PREGAME: Maybe the third time will be a charm. Armando Galarraga and the Tigers take on Carl Pavano for the 3rd time this year. Galarraga pitched kind of okay in both of the previous outings, and the bullpen would allow an add on run or two. But the Tigers couldn’t do much of anything against Pavano and a bullpen come back ended up a run or two short.
Time to flip the script today.
Pavano has thrown his 2 best games against the Tigers but he has allowed 4 homers in each of his last 2 starts. Hopefully the home run ball is still working because a win today means a rare .500 road trip.
POSTGAME: Pathetic. I’m not sure what was worse, Galarraga or the 8 guys behind him. Carl Pavano has a 6.16 ERA against teams that aren’t the Tigers and a 1.93 ERA against Detroit. That is all.
Buffalo 10 Toledo 11
Scott Sizemore homered twice and Brent Clevlen, Jeff Larish, and Max St. Pierre all went deep as well. Brooks Brown only lasst 3.1 innigns before being touched up for 5 runs on 6 hits and a walk.
Reading 7 Erie 6
Brennan Boesch homered twice and now has 23 on the year. Casper Wells homered and walked twice. Deik Scram had 2 doubles. Jon Kibler allowed 6 runs on 10 hits and 4 walks in 6 innings with 6 K’s.
Lakeland 1 St. Lucie 5
Adrian Cassanova had 2 of the 4 hits for the Flying Tigers. Lauren Gagnier fanned 4 but allowed 5 runs on 8 hits and a walk in 5 innings.
Cedar Rapids 2 West Michigan 3
Billy Nowlin homered. Gustavo Nunez and Bryan Pounds doubled. Brandon Hamilton allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and a walk with 3 K’s in 5 innings.
Oneonta 5 Tri-City 2
Keith Hernandez doubled and singled. Luis Palacios homered and singled. Luis Angel Sanz allowed 1 run on 4 hits and 3 walks in 7 innings.
Oneonta 8 Tri-city 1
Michael Rockett went 4 for 4. Rawley Bishop had 3 hits. Eric Roof homered and singled. Mike LaLuna pitched 5 innings of shutout ball allowing 2 hits and 4 walks with 4 K’s.
Toledo 8 Louisville 6
Jeff Frazier homered and doubleed. Wilkin Ramirez doublded wice. Nate Bump went 5 innings and allowed 4 runs on 6 hits, 2 walks, and 4 K’s.
Reading 6 Erie 4
Cale Iorg doubled and singled. Danny Worth went 2 for 5 with a triple. Ramon Garcia allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and a walk with 2 K’s in 5.1 innings. Robbie Weinhardt allowed 3 hits and a walk, but 4 K’s in 2.1 innings kept anyone from scoring. Brett Jensen took the loss giving up 2 homers and 3 runs in 2.1 innings.
Lakeland 5 St. Lucie 3
Joe Tucker doubled and singled. Devin Thomas homered and walked. Ryan Ketchner went the first 4 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks. Matt Hoffman went the next 4 and allowed an unearned run, but only 1 hit. Brett Jacboson got the save with 2 K’s.
Cedar Rapids 5 West Michigan 3
Brent Wyatt, Alden Carrithers, and Avasail Garcia each had 2 hits. Casey Crosby fanned 6 and walked none in 4.1 innings. He was hung with 4 unearned runs.
Oneonta PPD
GCL Tigers 2 GCL Yankees 1
Eddie Rush doubled, singled, and walked. Giovany Soto fanned 3 and walked 2 and allowed just 1 unearned run on 2 hits in 6 innings.
PREGAME: It will be an interesting game tonight as the Detroit travels to the home of former Cleveland Indians. The Tribe sent away Ryan Garko, Cliff Lee, and Victor Martinez this week. And they brought back Fausto Carmona.
Carmona has been garbage for most of the year, simply awful. So bad he got sent to A ball and he has since worked his way back to the bigs after posting some impressive numbers. He faced the Tigers once, and he wasn’t that good with 6 walks, but only 2 runs scored in 6.2 innings.
Edwin Jackson and the search for run support will be on the mound for Detroit. Jackson has faced Cleveland twice this year and has allowed 1 run in 14 innings with 11 strike outs.
The Tigers bolstered their rotation today by acquiring Jarrod Washburn from the Mariners. The Tigers give up Luke French and Mauricio Robles.
I’ll have more on this later (I’m at the zoo with the family and I want to keep Mrs Billfer happy) but I love this move for the Tigers (and the Mariners). I like Robles a lot but a good prospect isn’t a bad price to pay to upgrade a spot in the rotation.
If memory serves Washburn is a type B meaning the Tigers should net a draft pick as well.
UPDATE: This stuff is new since the initial “walking through the zoo updating the site” post.
Mauricio Robles pitches for the Lakeland Flying Tigers cr- Roger DeWitt
Washburn sports a very sexy 2.64 ERA. It’s likely an unsustainable ERA due to a low strike out rate. But his FIP is still a very solid 3.75. This is a run below where Washburn has been since the 2002 season (when his numbers were very much like they are this year.
