Comments on: Game 91: Twins at Tigers http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/ News, views, and analysis on the Detroit Tigers and baseball Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:11:17 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: ron http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96964 ron Sat, 12 Jul 2008 15:31:23 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96964 All right Chief, you've convinced me. I just flushed my pills down the toilet and signed up for a Yoga class. As that guy from Illinois would say, serenity now, serenity now.....I'm getting verrry tired, veeerryyy ..tir............ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ All right Chief, you’ve convinced me. I just flushed my pills down the toilet and signed up for a Yoga class. As that guy from Illinois would say, serenity now, serenity now…..I’m getting verrry tired, veeerryyy ..tir…………ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

]]> By: tiff http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96849 tiff Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:29:15 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96849 Chief, that's beautiful. Chief, that’s beautiful.

]]> By: Chief Monday http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96848 Chief Monday Fri, 11 Jul 2008 21:18:43 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96848 Also, It seems like when the Tigers win a bunch of games in a row I hear people say "Don't get too excited". Then if the Tigers lose 1 game after winning several in a row, then these same people get bent all out of shape like the season is over. Come on people, it's just one game. I have lots of fun when we win, and have less fun when we lose. Everyday the Tigers play is a good day for me. I look forward to watching them play every game. To me, the anticipation for every Tiger game makes me feel like a kid on Christmas Morning. When the Tigers win, it's like I just unwrapped a big toy truck, but if the Tigers lose it's like getting a pair of socks. I win either way because I just got to watch the Tigers play a game of baseball. A summer without Tiger baseball or a year without Christmas, now that would be devastating. Also,
It seems like when the Tigers win a bunch of games in a row I hear people say “Don’t get too excited”. Then if the Tigers lose 1 game after winning several in a row, then these same people get bent all out of shape like the season is over. Come on people, it’s just one game.

I have lots of fun when we win, and have less fun when we lose. Everyday the Tigers play is a good day for me. I look forward to watching them play every game. To me, the anticipation for every Tiger game makes me feel like a kid on Christmas Morning.

When the Tigers win, it’s like I just unwrapped a big toy truck, but if the Tigers lose it’s like getting a pair of socks. I win either way because I just got to watch the Tigers play a game of baseball.

A summer without Tiger baseball or a year without Christmas, now that would be devastating.

]]> By: Chief Monday http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96845 Chief Monday Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:46:36 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96845 The Tigers can lose 25 more games like they did yesterday and still make the play-offs. 71 more games left to play. 46 wins will put us 22 games over .500 and about 10 games above the choking White Sox. On Monday, everyone said that the Tigers just need to win 4 of the next 6 home games. Well, we've won 2 out of 3 so far and it's seems everyone is devastated because of one lousy game. I'm ready to watch the game Today. Today's game doesn't even mean much, but I'm sure everyone thinks it's the last game of the season if the Tigers lose. The Tigers can lose 25 more games like they did yesterday and still make the play-offs.

71 more games left to play. 46 wins will put us 22 games over .500 and about 10 games above the choking White Sox.

On Monday, everyone said that the Tigers just need to win 4 of the next 6 home games. Well, we’ve won 2 out of 3 so far and it’s seems everyone is devastated because of one lousy game. I’m ready to watch the game Today.

Today’s game doesn’t even mean much, but I’m sure everyone thinks it’s the last game of the season if the Tigers lose.

]]> By: Chris in Dallas http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96844 Chris in Dallas Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:44:30 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96844 I think managing is thoroughly overrated. A "good" manager can win maybe 3 or 4 games per season than an "average" manager. The Tigers will be fine. Their defense is middle of the pack (13th in defensive efficiency) and the offense, while inconsistent, is still 4th in the league in runs scored. The starting pitching has been much better after the first 6 weeks or so (ERA by month - 5.46, 4.67, 3.46, 4.42) and the relief corps has been at least serviceable for the most part (4.31 overall ERA). With Cabrera (.383/.408/.745 over the last 2 wks) and Grandy ( .364/.426/.527) heating up and Maggs on the way back, the offense should be able to score more runs than the pitching gives up on most nights. Generally when you do that, wins are a result. It's not a perfect team, but neither is anyone else. I think managing is thoroughly overrated. A “good” manager can win maybe 3 or 4 games per season than an “average” manager. The Tigers will be fine. Their defense is middle of the pack (13th in defensive efficiency) and the offense, while inconsistent, is still 4th in the league in runs scored. The starting pitching has been much better after the first 6 weeks or so (ERA by month – 5.46, 4.67, 3.46, 4.42) and the relief corps has been at least serviceable for the most part (4.31 overall ERA). With Cabrera (.383/.408/.745 over the last 2 wks) and Grandy ( .364/.426/.527) heating up and Maggs on the way back, the offense should be able to score more runs than the pitching gives up on most nights. Generally when you do that, wins are a result. It’s not a perfect team, but neither is anyone else.

