Comments on: Game 36: Red Sox at Tigers http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/ News, views, and analysis on the Detroit Tigers and baseball Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:40:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Kathy http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83877 Kathy Fri, 09 May 2008 19:37:48 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83877 Thanks, tiff. He's really just a big kid who loves to have fun and I hope they're not stiffling him. I could care less if he chews peanuts or whatever on base. Most of the other guys chew tobacco during the game....so what? They want him to be serious and I just don't think that's his style. Thanks, tiff. He’s really just a big kid who loves to have fun and I hope they’re not stiffling him. I could care less if he chews peanuts or whatever on base. Most of the other guys chew tobacco during the game….so what? They want him to be serious and I just don’t think that’s his style.

]]> By: ron http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83871 ron Fri, 09 May 2008 18:07:57 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83871 Bilfer, we could use that piching machine. Bilfer, we could use that piching machine.

]]> By: tiff http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83870 tiff Fri, 09 May 2008 18:06:46 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83870 Cabrera is a big bundle of baseball joy. I don't think his enthusiasm is the problem. I'll note with Kathy that ever since Leyland said he didn't want to see Cabrera giving up some at bats, he hasn't done squat. Too much pressing again? He had just gotten comfortable after starting off the season slowly, and now he's trying too hard at every at bat. Cabrera is a big bundle of baseball joy. I don’t think his enthusiasm is the problem. I’ll note with Kathy that ever since Leyland said he didn’t want to see Cabrera giving up some at bats, he hasn’t done squat. Too much pressing again? He had just gotten comfortable after starting off the season slowly, and now he’s trying too hard at every at bat.

]]> By: Andre http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83869 Andre Fri, 09 May 2008 17:18:25 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83869 Any word on when the White Sox will be done using their blow up dol....er "slump buster"? We need it. Any word on when the White Sox will be done using their blow up dol….er “slump buster”? We need it.

]]> By: billfer http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83867 billfer Fri, 09 May 2008 17:04:33 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83867 Sean - Actually Cabrera appears to play with considerable enthusiasm. He's laughing, joking, and cheering on his teammates. Ron - I think the Tigers should be in good shape this series because the Yankees players make more money so they'll care even less. cib - It's an instructional league (pitching machine for first graders) so they don't keep score. But no, they still lost. Sean - Actually Cabrera appears to play with considerable enthusiasm. He’s laughing, joking, and cheering on his teammates.

Ron - I think the Tigers should be in good shape this series because the Yankees players make more money so they’ll care even less.

cib - It’s an instructional league (pitching machine for first graders) so they don’t keep score. But no, they still lost.

]]> By: Andre http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83866 Andre Fri, 09 May 2008 16:49:09 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83866 I forgot to mention this (but i've said it before), the Tigers don't hit for Verlander. Besides two of his eight starts: 3/31 game vs KC (4 runs) and 4/22 vs Texas (10 runs), the Tigers have combined for 7 runs in his six other starts!!! I think that confidence is key to a players performance in almost any sport, and possibly moreso in baseball. Playoff bound teams can absorb stretches of bad games like what the Tigers are going through, but the degree to which bad play factors into a teams confidence might be greater if its earlier in the season. I would hope that the degree to which this affects professionals is less than it would myself...but can we really say that the burden of expectations with being the team's "ace" and (until proven otherwise) knowing that your team isn't going to hit for you doesn't have something to do with JV's awful start? I forgot to mention this (but i’ve said it before), the Tigers don’t hit for Verlander. Besides two of his eight starts: 3/31 game vs KC (4 runs) and 4/22 vs Texas (10 runs), the Tigers have combined for 7 runs in his six other starts!!!

I think that confidence is key to a players performance in almost any sport, and possibly moreso in baseball. Playoff bound teams can absorb stretches of bad games like what the Tigers are going through, but the degree to which bad play factors into a teams confidence might be greater if its earlier in the season.

I would hope that the degree to which this affects professionals is less than it would myself…but can we really say that the burden of expectations with being the team’s “ace” and (until proven otherwise) knowing that your team isn’t going to hit for you doesn’t have something to do with JV’s awful start?

]]> By: Chris in Dallas http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83865 Chris in Dallas Fri, 09 May 2008 16:38:02 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83865 I don't know if anyone has posted this link here on DTW, so here you go: http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/joel-zumaya-17146 Make of that what you will... I don’t know if anyone has posted this link here on DTW, so here you go:

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/joel-zumaya-17146

Make of that what you will…

]]> By: Chris in Dallas http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83864 Chris in Dallas Fri, 09 May 2008 16:35:51 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83864 I don't know if anyone has posted this link here but it is, um, interesting. Looks like Zumaya is hitting his rehab full force... http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/joel-zumaya-17146 Of course there is no context as to when these pictures were taken, but funny nonetheless. I don’t know if anyone has posted this link here but it is, um, interesting. Looks like Zumaya is hitting his rehab full force…

http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/joel-zumaya-17146

Of course there is no context as to when these pictures were taken, but funny nonetheless.

]]> By: Sean C. in Illinois http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83863 Sean C. in Illinois Fri, 09 May 2008 16:30:28 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83863 Chris, I haven't seen Cabrera play, but I do get the impression he doesn't exactly radiate enthusiasm like, say, Polly or Pudge. Chris, I haven’t seen Cabrera play, but I do get the impression he doesn’t exactly radiate enthusiasm like, say, Polly or Pudge.

]]> By: Andre http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83862 Andre Fri, 09 May 2008 16:28:44 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/05/game-36-red-sox-at-tigers/#comment-83862 I have to agree with scotsw on Verlander. While I wish he were still letting batters have it with the high 99 mph fastballs, if tweaking his mechanics prolongs his career...I'm not gonna tell the guy to burn out his shoulder for the win. The thing that bothers me is that I thought the change was supposed to stretch out his starts too. So far it does seem like he can't go deep into the game (I haven't been able to see enough games to know if this is a result of reaching a certain pitch count early or not). He didn't seem to have endurance issues last year, but then again he was effective so I wasn't looking for them. I saw a stat a while ago saying that he was very effective early and then a sharp decline after inning 4 i think. This is what bothers me. Change your style to extend your playing time, even if it means decreasing velocity, fine. Why then the issues we're seeing...I do think this is a coaching problem. I have to agree with scotsw on Verlander.

While I wish he were still letting batters have it with the high 99 mph fastballs, if tweaking his mechanics prolongs his career…I’m not gonna tell the guy to burn out his shoulder for the win. The thing that bothers me is that I thought the change was supposed to stretch out his starts too. So far it does seem like he can’t go deep into the game (I haven’t been able to see enough games to know if this is a result of reaching a certain pitch count early or not). He didn’t seem to have endurance issues last year, but then again he was effective so I wasn’t looking for them.

I saw a stat a while ago saying that he was very effective early and then a sharp decline after inning 4 i think. This is what bothers me. Change your style to extend your playing time, even if it means decreasing velocity, fine. Why then the issues we’re seeing…I do think this is a coaching problem.

]]>