Tigers 1, Nationals 2
I'm hoping that this is one of those games. You know, the ones that you chalk up to "one of those days" where your realize that the best of teams lose 3 games out of 10 (the very best of teams).
But the Tigers were held to 2 hits today (Everett and Thomas) and one run today. The Nationals earned two runs (both by Orr) on 4 hits.
I'm hoping that this will be an exception. Both teams walked 4 batters. I didn't get to follow the game at all, so all I have is the box score. Jackson struck out 3 and walked 1 with 0 hits in 2 innings. I like that. Robertson had 2 hit, 1 earned run and 1 walk in 2 innings pitched. Not bad, but not great. Porcello had almost the same line, except 0 walks with 2 K's and 1 earned run in 1 inning. Zumaya had only 1 walk on his line, but he hit the first batter he faced before he calmed down. Rapada and McBride each pitched a good inning.
This game wasn't bad. Losing 2 to 1 is hardly a reason to panic. It really isn't a reason to be concerned. I do wonder what happened to the bats, but the pitching was okay. So I'll just chalk this one up.
Friday is against the Blue Jays. Galarraga gets the start. Willis pitches next.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Spring Training Opener ATL vs DET
Braves 4, Tigers 5
Finally, they play some ball!
If you missed it the Tigers and Braves started out the first game of 2009 Spring Training. Justin Verlander got the start against our old friend Jurrjens. Since it is so early in the year no pitcher was allowed to stay in for very long, so we got to see something from: Miner, Lyon, Seay, Bonine, Ni, and Bloom.
Verlander gave up an unearned run on one hit and 2 walks in 2 innings. Minor gave up 2 hits with 2 K's in 2 innings. Lyon gave up 3 runs (all unearned) on a walk and 2 hits and an error by Inge. Ni got the win and Bloom the save.
Batting went well- 11 hits with our new catcher Laird getting a double and a triple. Inge had 2 singles and so did Santiago. It's ironic that 3 of the "no hitting bunch" end up with over half of the hits and 3 of the runs.
Overall it was a good start. I was happy because Detroit went ahead by scoring a run in 3 different innings. Then, after giving up the lead in the 5th and then falling behind in the 7th they tied it up in the 7th and in the 8th took the lead.
It's super early, so it only means that they won a ST game, but it's good to see.
And it is great to have a game on to follow.
Finally, they play some ball!
If you missed it the Tigers and Braves started out the first game of 2009 Spring Training. Justin Verlander got the start against our old friend Jurrjens. Since it is so early in the year no pitcher was allowed to stay in for very long, so we got to see something from: Miner, Lyon, Seay, Bonine, Ni, and Bloom.
Verlander gave up an unearned run on one hit and 2 walks in 2 innings. Minor gave up 2 hits with 2 K's in 2 innings. Lyon gave up 3 runs (all unearned) on a walk and 2 hits and an error by Inge. Ni got the win and Bloom the save.
Batting went well- 11 hits with our new catcher Laird getting a double and a triple. Inge had 2 singles and so did Santiago. It's ironic that 3 of the "no hitting bunch" end up with over half of the hits and 3 of the runs.
Overall it was a good start. I was happy because Detroit went ahead by scoring a run in 3 different innings. Then, after giving up the lead in the 5th and then falling behind in the 7th they tied it up in the 7th and in the 8th took the lead.
It's super early, so it only means that they won a ST game, but it's good to see.
And it is great to have a game on to follow.
Friday, February 13, 2009
It's here....
Tomorrow morning is the first day of work outs! In my mind Spring has arrived. The question in my eyes is "what will happen in April?" Can Detroit start out better than 0-7 this year? If I am right about last year the areas that need fixing are pitching and defense.
Pitchers are the start. Starters are the beginning. There are more informed analyses of what Detroit's guys can do or not do. Read here, here or here. I'm going to go with this for the starting 5:
Verlander
Galarraga
Bonderman
Jackson
Robertson
I must admit that choosing Robertson is more of an emotional choice than anything. I want to see him bounce back and I don't think he was as bad as his numbers indicated (if he was that bad he should be out of MLB). I really don't believe that Willis can pitch any more.
I think that it is impressive that Verlander was chosen to play for the USA team in the World Baseball classic. There were a lot of pitchers to chose from and they chose a guy who finished 2008 with an 11-17 record and 4.84 ERA. That tells me that he is much better than last year and is viewed as a All-Star pitcher. Let's hope he performs in the regular season to those All-Star expectations.
