closer. I guess we know where to focus our attention in the off season.

  119. I posted that previous comment before the last batter even came up. Rodney is a completely incompetent pitcher. That is all there is to it!

  121. Perfect way to lose a game. Absolutely perfect. Titled brim or whatever, Rodney is awesome.

  122. Did you see Bartlett’s finger, Dave? It was nasty. That might take a week to heal — does that count as permanent?

  124. This game is a perfect representation of the 2008 Tigers. It doesn’t matter if its Rodney, Zumaya, Jones, Seay, Dolsi, I don’t care. We will find a way to blow it.

  129. Fire Leyland…letting Rodney pitch that entire inning is totally inexcusable…hell put Inge in…. anyone ….total incompentence

  130. RODNEY SUCKS!!!! The only guy on this team that doesn’t walk batters is Galarraga….what disgusting pitching! … 🙁

  131. It wasn’t as fleeting as losing one’s breath. Maybe he’ll have bad handwriting for the rest of his life.

  132. This one really sucks, since we actually did that thing they call “comeback.” Bah. I almost called it, I was predicting the walkoff wild pitch.. (Inge did almost lose the 3rd or 4th pitch)

  133. It was bad in every way–very poor planning for one; if you’re gonna kill their players you do it in the 1st game of the series, not the last, numbskulls…

  135. how can you have an entire bull pen where NOT one pitcher can pitch….piss poor management…Leyland take Hernandez with you bye bye

  137. Billfer, I don’t know if you will read this, but I am sick and tired of the flagrant stupidity of those who run this team. I have never played professional baseball but an idiot can see that Rodney can not under any circumstances be allowed to pitch in a close game. He really needs to be retired..NOW……what is with the management that they do not see just how bad he is???

    Memories of 2006 don’t mean a thing in 2008!…I don’t want to hear that crap! He is no different than Renteria, Willis, and all the others who are supposed to know how to play this game.

  138. Congrats to the Rays and their fans. They kicked are behinds this weekend with good fundamental baseball.

    This has been one tough road trip for the Tigers. We had 18 of 21 games on the road after the All-Star break. After the coming up 3 game series at Chicago, the Tigers schedule will be much better, with 20 of 26 games at home.

  140. Cheaf Monday: “After the coming up 3 game series at Chicago, the Tigers schedule will be much better, with 20 of 26 games at home.”

    Which is a good thing, since by then we’ll need to win 22 or 23 of those 20 games…

  141. Maybe with that homer in the 8th the Tigers can trick the Rays into taking Sheffield off their hands. Maybe the only positive of the last three games.

  142. Mark in Cubcity: “Rodney’s inning:

    walk, HBP, sac bunt, walk, single, K walk”

    I think I have discovered a weakness in the Peripherals here…

  143. Chief, there was nothing fundamental about that last inning. TB had the benefit of Rodney pitching for them.

  144. Mike in CT: “Maybe with that homer in the 8th the Tigers can trick the Rays into taking Sheffield off their hands. Maybe the only positive of the last three games.”

    Voice of Doom replies: or on the basis of that home run the Tigers will sign him for another year…

  145. You know, you’re probably right. In the infinite wisdom of Jimmuh L. Sheffield’s as good as the back of his baseball card. So come Sept. 21 he’ll prolly get the average over .250 and justify everything.

  146. The Rays accomplished their goal; sweep the series and keep the casualties to a minimum.

  147. Plus: it will give the fans something to celebrate amidst the disappointment, when we have the big 500 HR Sheffestival

  149. Safe to say, Sheffield would clear waivers. Too bad somebody would foolishly put in a claim on Rodney, who’s value is roughly a circa-1979 pitching machine and five used Leyland ashtrays.

  150. I am not giving up on this season, if only because the White Sox are stinking it up too. We really missed an opportunity to pick up a couple games on them, but at least we get them head to head this week.

    We all knew the bullpen was going to be a problem this year, but it seems like EVERY TIME they go out there in a close game they struggle. Walks, HBP, base hits all over. How can they be THIS bad every time? The whole unit is a mess right now.

  151. I propose as a new nickname for Rodney: Heartbreaker.

    Which works on two levels for today….

  153. It’s true the White Sox are playing in various ways involving toilet functions (I forget the particulars)…I’m more concerned about the MT Heads though.

  154. ron: “Renteria did get his uniform dirty. All for naught. That had to piss him off.”

