Indianapolis 6, Toledo 2
David Espinosa was 1 for 2 with 2 walks and 2 stolen bases. Colby Lewis threw 7 strong innings allowing only 2 runs on 6 hits. Bobby Seay wasn’t as strong as he and Jason Karmuth combined to allow 4 runs in 1 inning of work. CJ Nitkowski picked up the win for the Indians.
Altoona 5, Erie 4
Vincent Blue was 2 for 4 with a walk. Don Kelly tripled and walked. Dmitri Young was 0 for 4 with 2 K’s and a walk. Virgil Vasquez fanned 7 and walked none in 6 innings of work limited Altoona to 2 runs on 2 solo homers.
Lakeland 4, Tampa 3
Jeff Frazier and Clete Thomas each had 2 hits and a stolen base while Jeff Larish was 1 for 3 with a walk. Kevin Ardoin allowed 1 run on 7 hits, 2 walks, and 2 strikeouts in 6 innings. Kevin Whelan struckout 2 in a scoreless inning of work.
West Michigan 11, Cedar Rapids 8
Matt Joyce went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and a walk. Yet he was topped by Michael Hollimon’s 4 for 4 day as he hit for the cycle plus walked. Lucas French was hit hard and not helped by his defense. He allowed 6 runs, 3 earned, in 4 innings.
Jamestown 4, Oneonta 3
Ron Bourquin was 2 for 4 and Deik Scram added a singe and a triple. Jeff Gerbe allowed 4 runs, 2 earned, in 5 2/3 innings on one walk, 5 hits, and 3 strikeouts.
All posts by billfer
Game 88: Tigers at Mariners
PREGAME: The All Star break is here. I can’t believe how fast this season is going, and yet I’m ready for a break. Meanwhile the Tigers and Mariners Pilots are turning back the clock to 1969. The Mariners will be sporting Seattle Pilots garb from the Pilots only year of existence. The Tigers will be wearing throwbacks as well from that same season. The Tigers road grays from the era featured a block Detroit in blue lettering.
As for the game it will be Nate Robertson against Gil Meche.
With a win today, the Tigers will keep pace with both the 1911 and 1984 Tiger teams through the 88 game mark. A loss would tie them with last year’s White Sox.
POSTGAME I dug the throwback uniforms, but not so much the result. Nate Robertson pitched a heck of a game, and really it should have been an unearned run in the 7th because it should have been an error on Brandon Inge. But then again the Mariners should have scored in the 8th inning if Adrian Beltre would have taken 3rd when Magglio Ordonez kicked the ball aroundin the corner. As it was, Alexis Gomez was able to make a fine play gunning Beltre at the plate.
And just when I declare Shelton back on track, he fans 3 times. Baseball is a humbling sport, and blogging about baseball is humbling as well.
The Futures Game
The Tigers top 2 prospects will be on display amongst other minor league stars today. Humberto Sanchez will be the starting pitcher for the World team while Cameron Maybin looks to contribute to the US team.
Unfortunately the game begins at the same time as today’s Tiger tilt and it will air on ESPN2. Unfortunatel-ier I won’t be around to watch either and my DVR has only one tuner. I’ll be recording the first 45 minutes of the Future’s game before switching to the Tigers.
If you happen to tune in, feel free to post any observations or comments here.
UDPATE: After watching my recording, Humberto Sanchez was – dare I say – filthy. He carved up Stephen Drew, Howie Kendrick, and Alex Gordon with an impressive mix of low 90’s heat and breaking pitches. He fanned Drew and Gordon and made it through the inning on 12 pitches – 9 of which were strikes.
Unfortunately my recording cut off before Maybin hit so I missed him with the bat, though he had a number of routine flyball opportunities early.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 8th
Toledo 7, Indianapolis 6
Josh Phelps picked up 3 hits including a double and homer, and is now hitting 314/373/540. Dustin Mohr also singled, doubled, and homered. Lance Davis lasted only 4 2/3 innings as he was touched for 7 hits and 4 runs (3 earned). After 2 1/3 scoreless innings from Mark Woodyard (1 H, 1BB, 3 K) Chris Spurling came in and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits.
Erie 3, Altoona 0
Nate Bumstead allowed 4 hits and 4 walks while striking out 6 in 7 shut out innings. Dmitri Young continued his rehab with a 1 for 2 night plus a walk. Brent Clevlen and Kody Kirkland were both 1 for 4.
Tampa 5, Lakeland 3
Clete Thomas was 2 for 5 with a double. Jeff Frazier’s slump continues with another 0 for 4 night and he’s now hitting 228/269/337. Eddie Bonine went 5 innings allowing 5 runs (2 earned) on 5 hits.
