Monthly Archives: August 2011

2011 Season, Minors

Minor League Wrap 8.23.2011

Toledo 3, Louisville 10 (Reds)

Thad Weber dropped to 5-10 after giving up 4 ER on 8 hits and a walk over 6 innings. Jose Ortega (RHP) imploded over just one inning of relief as he allowed 6 ER on 6 hits, including 2 HR. Robbie Weinhardt pitched a perfect 8th.

Argenis Diaz (SS) was 1-4 with 2 RBI. Omir Santos (C) drove in the other run and was also 1-4. Ben Guez (RF) was 3-5 with a double and 2 runs scored.

Erie 4, Binghamton 6 (Mets)

Brooks Brown (RHP) had a mediocre outing as the SP: 5 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 1 K. Ryan Robowski (LHP), who has pitched at Toledo, Lakeland and Erie this year, took the loss after giving up 3 ER over 2 innings.

Bryan Pounds (3B) drove in 2 RBI on 3-4 from the dish, including 2 doubles. Henry and Holaday drove in a run each.

Lakeland 1, Dunedin 6 (Blue Jays)

Shawn Teufel (LHP) found a way to allow 9 hits in 5 innings. Predictably, he took the loss and dropped to 4-4 on the season. Tyler White (RHP) gave up 3 unearned runs over 3 innings in relief.

Jordan Lennerton (1B) had the only night worth noting: 3-4, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI. The 25-year-old is hitting .274 on the year, but has been on a tear over his last ten games: he’s hit .526 with an OBP of .561 and .921 SLG with 3 HR and 7 RBIs.

West Michigan 3, South Bend 2 (Diamondbacks)

Brian Stroud (RHP) pitched well and put together a near-quality start (statistically speaking): 5.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K. However, Ryan Woolley (RHP) wound up as the winning pitcher after throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Nick Castellanos went 2-4 with 2 RBI and is hitting .312 on the season. The other WM run was unearned.

2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.128: Tigers at Rays

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First place by 5.5 games.  High fives all the way around.

– AJax DP to end the game on Sunday?  Been there, seen that, says Ol’ Smokey.
– Freep had a nice compilation of national articles on JV’s 19th win.

Tigers look for their 5th in a row, to go 12 games over .500, and hopefully to increase their lead tonight against David Price.  The Tampa lefty has only shut down the Yanks and Red Sox over his last two starts, allowing just 1 run in 16 innings.  Bad Brad Penny looks to eat up some innings as the Tigers run out 8 righties against Price.

Tonight’s Lineup

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B

2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.127: Tigers at Rays

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Hello all – work is not really cooperating with the essay I’d like to write on the Catch & Throw alone, so I’m hoping that an early post will lead to some good pre-game chatter.  That link is great b/c you can hear the TV and radio calls.  Did anyone else notice that Inge was one of the first to congratulate Jackson?  (when he’s hitting) I love that guy.

– AJax has not registered a strike out in his last 8 games.  The longest such streak of his career (by 4 games).

Tonight’s lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

2011 Season, Minors

Minor League Wrap 8.20.2011

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Toledo 1, Louisville 12 (Reds)

Starter Trevor Feeney (RHP) got knocked out before he recorded 9 outs. Feeney gave up 11 hits and a walk which turned into 8 runs, all earned. Last night was Feeney’s first start at AAA after being called up from Lakeland. While at Lakeland, Feeney had an 8-11 record with a 4.39 ERA, 96 K’s, and 30 walks. David Purcey  threw a perfect inning of relief. Robbie Weinhardt gave up one more run and Jose Ortega (RHP) allowed 3 ER in 1 inning of work.

Argenis Diaz (SS) drove in the only Toledo run with an RBI double. Max St. Pierre (C) was 2-3 with a double and a walk.

Erie 7, Harrisburg 0 (Nationals)

Luis Marte (RHP) improved to 2-0 after he held Harrisburg scoreless through 5 innings and gave up just 3 hits and a walk. Marte also struck out 6. In 21 games with Erie, Marte has a 1.99 ERA 56 strikeouts and 16 walks over 45 1/3 innings. Jared Gayhart (RHP) threw 2 innings in relief and held Harrisburg off the base paths while striking out 3.

