All posts by billfer

2008 Season, Injuries, Roster Management

Junkballing: No shortage of news

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I’ve got to give this Tigers team credit for one thing. There’s no shortage of news. Last week I tried to put together a timeline of all the announcements and news coming out of Jim Leyland’s office. I couldn’t get it legible at less than 1200 pixels wide. And that was before all the news from the last week.

Vance Wilson

Wilson received awful news in that he needs to do Tommy John times 2. His contract with the Tigers is up this year and with a 12 month recovery period, he is done as a Tigers player and may be facing retirement. He’s well respected in the Tigers organization and it wouldn’t surprise me to see Wilson back in another capacity in a few years. Best wishes to Vance.

Roster moves: Rapada

Clay Rapada was optioned to Toledo to make room for Eddie Bonine. This isn’t a merit based demotion but a matter of the guy with options getting sent down. It’s something we may see again next week when Rodney and Zumaya return. Dolsi could be one of the guys out based on contract status. Fossum, Seay, Bautista, and Lopez are all out of options.

Granderson’s struggles

Detroit Tiger Tales takes a look at Curtis Granderson’s struggles. He finds among other things that Granderson is taking a lot of pitches, both out of and in the strike zone and it’s possible he’s being to passive. That’s something I could buy, and his timing seems to be off as well with a lot of ball popped up to the left side. I trace it back to the Tim Wakefield game. Look at his gamelogs and see what happens from May 6th onwards. It’s a 554 OPS with only 4 walks. Right now his OBP is the same as Pudge’s.

Zumaya-Rodney updates

I think I spied Joel Zumaya in the Tigers dugout last night. But he is experiencing some soreness in his side. If everything goes as planned he’ll pitch tonight, and then back to back on Monday and Tuesday with a possible return to the team for the San Diego series.

As for Rodney, he had a terrific outing for the Mud Hens last night and will be back Monday provided he feels alright today.

Spit balls

2008 Season, Game Post

Game 67: Dodgers at Tigers

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PREGAME: So the Tigers are playing good. We’ve seen this a couple times before where they swept a team, only to slide backwards. What’s different this time is that the Tigers aren’t playing the Twins immediately following said sweep.

The Tigers welcome in the Dodgers and Derek Lowe tonight. The Tigers as a group have pretty limited experience against Lowe, but it hasn’t been good. Lowe has only allowed 6 runs in the 29 innings spanning his last 4 starts. He’s struck out 17 and walked 7 over that time with only 2 homers allowed.

Taking the mound for Detroit is Armando Galarraga. Galarraga defeated the Indians his last time out.

It looks like we’ll have some weather tonight so hopefully they can get this one in amidst the storms.
LAD @ DET, Friday, June 13, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

POSTGAME: Hey all, it’s a 4 game winning streak. Your 2008 Detroit Tigers first shut out of the year came via Armando Galarraga and Freddy Dolsi. Just like Dave Dombrowski drew it up I’m sure.

  • Galarraga was awesome. Yes, I was the dumb blogger that said he’s the guy that had to come out of the rotation. Just ignore me. The guy has to be in the mix for AL Rookie of the Year.
  • And how ’bout that defense behind him? Marcus Thames makes a sweet play at the fence. And Carlos Guillen was pickin’ it at third base all night.
  • After the Tigers had hit several balls hard, but right at Juan Pierre I mentioned to my buddy Russ that they just need to get one over everyone’s head. Thames obliged with a missile in to the visitors bullpen.
  • Mike Hollimon is still looking for his first hit, but he got that first RBI out of the way with a sac fly.
  • On that weird first inning play with Carlos Guillen, it was actually pretty heads up running. The Dodgers just went unconventional. If Maggs beats out that chopper, and it was going to be close, Guillen would have been safe at home. He got a great jump running. But who expects the opposition to come home with 2 outs.
  • As for the emptying of benches and who the Tigers will drill tomorrow? I don’t see it happening. Not with a rookie on the mound making his debut. Maggs offered up his own payback with a 2 run homer.
  • And I couldn’t let the postgame go by without mentioning Sexy Freddy Solid pitched 2 perfect innings earning a save.

Happy times at the ballpark tonight. If Detroit can get 1 of the next 2 I think you have to call it a successful homestand.

2008 Season

Tigers sign 24 draft picks

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The Tigers made quick work out of locking up a number of their draft picks. Included are 6 of their top 10 picks. Also, quite a few of the later round (30th round+) were inked.

