Comments on: Game 71: Tigers at Giants

By: David G.

David G. — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:08:40 +0000

Please tell me that we are going to flat pummel Zito today. Please? Absolutely no reason not to…

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:38:34 +0000

“One of the SF papers today called him a “.219 hitting scrub”.”

They shoulda read up on his 2 HR, 7 RBI game last year.

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:37:08 +0000

Thus, the bench going forward (I hate the term “going forward,” but it’s in vogue in this day of age), pending the return of Shef and Little Shef* and minus the Toledo-bound Larish and Hollimon, is:

Inge/Rodriguez, Clevlen, Raburn, Santiago.

*Similar in terms of 2008 power, but lagging far behind in RK and FRBI. Thus, “Little.”

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:34:22 +0000

Clevlen’s excellent defensively, but I wouldn’t say Raburn is like Manny Ramirez or anything with the OF glove either. His versatility makes him the more valuable guy. He’s historically a better hitter than Clevlen, this year notwithstanding. One of the SF papers today called him a “.219 hitting scrub”. Ouch. That smarts.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:24:02 +0000

Clevlen, historically, is a much better outfielder than Raburn. Raburn was a 2B in the minors.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:47:43 +0000

I like Clevlen’s defense, though Brian brings up a good point about redundancy with Raburn (say THAT five times fast). They’ve got a very similar profile and kinda play the same way (and no, I’m not just saying that because they’re both white), only Raburn can also play IF and thus is more valuable overall.

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:45:46 +0000

“Jones was so shook up by that catch he got the next two guys out”

Nice. Messed up the plan, for sure.

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:44:19 +0000

“I don’t see Clevlen leaving, although he’s a little redundant with Raburn on the bench”

Brian, I’m not positive – and I’m not basing this on the catch last night I just watched video of – but I get the impression that Clevlen is the better outfielder of the two, and since it’s hard to believe they’d risk Sheffield in the OF any more, Clevlen is anything but redundant. I only wish Raburn could play a better 3B.

By: judpma

judpma — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:43:55 +0000

I guess last night we did to them what they did to us the night before…………….the Clevlen play was the game winner….it got “roller coaster” off his game!!! Jones was so shook up by that catch he got he next two guys out ,….no runs..

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:38:13 +0000

Unless the Tigers intend to go after Adam Dunn (who strikes out quite a lot more often than Thames), I will take Marcus in LF every time, especially with OF company like Grandy and Maggs.

baseball-reference.com 162 game average for Thames:

470 AB 74 runs 114 hits 24 doubles 1 triple 33 home runs 85 rbi 41 bb 126 k .243/.308/.506 109 OPS+ 6 gdp

I’ll take that from Thames, from Joyce, from Clevlen, from Adam Dunn for that matter. A team with WS aspirations can afford to “carry” a LF like this. A 2006 WS team did carry a 3B not quite this good, in addition to a two-headed version of the same LF.

By: Dave BW

Dave BW — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:26:21 +0000

“I told Marcus, if you don’t hit a HR for me, you don’t love me.”

Kenny is awesome.

By: Brian P

Brian P — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:23:11 +0000

I don’t see Clevlen leaving, although he’s a little redundant with Raburn already on the bench. Probably: Sheffield will replace Larish and Santiago will replace Hollimon.

Am I missing anyone?

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 14:20:09 +0000

That is good, tiff.

Well, he’s hit home runs for every starter currently in the rotation. Whole Lotta Love.

By: tiff

tiff — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:55:11 +0000

my favorite quote from the wraps, from Kenny “I told Marcus, if you don’t hit a HR for me, you don’t love me.”

By: Sean C. in Illinois

Sean C. in Illinois — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:37:32 +0000

Some catch by Thames. How did he hang on to that ball? That might have been bigger than the HR, as Kenny said.

Clevlen’s catch was great, too. Do you get the feeling he might be sticking around?