Runs per game?

David Pinto, at Baseball Musings, is doing his spring analysis of how many runs per game each team may do, based on all kinds of cool math stuff.

Because the heart of Detroit's line up is playing for Venezuela right now we can't really get a good read for how they are doing. Thankfully Mr. Pinto is going to help us out with that...

• Best lineup: 5.16 runs per game
• Probable lineup: 5.08 runs per game
• Worst lineup: 4.78 runs per game
• Regressed lineup: 4.70 runs per game

The Tigers scored 5.07 runs per game in 2008.
So about the same as last year. Perhaps the doom and gloom about Everett's bat is unnecessary? It looks that way.

How about the rest of the division?

White Sox:

• Best lineup: 5.30 runs per game
• Probable lineup: 5.17 runs per game
• Worst lineup: 4.96 runs per game
• Regressed lineup: 4.76 runs per game

The White Sox scored 4.98 runs per game in 2008.

Indians:

• Best lineup: 5.55 runs per game
• Probable lineup: 5.49 runs per game
• Worst lineup: 5.34 runs per game
• Regressed lineup: 4.95 runs per game

The Indians scored 4.97 runs per game in 2008.

Twins:

• Best lineup: 5.13 runs per game
• Probable lineup: 5.05 runs per game
• Worst lineup: 4.73 runs per game
• Regressed lineup: 4.68 runs per game

The Twins scored 5.09 runs per game in 2008.

The Royals aren't done yet. I still think they may not be push overs this year (actually, they weren't last year at all- does 0-7 ring any bells?)

Based on this no one will dominate the AL Central this season with their bats. Pitching and defense win the games.

BTW: If you are inclined, David Pinto is running his annual fund drive. Support him if you can. He always has interesting stuff from all over baseball.

Classic baseball...

There was lots of baseball this weekend! Even if I can't watch any Tigers' pre-season games (what's up with that FSN Detroit?) I was able to watch Team USA vs. Team Canada on Saturday and then Team USA vs. Venezuela Sunday. I watched bits of Puerto Rico's game against Panama and the Dominican Republic's game against Panama.

Detroit didn't do anything to calm my concerns about 2009 starting pitching over the weekend. Robertson couldn't decide whether to walk batters or let them hit it all over the place. He faced 11 batters in 2 innings and allowed 4 walks to make the 3 hits (1 a HR) the Yankees soooo much more effective. Before Robertson was done the Tigers were down 3 to 0. Apparently he was not able to hit 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun either. That doesn't concern me as much as not being able to hit the strike zone. So, Spring Training is half finished and Robertson looks more than half done. Willis took it up where Nate left off, allowing 2 more runs on 2 more walks and 3 more hits in 2 innings. In Willis' defense, he apparently has had the flu all weekend. I don't think the Yankees complained much. Skipper is not impressed.

On the upside, Fernando Rodney has pitched 1 innings of 1-2-3 baseball in his last two outings. That is actually encouraging.

So how did the Tigers who play for WBC teams do? Well Curtis (My Tiger) Granderson went hitless Saturday, but had 2 hits and an RBI Sunday against Venezula. Playing for Venezuela were Galarraga, Ordonez, Cabrerra and Guillen. Against Team USA Galarraga pitched 4 innings giving up 5 hits and 1 walk with 4 strikeouts and 2 runs. When you look at the line up he faced this was an incredible start. He was awesome. Guillen has hit home runs in both Saturday and Sunday's games. Cabrera and Ordonez were both hitless over the weekend. Samara has a great run down at Roar of the Tigers.

The USA vs Venezuela game was great. 1/4 of the players were Tigers! I really didn't care who won, in fact I really wish the game had stayed close.

BTW- The Nederlands is playing some excellent baseball. They beat the Dominicans and are winning through the 4th against Puerto Rico. Great defense on display. Pudge is playing well though.

Update: Puerto Rico finally took advantage of Nederlands' habit of walking batters and won the game.