Bonderman is recovering from surgery but says he feels great.
Galarraga just got hot and kept on rolling last year. He earned another chance to prove his bona fides.
Edwin Jackson was 14-11 last year for the Tampa Bay Rays. He gives options and takes some of the pressure off.
Also showing up are Dontrelle Willis, who I still don't think can pitch effectively anymore. He says that he is ready to show us that 2008 was just a horrible, horrible nightmare that he has awoken from. He has until April 5 to prove it.
Fu-Te Ni was signed this Winter. He will play in the World Baseball Classic for Taiwan.
Zach Miner is also still out there. He could be the 5th starter or he could end up in the 'Pen. My guess is he bounces back and forth between the two as needed.
Pitchers are the start. Starters are the beginning. There are more informed analyses of what Detroit's guys can do or not do. Read here, here or here. I'm going to go with this for the starting 5:
Verlander
Galarraga
Bonderman
Jackson
Robertson
I must admit that choosing Robertson is more of an emotional choice than anything. I want to see him bounce back and I don't think he was as bad as his numbers indicated (if he was that bad he should be out of MLB). I really don't believe that Willis can pitch any more.
I think that it is impressive that Verlander was chosen to play for the USA team in the World Baseball classic. There were a lot of pitchers to chose from and they chose a guy who finished 2008 with an 11-17 record and 4.84 ERA. That tells me that he is much better than last year and is viewed as a All-Star pitcher. Let's hope he performs in the regular season to those All-Star expectations.
Bonderman is recovering from surgery but says he feels great.
Galarraga just got hot and kept on rolling last year. He earned another chance to prove his bona fides.
Edwin Jackson was 14-11 last year for the Tampa Bay Rays. He gives options and takes some of the pressure off.
Also showing up are Dontrelle Willis, who I still don't think can pitch effectively anymore. He says that he is ready to show us that 2008 was just a horrible, horrible nightmare that he has awoken from. He has until April 5 to prove it.
Fu-Te Ni was signed this Winter. He will play in the World Baseball Classic for Taiwan.
Zach Miner is also still out there. He could be the 5th starter or he could end up in the 'Pen. My guess is he bounces back and forth between the two as needed.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Mack Avenue Tigers
Kurt has resumed posting at Mack Avenue Tigers. This is another sign of spring returning through the cold snow.
Welcome back Kurt!
Welcome back Kurt!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Closing in on 2009
It is 19 above zero tonight, but it down in Lakeland Florida there are people getting ready for baseball - 2009 style. Of course I am hoping that 2009 style is significantly better than 2008 style.
I'm not sure what exactly to make of his comment, but Mike Ilitch isn't setting the bar very high this year when he tells us that 2009 is a "stabilizing year" and that next year they will be "very, very aggressive" (italics mine).
I'd like to take a look at what the Tigers have done in the past few months. This shouldn't take long because they did not do very much. I said throughout 2008 that the poor (porous) defense was really hurting the team- especially the starting pitchers. They often had to make 4 or even 5 outs per inning, which sent their pitch counts higher and turned the game over to the bullpen in the 5th or 6th inning. The bullpen was a known weakness before the season started and nothing really changed that perception.
So they did some things to fix the "D". Renteria was not asked back at shortstop. Instead we have Adam Everett who is a stud with a glove. That has to help. Once he and Placido have a little bit of time to get into sync I expect to see some slick double plays turned.
Next they put Brandon Inge back at third. Carlos Guillen will move (again) to Left Field. I like Inge at 3rd. He seems to get to balls and make plays that hardly anyone else can. He just seems to really enjoy the position and it is just an absolute blast to watch him play there. He is there as a defensive boost, not as an offensive threat (no matter what he believes).
Carlos Guillen moves out to Left. I am hopeful that this works out, but I'm not as confident about this as I am about Everett or Inge. Do you remember Bobby Higgenson's comment about "Comerica National Park"? He was in Left too. The wall was brought in to make it a little bit easier, but there is still a lot of territory to cover with Guillen's aches and pains.
So, I believe that the pitchers will have better back up. This should help them by converting more batted balls into outs. Innings should be shorter and arms fresher.
