I didn’t notice it until today, but The Detroit Tigers Weblog turned 5 years old on Monday. Thanks to all of you who make this a part of your daily internet routine.
Monthly Archives: July 2006
Game 97: A’s at Tigers
PREGAME: In their first Fox Saturday tilt in I don’t know how long. I think the last one I remember was done by Josh Lewin and Kirk Gibson if that’s any indication. The announcing crew for today will be Kennny Albert with Detroit’s own Rod Allen. I think the most entertaining part of this event might be Allen restraining his homer-enthusiasm.
The Tigers will send out Zach Miner who has made 2 bad starts this year. Both have come during home afternoon games.
Joe Blanton will be making his 3rd start against the Tigers this year. In the first he was hit hard and lifted in the 5th inning. In the second, the Tigers touched him for 9 hits but they were scattered for only 3 runs in 7 innings.
Game Time: 1:25pm
Jamie Walker is Good
During his entire career as a Tiger, Jamie Walker has been quite solid in his role as a lefty specialist. Coming into this year, since 2002 he’s posted a 3.45 ERA while striking out 3.3 batters for every walk allowed. He gave up 1.3 homers per 9, which is a little more than you’d hope for, but it wasn’t bad. Over that time period, Walker held left handed batters to a .217/.263/.374 line.
Walker has provided considerable, if not dominant consistency, in a role that is extremly volatile. Jon Weisman created a table of the relief pitchers who were in the top 100 in adjusted runs prevented each of the last 5 years. Walker made this list in 4 of the last 5 years, which if you scan the list you can see is a pretty impressive feat.
But this year, at the ripe old age of 34, Jamie Walker is having a break through season. After pitching 2 scoreless innings tonight, he has lowered his ERA to 0.95. In 28 1/3 innings he has allowed only 19 hits and 3 runs. Those 3 runs came on 3 solo homers. The most amazing stat though may be his 23/2 strikeout to walk ratio.
What’s interesting is that in looking at Jamie’s splits, he has actually faced more right handers than left handers. Right handed batters have only managed 145/175/164 against Walker. Surprsingly all 3 homers he’s allowed have been to lefties, and as a result his slugging percentage against is .571.
Walker will be a free agent after this year. Assuming he wants to stay in Detroit, I’m sure the Tigers would love to have him back. But the price will be steep. Walker is having a career year, and is left handed. If he can keep pitching like he has been he will be a rich man this winter.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 21st
Toledo 4, Durham 3
David Espinosa went 2 for 2 wtih a walk. Corey Hamman last 6 innings allowing a single unearned run on 7 hits.
Erie 7, New Britain 2
Brent Clevlen was 2 for 4 while Adam Haley homered and tripled. Eulogio De La Cruz pitched 3 shut out innings allowing only 3 hits while fanning 3. The recently demoted Mark Woodyard followed with 3 2/3 innings of 1 run ball.
Lakeland 8, St. Lucie 5 (10 innings)
Clete Thomas was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles. Garth McKinney had 3 hits including a homer. Jeff Larish went 1 for 2 with a walk and 2 sacrifice flies. Kevin Ardoin allowed 1 run in 5 innings while fanning 8. Kevin Whelan had a rough 9 thinning allowing 4 hits and 3 unearned runs to force extra innings.
West Michigan 4, Dayton 0
Lucas French threw a 1 hit complete game shut out. French carried a the no-hitter to the 9th inning when a leadoff double meant he had to settle for the shut out. He walked 3 and fanned 7. Cameron Maybin was 1 for 4 and Wil Rhymes added 2 hits.
State College 7, Oneonta 5
This game was tied heading into the 9th inning, and I’m sure Oneonta wasn’t looking forward to more bonus baseball after yesterday’s 26 inning marathon. Deik Scram doubled and tripled.
Hawking Hot Dogs
Hebrew National, who supplies the all-beef dogs at Comerica Park held a contest over the last month to select the best hot dog hawker. Tonight they announced the winner and it was Charley Marcuse, the operatic hot dog guy. The 4 finalist demo’d their hawking call for the fans tonight. If you’re interested, the finalists can be seen in action here.
Charley was a lightning rod of controversy several years ago when season ticket holders complained. The Tigers told him to stop singing and it somehow became an international story (first reported by Tigerblog).
In any event, whether or not you like Charley, he is headed to New York after winning the contest. He’ll get a first class travel package to see the Tigers take on the Yankees.
If it were up to me the biggest differentiator would be the vendor who came prepared with mustard in a jar and then applied it with a tongue depressor, just like the old days. While the individual packets are probably tremendously more advantageous from a Board of Health perspective, it’s just not the same.
Shortly after winning, Charley and the other finalists were right back at work on a sell out Friday night.
