Comments on: Game 61: Tigers at Blue Jays

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 21:12:11 +0000

The only thing I wondered about with Walker was whether his stats looked so good because he’s been used more this year just to get one or two left-handers out. Turns out he’s actually been better against right handers.

Opposing left-handers: .267/.267/.633 (31 PA; 2 HR)

Opposing right-handers: .150/.171/.150 (41 PA; 0 HR)

Count me in on the Walker-for-set-up plan.

By: billfer

billfer — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 20:47:18 +0000

I noticed Jamie – I made you my new set-up guy.

By: Jamie Walker

Jamie Walker — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 20:20:09 +0000

Once again, I get ignored despite my great work.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 18:17:31 +0000

if they don’t make Z a starter, then they’re just plain stupid. Any pitcher who can throw 100 mph with that kind of movement should be a starter…(see: “The Rocket” Clemens). Not necessarily this year, mind you, but next, for sure. Walker has done fine; should use him alot more. Grilli I’d like to see more of; he had that 1 horrible outing v NY where he couldn’t throw a strike, but I’d like to see more before I write him off. Seay seems to do ok in his role. Rodney reminds me of Franklyn German: they both overthrow to the max, but German couldn’t throw a strike, where Rodney sometimes can (but not near enough). Jones should be released….yesterday is a good time. Bring Spurling back…

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 17:08:07 +0000

With all due respect Paul, you need to chill out. How much expectations did you have for this team in the preseason? 81 wins? plus or minus 5? anything more would have been wild-eyed optimism given the makeup of this team (poor plate discipline, iffy relief, developing starts or those near the end of the road, injury problems to every one of the star hitters in the past, etc. etc. etc.)

Then they win 15 of 16 or whatever it was, and now you’re upset that they don’t go undefeated? Logic says if they were roughly a 500 team to start the season, a hot streak like 15 of 16 will eventually lead to equivalent cold streaks, which is what it appears they’re in.

They’re an upper-mid level team, nothing more yet. They beat up on the lower and middle range teams, and lose to upper level teams. That’s a huge improvement over the past 10 years, where they couldn’t even consistently beat the teams below them (not that there were many that qualified most years).

For this team to be a success, they’ll need Jones, Rodney, Zumaya, et al to contribute big portions…plopping Zumaya in as closer just means Jones will be pouring gas on the fire in the 7th or 8th instead of the 9th.

By: Kyle J

Kyle J — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 16:24:17 +0000

While all three top relievers struggled. Here’s the difference: Zumaya and Rodney weren’t throwing strikes. They will throw strikes most of the times they’re out there. Jones, on the other hand, had (and had has) absolutely no problem throwing strikes. The problem is that other teams consistently have no problem whatsoever hitting those strikes–often times a long way.

Jones’ hits-to-balls-in-play ratio (inverse of defensive efficiency) is now .362.

One comforting fact: The Tigers’ struggles during this stretch is very discouraging, but keep in mind that the White Sox haven’t had to play the Red Sox or Yankees yet. I think this is one of the reasons BP is still projecting the Tigers’ odds of winning the division as being much higher than the White Sox’.

http://www.baseballprospectus......ddspec.php

By: Kurt

Kurt — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 15:37:59 +0000

I don’t believe Z will ever be made a starter, nor do they need him there, nor does he want to be one. As you point out, they need him in the bullpen. Why would they move him to start?

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 14:40:42 +0000

I gotta agree – each 1 of these losses “hurts.” But, it’s showing where the team needs help the most; an astute front office will make the changes necessary to help the team. Realistically, I don’t expect ‘em to make the playoffs…after 12 sub-.500 seasons in a row, that’s too much to ask. Improvement each year (which we’re seeing) is the requirement. I wonder what our record would be if we were in the East? Tons of games v KC + Minn. make our record better than possibly it really should be. But our weaknesses are becoming apparent: the bullpen. Once Z is made a starter (which would be logical for a 100 mph man with that much stuff) who, besides Walker, has distinguished himself? Answer: nobody.

By: Ghost of Tigers Past

Ghost of Tigers Past — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 13:22:16 +0000

Is John Hiller available to pitch?

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 09:05:50 +0000

how many more times are you going to try and spin a loss into “no big deal”?

49 more times sounds good.

This team is crumbling against their stiffest stretch of competition.

Nah, they’re just losing against their stiffest stretch of competition. This one happened to be a particularly ugly collapse, but most of the others could have gone either way.

If they start pointing fingers, I’ll worry. If they start losing consecutive series to teams like Tampa and KC, I’ll worry.

we, as fans, need to seriously re-adjust our goals and expectations of the season.

Probably so, but I guess it depends on how far up you had adjusted them two weeks ago. I still see them as an 87-92 win team with a reasonable shot at making the playoffs. I don’t expect them to advance, but anything can happen in a short series if your pitching shows up.

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 07:47:44 +0000

Jeff M, with all due respect, how many more times are you going to try and spin a loss into “no big deal”? I’m sorry, but it is a big deal. This team is crumbling against their stiffest stretch of competition. I’m not saying throw in the towel on the season, but I do think that we, as fans, need to seriously re-adjust our goals and expectations of the season. Winning record? Yes. Division? Highly doubtful. Wildcard? Don’t bet on it. 3rd in division? That sounds about right, but only if Minnesota continues to have 2/5ths of a productive rotation. If they get anything in addition to Johan and Liriano, the Tigers will crawl and scratch out a 3rd place finish, at best.

By: Lou

Lou — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 04:31:18 +0000

To focus on the positives. Walker had a good 1/3 inning. I was kind of shocked to see Leyland pull him.

By: Jeff M

Jeff M — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 04:15:18 +0000

I think Jones has lost his closer job.

I’m not sure that’s true. I’m not saying he did well today, but he was no worse than the rest of them. Hell, he got ground balls out of the first two guys he faced. If the the infield hadn’t been in, he might have gotten out of the 8th after only 4 pitches. Of course, that’s assuming we can turn a double play.

If if if if if. time for bed.

P.S. Tim, that Spurling comment was just plain mean

By: Lee Panas

Lee Panas — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 04:05:04 +0000

Did anybody notice how upset Leyland loked in the dugout during the 8th inning implosion? I’ve never seen him like that during the game as a Tiger manager. I think Jones has lost his closer job.

By: Jared

Jared — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 03:27:02 +0000

Everyone will have a bad night, Rodney is Human, Jones is Human, and believe it or not Jones is human, no matter what the heck the numbers are, everyone will have a bad night eventually, lets not single someone out, Z sucked, Rodney Sucked, and Jones Sucked. they all picked one suckey night to…well suck