Bryan Pounds (3B) was 2-5 with 3 RBI and a run scored. Deik Scram (DH) was 2-5 with a  2-run HR. Justin Henry (OF) was 2-5. In 105 games and 346 ABs, Henry is hitting .309 with an OBP of .412. He’s stolen 20 bases in 28 attempts.

Lakeland 7, Clearwater 3 (Phillies)

Victor Larez (RHP) made his first start since July 13th and looked terrific: 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, W.

Wade Gaynor was dominant from the plate. He went 3-4 with a double, triple, and three RBI. Rob Brantly (C) went 2-4 with a HR and 2 RBI.

West Michigan 3, South Bend 5 (Diamondbacks)

Alex Burgos (LHP) dropped to 6-4 after he gave up 5 ER on 6 hits and 2 walks in 4 innings. He was relieved by Ryan Woolley (RHP) and Daniel Bennett (RHP) who combined to throw 5 shutout innings with 3 strikeouts each. Despite his near-.500 record, Burgos has an impressive 2.44 ERA with 76 K’s and 28 BB’s over 73.2 innings with WM.

Nick Castellanos (3B) went 1-2 with 2 walks. Jason Krizan (OF) went 1-4 from the plate and drove in 2. Jeff Rowland (LF) went 2-5 with a solo home run and 2 runs scored.

2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.126: Indians at Tigers

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2-for-2, and a series sweep is looking good with Justin Verlander taking the mound–wait, what?  An extra day’s rest?  Oh, nevermind…

Well, the Inge call-up is looking like a bit of genius, isn’t it?  I would have predicted that (although he was Player of the Pre-Game).  And sure it was all in a blowout victory, but it was only 2-0 when he hit his HR, and 4-1 when he hit his double.   If Inge can do this even a handful of times the rest of the season, it could make the Tigers pretty tough to take down in the Central.

Rick Porcello will man the broom and try to pretend it’s July, or even September.  After a 5-0, 3.06 July, Porcello has gone 0-2, 8.44 for August.

Ubaldo Jimenez looks to win the re-match with Porcello (he gave up no earned runs in 8 innings for the victory), and to keep Cleveland from dropping to 4 1/2 games back.

In unrelated news, ESPN has a nice article about Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammell in Arizona.

Player of the Pre-game:  Alex Avila

He has caught 14 straight games, and is hitting .429 with a 1.269 OPS over the last 2 weeks, and .442 for the month of August.  Last year Tiger catchers combined for a .223 BA and .624 OPS.  Avila is making a huge difference this season.

Today’s New Standard RHP Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson CF
  2. Brennan Boesch RF
  3. Delmon Young LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
  5. Victor Martinez DH
  6. Alex Avila C
  7. Jhonny Peralta SS
  8. Betemit 3B
  9. Ramon Santiago 2B

 

2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.125: Indians at Tigers

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Tigers beat Indians, then call up Brandon Inge.

That sentence itself is enough to generate enough commentary to last all night.  We’ll push it a step further, with this tidbit:  “Brandon Inge will be back in Detroit tonight and will start at third base against Cleveland left-handed pitcher David Huff and all left-handers thereafter.”

In the ESPN game preview they referred to Inge as “former Tigers All-Star Brandon Inge,”  which is sort of cute, isn’t it?

To make room for Inge, the Tigers sent Andy Dirks to the land of muddy hens.  So, in the outfield right now we have Boesch, Jackson, and Young, with Ordonez as a backup (Raburn is now the starting 2nd Baseman, and Kelly is 3rd string 3B, 3rd string 2B, backup catcher, and 5th outfielder).

So there you go.  Discuss amongst yourselves.

But the Tigers are up by 2 1/2 now, after a stellar performance by Max Scherzer.  Tonight Doug Fister tries to un-Washburn himself against David Huff, who has a season ERA of .051–but not to worry, he has had 2 starts against Detroit, and come away with a 6.00 ERA.

Player of the Pre-game:  Brandon Inge

Yes, the call of Avila as player of the pre-game yesterday was pretty spot on, as they say.  But I will resist the temptation to repeat, and instead play the Ingetangibles angle.