Game 96: A’s at Tigers
PREGAME: Dmitri Young’s activation will garner most of the attention tonight. Once we get past that hoopla there is a pretty good pitching matchup between Justin Verlander and Dan Haren.
Haren was knocked around a little in his last 2 starts against the Angels and Red Sox. However, his season numbers are still impressive and he fans almost 4 batters for everyone he walks. That doesn’t bode well for the Tigers style of offense.
Justin Verlander is coming off a carving-up of Kansas City. He’ll look to repeat that performance tonight against all the Athletics, and specifically Jay Payton who was instrumental in Oakland taking the last series against the Tigers.
If you’re there early, Hebrew National will be selecting the best hot dog vendor from 4 finalists in an on field ceremony.
I’m heading to the game tonight, and I’ll have a report later tonight.
POSTGAME: Though the game got a little more interesting than it probably should have, it was nice for the Tigers to win one going away. That’s only happened twice since the break, and Justin Verlander was the starter for both of them. Only this year could a rookie be tied for the league in wins and have a sub 3.00 ERA and not even be considered a favorite to win the rookie of the year.
As for Dmitri Young, I was stunned by the reception he received. Both during pregame introductions and his first at-bat the crowd roared, with about 1/3 even standing up. Young delivered in his 2nd at-bat with a bases loaded single.
And in something that has been missing, the top of the order was clicking. Curtis Granderson had 2 hits, Polanco had 3, and Pudge and Magglio both added key doubles. The effect was enhanced with Brandon Inge picking up a couple hits at the bottom of the lineup.
Dmitri Young Activated
There are reports on the local sports radio that Dmitri Young has been activated and is available for tonight’s game. I haven’t heard who was sent down to make room for Young.
UPDATE: via WXYT Young will be batting the DH and bat 7th tonight.
There will be a press conference at 4:30pm. If you’re not in the Detroit area you should be able to pick it up on the internet stream from 1270 or 1130.
UPDATE 2: As Kyle noted in the comments (thanks Kyle), Ramon Santiago was the odd man out. I’ve had a hard time finding a reason for Santiago to be on the team all along, so I’m on board with this decision. Sure the roster is a little slower and from a defensive perspective the DH situation has improved, but this was the right choice.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 20th
I’ll come back and update this after the games in progress have been completed. But I thought it was noteworthy that Dmitri Young and Toledo played this afternoon. Also, check out the game that Oneonta was involved in.
Pawtucket 9, Toledo 8
Dmitri Young went 1 for 5 in what may have been his last rehab start. David Espinosa was 3 for 5 with a homer. Jack Hannahan homered, singled, and walked. Chad Durbin was roughed up for 8 hits and 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings. Chris Spurling pitched 2 innings allowing 2 hits, a walk, and an unearned run.
New Britain 4, Erie 0
Vincent Blue was 1 for 1 with 3 walks. Brent Clevlen added a 1 for 4. Kody Kirkland has been place on the disabled list. Virgil Vasquez allowed 3 runs in 7 innings while fanning 8.
Lakeland 3, St. Lucie 3 (11th inning in progress)
Brent Dlugach was 2 for 4 with a homer and Chris Robinson picked up 2 hits. Eddie Bonine started and allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, in 7 innings. He allowed 7 hits and 2 walks while fanning 5 before giving way to PJ Finigan who threw 2 scoreless innings.
Dayton, West Michigan
Oneonta 6, Brooklyn 1 – 26 freakin’ innings
This game was 1-1 for a lonnnnggggg time. To put this in perspective, the top of the order had 12 at-bats. I can’t summarize this much so just go check out the box score. The game lasted 6:40.
GCL Tigers – PPD
Game 95: White Sox at Tigers
PREGAME: For the first time in 3 series against the White Sox, the Tigers aren’t looking to avoid a sweep heading into the finale.
Weather permitting it will be Kenny Rogers versus Jose Contreras. As everybody knows, Rogers has been in a slump that dates back to his start against the Cardinals. Since June 24th opponents are slugging .722 against Rogers.
Contreras has also been hittable over that same time period (of course not to the extent that Rogers has) with hitters posting a 301/369/455 line.
Game time 1:05pm
POSTGAME: I’m thrilled the Tigers won today. I’m thrilled the Tigers picked up a victory and a game on the second place team in the division. I’m thrilled that Detroit has taken 3 of 4 from the White Sox and the talk of a mysterious mojo that the Sox hold over the Tigers can go away for the time being.
I know people want to talk about Marcus Thames taking out Tadahito Iguchi and busting up the double play. It was a huge play that of course set up the Chris Shelton double. But don’t lose site of Chris Shelton’s double either.
Both events overshadowed what was a terriffic pitching performance by Kenny Rogers. And I think we all needed to see Rogers put together an outing like that.
Joel Zumaya also seems to have his groove back. The ESPN guys were effusive in their praise and when the crowd came to their feet in the 8th inning Orel Hersheiser commented “I want to stand up with the crowd because this is fun!”