West Michigan 1, Cedar Rapids 0
Burke Badenhop allowed on 2 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings of work. Anthony Claggett pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief lowering his ERA to 0.46. He has a 40/13 K/BB mix in 39 1/3 innings. Michael Hollimon was 2 for 3 and Matt Joyce added two singles and a walk. Cameron Maybin had the night off.
Oneonta 9, Jamestown 6
Ron Bourquin was 1 for 3 and walked 3 times. He now has a 13/15 BB/K ratio in 60 at-bats and a .434 OBP. Deik Scram added 3 hits and 3 RBI. Chris Cody allowed 1 run on 5 hits and a walk over 4 innings. Derek Witt finished the remaining 5 innings and allowed 5 runs on 9 hits.
GCL Indianas 10, GCL Tigers
Alredo Figaro allowed only 1 hit in 4 innings. Guillermo Moscoso followed with 3 innings of one hit ball before giving way to Eric Beattie. Beattie is still looking for his first taste of success. He was the 2nd round selection in the 2004 draft, and has struggled to say the least. Last night he allowed 3 hits and 2 walks and only retired one batter.
This, That, and The Other
News and links that just don’t seem to fit anywhere else…
- It’s old news now, but Magglio Ordonez is an All Star, Justin Verlander isn’t, and Kenny Rogers might be starting the All Star game based on availability. I’m happy Rogers made the team, but he probably isn’t the most deserving even amongst his Tiger teammates let alone the rest of the AL. He’s a possibility because of the timing of his last start. Now the pitchers probably won’t be throwing more than an inning or two, so why would any of the pitchers be more available in the first inning than the 5th?
On another note, I’m not one of those bemonaing the inclusion of Mark Redman. I still like every team having a representative. The problem isn’t Mark Redman keeping more deserving players off the team, it is Ozzie Guillen (and other manager’s before him) keep more deserving players off the team.
- Reader Chris sent me a heads up on this ESPN Page 2 article that compares all of the AL teams to 1984 Tigers. It’s hardly an in depth piece, but it is fun nonetheless.
- My ESPN the Magazine came today and featured a large article by Buster Olney about the Tigers and how their play is effecting the city. It is insider content online, but there is a picture of Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya, and Curtis Granderson on the carousel that is worth making a point of checking out at your local convenience store.
- I was looking to get 4 tickets for the weekday afternoon game against the White Sox on July 20th. It turns out if one wants 4 tickets you are already relegated to standing room only.
- I caught this on the MotownSports message boards as well as on 1270, but Ken Rosenthal said today that the Tigers have been pursuing Alfonso Soriano. He isn’t the best of fits in terms of need, but he is a heckuva player. He has a rep as a hacker at the plate, as do many Tigers, but his OBP is better than 4 of the Tigers current starters. Plus he brings speed to the team. I know the desire is a left handed bat, but it is better to get a good hitter from any side, than to settle for someone based on which side of the plate they stand on.
Game 87: Tigers at Mariners
PREGAME Tonight the Tigers play their final West Coast night game – at least of the regular season. The also look to ensure a winning road trip by securing their 5th win of the 9 game swing.
Zach Miner looks to continue surprising everyone and win his 6th straight game. He’ll be opposed by Jarrod Washburn. The lefty is a flyball pitcher and the Tigers are a home run hitting team. Craig Monroe, Brandon Inge, and Marcus Thames all have a history of success against Washburn.
Game Time 10:05pm
UPDATE: Omar Infante is starting in centerfield and leading off.
POSTGAME: I confess, I went to bed early last night because I’m fighting a cold. I also confess that I woke up at 6:45 and couldn’t fall back asleep because I wanted to know who won. After watching the game through the magic of DVR, there’s a lot to comment on.
Miner was very good again, if not particularly efficient. He was lifted after 5 innings and 100 pitches. I love that the entire bullpen contributed, and as Anne pointed out a full inning of work for Jamie Walker. Fernando Rodney got back on track and Todd Jones got that coveted 1-2-3 inning albeit with more drama than one would hope for.
Chris Shelton appears to be back. I know I’ve thought it before, but he has sustained this over his last 8 games now.
I love Marcus Thames, but he really is better suited to DH as two balls got by him tonight.
As for the various arguments, the right calls were made. Tip to Ichiro – don’t swing at balls that bounce and then stare down the ump. While Raul Ibanez didn’t foul the ball, it was a swing nonetheless. I guess the M’s had an argument that the wrong call was made, but it resulted in the right outcome. And as for Ted Barrett, an umpire should never need to be seperated from an agrument by his crew chief. I hate when umpires carry on arguments.