Today’s Ingeteresting Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson CF
  2. Magglio Ordonez RF
  3. Delmon Young LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
  5. Victor Martinez DH
  6. Alex Avila C
  7. Jhonny Peralta SS
  8. Brandon Inge 3B
  9. Ramon Santiago 2B

 

2011 Season, Minors

Minor League Wrap 8.19.2011

Toledo 2, Buffalo 4 (Mets)

Fu Te Ni had a tremendous start but did not factor in the decision: 7.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. In 91 innings of work with Toledo, Ni has a 3.16 ERA, 32 BB, and 77 K with a 5-2 record. He’s started 9 games and appeared in 31. Enrique Gonzalez ruined the night for Ni as he allowed the deciding 3 runs in 2 innings on 5 hits and a walk.

Timo Perez and Ryan Strieby (1B) had 1 RBI each. Scott Thorman (DH) went 2-4 with a double.

Erie 2, Harrisburg 1 (Nationals)

Casey Crosby (LHP) went 8 innings and held Harrisburg scoreless. He allowed only 6 hits with no walks and 7 strikeouts. Crosby’s win improved his record to 8-5 with a 3.57 ERA. My primary criticism of Crosby has been his lack of control (70 walks in 118 innings). In his last 4 starts, covering 26 innings, he’s walked just 7 batters while striking out 25. If this trend continues, Crosby will be on his way to a successful career as a big league starter.

Audy Ciriaco (DH) and Shawn Roof (LF) had an RBI each. Rawley Bishop (1B) was 1-3 with a run scored and a walk.

Lakeland 0, Clearwater 1 (Phillies)

There’s something frustrating about writing a game recap in which you have to explain how your team’s minor league club managed to go 11 innings without scoring a run; unfortunately, that’s the situation. On the bright side, Lakeland pitching held Clearwater scoreless through 10.

Luke Putkonen (RHP), Zach Samuels (RHP), and Michael Morrison (RHP) combined to throw 9 scoreless innings with 3 walks and 14 strikeouts.  Kenny Faulk (LHP) continued that dominance over the final two innings as he struck out 3, walked no one, and gave up just one hit. Unfortunately, that hit was a solo homer which was the difference in the game and Faulk dropped to 2-4.

Jordan Lennerton (1B) went 2-5 from the plate. Fields and Rockett each went 2-4. Other than Plagman being HBP, no Lakeland batter drew a walk.

West Michigan 2, Fort Wayne 10 (Padres)

Kevin Eichhorn (RHP) ruined his streak of quality of 4 quality starts (and 7 out of his last 9) with a terrible outing: 3.1 IP, 11 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 1 BB, 2 K. Tyler Clark (RHP) gave up one more run and then Jade Todd (LHP) shut down Fort Wayne through 3 and a third.

Jeff Rowland (LF) and Dixon Machado (SS) produced an RBI apiece (Rowland’s coming off a solo homer). Nick Castellanos went 1-4 and is hitting .307 on the year.

2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.124: Indians at Tigers

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Tonight the Tigers begin the first of three remaining 3-game series against the Cleveland Indians, and by Sunday evening the standings in the Central division could look very different. With the Indians only 1 1/2 games back and the White Sox only 4, by the end of the weekend Cleveland could be in first–or in third.

Even Baseball Tonight’s video feature today is a Tigers-Indians series preview. The short version: why isn’t Justin pitching?

Series matchups:

  • Game 1 Fri 7:05  Josh Tomlin (12-5, 3.97)  vs Max Scherzer (12-7, 4.37)
  • Game 2 Sat 7:05 David Huff (1-1, 0.51) vs Doug Fister (1-1, 6.14 with DET)
  • Game 3 Sun 1:05 Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0, 4.58 with CLE) vs Rick Porcello (11-8, 4.98)
  • Not pitching:  Justin Masterson (10-7, 2.71) vs Justin Verlander (18-5, 2.31)

While we clearly win the matchup of the not-pitching guys, the Indians look to have a bit of an edge overall in the series.

In tonight’s battle of the 2nd-bests, Max Scherzer will try to avoid having an inning like the 2nd inning of his last start, where he gave up 5 runs, but then settled down and pulled out a 6-5 victory, reaching Verlander-like fastball velocity in his last inning.

Tomlin has put together better numbers than Scherzer, and is coming off of a 3-1 victory over Minnesota in his last start.

