Comments on: Game 66: Devil Rays at Tigers

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 13:13:57 +0000

I can here a chant starting: JONES, JONES, HE MUST GO!!! Yes, he’s that bad. We can always dump Jones and bring back Spurling (could he be worse?) But, I gotta question some other stuff, too: why does EVERYBODY strike out so much (especially Shelton, Monroe + Thames)?? Why can’t we put the bat on the ball? Why does Leyland absolutely refuse to allow Jamie Walker to pitch to more than 1 man? Don’t care if it’s LHP v RH batter….this game should not have gone into extra innings; we should’ve won easily. And what’s up with 2 PBs by Pudge in the 10th? Our starters are superb right now; Bonderman pitched great!! Just as good as Rogers.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 05:46:07 +0000

The problem is Jonesy is being used as the top reliever when he is not even close.

You can’t blame Jonesy for the fact that Leyland keeps putting him in these crucial situations when he clearly can’t do the job.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 05:32:14 +0000

Alan, he’s not our top reliever for one and for two, what does Steinbrenner have to do with anything? Not only that, but his team is trotting out slugs left and right. Six guys (with 173.33 innings of work) toting ERAs over 5.00. So not only shouldn’t Steinbrenner be mentioned because it’s irrelevant, but also because the vague point you were trying to make wasn’t even accurate.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 05:27:36 +0000

I’m so sick of Jones, so I took the slightly immature route at my site…

By: Joey C.

Joey C. — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:58:50 +0000

Oh and I really believe that the money we’re paying Jones has a lot to do with the exceedingly long leash we’ve put him on. He was one of our two big off-season acquisitions and I think it’s hard for management to own up to a bad signing and demote somebody of Jones’s supposed stature.

11 Million for 2 years! I believe that the only other team giving serious suitor was Boston and they were going to offer him 2 or 3 million for a single season. So we go out and double it. That’s money well spent!

At least he’s proven a bargain compared to the 2-year, 12 million deal we gave Percival.

Maybe Dumbro should lay off signing Methuselahs to close games for us.

What’s next? Trevor Hoffman gets a 3 year deal for 18 million?

By: Joey C.

Joey C. — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:47:55 +0000

Chris if you were playing first for the Tigs, I wouldn’t miss Carlos Pena. That guy is that bad. Shelton needs to be given the benefit of the doubt at this point. I think he’ll pull out of it before too long.

He has been miserable though.

Kyle, I was also upset with Monroe batting higher in the order than Thames. Thames has done enough to prove that he should be no lower than 5th in this lineup.

And I am pretty upset about this game. It’s frustrating to watch Bonderman throw such a great game–arguably his best of the season–and the Tigs struggle to scrape together one run against Hendrickson?

Another bases loaded first inning situation with nothing to show for it. This seems to be a recurring theme in games we end up losing.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:12:22 +0000

Jones 2 innings in a row is crazy. A guy his age should not go two in a row. It worked the other night, but you can[‘t go to the well too often, and in this case, too soon again.

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:03:48 +0000

Before we get all too crazy and drolling for a Carlos Pena return, I remind you of the numbers Carlos put up by this time last year:

http://www.baseballmusings.com.....ayerID=934

By: Lou

Lou — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:00:12 +0000

With Jones, Leyland is clearly showing his time that one or two mistakes are not an immediate ticket to the bench or AAA. This is often known as being given the chance to fail. Strangely, people seem to perform better when they are given this opportunity. But,
if you take the “chance to fail” theory to far, everyone else starts to resent the non-performer and in turn starts to under-perform to their true ability. I think that point is now and Leyland/DD have to make a change.

Both a Walker/Zumaya/Rodney and a Sanchez/Zumaya/Rodney combination of ace relievers is intriguing and worth an experiment.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:58:50 +0000

I never thought there would be a day where I would miss Carlos Pena.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:57:06 +0000

Oops, since 4/18.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:55:05 +0000

Here are Shelton’s numbers since 4/19:

http://www.baseballmusings.com.....yerID=1891

By: Dennis

Dennis — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:52:55 +0000

Does anyone have a tape of Shelton from earlier in the year? I’d swear he’s opened up his stance quite a bit.

By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:37:05 +0000

Probably not, but I still don’t get it. Leyland has more professional baseball experience than all of us combined, I’d imagine, but my 4-year old son says that Todd Jones can’t pitch. Someone tell me…. does Jones have something on Leyland or something? Maybe its a blackmail situation. Just kidding, but I can’t figure it out otherwise.

On Shelton; he’s struggling, no doubt. Big difference from April. Too early to bail on him; but something needs to be looked at.

Finally great job by Bonderman. Maybe he’s sticking pins in a Jones bobblehead doll.

Oh, yeah, and I looked at the Minor League stats. There’s a couple guys at Erie with ERAs below 2 as well. Some strong performance. Sanchez looks to be a real good one.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 03:17:28 +0000

I doubt anyone would argue against sitting Jones, guys. But I don’t see Leyland giving us a vote.