    Reportedly after the game Renteria pushed his way into Leyland’s office and demanded a new uniform, showing him the dirt and grass stains obvious on his.

    He calmed down once Leyland explained they have a guy that washes them and everything, and he would have it back clean the next day if he leaves it with him.

  156. Leyland’s brain is cooked. What keeps possessing him to put Rodney in?The guy has no control over his pitches. He looks like he’s drunk. Rogers is done dealin’ Jones is done dealin’,Renteria is way too error prone, the best third baseman(Inge) is trying to catch (passing balls), Robertson can’t pitch either. The best thing to do now is to look forward to watching the Red Wings next season. Or even: Pray! Pray! Pray! for the Lions and Pistons. And Leyland can take those aforementioned bums with him. Hit the road Jack!(Did I say Jack? I meant Jim!!!!!!!!)

  157. I wish I could see the press conferences Leyland has to attend. I really would like to know how he answers questions like

    “Jim, Rodney has repeatedly proven this year, like all your relief pitchers, that he is no good at all. Some have suggested that maybe he should not play this game. Any comment?”

  158. Isn’t it fact that Rodney slugs down Red Bulls before going into games, shouldn’t someone tell him that’s not the best idea in the world?

  159. Coleman; I would have told him to get his ass and filthy uniform out of my office before I sic Rodney on you.

  160. Thursday should have been a firesale to build a staff, instead DD said “we don’t need no stinkin’ staff, we just need a reliever.” Well, yeah, DD, you need a reliever, even more, you need a pitching coach, and even more than that, some starting pitchers, and maybe a manager who can tell Sheffield/Jones/Renteria that they’re not playin’ no matter how much dough they make.

    You have one pitcher in the minors who could be added to your staff on a long-term basis. You have this kid Galarraga as your Ace while your Ace tries to find himself, Zito-like. You have nobody else. How can you contend in the coming years with this staff??

    Texas has been following this model for years: field big boppin’ teams with no pitching ’cause those fans like to see hitting.

    Zumaya and Porcello join Galarraga and Verlander in ’09. Bonderman is an able 5th.

  162. Let’s see how long we can keep this up before Billfer shuts down the site!

    Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!

    Join In!

    Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!

    Chorus 3

    Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!Down with Rodney!

  163. “Isn’t it fact that Rodney slugs down Red Bulls before going into games”

    I’ve personally seen Bobby Seay do the same thing. I have no idea how the guy isn’t bouncing out of his shoes every game.

  164. Ok, first of all I am a huge Tiger’s Fan, but something is wrong. First, I think Leyland and all his stupid lineup changes this year have been a huge problem. What was wrong with the defensive lineup the last couple of years. Inge should be the 3rd baseman. Leyland needs to be fired after watching this sick series vs. TB. I know they are a good team, but come on. Our pitching sucks… Pudge should not have been traded this year. If they didn’t want to reinstate him for next year fine, but let him finish out this season here. Farnsworth is a joke!!! Giving up 2 hr in the same inning!!! It makes me laugh. I think I could do a better job managing the team. Did anybody notice how the TB manager pulled a pitcher as soon as they got into trouble somewhat??? Leyland waits until it’s too late to do anything. pathetic…. Playoffs… probably not in my lifetime again.

  165. Heather, don’t give up on those playoffs. I’m old as dirt and I haven’t given up. The first step is to get rid of Leyland and go from there.

  166. With each passing day and each game lost, this is becoming blatantly obvious: this is not our year. I’m not sure what Leyland is supposed to do when players are flat out not performing. Kenny’s ERA is near 5.00, Nate’s is over 6.00, and JV’s is 4.50ish. Throw in an eratic bullpen, lack of production out of a third of the regular lineup (Inge, Sheffy Perez, and Reneteria), and you have a recipe for disaster. This happens, though, people. Chicago was horrendous last year. Boston was down in ’05 the year after a World Championship. Despite tons of talent, the Mets have fallen short of expectations. All is not lost for the future. My suggestions:

    Take a run at K-Rod in the off-season; give him a blank check
    Re-sign Farnsworth; bring back Zumaya as a reliever; bring back Rodney
    Get rid of Chuck and hire a new pitching coach
    Attempt to sign a league average innings eater who can at least keep an ERA around 4.50
    Hold an open competition for 5th starter in spring training; include the following: Nate, Miner, Porcello, Willis, Chris Lambert, Bazardo, Vazquez, and anyone else you can come up with
    Rotation: JV, Armando, Bondo, League average free agent guy, winner of 5th man
    Eat the Sheffy’s contract
    Platoon for LF/DH: Clete, Joyce, Thames
    Do not pick up Edgar’s option
    Sign Joe Crede or Orlando Cabrera short term; play Guillen at 3B or SS based on which one you sign

    For the record, bullpen pitching is the single most unpredictable aspect of a baseball team. We could bring back the same pen next year with the addition of a closer and be lights out. You just never know: Examples: Cleveland from last year to this year; Detroit from 2006 to 2007.

