Comments on: Game 80: Rockies at Tigers http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/ News, views, and analysis on the Detroit Tigers and baseball Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:23:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Vince in MN http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94501 Vince in MN Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:37:09 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94501 Steve: The point I was trying to make was that for about the last three weeks the Tigers have been playing all their games against weak teams in a weak league. The fact that they handled these weaker teams does not necessarily translate into similar results when they start playing AL clubs, who, for the most part are superior to their NL brethren, and, for the most part (CLE and TOR the exceptions) all had winning records vs the other league. Yes, the Tigers results are better over the last couple of weeks, but this is also the case with most other AL teams. And not just some of the NL teams have been struggling over this interleague period - most of them have, just like last year and the year before that. The Cubs might be for real, but I just can't take the rest of them too seriously. Take a look at the AL standings before and after interleague play: EAST Before After Bos ---- / .5 TB 1.5 / ---- NY 4.5 / 5.5 BAL 7 / 7.5 TOR 6.5 / 10 CENT Before After CHI ---- / ---- MN 3.5 / 1 DET 6 / 5 CLE 3.5 / 9 KC 10.5 / 9 The WS haven't played yet as I write, so the standings will go up or down .5 depending on the result. WEST Before After LA ---- / ----- OAK 4.5 / 3.5 TX 6.5 / 7.5 SEA 16.5 / 17.5 Three weeks further into the season and what major changes in the AL races do we see? Toronto is a little worse in the East, The Twins are a little better in the Central, and Cleveland has tanked. Otherwise, the differences are only a game or two at best. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy the Tigers have pulled themselves up over .500 and "appear" to be playing much better ball, but one could say that about 10 or 11 of the AL teams over the last few weeks as well. Basically the last three weeks have been like a vacation and now the AL teams will have to fight it out amongst themselves. Now meaningful games come into play again, but the interleague results are not a barometer of how this is going to pan out. That is what I mean when I say the real test for the Tigers starts on Monday. Steve:

The point I was trying to make was that for about the last three weeks the Tigers have been playing all their games against weak teams in a weak league. The fact that they handled these weaker teams does not necessarily translate into similar results when they start playing AL clubs, who, for the most part are superior to their NL brethren, and, for the most part (CLE and TOR the exceptions) all had winning records vs the other league. Yes, the Tigers results are better over the last couple of weeks, but this is also the case with most other AL teams. And not just some of the NL teams have been struggling over this interleague period - most of them have, just like last year and the year before that. The Cubs might be for real, but I just can’t take the rest of them too seriously.

Take a look at the AL standings before and after interleague play:

EAST Before After
Bos —- / .5
TB 1.5 / —-
NY 4.5 / 5.5
BAL 7 / 7.5
TOR 6.5 / 10

CENT Before After
CHI —- / —-
MN 3.5 / 1
DET 6 / 5
CLE 3.5 / 9
KC 10.5 / 9

The WS haven’t played yet as I write, so the standings will go up or down .5 depending on the result.

WEST Before After
LA —- / —–
OAK 4.5 / 3.5
TX 6.5 / 7.5
SEA 16.5 / 17.5

Three weeks further into the season and what major changes in the AL races do we see? Toronto is a little worse in the East, The Twins are a little better in the Central, and Cleveland has tanked. Otherwise, the differences are only a game or two at best.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy the Tigers have pulled themselves up over .500 and “appear” to be playing much better ball, but one could say that about 10 or 11 of the AL teams over the last few weeks as well. Basically the last three weeks have been like a vacation and now the AL teams will have to fight it out amongst themselves. Now meaningful games come into play again, but the interleague results are not a barometer of how this is going to pan out. That is what I mean when I say the real test for the Tigers starts on Monday.

]]> By: Steve in Kzoo http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94498 Steve in Kzoo Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:29:38 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94498 Vince i don't get your comment of now the silly season is over, and they will no play bonofide baseball teams again. The NL is weaker but still the Cards have the NL wild card wrapped up and I believe that LAD or the Arz Diamonbacks are going to be the West champs and we swept the Dodgers and before we were going good we won 1 of 3 to ARZ. So all of these teams we are beating are all MLB teams just some are struggling. Still MIN will be tough very tough. But I think we can get out of there with 2 of 3 won. GO Tigers!!!!! Vince i don’t get your comment of now the silly season is over, and they will no play bonofide baseball teams again. The NL is weaker but still the Cards have the NL wild card wrapped up and I believe that LAD or the Arz Diamonbacks are going to be the West champs and we swept the Dodgers and before we were going good we won 1 of 3 to ARZ. So all of these teams we are beating are all MLB teams just some are struggling.

Still MIN will be tough very tough. But I think we can get out of there with 2 of 3 won. GO Tigers!!!!!

]]> By: Sean C. in Illinois http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94497 Sean C. in Illinois Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:14:03 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94497 Ron "But reading your witty and very entertaining blogs in the middle of the night makes my day." Right back at ya, Slick. Ron

“But reading your witty and very entertaining blogs in the middle of the night makes my day.”

Right back at ya, Slick.