I really like Yuniesky Betancourt as a player, but this clearly wasn’t his best effort. He botched the double play ball and then getting caught with premature celebration is embarassing to say the least.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 7th
Toledo 5, Indianapolis 1
Brian Peterson homered twice and Josh Phelps added a homer and a single. David Espinosa chipped in his 7th triple of the year. Chad Durbin started and went 7 2/3 innings. He allowed 7 hits, 1 unearned run and fanned 8 while walking none.
Altoona 5, Erie 4
Dmitri Young is working his way up the organization on his rehab stint. He started at first base and was 1 for3 with a walk. Brent Clevlen homered in 4 at-bats. Dpn Kelly continues to struggle and was 0 for 4 with 2 K’s and 2 errors. Jon Connolly started for Erie and allowed 9 hits in 5 2/3 innings for 4 runs ( 3 earned).
Tampa 14, Lakeland 8
Chris Robinson and Nic McIntyre both went 3 for 5. PJ Finigan was knocked around for 8 runs, 7 earned, in 3 2/3 innings.
Cedar Rapids 7, West Michigan 0
The Whitecpas managed all of 4 singles. The offense was supplied by Cameron Maybin, Pedro Cotto, Mike Hernandez, and Dusty Ryan. Erike Averill lasted 7 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits while walking one and fanning 7. The majority of the damage came off of Loren Fraser in relief.
Oneonta 12, Tri-City 1 18 innings
The O-Tigers have to be a little bit sleepy this morning. Brennan Boesch was 4 for 7 with a walk and Ron Bourqin was 3 for 8. Matt O’Brien went the first 8 innings and allowed 1 run on 6 hits. He was followed by some impressive relief appearances by Chris Krawczyk, Casey Fien, Jose Fragoso, and Brett Jensen.
GCL Tigers – PPD Rain
Game 86: Tigers at Mariners
PREGAME: Back in April the Tigers managed to come in and sweep the Mariners in 3 pitchers duels. Seattle’s offense was anemic at the time. However things have changed. While the offense still isn’t a juggernaut, Ichiro is doing that Ichiro thing again and Raul Ibanez and Kenji Johima are doing their part. The two highest paid M’s sluggers still are stuggling though. Richie Sexson has a sub 300 OBP and Adrian Beltre has a sub 400 slugging percentage.
Jerermy Bonderman will look to keep the M’s in check. He’s been awesome over his last half dozen starts, and he should be well rested. His last outing was cut short when he was pinch hit for after only 72 pitches, plus there was an off day since his last start.
He’ll be opposed by Joel Piniero. Piniero’s last start was only 2 2/3 innings. It was short enough to allow him to come in and record the last out in a relief appearance on Monday. He posts only a 46/35 K/BB mix in 98 innings.
POSTGAME: Bonderman was once again awesome. He didn’t have the gaudy strike out totals, but was in complete control the whole game. He was pitching ahead in the count and attacking the strike zone. Of his 110 pitches, 83 were for strikes. Most impressive was that he only went to a 3 ball count on 3 batters (twice on Yuniesky Betancourt). And in what was unusual for Bonderman, his offense gave him some runs to work with.
The Tiger bats comtinued to hit well getting men into scoring position with satisfying regularity. And once again, it was a total effort int that every body contributed with the bat. Even Curtis Granderson who was the only starter not to get a hit, walked had a HBP, hit a sacrifice fly, and stole a base.
Game Time 10:05pm
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 6th
Louisville 4, Toledo 3
Dustin Mohr was 3 for 4 and provided most of the Hens offense. Corey Hamman went 4 1/3 innings and allowed 3 runs on 9 hits. Bobby Seay pitched 2 scoreless innings of relief before Chris Spurling took the loss giving up one run in 1 2/3 innings.
Akron 2, Erie 0
Brent Clevlen was 1 for 3 with a walk and Kurt Airoso added 2 hits. The recently acquired Adam Haley had 2 hits as well. Preston Larrison worked 5 2/3 innings allowing only 2 runs before giving way to Eulogio De La Cruz who finished the game allowing 1 hit and 1 walk against 3 K’s.
Lakeland 10, Clearwater 4
Jeff Larish homered and walked. Dmitri Young was 0 for 2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the 5th inning. Jeremy Johnson allowed 3 runs in 4 innings.
West Michigan 3, Lansing 2
Wil Rhymes had 2 hits and Cameron Maybin was 1 for 3 with 2 walks and his 16th stolen base. Josh Rainwater went 6 1/3 innings and allowed only 2 hits and 1 walk while fanning 7.