I think Cabrera will improve at 1st. Polanco will continue to be awesome at 2nd. Granderson will be more 2007 than 2008 and that will be good. Ordonez is getting older, I'm not sure how he will play out this year.
So, defensively, I think that the Tigers will be improved over last year. I really do think that this will be a key to helping the team to be competitive.
I'd like to look at the pitchers next time. Until then think warm, happy thoughts! 2 weeks until Spring Training 2009 begins!
I'm not sure what exactly to make of his comment, but Mike Ilitch isn't setting the bar very high this year when he tells us that 2009 is a "stabilizing year" and that next year they will be "very, very aggressive" (italics mine).
I'd like to take a look at what the Tigers have done in the past few months. This shouldn't take long because they did not do very much. I said throughout 2008 that the poor (porous) defense was really hurting the team- especially the starting pitchers. They often had to make 4 or even 5 outs per inning, which sent their pitch counts higher and turned the game over to the bullpen in the 5th or 6th inning. The bullpen was a known weakness before the season started and nothing really changed that perception.
So they did some things to fix the "D". Renteria was not asked back at shortstop. Instead we have Adam Everett who is a stud with a glove. That has to help. Once he and Placido have a little bit of time to get into sync I expect to see some slick double plays turned.
Next they put Brandon Inge back at third. Carlos Guillen will move (again) to Left Field. I like Inge at 3rd. He seems to get to balls and make plays that hardly anyone else can. He just seems to really enjoy the position and it is just an absolute blast to watch him play there. He is there as a defensive boost, not as an offensive threat (no matter what he believes).
Carlos Guillen moves out to Left. I am hopeful that this works out, but I'm not as confident about this as I am about Everett or Inge. Do you remember Bobby Higgenson's comment about "Comerica National Park"? He was in Left too. The wall was brought in to make it a little bit easier, but there is still a lot of territory to cover with Guillen's aches and pains.
So, I believe that the pitchers will have better back up. This should help them by converting more batted balls into outs. Innings should be shorter and arms fresher.
I think Cabrera will improve at 1st. Polanco will continue to be awesome at 2nd. Granderson will be more 2007 than 2008 and that will be good. Ordonez is getting older, I'm not sure how he will play out this year.
So, defensively, I think that the Tigers will be improved over last year. I really do think that this will be a key to helping the team to be competitive.
I'd like to look at the pitchers next time. Until then think warm, happy thoughts! 2 weeks until Spring Training 2009 begins!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Dear Santa....
Christmas is almost here and it is time to look at the list and check it twice for beleaguered Tigers.
Dear Santa,
You were soooooo good to us last year! You gave us Miguel Cabrerra and Edgar Renteria. We thought you had given us the American League on a platter. As you know it didn't quite work out that way so we are asking you for some more gifts this year. Dave Dombrowski has found a short stop and a catcher to help with the defense. They picked up a pitcher too, but it's hard to tell if he will be a starter or head to the bullpen.
So Santa, what we really need from you right now are some pitchers. Some good pitchers so we can feel a little bit better about 2009. You see, we have hitters. We have Ordonez, Granderson, Cabrerra, Thames, Sheffield and Guillen. It isn't about scoring runs. It's about keeping the other team from scoring runs. So we need a closer, because Rodney just scares me so much. My hands shake so much that I can't put ornaments on the tree if I think about him coming to the mound with less than a 5 run lead. So yes, a real bona-fide closer would be great for Christmas this year. And maybe someone to take over in the 7th inning for the starters. Someone who won't allow baserunners to score very often. Someone like the 2006 version of Rodney.
Perhaps Santa you could give us a healthy Joel Zumaya. Wrap him in bubble wrap and put him in a big box with a bow on it that says "Do not open until Opening Day" so nothing hurts him again. You could put Bonderman in there with him, just in case.
By the way, have we said "Thank you!!" enough for Galarraga? Probably not, but that little stocking stuffer was the second best gift of the year for Tiger fans. I still remember his debut against the Indians when he was mowing them down like my kid goes through cupcakes. Then he did it again, and again, and again. The gift that just keeps giving! I can only hope he does as well this year. The stats say a repeat is unlikely, but this is the time of year to wish and dream so I will!
So, just to re-cap Dear St. Nick, here is what we would like for Christmas this year: pitchers, pitchers, pitchers. ERA's somewhere south of 4.0 would be nice.
Please enjoy the cookies under the tree.