  167. Atta boy Jimmuh….from the AP report…

    “I’ll just tell all of you to say whatever you want and write whatever you want,” Leyland said in his brief postgame media session. “That’s all I’ve got for you today. You guys write about it. You saw it. You write whatever you want. Report whatever you want.”

  168. We got a couple guys addicted to Red Bull, a manager addicted to cigarettes, we’re all addicted to the Tigers.” Well, this is a fine mess we’ve gotten ourselves into, Ollie”.

  169. Thanks Jimmy for giving the writers permission to write whatever, you control freak. Your pitchers should have such control.

  170. Greeting fromn Budapest.

    Sadly, I have resigned myself that the season is NOW over. The team is going nowhere. It is at best a .500 team. The rotation is poor and the bullpen is worse. I think it will take a lot to retool,and I am not sure where to begin (I guess with a closer, another starter and a shortstop). I have been faithful to the skipper, but my doubts are growing. My guess is that he will choose not to come back anyway.

  171. The season may be “over” as far as playoff hopes..etc But I haven’t resigned anything. I’ll be riding this broken down pony all the way to the bitter end.

  172. Leyland has made a lot of mistakes this year, but I can’t fault him too much for Rodney today. If not Rodney, who else is he going to bring in from the blowpen? Zumaya, Farnsworth, Jones, Dolsi — none of them have been much better.

    If I were managing the team, there’s not much I could do to make this team better. Sure, Sheffield and Renteria have been problems, but overall the offense has been good enough.

    The starting pitching has been a big disappointment. But what can be done there besides calling up 3 more guys from Toledo?

    And the blowpen… well it was the weakness everyone mentioned at the beginning of the year, but it has just been utterly atrocious. I don’t think you can manage around that.

    I’m no fan of Leyland at all. But as he said, people have to perform. If one guy — like Sheffield — sucks, it’s Leyland’s job to get him out. If a whole pitching staff sucks, well…

  173. Every day there’s a different reason why the team loses. That’s the worst thing IMO about this year.

  174. Ron: “We got a couple guys addicted to Red Bull, a manager addicted to cigarettes, we’re all addicted to the Tigers.”

    And also: ham sandwiches

  175. I was just reading the comments and I see some guy named Travis wants the Tigers to bring back Rodney. Are you serious? He stinks and always has!! Say buh bye to Rodney, Edgar, Nate and a few more. This team does NOT hustle and has zero speed. Like I posted b4, too many “Fat Cats” on this team. I really think the whole coaching staff needs to go after the season.This is the worst year…yes worse than losing 100 games. This team with all of the hype is a total train wreck. This is the worse I felt in my 35 years as a Tigers fan.
    Top of the league in hitting into DP
    Top of the league in walking batters
    Top of the league in getting shutout
    Need I write more
    So very sad……

  177. This looked like a fun game!

    I had to leave but got to see Rodney plunk 2 guys in the 10th and said “oh, well, the game’s over.”

  178. Actually, mellerman, Rodney has not always stunk. He had a run from 2005-2007 of solid relieving with stretches of dominance that rivaled Zumaya in 2006. He was fantastic in the 2006 World Baseball Classic with Dominican Republic, and again in the 2006 ALCS. In my opinion, if you people are going to stand by Zoomy, you better stand by F-bomb as well. I never said we should bring him back as closer; he obviously doesn’t fill that role well. However, if you are going to get rid of him, you better upgrade. I guarantee he would get scooped up quickly if released. Cleveland isn’t going to release Betancourt even though he is having a horrendous year. Why should we do that with Rodney?

    As far as the zero speed comment: how are the White Sox winning? They are also a team built on power hitting. Do they need more team speed too?