The AccuScore Projections say Cleveland should take this one (although it’s a close 52-48% margin).  The ESPN fan poll currently has the Tigers with a 77.5% favoritism.  Are you with the computer simulation or with the fans?

Player of the Pre-game:  Alex Avila

Alex’s bat is still hot–over the last two weeks he leads the Tigers in BA, OBP, and OPS (.405/.542/1.082), keeps the 6th spot in the lineup, and the backstop warrior finally had a day off.

Today’s Central-Leading Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson CF
  2. Brennan Boesch RF
  3. Delmon Young LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
  5. Victor Martinez DH
  6. Alex Avila C
  7. Jhonny Peralta SS
  8. Wilson Betemit 3B
  9. Ryan Raburn 2B
2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.123: Tigers at Twins

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A Once Notorious Tiger Killer meets Newer Tiger Killer.

Pavano’s dominance over the Tigers has taken a 180 since 2009.  Since a 4-0, 1.69 ERA start covering 5 games in 2009 (still hurts), he’s 1-3 with a 7.12 ERA over his past 5 starts.  Several Tigers (avg/ABs Cabrera – .310/29, Ordonez – .375/24, Betemit – .333/12, Peralta – .417/12, Avila – .300/10, Martinez – .444/9, Santiago – .444/9, Raburn – .333/6, Young – .600/5, Kelly – .750/4) are ready to pounce on Pavano.

Despite his winning record, Penny has been pretty bad this year posting a 1.49 WHIP and 4.99 ERA.  But has been above average at home, posting a 3.98 ERA in 81 1/3 at CoPa.  He also has reverse BAA splits, as lefties are only batting .250 against him this year, while righties are batting .339.  This bodes well against the lefty heavy Twins lineup which includes Thome tonight.

– Al Al had a CAT scan today.  If all went well, he could be ready to pitch this weekend.
– Chance Ruffin is on his way to Seattle as the PTBNL in the Pauley/Fister deal.
– Phil Coke has allowed 0 runs and only 3 hits over his last 5 2/3.
– Cabrera is batting .414 with 8 RBIs over the last two weeks.

Today’s player of the game – Bad Brad Penny gets on a roll heading into the stretch run.

Today’s Leyland has been reading Vince in MN’s platoon suggestion Lineup is:

1. Andy Dirks, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Don Kelly, 3B
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

2011 Season, Minors

Minor League Wrap 8.16.2011

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Toledo 2, Buffalo 3 (Mets)

Ramon Garcia (LHP) went 5 2/3 as the Toledo starter allowing an ER on 4 hits and 2 walks. He also struck out 5. Brendan Wise (RHP) lost his 2nd decision of the year as he allowed 2 ER, including the walk-off game winner, over 2.2 innings.

Inge went 2-3 from the plate with a solo homer and a walk. Will Rhymes was 4-5 with a double. Ben Guez (LF) was 0-3 but drove in the other Toledo run on a sac fly.

Erie 8, Trenton 2 (Yankees)

As many of you know, the Tigers still owe the Mariners a player from the Fister deal. One name discussed in that trade has been this games starter, LHP, Drew Smyly. While he wasn’t lights out last night, he still produced the type of quality starts that will make him a good middle of the rotation starter: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K. His ERA at Erie is an impressive 1.23 with a  3-1 record. He earned his third win last night.

Brandon Douglas (2B) went 1-4 with a 3 RBI double. Bishop and Ciriaco each drove in 2 (Bishop homered).

Lakeland 12, Tampa 5 (Yankees)

Lakeland’s defense tried extremely hard to ruin a decent start from Mark Sorensen (RHP). Sorensen gave up 5 runs, only 1 earned, over 5 innings on 8 hits and 3 walks. Samuels and Faulk pitched two scoreless, one-hit, innings each. Faulk improved to 2-3 on the year.

Michael Rockett (OF) drove in 4 runs and was 2-5 with a double. Jordan Lennerton went 4-6 with a homer, 2 RBI, and 2 runs scored.