Signed,
Joe (and all Tigers' fans)
ps: I still want to believe!!!!
Dear Santa,
You were soooooo good to us last year! You gave us Miguel Cabrerra and Edgar Renteria. We thought you had given us the American League on a platter. As you know it didn't quite work out that way so we are asking you for some more gifts this year. Dave Dombrowski has found a short stop and a catcher to help with the defense. They picked up a pitcher too, but it's hard to tell if he will be a starter or head to the bullpen.
So Santa, what we really need from you right now are some pitchers. Some good pitchers so we can feel a little bit better about 2009. You see, we have hitters. We have Ordonez, Granderson, Cabrerra, Thames, Sheffield and Guillen. It isn't about scoring runs. It's about keeping the other team from scoring runs. So we need a closer, because Rodney just scares me so much. My hands shake so much that I can't put ornaments on the tree if I think about him coming to the mound with less than a 5 run lead. So yes, a real bona-fide closer would be great for Christmas this year. And maybe someone to take over in the 7th inning for the starters. Someone who won't allow baserunners to score very often. Someone like the 2006 version of Rodney.
Perhaps Santa you could give us a healthy Joel Zumaya. Wrap him in bubble wrap and put him in a big box with a bow on it that says "Do not open until Opening Day" so nothing hurts him again. You could put Bonderman in there with him, just in case.
By the way, have we said "Thank you!!" enough for Galarraga? Probably not, but that little stocking stuffer was the second best gift of the year for Tiger fans. I still remember his debut against the Indians when he was mowing them down like my kid goes through cupcakes. Then he did it again, and again, and again. The gift that just keeps giving! I can only hope he does as well this year. The stats say a repeat is unlikely, but this is the time of year to wish and dream so I will!
So, just to re-cap Dear St. Nick, here is what we would like for Christmas this year: pitchers, pitchers, pitchers. ERA's somewhere south of 4.0 would be nice.
Please enjoy the cookies under the tree.
Signed,
Joe (and all Tigers' fans)
ps: I still want to believe!!!!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Why not?
What do the Tigers' need to be competitive in 2009?
Well, as I've discussed all year and others have too, they need pitching and defense. Maybe I'm crazy, but would Randy Johnson fit the bill for pitching?
In 2008, pitching for Arizona, he was 11-10 with an ERA of 3.91. I know, ERA isn't the best indicator of ability. How about WHIP of 1.239? That is better than everyone on the '08 Tigers' staff except Galarraga. He had 173 strikeouts in 184 innings pitched (8.46 K/9) and only 44 walks (2.15 BB/9). Of course he also gave up a hit per inning so he can't afford to have too many other guys on base ahead of the guy getting the hit. His HR/9 1.17 which seems a little high (but it's better than 1.61 isn't it Mr. Robertson).
I don't know if he would do as well against American League hitting. On the other hand this is Randy Johnson! When he pitched for the Yankees a couple of years ago his WHIP was comparable (but his ERA was higher). His W/L record for the Yankees was 34 and 19 over those two years, so he must have been doing something right.
It's only a thought. The Diamondbacks can't afford him and he wants to pitch. I think that the Tigers could do much worse. Maybe he and Sheffield can get their milestones on the same team in the same season!
Well, as I've discussed all year and others have too, they need pitching and defense. Maybe I'm crazy, but would Randy Johnson fit the bill for pitching?
In 2008, pitching for Arizona, he was 11-10 with an ERA of 3.91. I know, ERA isn't the best indicator of ability. How about WHIP of 1.239? That is better than everyone on the '08 Tigers' staff except Galarraga. He had 173 strikeouts in 184 innings pitched (8.46 K/9) and only 44 walks (2.15 BB/9). Of course he also gave up a hit per inning so he can't afford to have too many other guys on base ahead of the guy getting the hit. His HR/9 1.17 which seems a little high (but it's better than 1.61 isn't it Mr. Robertson).
I don't know if he would do as well against American League hitting. On the other hand this is Randy Johnson! When he pitched for the Yankees a couple of years ago his WHIP was comparable (but his ERA was higher). His W/L record for the Yankees was 34 and 19 over those two years, so he must have been doing something right.
It's only a thought. The Diamondbacks can't afford him and he wants to pitch. I think that the Tigers could do much worse. Maybe he and Sheffield can get their milestones on the same team in the same season!
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