With Dmitri Young out, the Tiggers are better off with Craig Monroe around to add some balance to a lineup that gets its power from left-handed hitters like Rob Fick, Bobby Higginson, the shockingly hot Randall Simon, and Jacob Cruz. When your right-handed power sources are supposed to be Craig Paquette and a healthy Dean Palmer, you can use whatever you can get. As I’ve mentioned before, however, Monroe can do some real damage against lefties.
Higgy and Neifi Perez get a little miffed
Last season at Kansas City, Mike Sweeney charged Tigers right-hander Jeff Weaver, and the Tigers and Royals brawled. Higginson said the sides have “a little grudge match going,” and Tigers manager Luis Pujols said, “We’re playing hardball. If you don’t like it, get out of the way.”
Anderson is 8th Tiger put on DL this season
Closer Fernando Rodney was called up from Erie to take Matt’s spot on the roster.
Detroit 7, Kansas City 6
The Tigers are now a half game out of last place.
ESPN.com Power Alley: Tigers move up to 27th from 30th.
CNNSI Power Rankings: Tigers move up to 23rd from 30th.
CBS Sportsline Power Rankings: Tigers still 30th
Sporting News Power Poll: Tigers move up to 27th from 30th.
Detroit 9, Kansas City 3
Brandon Inge the DH? At first I thought Pujols was crazy, but then again if you want Brandon to get better you have to keep getting him at-bats. Inge responded going 3-5. Sparks got the complete game which is good. Randall Simon strained his quad in the third which is bad.
Russ says the Tigers need to tank the season and use the contraction of the Expos as a building opportunity.
They need to lose as many games as possible this season. Why? Two words: Vladimir Guerrero! The guy is a superstar. And, when the Expos contract next season, the last place team will get the first pick of players off of the contracted team’s rosters.
Look quick, but the Tiger aren’t the worst team in baseball. That dishonor goes to Milwaukee. And if the Tigers win this series against the Royals, they’ll even move out of last place in their division.
Detroit 5, Minnesota 4
Matt Anderson never warmed up in this game, despite it being a save opportunity.
Even so, scouts look at this team and scream that it’s time for the Tigers to seriously rebuild. One scout took out the Tiger roster this week and suggested trying to package Higginson, Matt Anderson and anyone else in a trade to get some good young talent.