I have to say, I’m really struggling. I’ve tried 3 times to sit down and write an intelligent post this week, and I have nothing to show for it. As a result, you’re stuck with more disjointed thoughts.
-Congratulations to the Pistons. What a great performance by a great team. As I watched the celebrations and the jubilation from the fans, I can’t help but wonder what Detroit will be like when the Tigers bring home a World Series championship
-Kyle Sleeth has been promoted to Double A Erie. He’ll join Wil Ledezma, Kenny Baugh, and Preston Larrison in what is an impressive rotation at Erie. If the Tigers do become buyers at the trade deadline, these are the guys of value the Tigers will be moving.
-The Tiger bullpen continues to be shaky at best. Steve Colyer has had the hardest time, and Al Levine isn’t far behind. According to Baseball Prospectus’ Adjusted Runs Prevented, the Tigers bullpen has allowed 14.2 more runs than an average bullpen. Colyer and Levine have allowed 20 more runs than league average relievers. Craig Dingman, despite a rough time yesterday is still leading the team by preventing 8 more runs than would be expected.
-Congrats to Gary Knotts as the first Tiger pitcher to get a hit in interleague play
-ESPN.com ran a couple insider articles about Tigers’ this week. Rob Neyer wrote about Jeremy Bonderman and thinks that he should still be in the minors. Jerry Crasnick wrote a story about Alex Sanchez and the art of the bunt. His conclusion is the same as many Tiger fans. Sanchez’s game is flawed, but he’s very entertaining.
To resurrect an old conversation, I think tonight’s game is a perfect example of where a closer can be used better. Even if you don’t want to use Urbina for 1 1/3 innings, they still should have brought him in with a man on second 2 outs in the 9th. Yan is just way too unreliable to be used in the situation. Go ahead and bring Yan in to mop up the last out or two of the game after Urbina has gotten us out of the jam.