]]> By: Vince in MN http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96840 Vince in MN Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:42:03 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96840 T Smith, Thanks for the link. Mr. Lawrence went three for three in that article. Although the Tigers looked good on paper at the beginning of ST, the fact is that it is a really poorly constructed unit. With all the high quality players they just don't fit together well - many of holes on defense (literally), the bullpen has obvious glaring weaknesses and as far as the offense goes...well where do I begin: too slow to steal or aggressively run the bases, which means they don't put any pressure on the defense and are consequently condemned to a one-dimensional station to station strategy (compare to the Twins who have one power hitter but ran rings around the Tigers yesterday), a few too many DHs and so on. Then there is the manager. Leyland has an encyclopaedic knowledge of strategies that one should NOT employ. We know this to be true because he constantly repeats them. Managers, like the players, are not perfect and make mistakes, but one would expect over the course of a season an average manager's critical decisions would be pretty much of a wash, and indeed, the quality of play on the field (let's call that tactics) by the players decides 90% of games. In the 10% of games that are decided by strategic choices the manager bears the brunt of the responsibility. Leyland is horrendous. I think he loses 10 more games than wins a year. And if he isn't getting any worse (I think he is), he certainly isn't getting any better; making the same dumb mistakes over and over again. Even if the Tigers were to improve on their above mentioned 'tactical' qualities, I just don't have the faith that they can succeed with JL at the helm. 91 games into this season and it looks more and more like a train wreck. I still hope they can come around, but a 77-85 finish really wouldn't surprise me at this point. T Smith,
Thanks for the link. Mr. Lawrence went three for three in that article.

Although the Tigers looked good on paper at the beginning of ST, the fact is that it is a really poorly constructed unit. With all the high quality players they just don’t fit together well – many of holes on defense (literally), the bullpen has obvious glaring weaknesses and as far as the offense goes…well where do I begin: too slow to steal or aggressively run the bases, which means they don’t put any pressure on the defense and are consequently condemned to a one-dimensional station to station strategy (compare to the Twins who have one power hitter but ran rings around the Tigers yesterday), a few too many DHs and so on. Then there is the manager. Leyland has an encyclopaedic knowledge of strategies that one should NOT employ. We know this to be true because he constantly repeats them. Managers, like the players, are not perfect and make mistakes, but one would expect over the course of a season an average manager’s critical decisions would be pretty much of a wash, and indeed, the quality of play on the field (let’s call that tactics) by the players decides 90% of games. In the 10% of games that are decided by strategic choices the manager bears the brunt of the responsibility. Leyland is horrendous. I think he loses 10 more games than wins a year. And if he isn’t getting any worse (I think he is), he certainly isn’t getting any better; making the same dumb mistakes over and over again. Even if the Tigers were to improve on their above mentioned ‘tactical’ qualities, I just don’t have the faith that they can succeed with JL at the helm.

91 games into this season and it looks more and more like a train wreck. I still hope they can come around, but a 77-85 finish really wouldn’t surprise me at this point.

]]> By: tiff http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96839 tiff Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:45:51 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96839 I just feel like on the Internets in general, you need to be bipolar to keep up. When the Tigers won in late inning fashion two days ago all the media was overly positive, talking about the pennant race and how the division was for the taking. Then the next day they lose a game that albeit, they should've won, and now it's a sinking feeling and they're losers and it's time to give up? sheesh, I can't keep up. I just feel like on the Internets in general, you need to be bipolar to keep up. When the Tigers won in late inning fashion two days ago all the media was overly positive, talking about the pennant race and how the division was for the taking.
Then the next day they lose a game that albeit, they should’ve won, and now it’s a sinking feeling and they’re losers and it’s time to give up?
sheesh, I can’t keep up.