And speaking of the crowd, if anybody was down there please comment. I heard the game on the radio, and watched the last 3 innings I had recorded, and I can’t remember hearing Comerica Park that loud. I can’t wait to go experience it tomorrow night.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 19th
Pawtucket 6, Toledo 3
Dmitri Young went 2 for 2 with 2 walks and I don’t really see him spending much more time in Toledo. Humberto Sanchez started and took the loss allowing 5 runs, 4 earned, in 5 innings. He struggled with his control walking 5.
Erie 4, Bowie 1
Nick McIntyre and Don Kelly each picked up 2 hits. Brent Clevlen was 1 for 3 with a wakl. Nate Bumstead went 8 innings allowing 1 runs on 6 hits with no walks and 6 strikeouts.
St. Lucie, 4, Lakeland 1
Casper Wells homered and that was pretty much it for the offense. Jeremy Johnson lasted 5 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 3 hits while walking 2 and fanning 5.
West Michigan – DNP
Oneonta 6, Brooklyn 0
Scott Sizemore, who was named NYPL player of the week for last week, added 2 more hits last night. Santo De Leon, Deik Scram, and Brennan Boesch all contributed multi-hit games as well while Ryan Strieby hit his first homer. Matt O’Brien (7 IP), Randor Bierd (1 IP), and Brett Jensen (1 IP) combined for the 3 hit shut out.
GCL Tigers – DNP
Game 94: White Sox at Tigers
PREGAME: That’s it. I’m convinced that the Sox are in the Tigers collective heads. There is no way the Tigers can compete. This whole winning thing was nice while it lasted because even if the Tigers make the playoffs it is impossible for them to get by the Sox.
The preceding paragraph was all sarcasm. I felt the need to clarify because I’ve heard those sentiments all day today and there is a large contingent that is convinced of this. Of course I would feel better if the Tigers reciprocated last night’s pounding, but I’m not concerned – at least not 5:00 today.
Jeremy Bonderman will take the mound tonight. For the last 6 weeks Bonderman has been awesome with out run support – except for last week’s start against the Royals where he wasn’t awesome and got lots of run support. He’ll face a much more formidable task tonight and the key will be Bonderman’s ability to keep the ball in the park. He’s been quite proficient at the task with only 8 long balls allowed – but 2 of those came in his last start.
POSTGAME: Jeremy Bonderman was everything that Tiger fans could have hoped for last night. There were only 2 hard hit balls all night. Unfortunately both found the seats, but because Bondo was so dominant they were both solo shots. Most importantly after the Craig Monroe slam, Bonderman came in and retired the White Sox in order the following inning. Fernando Rodney, Jamie Walker, and Todd Jones kept things from being interesting in the late innings.
As for the offense, in the early going it seemed they were poised to jump all over Vazquez. In the first inning Pudge Rodriguez hit the double which was followed by an Ordonez line drive to right field that again found Jermaine Dye. The Tigers managed to get baserunners in subsequent innings, and unlike the night before against Garland, they worked themselves into hitters counts. Yet they had nothing to show for it until the 6th inning when a couple singles were followed by a seeing eye grounder (redemption for Maggs from the first inning liner) and a bloop shot to no-man’s land. The Tigers were finally on the board and after the force out at home on the Marcus Thames grounder Craig Monroe battled from a 2 strike count to hit the granny.
And a good time was had by all.
Meanwhile Javier Vazquez who was rumored to be dealt to the Tigers for Curtis Granderson and Joel Zumaya this offseason (PHEW) will be starting for the White Sox.
Tigers Minor League Wrap – July 18th
Toledo 7, Pawtucket 7 (in progress)
Dmitri Young hit his first homer of his rehab stint and added a single and a walk. Josh Phelps also homered among 3 hits and David Espinosa was 3 for 4. Jordan Tata lasted only 4 innings. He allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, 3 walks, and 4 K’s.
Bowie 7, Erie 0
Erie only mustered 4 hits and 3 errors. Jon Connolly took the loss allowing 6 runs in 6 1/3 innings.
Lakeland 2, St. Lucie 1
Clete Thomas tripled and hit a sacrifice fly. Dallas Trahern allowed 1 unearned run in 8 innings of 5 hit balls. Kevin Whelan picked up his 20th save with a scoreless 10th inning.
Beloit 5, West Michigan 4
Cameron Maybin doubled, singled, and stole his 20th base. Matt Joyce added 2 hits and a walk. Erik Averill allowed 4 runs, 3 earned, in 7 innings with a 4:0 K to BB ratio.
Oneonta 4, Brooklyn 2 (in progress)
Scott Sizemore went 2 for 3 with 2 walks. Zach Piccola pitched 5 shut out innings allowing only 3 hits and a walk.