4 Brett Jacobson RHP 6-6 205 R/R 21 Vanderbilt University (TN)

5 Alex Avila C 5-11 210 L/R 21 University of Alabama

6 Tyler Stohr RHP 6-2 210 L/R 21 University of North Florida

7 Jade Todd LHP 6-2 190 R/L 18 Shades Valley HS (AL)

8 Andy Dirks CF 6-0 195 L/L 22 Wichita State University (KS)

9 Anthony Shawler RHP 6-3 192 R/R 21 Old Dominion University (VA)

14 Tyler Conn LHP 6-1 180 L/L 22 University of Southern Mississippi

16 Thad Weber RHP 6-2 205 R/R 23 University of Nebraska

17 Robert Waite RHP 6-3 210 R/R 21 University of California-Riverside

19 Ben Guez CF 5-11 180 R/R 21 College of William & Mary (VA)

21 Adam Frost SS 5-11 165 R/R 21 St. Norbert College (WI)

23 Mike Gosse 2B 5-7 165 L/R 22 University of Oklahoma

24 Carmelo Jaime 2B 5-9 170 S/R 22 Miami Dade Community College

25 Billy Nowlin C 6-1 210 R/R 21 Golden West College (CA)

26 Brent Wyatt SS 5-10 185 S/R 23 Lewis & Clark State College (WA)

28 David Stokes RHP 6-8 245 R/R 21 Liberty University (VA)

29 Keith Stein CF 5-10 185 L/R 22 Sam Houston State University (TX)

30 Tyler Weber C 6-3 220 R/R 22 Wichita State University (KS)

31 Trevor Feeney RHP 6-1 185 R/R 21 Northern Illinois University

32 Mark Sorensen RHP 6-3 205 R/R 22 Michigan State University

34 Bryan Pounds 3B 6-0 195 R/R 22 University of Houston (TX)

35 Dan DeLucia LHP 6-4 220 L/L 23 Ohio State University

36 Steven Gilman RHP 6-1 194 R/R 22 Yale University (CT)

37 Nick Cassavechia RHP 6-0 185 R/R 22 Baylor University (TX)

2008 Season

Looking ahead…or getting ahead of myself

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Secure in the knowledge that the Tigers had won the series I decided to play some things out in my head. I indulged myself and thought about “what if” the Tigers managed to sweep the White Sox. What would come next.

Of course the Tigers start their interleague tour with 3 games against the Dodgers. And then 3 against the Giants, and then the Padres. Then series against the Cardinals and Rockies. And then the Twins and Mariners. And a couple against the Indians and 4 more against the Twins.

Why do I bring this up? Between now and the All Star break the Tigers have only 3 games on the schedule against teams that are above .500 and that would be against St. Louis. The Twins and Dodgers are in the vicinity of .500 and the Indians could get there by July. But even with 2 more left coast swings it isn’t a daunting schedule ahead.

Granted, those other teams are probably looking at the Tigers and thinking the same thing, but the Tigers certainly have a golden opportunity to bolster their record. A lot of it will come down to the cobbled together back end of the rotation to keep the team in the game. And maybe I’m a little too giddy after an unexpected sweep and an impressive 5 out 6 stretch. And I’ve been falsely optimistic following sweeps in the past (Yankees). But yes Tigers fans, there is a reason for hope over the next 28 games.

2008 Season, Game Post

Game 66: White Sox at Tigers

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PREGAME: The Tigers have assured themselves of a series win. That’s good. But it’s not good enough. Can we hope for the s word? A sweep? We’ve seen flashes of good play before, let’s hope that they can keep it going for an afternoon tilt.

It’ll be crafty lefthander day at the ballpark. All kids under the age of 14 get to take home a tantalizing breaking ball on the outside black. Kenny Rogers and Mark Buehrle do battle today.

CHW @ DET, Wednesday, June 12, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 1:05

POSTGAME: So bummed I missed this one. I was at a conference learning about business intelligence and analytics. Interesting conference but it pales in comparison to a 1 run pitchers duel where the good guys won on a walk off from one of the maligned new stars of the team.

Kudos to Kenny who joins Verlander in slipping that ERA under the 5.00 mark. Not stellar by any means (the season, not the game), but rapidly improving. Polanco, Guillen, and Ordonez are all over .300 now. Things are starting to look like normal.

The Tigers did what they had to do in this series. Yet they are still 8 games in the red (both under .500 and in the standings). Still when it comes to the sweep you can put it on the boooaaarrrddd YES!

Links

links for 2008-06-12

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2008 Season, Injuries

All the injury updates

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An update on four of the fallen Tigers and their progress:

Joel Zumaya

Jim Leyland said that if everything goes right Joel Zumaya could join the team on the next west coast swing when they get to San Diego, which is Zumaya’s hometown.

Of course I don’t know if tonight’s rehab outing is an indication of everything going right. In his first innning he allowed a walk, a single, and a line out but he also fannned a batter and hit 100 mph on the stadium gun. In his second inning of work he made a throwing error on a grounder and then allowed a double and a walk before being lifted.

Fernando Rodney

Rodney was back in Detroit working with Chuck Hernandez. He has another rehab outing on Friday and could be ready to join the team on the flight to San Francisco.

Jeremy Bonderman

Bonderman will be evaluated by Dr. Greg Pearl who did the Kenny Rogers surgery last year. At that point he’ll find out whether or not he needs a rib removed. Rogers is confident that Bonderman will be better off after having the procedure.

Gary Sheffield

Sheffield is ready to begin doing baseball stuff again. Let’s hope his shoulder has healed.

