Comments on: Treading water http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/ 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: Coleman http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128235 Coleman Tue, 25 Aug 2009 00:36:27 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128235 Part of the problem is that for most of the season the guys most likely to draw walks have been followed in the lineup by the guys most likely to follow with a GIDP...which I'm thinking at some point makes working the walk seem less appealing...besides, despite sometimes speaking the platitudes, Uncle Smokey has actually rewarded not taking pitches by batting those guys, with the exception of Granderson, further up in the batting order than the guys who take pitches. Part of the problem is that for most of the season the guys most likely to draw walks have been followed in the lineup by the guys most likely to follow with a GIDP…which I’m thinking at some point makes working the walk seem less appealing…besides, despite sometimes speaking the platitudes, Uncle Smokey has actually rewarded not taking pitches by batting those guys, with the exception of Granderson, further up in the batting order than the guys who take pitches.

]]> By: Kathy http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128233 Kathy Mon, 24 Aug 2009 23:27:38 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128233 So true, so true. A "walk"? What's that? You'd think, the way they are hitting, more of them would try to work some walks. Sheff was real good at that. So true, so true. A “walk”? What’s that? You’d think, the way they are hitting, more of them would try to work some walks. Sheff was real good at that.

]]> By: Cary http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128232 Cary Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:41:46 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128232 True, they moved the fences in, but still have huge outfield space. Gap hitters would be better suited than swing for the fences guys. The Twins have more hitters than just M &M. Even their young hitters have a good approach. With their lack of team speed and inability to walk, the Tigers wait for the three run homer. There are very few manufactured runs. Their bad approach at the plate makes too many opposing pitchers look like Cy Young. I agree with the idea that it is hard for major leaguers to learn to take a walk. It must be an orginizational change. True, they moved the fences in, but still have huge outfield space. Gap hitters would be better suited than swing for the fences guys. The Twins have more hitters than just M &M. Even their young hitters have a good approach. With their lack of team speed and inability to walk, the Tigers wait for the three run homer. There are very few manufactured runs. Their bad approach at the plate makes too many opposing pitchers look like Cy Young. I agree with the idea that it is hard for major leaguers to learn to take a walk. It must be an orginizational change.

]]> By: RPS http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128231 RPS Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:00:36 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128231 Since the left field fence got moved in, Comerica plays as a neutral park, not a pitchers' park. Left field is a much easier homer than right field, which is why the organization favors righty power pitchers and righty sluggers. The Twins succeed by building their lineup around the best player in the game and another top 10 player, and great outfield defense. The Twins do have a slappy team built for their stadium, but I think their organizational methods only look so good because they have Mauer and Morneau. The lack of walks/plate discipline is very problematic, and patience needs to be more organizationally encouraged. Granderson does have the most walks on the team, though. The problem is not the leadoff hitter, but Everiago, Polanco, and Raburn. Whether hitters at the major league level can be taught to work more walks, I have no idea. The current minor league coordinators need to be encouraging better OBP skills throughout the system, with the aim of fixing this problem within a couple years. Since the left field fence got moved in, Comerica plays as a neutral park, not a pitchers’ park. Left field is a much easier homer than right field, which is why the organization favors righty power pitchers and righty sluggers. The Twins succeed by building their lineup around the best player in the game and another top 10 player, and great outfield defense. The Twins do have a slappy team built for their stadium, but I think their organizational methods only look so good because they have Mauer and Morneau.

The lack of walks/plate discipline is very problematic, and patience needs to be more organizationally encouraged. Granderson does have the most walks on the team, though. The problem is not the leadoff hitter, but Everiago, Polanco, and Raburn.

Whether hitters at the major league level can be taught to work more walks, I have no idea. The current minor league coordinators need to be encouraging better OBP skills throughout the system, with the aim of fixing this problem within a couple years.

]]> By: RPS http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128230 RPS Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:40:15 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128230 They tend not to bring up guys who aren't going to get significant playing time, even though they could bring up the entire 40-man. My guess would be Fien, Bondo, Robertson, Kelly, Wilkin, Zach Simons, Dusty, and Larish. They tend not to bring up guys who aren’t going to get significant playing time, even though they could bring up the entire 40-man. My guess would be Fien, Bondo, Robertson, Kelly, Wilkin, Zach Simons, Dusty, and Larish.

]]> By: Cary http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128229 Cary Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:34:23 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128229 How can a lineup be successful when nobody, especially the two hitters at the top of the lineup, takes a walk? There are few good situational hitters on the team. There seems to be no "Tiger way" of hitting taught in the minors. The "Tiger way" seems to be "Go up there and hack away son." The Twins don't have the talent the Tigers have, but seem to have, as a team, an idea up there. The Tigers play in one of the biggest parks in the game, but have never been constructed to exploit that. This team has more holes than most people realize. How can a lineup be successful when nobody, especially the two hitters at the top of the lineup, takes a walk? There are few good situational hitters on the team. There seems to be no “Tiger way” of hitting taught in the minors. The “Tiger way” seems to be “Go up there and hack away son.” The Twins don’t have the talent the Tigers have, but seem to have, as a team, an idea up there. The Tigers play in one of the biggest parks in the game, but have never been constructed to exploit that. This team has more holes than most people realize.

]]> By: Mark in Chicago http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128228 Mark in Chicago Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:17:55 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128228 They can bring up anybody on the 40-man roster. They can bring up anybody on the 40-man roster.

