It sounds like the plan is to activate Marcus Thames this weekend. Thames has started to hit well in Toledo, meaning he may be ready to do some big league thumping. The Tigers need some extra thump in the lineup. With Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez combining to provide little power, the Tigers need someone else to turn to for a game changing hit and Thames provides that.
Also, signs are pointing towards Bonderman returning to the rotation. Galarraga will start the day game on Monday against the White Sox. Jim Leyland knows who will start the night game but he isn’t ready to announce it…and Bonderman’s rehab has been declared over. For once I might have been right about something. On a related note Always a Tiger looks at how Bonderman may cope with decreased velocity (I think this will be temporary and that his velocity will come back over time).
Gorkys Hernandez (the other part of the Jair to Atlanta Rentaria to Detroit deal) was traded today in the 3 player package that sent Nate McLouth (Michigander) from the Pirates to the Braves. Gorkys went from Atlanta to Pittsburgh.
Looks like Thames won’t be the only one activated over the weekend. Kelvim Escobar and all manner of new elbow ligaments will be toeing the rubber for the Halos. At least Weaver pitched last night so they’ll avoid him. He owns the Tigs.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4229955
And we’ll also be seeing a new face in Chicago.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/06/white-sox-to-dfa-betemit-promote-beckham.html
So to make room I would say Larrish goes down, and I’m not sure if Miner has any options left (I think he’s out) but the way he pitched yesterday he’d certainly be on my list.
It’ll probably be Raburn who heads down.
Larish bats L and can spell Cabrera or Inge. Plus, we don’t need three backup oufielders/DH (i.e. Thomas, Anderson, Thames, Raburn).
Thames can also spell Cabrera and Raburn can cover Inge if necessary. We are short on left hand bats, which favors Larrish, but I just like Raburn better right now — and if memory serves, I don’t think Raburn has too many more options left. Larrish is pretty one-dimensional at the plate — with a lot of whiffs lately.
I am looking forward to Bondo coming back. We could always use another quality starter and 8 shutout innings in his last start is not too bad. Thames scares me with his strikeout totals but I’m sure he will add a spark to the lineup.
Bondo was in uniform and in the dugout yesterday!..
..todays suggestion that makes sense but will never happen:
Willis was a decent hitter in the National league. Today Maggs DH’s for Sardinha and Willis is in the batting order…makes sense to me
It’s actually an interesting idea, unless Willis only makes it through one-and-one-third of an inning, in which case the game gets really interesting every time the pitcher comes to bat… Even JL isn’t crazy enough to try it.
Verlander had a bat in the dugout last night. He’s ready to take some hacks!
I’m sure it’ll be Raburn, but could we pleasepleaseplease send down Larish?
And Zach Miner is a starter. If the Tigers refuse to use him as such, it’s time to trade him. If you look at his numbers as a starter, it’s not hard to believe that he has fairly positive trade value, especially to an NL team. He could go a long way towards getting a left fielder to play in front of Anderson’s .302/.330/.632. Besides, he is the fourth best starter on the Tigers right now. As if that’ll come up. I think a Miner/Thames package has fairly significant value to the right team.
The only thing Zach Miner has going for him right now is his first name.
ERA 5.70; 1.87 WHIP
Well, sample sizes and such. His relief career has featured a 3.72 ERA in 100+ innings. He seems to fall victim to big inning-itis from time to time, but by and large he can gut guys out. At 26 or 27 or whatever the hell he is, I don’t think you can write the guy off.
Look at his numbers AS A STARTER this year and over the last three years. He is good enough to give the team a chance to win like 80% of his starts. I’ll definitely take that from a backend starter.
This game sucks, so here ya go:
1 ER, 5.2 IP
8 , 3.1
1, 5.0
0, 5.0
0, 6.0
2, 6.0
3, 5.1
1, 6.0
1, 6.0
5, 1.1
0, 7
1, 6.0
5, 6.0
8, 4.1
2, 7.1
4, 6.0
3, 6.0
1, 5.1
Acceptably good for 13 or 14 out of 18 starts over the last three years (and one of the bad was that game in Chicago where Floyd walked like eight guys.). 4.32 ERA. Not a world beater, but plenty good to be a quality fifth starter.
He definitely sucks as a reliever and cannot remain in the pen. Start him or trade him. I’m sure the Phillies and Brewers are already scheming to get at him.
1.43 WHIP. Tell me you see Dontrelle getting there.
He’s a good guy to have. I don’t think he’s a worldbeater as either a starter or reliever, but having the flexibility to do either is valuable. Look at today. Granted he sucked and let Willis’ runners in to start out, but he still threw 4 innings and limited the damage after that, which is important in the grand scheme of things.
It’s going to be rough if Wakefield keeps getting the high strike.
Yikes. I’m obviously in the wrong post. Sorry.
For ONCE I’d like to see Miner come in and strand some inheirited runners. WTF.