2008 Season, Game Post

Game 65: White Sox at Tigers

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PREGAME: The Tigers take on Javier Vazquez tonight. You may remember Vazquez from an earlier Tiger debacle this year in which he fanned 9 and walked none in 7 shut out innings. It resulted in the first eruption from Mt Leyland in 2008. The Tigers don’t have his number. In Vazquez’s last 4 outings against Detroit he’s lasted at least 7 innings and not given up more than 3 runs.

Justin Verlander on the other hand has struggled against the White Sox this year. He’s allowed 15 runs in 2 starts with 7 walks and 7 K’s.

Verlander very rarely gets run support this year, and the Tigers track record against Vazquez would indicate a continuation of the trend.

CHW @ DET, Wednesday, June 11, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 7:05

POSTGAME: Pitchers pitching. Hitters hitting. Fielders fielding. I could get use to this.

  • Verlander only fanned 3, but he walked none and picked up an inordinate amount of pop-outs. The result was an easy breezy complete game. The first for the Tigers in 364 days.
  • Miguel Cabrera may have had a game changing walk. He worked a 14 pitch walk leading off the second inning. That inning turned into a Marcus Thames three run jimmy-jack. I’m too lazy to look it up, but I think the 14 pitches were probably more than any inning the last time they faced Vazquez.
  • Again, everybody contributed on offense – for the most part. Jeff Larish continues to struggle and chased a lot of high fastballs.
  • Brent Clevlen made another nice play tonight. And Carlos Guillen has been picking it lately as well.
  • The Tigers themselves were a little jumpy tonight going 8 straight batters at one point swinging at the first pitch. But it works when you get hits and homers.
2008 Season, Game Post

Game 64: White Sox at Tigers

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PREGAME: The division leading White Sox come to town. It will be Jose Contreras and Nate Roberson tonight.

Contreras isn’t the same crappy pitcher the Tigers have beaten up on lately. He’s only allowed 10 walks in his last 7 starts. In his last six starts he’s averaged 7 innings a start and has a 1.50 ERA.

Robertson is Robertson. So the first team to five runs wins.

CHW @ DET, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 7:05

POSTGAME: Hey, the Tigers beat the White Sox and have taken 3 of their last 4 against division opponents. Yeah they are still 10 games back but it beats being 12 games back, at least by a little.

  • Robertson held the White sox to 3 runs, one of which plated after he left the game. And he pickedup 19 of the 27 outs meaning a tired bullepn got a reprieve.
  • Speaking of the bullpen, for the second appearance in a row, The New Sexy came in with the bases loaded and one out. This time one run crossed the plate on a ground ball and a pop up. We call that minimizing the damage.
  • The next inning wasn’t so sexy for Freddy Solid. He gave up a shot to center, and a single, and he had a weird balk resulting in a run. Further damage was limited by a money throw from Brent Clevlen to gun down a run at the plate.
  • Miguel Cabrera didn’t hit the ball particularly hard, but he had 3 hits including a big 2 out hit that pushed the Tigers ahead.
  • Everybody managed hit(s) today save for Edgar Renteria who did hit a ball hard, but into the glove of Joe Crede
  • Interesting defensive replacements tonight. Not surprisingly Brandon Inge came in to play 3rd for Carlos Guillen. But with a twist with Guillen moving to first base. That’s first I can remember that happening in quite awhile.
2008 Season

Tigers option Dontrelle Willis to Lakeland

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The Tigers optioned the struggling Dontrelle Willis to Lakeland. This is something that had to happen after what happened on Monday night. Willis had the right to refuse an assignment to the minors. I give him credit for swallowing some pride and doing what ultimately is best for himself and the team.

I’d guess he’s going to Lakeland rather than Toledo more due to instruction than the actual level.

Aquilino Lopez is set to return from bereavement leave and will likely assume Willis’s spot on the roster.

UPDATE: The Freep is reporting that Eddie Bonine is likely to take Willis’s spot in the rotation.

2008 Season, Pitching

D-saster

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Dontrelle Willis’s latest start resulted in more walks than outs. Charged with 8 runs he lasted only 1.1 innings and was done in by 5 walks and 2 homers. All the damage was self inflicted and thus ended the 2 game winning streak.

The Tigers hands are tied with Willis unless he agrees to go on a minor league assignment (and I’m not even sure of the roster legalities of that). He’s shown flashes of control amidst a consistent struggle with the strike zone since donning the English D.

Willis stood up in front of reporters and accepted responsibility and said all the right things. He gets credit for that. But it doesn’t help the team.

Does he stay in the rotation? It’s muddy at best right now. When Jim Leyland was questioned about Willis in the post game he simply spoke of Dontrelle’s struggles tonight and refused to answer any inquiries after issuing a terse statement. There was no talk of Willis and his status in the rotation. In other words, Leyland doesn’t seem to know any better than we do right now about D-Train’s immediate future.

Willis is too important to flounder at the big league level. If a minor league assignment is a possibility it’s probably best for all parties involved. As for back-filling? I’d guess Fossum joins the rotation and Lopez returns from bereavement leave.