A couple things are working in Washburn’s favor. He has added a new pitch and he’s had tremendous outfield defense behind him. In Detroit he should be able to bring his new pitch, but the outfield defense won’t be as good. Granderson and Thomas are no reason to worry, but Ordonez/Thames/Raburn wouldn’t play in the Mariners outfield.
French’s FIP is nearly identical and is 3.87. French was a fringe prospect until he was pushed to AAA this year and saw his strikeout rate jump and his walk rate drop and he elevated his prospect status. A favorable debut at the MLB level is certainly encouraging.
So here we have 2 pitchers who are both pitching much better than anyone expected going into the season, and their numbers are similar now. The Tigers are banking that Washburn is a better bet to sustain his success throughout the season than French is. It’s not a bad bet.
Of course if French performs as well or better than Washburn (as some expect) we’ll look back at this trade with disgust because then the Tigers will have parted with a lefty 20 year old fanning better than a batter an inning at high A ball. Because Robles is the cost of “upgrading” to whatever level of performance that Washburn will bring over French.
Lynn Henning reports today that the Tigers and Blue Jays discussed Roy Halladay and the price would be Rick Porcello, Ryan Perry, and Casey Crosby. Essentially the top 3 arms drafted and signed in the last 2 years by the Tigers. It’s a very steep price that had me balking on first blush. But after a deeper dive and this trade looks a lot more interesting.
Will the Tigers be buyers or sellers? That remains to be seen, but no matter what happens we will be taking you right up to the trade deadline. Who is we? That remains to be seen, but the list is growing. So far the we will include:
And hopefully many more. Invites are out and going out and I’ll update things as we go. So stop back here or at any of the above mentioned sites between 2 and 4 tomorrow afternoon. You can also submit questions (or break news) on Twitter. Just use #TigsTrade in your tweet and it will pop into the chat automagically.
It was just a matter of time before things started to pick-up ahead of the trade deadline. The Tigers are still on the sidelines, as are their main competitors in the AL Central. Dave Dombrowski has said he’s having quite a few conversations, but things are still quiet and Danny Knobler tells The Cutoff Man that there are some front office disagreements about the Tigers biggest needs.
Even with things quiet in the Tigers front office, some of the moves today could impact the Tigers, Twins, and White Sox.
The Pirates move Ian Snell and Jack Wilson to the Mariners. The Tigers have been involved in Jack Wilson rumors for the last 2 years. To see him go somewhere else is, well, weird. The impact though is that this either means the Mariners are buyers, or they could be preparing to move Jarrod Washburn. Washburn is a possible Tigers target as they look to bolster their rotation in the short term and the Mariners have had interest in Jeff Larish in the past (it would almost certainly take more than Larish).
Freddy Sanchez goes to the Giants. The Twins have been looking for a middle infielder, and have been attached to Sanchez, Marco Scutaro, and Orlando Cabrera. Brian Sabean gave up a pretty good pitching prospect in Tim Alderson. It’s something that the Twins probably wouldn’t want to beat, but you wonder if the Giants may have se the market unnecessarily high for middle infield help.
Cliff Lee goes to the Phillies. The immediate impact is that the Tigers will no longer face Lee this weekend. The broader implication is that the Indians are rebuilding again. The more interesting implication is that the Roy Halladay talks have stalled.
Halladay is still a Blue Jay. The Blue Jays have been waiting to see if Halladay goes anywhere before they start to unload other pieces, one of those being Scutaro. The Twins are interested, and I’d like the Tigers to be interested as well given Brandon Inge’s balky knees. But with Halladay’s main suitor now sated by Lee, it’s not a sure thing that Doc goes anywhere.
The Yankees are interested in Josh Anderson. Ironically Anderson was in part responsible for 2 of the Yankees victories over the Tigers this year as balls scooted through his legs leading to runs. If the Tigers trade him, it will be for a C level prospect. Really not much to see here.
As always, the best way to stay on top of this stuff is to keep hitting refesh on MLB Trade Rumors.
Toledo 3 Louisville 7
Scott Sizemore, Jeff Larish, and Jeff Frazier all had 2 hits. Mike Hessman homered. Eddie Bonine went 6 innings and allowed 5 runs on 8 hits, a walk, and 2 K’s.
Erie 1 Akron 5
Jeff Kunkel had 2 hits. Jonah Nickerson allowed 5 runs on 6 hits in 6.2 innings.
Lakeland PPD
Burlington 3 West Michigan 1
Gustavo Nunez went 2 for 4. Bryan Pounds had a hit and 2 walks. Luke Putkonen allowed just 1 run on 4 hits and 2 walks in 6 innings.
Oneonta PPD
GCL Tigers 12 GCL Braves 10
Elvin Soto was a double short of the cycle and he added a walk. Jordan Cruz homered. Francisco Martinez went 2 for 4 with a walk.
Minors News
The Tigers had 2 players on their VSL team suspended for testing positive for PEDs. Pitchers Carlos Alvarado and Frank Penalver are the guilty parties.