  179. Travisty: “They are also a team built on power hitting. Do they need more team speed too?”

    One difference is the the White Sox are a power hitting team who is…power hitting. Actually other than Thames and Sheffield, the Tigers’ power is more up the gaps double kind of power than it is longball power; Ordonez and to a lesser extent Cabrera, is best when he is hitting line drives off the wall, and gets homers when his doubles carry, if you will. The problem with doubles hitters? getting a bunch of runs across requires running at various points. (see bases-loaded double = 1 run + 1 out).

    Also, I DON’T think the White Sox are put together the ideal way to take the division, and my money is on the @#!! Twins.

  180. Coleman: I’d chalk part of that up to Comerica Park being huge in the gaps and US Cellular Field being average in the gaps + great carry on the ball. So, their “power hitting” comes from their lack of Doubles because they just carry over the walls. It’s no coincidence that the White Sox have a .827 Team OPS at home and .748 on the road while their HR/AB rate at home is once every 19.93 AB’s and on the road it’s once every 30.5.

  181. What a fun weekend I had at the Trop. Three games = three disasters. Can I get a refund?

  182. Tigers Payroll Savings

    Jacque Jones – 5 mill FA
    Kenny Rogers – 8 mill FA
    Todd Jones – 7 mill FA
    Edgar Renteria – 11 mill in 2009 + 3 mill buy out = 8 mill saved
    Vance Wilson – 950 000
    Tim Byrdak – 175 205
    Jason Grilli – 415 000
    Pudge – 13 mill in 2008 – Farnsworth’s 6 mill = 7 mill saved
    ____________________________________________________

    36 540 205 saved

  183. RudeMood19, any other way we can trim those savings some more? The bill for Red Bull is killing us.

  184. Release Rodney? He needs to be jailed for attempted mayhem. That stuff he’s been guzzling out in the pen needs to be banned. I think it’s the same crap that nearly destroyed Ankiel’s career. Went into 7-11 the other day for coffee and they have free little containers to dump in your coffee along with half and half; think it’s called Boost and it looks like mud. Pure caffeine. Great stuff.

  185. You have to figure if we fire Leyland we’ll still be on the hook for his salary, and I suspect his smokes. We could buy enough red bull for the whole damn Red Bullpen (are we sure this isn’t a promotional thing, the red bull?) with the costs of the packs Cap’n Smokey loses between the coach cushions and forgets on the Denny’s counter after the games.

  186. Mike R’ Us: “I’d chalk part of that up to Comerica Park being huge in the gaps and US Cellular Field being average in the gaps + great carry on the ball. So, their “power hitting” comes from their lack of Doubles because they just carry over the walls. It’s no coincidence that the White Sox have a .827 Team OPS at home and .748 on the road while their HR/AB rate at home is once every 19.93 AB’s and on the road it’s once every 30.5.”

    And yet I guess it must be coincidence that Detroit has a .855 team OPS at home in huge Comerica, and a mere .726 in the more cozy confines of the road parks…so if you throw out the two home stadia (I love to say “stadia”), you have for SLG/OPS:

    CWS: .419 / .748 1 HR/ 30.5 AB
    DET: .393 / .722 1 HR/ 36.0 AB

    It’s not a huge difference, but Chicago does have more power than Detroit on the road also. I don’t necessarily think that’s bad. I do think it’s bad that nonetheless we have all the trappings of a slugging machine…like striking out once per 4.96 AB (CWS=1/5.23). Combine that with the HR totals and you get:

    CWS: 5.8 strikeouts per home run
    DET: 7.3 strikeouts per home run

    As far as being slow, the other side effect of a slugging team, the Sox have 28 SB and we have 24–although they are 28/35, and we are 24/35. They only managed 12 sac bunts; but we only managed 10. So to summarize: they have a bit more power, but we have a bit more of the bad side-effects of a power team.

  187. the problem is the pitching, not the hitting (at least not now). Inge has never been able to hit, both Renteria and Shef suck….but they still score runs [I’m not talking the first 2 months, now]. Robertson – gone, get him outta here. Rodney – gone, get him outta here. If Z can’t find the plate very soon – gone, get him outta here. I don’t care if you can throw 150 mph, if you can’t throw strikes, it doesn’t matter. Dombrowski better have some kids ready to step up; we’re gonna need ’em. If not, then it’s back to the low-70’s in the win column. Even Verlander can’t throw strikes consistently….and Kenny….well, he’s just too old now. I think the entire months of June and July, Bonderman has been our best starter….. 🙁