]]> By: Anne http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94393 Anne Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:03:08 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94393 ERA doesn't matter for a closer. The only thing that matters is you either save the win for the team, or you don't. Barely saving a game is, believe it or not, good enough. The win is what matters. Yes Jones would probably have more blown saves if he'd had more opportunities early in the season, but would also have more saves. He's been among the league leaders in saves for the previous 4 years (that's as far back as I looked). He's rarely going to give you a 1-2-3 ninth. He's going to give up walks, hits and even homers, but he's a known quantity. He will get the job done, even if it's not pretty. The animosity some fans have toward him (not pointing fingers at anyone here) is completely out of proportion to even his worst performances. It's illogical, irrational and disturbingly personal. Now, with that said, I'm throwing out my beating-a-dead-horse stick and am going to enjoy today's game, instead of continuing to re-hash yesterday's. ERA doesn’t matter for a closer. The only thing that matters is you either save the win for the team, or you don’t. Barely saving a game is, believe it or not, good enough. The win is what matters. Yes Jones would probably have more blown saves if he’d had more opportunities early in the season, but would also have more saves. He’s been among the league leaders in saves for the previous 4 years (that’s as far back as I looked). He’s rarely going to give you a 1-2-3 ninth. He’s going to give up walks, hits and even homers, but he’s a known quantity. He will get the job done, even if it’s not pretty. The animosity some fans have toward him (not pointing fingers at anyone here) is completely out of proportion to even his worst performances. It’s illogical, irrational and disturbingly personal.
Now, with that said, I’m throwing out my beating-a-dead-horse stick and am going to enjoy today’s game, instead of continuing to re-hash yesterday’s.

]]> By: Chris http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94357 Chris Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:33:14 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94357 The fact that Todd jones only has one blown save is more of a statistical anomaly than anything. A few times this year he has come in non save situations and has been scored upon easily, such as the Dodger game two weeks ago. And a many times he was hit pretty well but managed to barely hang on for the save. I have confidence in his luck and his mental toughness but not so much in his ability. I do look forward to next year when we get to see how Zumaya does as the closer. I get the sense that he is very eager to take on that role, which I think is a good thing. Dolsi looks like he could someday be a good closer, but he probably is too inexperienced to get that job next year. The fact that Todd jones only has one blown save is more of a statistical anomaly than anything. A few times this year he has come in non save situations and has been scored upon easily, such as the Dodger game two weeks ago. And a many times he was hit pretty well but managed to barely hang on for the save. I have confidence in his luck and his mental toughness but not so much in his ability.

I do look forward to next year when we get to see how Zumaya does as the closer. I get the sense that he is very eager to take on that role, which I think is a good thing. Dolsi looks like he could someday be a good closer, but he probably is too inexperienced to get that job next year.

]]> By: vtfanmv5 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94356 vtfanmv5 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:05:42 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94356 K-Rod has blown 2 saves because he has something like 33 chances. His ERA is around 2, less than half of Jones'. I love Todd, but lets face it, given his ERA this season, he's VERY fortunate this is his first blown save. Jones has a way of somehow just barely getting it done with his now-mediocre arsenal. Hopefully he can keep it up for the rest of the year. K-Rod has blown 2 saves because he has something like 33 chances. His ERA is around 2, less than half of Jones’. I love Todd, but lets face it, given his ERA this season, he’s VERY fortunate this is his first blown save.

Jones has a way of somehow just barely getting it done with his now-mediocre arsenal. Hopefully he can keep it up for the rest of the year.

]]> By: K-man http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94355 K-man Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:27:07 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94355 First of all, I will NOT boo my own players(but I might swear under my breath). Second, I absolutely LOVE Todd Jones. Todd Jones has the biggest balls on the team. He's obviously not the greatest pitcher in the world, but he goes out there, almost always with the game on the line, and almost always gets the job done. And as Anne pointed out, some of the best closers in the game already have blown multiple saves. This was bound to happen. Nobody is perfect. I doubt if its the start of a trend. First of all, I will NOT boo my own players(but I might swear under my breath). Second, I absolutely LOVE Todd Jones. Todd Jones has the biggest balls on the team. He’s obviously not the greatest pitcher in the world, but he goes out there, almost always with the game on the line, and almost always gets the job done. And as Anne pointed out, some of the best closers in the game already have blown multiple saves. This was bound to happen. Nobody is perfect. I doubt if its the start of a trend.

]]> By: Vince in MN http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94354 Vince in MN Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:04:04 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94354 The BS should go to Leyland for leaving Jones out there too long. When Jones is bad, he is really bad and needs to get pulled quickly. That is the first time this has happened this season, but how many times in the past have we seen this kind of scenario played out? This is poor bullpen management again. After today the Silly Season will be over, the Tigers will be playing bonafide MLB teams again, and won't be getting away with kind of nonsense. The BS should go to Leyland for leaving Jones out there too long. When Jones is bad, he is really bad and needs to get pulled quickly. That is the first time this has happened this season, but how many times in the past have we seen this kind of scenario played out? This is poor bullpen management again. After today the Silly Season will be over, the Tigers will be playing bonafide MLB teams again, and won’t be getting away with kind of nonsense.

]]> By: Anne http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94353 Anne Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:57:06 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94353 And can I just point out, K-rod has 2 blown saves and Papelbon has 4. There's a couple of abject failures, eh? And can I just point out, K-rod has 2 blown saves and Papelbon has 4. There’s a couple of abject failures, eh?

]]> By: Anne http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94352 Anne Sun, 29 Jun 2008 14:45:40 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/06/game-80-rockies-at-tigers/#comment-94352 "To fail as abjectly as Jones did"? Give me a break. How about when a batter strikes out with the bases loaded? Do you boo him? Or when your starter gives up a 3-run jack? Do you ever cheer for Jones when he converts a save? Why do people insist on forgetting the 14 times he succeeds and dump all over him for 1 bad night? One blown save half-way through the season is way too early to start worrying about a habit. “To fail as abjectly as Jones did”? Give me a break. How about when a batter strikes out with the bases loaded? Do you boo him? Or when your starter gives up a 3-run jack? Do you ever cheer for Jones when he converts a save? Why do people insist on forgetting the 14 times he succeeds and dump all over him for 1 bad night? One blown save half-way through the season is way too early to start worrying about a habit.

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