]]> By: Walter55 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128227 Walter55 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:15:17 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128227 I really feel either our offense gets it some what together and we pull away with the division or they keep on being borderline pathetic and we lose the division in the end. It is really somewhat amazing we are even in first when you look at the offensive stats of each player. Besides Cabrera and in the first half Inge almost everybody has had a crappy season. Also I am perfectly fine with a Laird/Avila combo in catching I think it can work well for both. Even better when September comes around and we can call up another catcher so we are a little more free to PH Avila. Who all do you all think we will call up in September? I can see it being quite a few guys like Fien, Robertson, Bonderman, Wilkin, Stieby, Bonine, Dolsi, Kelly and a catcher. What is the limit they can bring up? I really feel either our offense gets it some what together and we pull away with the division or they keep on being borderline pathetic and we lose the division in the end.

It is really somewhat amazing we are even in first when you look at the offensive stats of each player. Besides Cabrera and in the first half Inge almost everybody has had a crappy season.

Also I am perfectly fine with a Laird/Avila combo in catching I think it can work well for both. Even better when September comes around and we can call up another catcher so we are a little more free to PH Avila. Who all do you all think we will call up in September? I can see it being quite a few guys like Fien, Robertson, Bonderman, Wilkin, Stieby, Bonine, Dolsi, Kelly and a catcher. What is the limit they can bring up?

]]> By: RPS http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128226 RPS Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:05:04 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128226 Win, lose, or draw, it's sooooo nice to know the Tigers only have three more games in that thing. Ever. Win, lose, or draw, it’s sooooo nice to know the Tigers only have three more games in that thing. Ever.

]]> By: RPS http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128225 RPS Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:03:15 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128225 Baltimore and Cleveland are about as bad as it gets in the AL. My guess actually was sweeps of Baltimore and Chicago at home, and 1-2 in the other two series. Taking three from Baltimore just seems like the kind of thing the Twins always do and the Tigers never do. Like I said, not scientific, but if you look through the projected starters, the Twins have some pretty favorable matchups. Baltimore and Cleveland are about as bad as it gets in the AL. My guess actually was sweeps of Baltimore and Chicago at home, and 1-2 in the other two series. Taking three from Baltimore just seems like the kind of thing the Twins always do and the Tigers never do. Like I said, not scientific, but if you look through the projected starters, the Twins have some pretty favorable matchups.

]]> By: Andrew in Toronto http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128223 Andrew in Toronto Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:48:57 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128223 This certainly has been an odd season. No one feels very confident, nor should they. And yet, we've been in first place for 104 days so far according to baseballreference.com. The Tigers have only done better than that in 2006, 1984, 1968 and 1909. It has been a good summer that way. On the other hand, we were 7 games above .500 on May 23, and have just been .500 since then. So we've also been mediocre all summer, too. It's time for somebody to step up... who's it going to be? Part of me wants to nominate Ordonez. Granderson is so streaky, he could make a huge difference when/if he ever swings back. This certainly has been an odd season. No one feels very confident, nor should they.

And yet, we’ve been in first place for 104 days so far according to baseballreference.com. The Tigers have only done better than that in 2006, 1984, 1968 and 1909. It has been a good summer that way.

On the other hand, we were 7 games above .500 on May 23, and have just been .500 since then. So we’ve also been mediocre all summer, too.

It’s time for somebody to step up… who’s it going to be?

Part of me wants to nominate Ordonez.

Granderson is so streaky, he could make a huge difference when/if he ever swings back.

]]> By: Mark in Chicago http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128222 Mark in Chicago Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:47:13 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128222 Because the Twins are indestructible in that godforesaken dome. Seriously, they are like 88-4 so far this year. Because the Twins are indestructible in that godforesaken dome. Seriously, they are like 88-4 so far this year.

]]> By: Jeff Molby http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128221 Jeff Molby Mon, 24 Aug 2009 20:09:25 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128221 Those are all decent teams on MIN's schedule. Why do you assume they're going to win all four series? Those are all decent teams on MIN’s schedule. Why do you assume they’re going to win all four series?

]]> By: Ken in Vegas http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128219 Ken in Vegas Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:07:51 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128219 I too feel like we're just waiting for our bubble to burst, but we can't be too disappointed considering this pennant race thing we are experiencing is only happening for the second time in 20 years. I just hope we put together a 5 or 6 game win streak and show the fans that we want this. I too feel like we’re just waiting for our bubble to burst, but we can’t be too disappointed considering this pennant race thing we are experiencing is only happening for the second time in 20 years. I just hope we put together a 5 or 6 game win streak and show the fans that we want this.

]]> By: Mark in Chicago http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128217 Mark in Chicago Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:31:52 +0000 http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2009/08/treading-water/#comment-128217 We are making a big assumption if we think the White Sox are going to roll over against the Red Sox and Yankees this week. Chicago has played the AL East pretty tough until recently, and they are 28-22 against +.500 teams. They are also 27-31 on the road, which isn't terrible. Meanwhile, we are awful against LAA, we just don't match up well with them at all, and this is one of the better offensive teams they've had the last few years. We are making a big assumption if we think the White Sox are going to roll over against the Red Sox and Yankees this week. Chicago has played the AL East pretty tough until recently, and they are 28-22 against +.500 teams. They are also 27-31 on the road, which isn’t terrible.

Meanwhile, we are awful against LAA, we just don’t match up well with them at all, and this is one of the better offensive teams they’ve had the last few years.

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