2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.122: Twins at Tigers

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Well, this series didn’t exactly start well last night, although it did have its interesting moments.  Delmon Young swapped jerseys, and began his Tiger career with a HR off of his previous team (the last time someone did that was Dave Martinez in 2000.  Aren’t we lucky there are people who look these kind of things up?).  In related news, Lester Oliveros was already named as the player-to-be-named-later today.  Hardly qualifies as later.  The circumstances of Young’s team-switching were actually a bit humorous.

Jim Thome hit HR #599, then #600 off of Dan Schlereth, and got a nice ovation from the classy Comerica crowd. It figures he would reach the milestone against the Tigers. As Chris said, congratulations–now retire already.

And Raburn was…well Raburn.  He hit a home run, but also made an error that led to 2 unearned runs, and had another clownish play where he ended up sitting on 2B instead of turning a DP.

At any rate, no use dwelling on that, it’s Verlander night.  The Tiger rotation has again begun to devolve into Verlander and a bunch of Other Guys;  despite his great season, the Tigers are only 11th in the AL in team ERA.  In fact, I decided to take a look at how the Tigers compare to other teams with their 2nd best starter:

  • LAA 2.96 Dan Haren
  • NYY 3.16 Freddy Garcia
  • TBR 3.22 Jeremy Hellickson
  • TEX 3.28 CJ Wilson
  • BOS 3.32 John Lester
  • SEA 3.45 Erick Bedard
  • OAK 3.62 Brandon McCarthy
  • CHW 3.67 Phll Humber
  • CLE 3.97 Josh Tomlin
  • TOR 4.11 Jesse Litch
  • KCR 4.15 Bruce Chen
  • MIN 4.36 Nick Blackburn
  • DET 4.37 Max Scherzer
  • BAL 4.66 Zach Britton

So after Verlander, the Tiger rotation starts off in the realm of Baltimore and Minnesota, and goes down from there (the Tigers can’t compete with the worst 4 and 5 guys though–there are a few truly awful ones out there).

Verlander draws Minnesota’s 2nd best starter Nick Blackburn (7-9, 4.36).

Player of the Pre-game:  Justin Verlander

Watching last night’s infield play from the dugout, Verlander says, “Really?”

Tonight Raburn and Betemit are out, Santiago and Kelly in.

Today’s Boesch-is-Baeck Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson CF
  2. Brennan Boesch RF
  3. Delmon Young LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
  5. Victor Martinez DH
  6. Alex Avila C
  7. Jhonny Peralta SS
  8. Don Kelly 3B
  9. Ramon Santiago 2B

 

2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.121: Twins at Tigers

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Detroit failed to get the series sweep last night in Baltimore, but the Tigers are still 8 games over .500 (64-56)–even though they have only scored 533 runs while giving up 547.  Their Pythagorean win loss record (which uses runs scored and given up to calculate expected record) is 59-61, which means the Tigers should be in 3rd place, a game behind the White Sox.  (Although, actually, somehow every team in the Central should have a worse record than it does).

One way to look at those numbers is to say the Tigers have just plain been lucky–and consequently, can’t be expected to continue winning at the same rate all season.

On the other hand, Detroit has been doing two things that winning teams do–they have been defeating their division opponents, and they have been winning the close games:  the Tigers are 19-13 in 1-run games, and 26-16 against Central Division opponents.

Tonight Detroit comes home to start a 3-game series against Minnesota, who has lately been a favorite Central opponent:  Detroit has won 12 of the last 13 games between the two rivals, and has averaged 6.3 runs per game against them this season.

Tonight’s starter, Francisco Liriano, has seen his share of the damage, managing less than 6 total innings for his two starts, while giving up 8 runs.

Tiger starter Rick Porcello looks to get back on track after getting knocked for 8 runs by Cleveland his last start.

**breaking news, Delmon Young will be darting across the field to exchange jerseys: The Tigers have acquired Young from the Twins for Cole Nelson and a player to be named later. And he steps right into the starting lineup!

Player of the Pre-game:  Victor Martinez

V-Mart has been one of the hotter Tiger bats over the last 2 weeks (.366), and his career average against Liriano is a nice fat .476.

Today’s Look Who’s 3rd Lineup:

Austin Jackson CF
Ryan Raburn 2B
Delmon Young LF
Miguel Cabrera 1B
Victor Martinez DH
Jhonny Peralta SS
Magglio Ordonez RF
Alex Avila C
Wilson Betamit 3B