Tri-City 10, Oneonta 7
Ron Bourquin was 2 for 5 with a double and Brennan Boesch doubled and tripled in 5 at-bats. Zach Piccola allowed only 3 hits in 5 innings. Tim Robertson took the loss in relieve allowing 6 runs – all unearned – in 1 1/3 innings. Randor Bierd went 1 2/3 innings allowing 2 hits and striking out 2.
GCL Tigers 4, GCL Braves 3 (10 innings) Gorkys Hernandez went 3 for 5 and Audy Ciriaco picked up 2 hits in 4 at-bats. Kyle Sleeth started but only last one inning. He allowed 3 runs on 4 hits. Paul Hammond made his 6th appearance and has yet to allow a run. He has 6 K’s and 1 walk in 6 1/3 innings.
Inge’s Offense
Brandon Inge’s offensive contributions the last few years have supplied me a ton of material. Iin the early years he was very, very bad. But then after a demotion to Toledo in 2003 he came back as a different hitter. He sustained that for 2 years into mid 2005 and had me declaring that he had transformed into an offensive threat. But then he swooned late last year, and this season he is once again a different hitter, an all or nothing masher.
Let’s start by looking at the various stages of Inge’s career, picked somewhat arbitrarily and summarized using the Day by Day Database:
GS AB BA OBA Slug% OPS AB/HR ISO BB/K pre 7/1/2003 148 677 .183 .242 .292 .534 61.5 .109 .241 7/1/03-7/1/05 232 869 .284 .350 .446 .796 36.2 .162 .489 > 7/1/05 163 598 .227 .281 .420 .701 23.9 .193 .313
While there was a definite shift in Inge’s career with his 2003 demotion, another change seems to be in progress. From his peak, he seems to have given up 50 points of batting average, and some additional OBP in exchange for 30 additional points of ISO (isolated power: Slugging-Batting average). And while not a huge number of at-bats, the totals are probably indicative of more than just luck. Continue reading Inge’s Offense
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 5th
Toledo 8, Louisville 0
Jordan Tata built on his Pitcher of the Week performance by throwing 7 shut out innings. He only allowed 3 hits and 2 walks and made it through on 93 pitches. Ryan Raburn was 2 for 2 with 2 doubles. Josh Phelps had a 3 for 3 night including his 12th homer. Chris Maples in his 2nd game for Toledo homered.
Louisville 4, Toledo 1
Ryan Raburn hit his 17th homer and David Espinosa had the Mud Hens other hit. Steve Green allowed 2 runs on 7 hits over 5 innings.
Erie 10, Akron 4 (in progress)
Brent Clevlen seems to be showing signs of life. Tonight he homered and walked twice. Don Kelly was 3 for 5 and Nook Logan was 2 for 5. Jair Jurrjens allowed 2 runs, 1 earned, in 5 innings of work.
Clearwater 4, Lakeland 3
Dmitri Young started at DH for Lakeland. He singled, doubled, and walked in 4 plate appearances before being lifted for a pinch runner. Dallas Trahern went 6 innings and allowed 8 hits and 4 runs (3 earned).
West Michigan 5, Lansing 1
Cameron Maybin was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 stolen bases. Dusty Ryan added two doubles. Justin Justice was 3 for 4 with a double and a homer. Sendy Vasquez threw 6 shut out innings and only 3 hits while walking 4 and fanning 7.
Oneonta 9, Tri-City 2
Scott Sizemore and Brennan Boesch were 2 for 5. Santos De Leon doubled and hit his 2nd homer. Thomas Thornton allowed one run on four hits in four innings. Derek Witt allowed only one walk in 3 innings while fanning 2.
GCL Tigers 2, GCL Phillies 0
Luis Arlet was 3 for 4 with 2 stolen bases and Chris Carlson hit his 3rd homer.
Game 85: Tigers at Athletics
PREGAME: The Tigers look to avoid their first sweep since the opening homestand against the White Sox. It will be Kenny Rogers against Kirk Saarloos. Game time 3:05pm.
POSTGAME: That was an impressive win. The bats finally put everything together after struggling the last couple days. Everybody picked up a hit except Marcus Thames who reportedly hit the ball hard a few times.
Kenny Rogers was hit pretty hard for the 3rd consecutive start. The first one I attributed to a small strike zone against the Cardinals. The last two make me a little more concerned. Oakland is not hitting the ball well right now, and yet they were consistently hitting line drives against Rogers today.
The good news from the pitching department was 3 1/3 scoreless innings from Roman Colon. He retired 10 of the 12 batters he faced to pick up the save.