Two injured Tigers pitchers are on the way back, and one is on the way back to Alabama.
Joel Zumaya
Zumaya started to feel pain again in his shoulder and with that comes a “diagnostic” trip to see Dr. James Andrews. There is a possibility that Zumaya will need surgery to clean up bone shards that is a part of last year’s stress fracture.
While I hope for the best for Zumaya, this story is probably a non-factor for the Tigers and their chances this year. If Zumaya can come back that’s great, but it shouldn’t even factor into the Tigers plans one way or the other.
Rod and Mario mentioned during the telecast that Bonderman was set to pitch a simulated game prior to the Indians game on Friday. Bonderman is supposedly feeling great and Dave Dombrowski has said that a bullpen role could be in Bonderman’s future. With Porcello’s recent struggles and the uncertainty around what Luke French can contribute down the stretch, I have to think the Tigers need to at least explore Bondo starting down the stretch.
Nate Robertson
Robertson, like Bonderman will throw a simulated game before the weekend. Robertson is recovering from a procedure to clean out his elbow. I have no idea if it would be a successful endeavor, but the Tigers should look at an extended rehab session for Robertson to stretch him out as well.
Fu-Te Ni and Bobby Seay have made a nice left-handed tandem out of the pen and I can’t see Robertson dislodging either one of them at the moment. The mission to make him a starter does a)buys the team more time with him in the minors and b) if he pitches well it’s another potential starting option.
PREGAME: When the Tigers were being swept by the Yankees, they were at least ultra-competitive games that saw the series come down to a 9-5 score. The Tigers have been outscored 12-5 so far in this Rangers series. I think I preferred the ultra-competitive heart wrenching games than the games without heart.
The Tigers will try to muster some offense against Scott Feldman who sports a 3.59 ERA. Feldman’s peripherals are unimpressive. His walk rate is a touch under 3 per 9, but he only fans a batter every other inning. But he has managed to go at least 6 innings in 14 of his last 15 starts.
Justin Verlander takes the hill for Detroit. Verlander is coming off a huge 127 pitch dominant performance against the White Sox. The Tigers look to him once again to pick up a much needed win.
POSTGAME: Can you believe the Tigers stranded 13 runners tonight?! It’s not nearly as problematic when you plate 13 as well. The Tigers haven’t had a lot of laughers in the last couple months, and the team needed some smiles after looking dead the night before. Early runs, a big cushion, and Verlander pitching nasty meant the drama was pretty limited in this one.
The Tigers were quite patient early on and made Feldman work, which worked to their advantage. They left the bases loaded in the first, but Feldman threw 38 pitches. Unlike other games though where they’ll let a starter off the hook, they came back in subsequent innings and plated runs.
Grandy had homers in his first 2 at-bats.
Cabrera had 4 hits and his 2 outs came on great playes from Byrd and Vizquel. He also got hits with guys on base. With it being a blow out they weren’t really “clutch” but hopefully it relaxes him.
Ordonez still found himself in a double play situation. This time he roped a liner at the pitcher who caught Guillen off second base.
Verlander matched a career high with 13 strike outs. He got in a jam in the 5th inning and what ensued wasn’t really the art of pitching. Fifteen of the last sixteen pitches the threw that inning were fastballs.
Texas pitchers threw 195 pitches
Jim Leyland had a wonderful opportunity to give Verlander a light outing and Inge a full day off. He did neither bringing Verlander out for the 7th inning despite a 9 run lead, a rested bullpen, and an off day tomorrow. Inge also came in as a defensive replacement. Doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.
Toledo 5 Louisville 6 (11 innings)
Chris Lambert allowed just 2 runs despite 6 hits and 3 walks in 5 innings. Jeff Frazier went 3 for 5 with a double. Mike Hessman homered. Scott Sizemore went 3 for 6. Wilkin Ramirez donned the golden sombrero.
Erie 4 Akron 7
Casper Wells homered and singled. Alex Avila also homered, his 12th. Pat Stanley allowed 5 hits and 4 walks leading to 4 runs in 6 innings. Robbie Weinhardt allowed 3 hits and 2 runs in 2 innings.
Palm Beach 1 Lakeland 5
Devin Thomas went 2 for 4. Charlie Furbush allowed just 1 hit and he fanned 10 in 6 innings of shut out ball with no walks. Lester Oliveros recorded 5 of his 6 outs via the K, but he did allow a solo homer.
Burlington 2 West Michigan 7
Jordan Lennerton went 3 for 4. Brandon Douglas singled, doubled, and walked. Gustavo Nunez doubled and singled in his return to West Michigan. Mark Sorensen pitched a complete game with 5 K’s, 2 runs, and 7 hits.
Vermont 5 Oneonta 9
John Murrian hit a grand slam. Jamie Johnson, Michael Rockett, Wade Gaynor, and Luis Palacios all had 2 hits. Adam Wilk fanned 6 in 7.1 innings.
GCL Braves 3 GCL Tigers 7
Francisco Martinez homered. Eddie Rush doubled and singled. Jose Diaz allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, a walk, and 5 K’s in 5.2 innings.
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