  188. Keep Leyland, fire DD, Leyland said he was surprised as anyone when he heard Pudge was traded. If those 2 don’t communicate then something is wrong. One of them must go, hopefully DD. Bullpen-Rodney((97 mph fastball – he will be someones closer some day) Zumaya-must get healthy, we need a proven starter, catcher + closer. Inge is above average utility guy but a below average starter, if he will accept his role keep him, if not trade him. Someone must talk to Verlander about his drinking (I’ll leave it at that) Look at Renterias stats compared to other SS. He is not that bad + probably better than most. But he has been most peoples scapegoat as was Cabrerra at the start of the season. Cabrerra is a potential top 5 hitter in all of baseball, IF he keeps his weight down. Ordonez-above average, Polanco above average, left field-Joyce, Thomas + Thames-we can trade 1 or 2 of them. Guillen-above average but worthwhile tradebait, Grandy-above average, if we can get a #1 starter for him, Joyce or Thomas could play center, (I know he is very good, but you must give something up to get something. Sheff + Jones are done, great careers but both have reached the end. We are not that far away, the problems have been magnified because we have lost so many tough games and we do have talent.

  189. It’s not DD’s job to tell Leyland about every trade he’s exploring. Leyland’s job has nothing to do with trades, although I’m sure DD would be interested in his opinion when something gets serious (and he did ask JL for his opinion on the Pudge trade).

    Cabrera.

    And come on, I can’t believe you honestly mentioned trading Granderson. It’s not going to happen, and it shouldn’t. Curtis is a fantastic young player. He plays one of the harder positions to field and does it amazingly. He is a great hitter. And he is also probably the most popular player among fans. Granderson is the kind of player you build your franchise around, not trade away.

  190. Let me try to explain to you how a trade works. You try to get someone you feel will help your team. BUT, the other team is thinking the same thing. Who do the Tigers have that another team wants? I know Grandy is a tremendous talent! The question is what is more important to the Tigers success, an above average starting pitcher, or an above average CF. Also, it appeared to me that JL went out of his way to act surprised about the Pudge trade. That is why I think something is up between him + DD. I could be totally wrong.

  191. Oh, my bad. My impression of trades was that other teams usually traded you all the players you want for your garbage.

  192. Joe: “Keep Leyland, fire DD, Leyland said he was surprised as anyone when he heard Pudge was traded.”

    My reaction to hearing this is tempered by realizing he is also frequently surprised by where in the line-up guys are batting and by who is on the mound pitching.

  193. After doing a not so thorough investigation into Red Bull and two of it’s main ingredients, niacine and taurine along with caffeine, I find it pretty harmless. I now suspect Jones may be spiking Rodney’s drink with what, I don’t know. Any ideas?

  194. ron: “I now suspect Jones may be spiking Rodney’s drink with what, I don’t know. Any ideas?” I think poor Heartbreaker Rodney is drinking in with his Red Bull a healthy serving of Leyland’s great expectorations.

    I don’t think Jones is doing it maliciously though; I think he realizes Rodney lacks mental toughness and figures maybe since Cap’n is such a tough old dude…(OK, actually he called him a “tough old cuss” but I felt too silly using that).

    Hmm, I’m reconsidering my Rodney nickname, maybe I’ll go back to my initial idea: Cupid. Yep, dart-to-the-heart, let’s go!

  195. Coleman, love the dart to the heart and great expectorations. Cu-pid, draw back your bow… and let… your arrow go..straight to… the batter’s heart…for me!

  196. Travis, Rodney cannot pitch in tough situations and his walks are out of control. He is pitching as bad as Rick Ankiel did. It is time to let him go. Who cares if he is picked up by another team. It happens all of the time. I have never had any confidence in Rodney. He is overrated! He has worn out his welcome.
    The Tigers need to sign Livan Hernandez. He becomes a free agent today. Sign him Dombrowski
    Sorry Travis buy looks like the White Sox are looking up at the Twins now. The Twins are built on speed and in 1st place. Tampa Bay built for speed and in 1st place.
    Tigers………..mmmm k

  197. Livan Hernandez? Really? Have you looked at his numbers this year? Before Minnesota signed him, most scouts were wondering what they were thinking because he hasn’t been a pitcher capable of pitching in the AL for years. Hence, an ERA close to 5 last year in the NL West. Besides, we already have a Livan Hernandez; his name is Nate Robertson.

  198. Personally, I’d like to see Hernandez and Robertson duke it out in some kind of highest ERA battle. One of them can reach 10, I guarantee it.

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