Comments on: Game 2009.073: Tigers at Astros

By: Keith (Mr. X)

Keith (Mr. X) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:25:53 +0000

The Tigers have 11 blown saves as a team. The MLB average is 10. So yesterday at this time the Tigers pen blew an average amount of saves.

By: Keith (Mr. X)

Keith (Mr. X) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:18:57 +0000

We all know the bullpen is our major weakness. It’s actually done a lot better than what I’ve expected also. IMO, they’ve been pretty good at holding leads late in the game. Does anyone have any stats on blown saves? I don’t think the Tigers have that many compared to other teams.

By: Keith (Mr. X)

Keith (Mr. X) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:14:06 +0000

Zumaya has nothing to prove in the minors. He just needs to learn to handle the pressure in the late innings. Only experience at the MLB level will give him what he needs.

He’s having some growing pains and is still learning from his mistakes.

By: TONY

TONY — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:54:56 +0000

I AGREE, HE NEEDS TO GO BACK TO THE MINORS UNTIL HE LEARNS TO CONTROL HIS PITCHES. AND SEND RODNEY ALSO. HE TENDS TO GIVE UP WALKS, HITS, EVERY TIME HE COMES OUT. MOST TIMES HE LUCKS OUT TO KEEP FROM LOSING ANOTHER ONE

By: Vince in MN

Vince in MN — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:41:12 +0000

Exactly. Zumaya needs to learn how to pitch and the major league staff isn’t the place to do it. Destination Toledo, and not just for a week or two.

By: Coleman

Coleman — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:23:11 +0000

I was pretty sure they must, but I decided to look it up to make sure. They don’t lead the league in walked in runs…they DOMINATE the league in walked in runs; in fact it is probable that if they don’t have any more from now until the end of the season they will still finish the season with the most.

They also have the added distinction of being the only team in the league that with the bases loaded are more likely to walk the batter than to strike him out. Here are the AL team totals for bases loaded walks / HBP / strikeouts / PA / BB-HBP Rate:

DET 15 1 13 103 16%
TBR 8 1 13 69 13%
MIN 6 0 9 57 11%
BOS 5 3 12 74 11%
KCR 4 1 7 57 9%
NYY 6 1 18 85 8%
TEX 5 1 13 73 8%
OAK5 1 15 77 8%
CLE 6 1 22 112 6%
LAA 4 1 12 90 6%
CHW4 0 13 70 6%
TOR 2 2 15 65 6%
SEA 4 0 12 81 5%
BAL 3 1 9 83 5%

AL AVG 5 1 13 78 8%

This is what I call a comfortable lead–when you have more than the combined totals of the guys who are 2nd and 3rd on the list…

Of course the based-loaded walks problem would be smaller if we weren’t going around with bases-loaded all the time; only CLE has more, but they seem to prefer striking them out to walking them.

I was surprised how common the bases-loaded HBP is–BOS already has 3, and in fact only SEA, CHW, and MIN haven’t had one yet (CHW?). And also surprised that the cream of the crop overall turns out to be…the Orioles (?!).

By: jud

jud — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:52:34 +0000

That post is right on!
..we are going on two years of walk after walk after walk by relief pitchers…do the Tigers lead the league now in walked in runs?

By: jud

jud — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:48:54 +0000

only if he is seated next to Ordonez who must have needed a rest today after the haircut and two hits yesterday..

By: tigersfan182

tigersfan182 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:44:31 +0000

talk about Leyland setting up a rookie for failure. He’s lucky he only gave up the one run.

By: Coleman

Coleman — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:44:29 +0000

And he actually, strangely, has not been a good bunter so far. He has been successful in 1 of 3 sac bunt attempts so far this season, the only Tiger with 2 blown sac bunt attempts.

By: Kevin in Dallas

Kevin in Dallas — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:44:05 +0000

Fantastic post.

By: tigersfan182

tigersfan182 — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:42:23 +0000

Zumaya needs a reality check, send him to AAA and make him throw strikes.

By: Coleman

Coleman — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:40:48 +0000

Here’s what gets me about it though. We now have, unless it’s changed a lot the last couple of days, the BEST defensive team in the league. And they routinely spend entire innings standing around while batters fill the bases, slowly, until they slowly walk home the runs that beat them.

As good as they are, none of them have the range to prevent the walk…

By: Coleman

Coleman — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:35:00 +0000

I think maybe Joel needs some time seated in the Ordonez section, and maybe a haircut, before we see him out there next…

By: Jeff

Jeff — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 03:34:02 +0000

Disagree. Moving Cabrera to second is better than him staying on first, but he doesn’t score on that many singles.