]]> By: eRiCG http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96838 eRiCG Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:41:51 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96838 zumuya closer next year...and i'd be fine with perry in 8th inning...if anyone watched him on ESPN, he pitched 4 innings throwing everything 95-98mph...this is of course if they don't want him to start which i think he could :)...thoughts?? zumuya closer next year…and i’d be fine with perry in 8th inning…if anyone watched him on ESPN, he pitched 4 innings throwing everything 95-98mph…this is of course if they don’t want him to start which i think he could :) …thoughts??

]]> By: ron http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96837 ron Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:09:20 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96837 Mike R joins Chief at Happy Camp. You know Mike, you haven't been the same since you got that new computer. Be happy, get back on the horse, Chief would have told Superman. I prefer Kramden's " pins and needles, needles and pins; it's a happy man that grins. Mike R joins Chief at Happy Camp. You know Mike, you haven’t been the same since you got that new computer. Be happy, get back on the horse, Chief would have told Superman. I prefer Kramden’s ” pins and needles, needles and pins; it’s a happy man that grins.

]]> By: T Smith http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96836 T Smith Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:54:06 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96836 Even the media is having a hard time with this one: http://www.mlive.com/sports/chronicle/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/121578750863380.xml&coll=8 Chief, the positive spin is important. I'm really okay with the positive spin and welcome a dose of it. But the article -- also articulated in comments here -- pretty much sums it up. Even the media is having a hard time with this one:

http://www.mlive.com/sports/ch.....amp;coll=8

Chief, the positive spin is important. I’m really okay with the positive spin and welcome a dose of it. But the article — also articulated in comments here — pretty much sums it up.

]]> By: ron http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96835 ron Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:48:18 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96835 Chief ,yes Devastating spelled with a capital D. I'm glad you live in that competitive world and can look at the big picture and put a positive spin on losses.. We need people like you to balance the negativity. Chief ,yes Devastating spelled with a capital D. I’m glad you live in that competitive world and can look at the big picture and put a positive spin on losses.. We need people like you to balance the negativity.

]]> By: Gary http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96831 Gary Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:06:54 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96831 Why on earth does Leyland keep putting Rodney in there? His ERA is atrocious, and he has proven time and again that he can lose a game that's seemingly in the bag. Don't get me started on Todd Jones. Leyland didn't even mention their horrible perfprmances when he spoke to the media after the game. He always seems to love and defend the worst players. Remember Nevi ("Pop Out) Perez? I used to be a huge fan of Leyland's, but it wasn't Rodney or Jones who blew it yesterday. It was the skipper. Again. Why on earth does Leyland keep putting Rodney in there? His ERA is atrocious, and he has proven time and again that he can lose a game that’s seemingly in the bag. Don’t get me started on Todd Jones. Leyland didn’t even mention their horrible perfprmances when he spoke to the media after the game. He always seems to love and defend the worst players. Remember Nevi (“Pop Out) Perez? I used to be a huge fan of Leyland’s, but it wasn’t Rodney or Jones who blew it yesterday. It was the skipper. Again.

]]> By: Chris in Dallas http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96830 Chris in Dallas Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:03:57 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96830 Why don't you transition Zumaya to closer <i>now</i>, you ask? Because he's allowing 2 baserunners per inning, that's why. Why don’t you transition Zumaya to closer now, you ask? Because he’s allowing 2 baserunners per inning, that’s why.

]]> By: Chris http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96828 Chris Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:23:28 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96828 Jones is really not a good closer from a pure ability standpoint. He is from a mental toughness standpoint. But for the most part, it is pure luck that he hasn't blown at least six saves this year. I really do hope the luck continues or that the Tigers are willing and able to stick Zumaya in there as soon as it appears that it isn't working any more with Jones. Anyway, we've got to transition Zumaya for the closer next year. Why not commit to that sooner? Jones is really not a good closer from a pure ability standpoint. He is from a mental toughness standpoint. But for the most part, it is pure luck that he hasn’t blown at least six saves this year. I really do hope the luck continues or that the Tigers are willing and able to stick Zumaya in there as soon as it appears that it isn’t working any more with Jones.

Anyway, we’ve got to transition Zumaya for the closer next year. Why not commit to that sooner?

]]> By: tiff http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96827 tiff Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:15:37 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/07/game-91-twins-at-tigers/#comment-96827 I'm with Brian P. This is big news. I’m with Brian P. This is big news.

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