Tigers Minor League Wrap 5.21.2010

Toledo – PPD

Altoona 6 Erie 2
Wilkin Ramirez and Andy Bouchie each homered. Cesar Nicolas walked twice. Jon Kibler was roughed up for 6 runs in 2.1 innings. Anthony Shawler, Jared Gayhart, and Luis Marte went the rest of the way though and combined to fan 6 while walking two and allowing just 1 hit.

St. Lucie 4 Lakeland 5
Alden Carrithers, Brent Wyatt, Kody Kaiser, and Julio Rodriguez all had 2 hits. Luke Putkonen had a strong start allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks to go with 5 strikeouts in 7 innings. Cory Hamilton got the last 5 outs for the save.

West Michigan – suspended

Game 2010.042: Tigers at Dodgers

It’s the first interleague game of the season for the Tigers. Normally this is where I make a sarcastic comment about the majesty of the double-switch. I’ll refrain though because I think it is cool that the Tigers are playing the Dodgers in LA.

The last time the Tigers went out there Ugueth Urbina got in a fight on the plane and was promptly traded. And then there was the time that Jason Johnson hit a homer and rounded the bases at a glacial pace. And Tony Giarratano hit his only home run. I have no idea why I remembered those things off the top of my head.

Tonight though will feature Dontrelle Willis and Chad Billingsley. Willis was pretty awful his last time out and it was attributed to rust. The rust should be sufficiently removed at this point so there are no excuses for bouts of wildness.

Billingsley’s numbers are impressive with nearly a strike out per inning and only 3 homers in 44.2 innings. The OPS splits for lefties versus righties are dramatic at 943 versus 618. Too bad Johnny Damon can’t play second base.

  1. Jackson, CF
  2. Santiago, SS
  3. Ordonez, RF
  4. Cabrera, 1B
  5. Boesch, LF
  6. Inge, 3B
  7. Avila, C
  8. Worth, 2B
  9. Willis, P

Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers – May 21, 2010 – MLB.com Gameday

Tigers Minor League Wrap 5.20.2010

Durham 0 Toledo 4
Max Scherzer made his first start since being sent down to work on his mechanics. I think it is working. Scherzer pitched a 1 hitter for 8 innings. He walked one guy while fanning 10 in 103 pitches. Robbie Weinhardt preserved the shut out. Jeff Frazier homered and doubled. Ryan Raburn added his 6th double and a single.

The Tigers have sent 3 players to Toledo. So far the early returns have been good. We covered Scherzer, but Ryan Raburn and Scott Sizemore are also finding their way so far.

  • Ryan Raburn: 444/483/667 line in 7 games.
  • Scott Sizemore: 286/333/429 in 4 games

Erie 1 Richmond 5

There was no offense to speak of with only 6 singles and 2 walks for the Seawolves. Thad Weber went 7.2 innings and allowed 4 runs on just 5 hits and 3 walks despite his defense turning 4 double plays behind him.

St. Lucie 4 Lakeland  5 (11 innings)
Charlie Furbush starred again with 10 strikeouts in 6.2 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk. Furbush has a 39:4 K:BB ratio and a 1.67 ERA in his last 4 starts .Brent Wyatt went 3 for 4 with 2 walks and 2 steals. Gustavo Nunez also had 3 hits including a double. Daniel Fields doubled and tripled. Francisco Martinez had 2 hits. Martinez and Jimmy Gulliver were added from EST with Josh Workman and Bryan Pounds hitting the DL.

Lake County 15 West Michigan 5
Hernan Perez had 2 hits. Alexis Espinoza singled and walked. Lots of pitchers got beat up pretty good, but Ramon Lebron was the starter. He fanned 6 in 3 innings, but he also allowed 5 runs on 6 hits and 4 walks.

Game 2010.041: Tigers at A’s

It will be Tyson Ross against Jeremy Bonderman as the Tigers go for the mini-sweep of the mini-series.

Ross only has 1 career start and he allowed 3 runs on 3 hits with 3 K’s in 3.2 innings. For the season he has 22.2 innings and only 6 walks and two homers allowed. The peripherals are strong for the right hander.

Bonderman hasn’t started against the A’s since April of 2006 so there is no relevancy whatsoever. Bonderman was great his last time out. In a week in which the starting pitching was great against the Yankees, Bondo’s start may  have been the best with 7 innings, 2 runs, 1 walk, and 7 K’s.

Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics – May 20, 2010 – MLB.com Preview

Game 2010.040: Tigers at A’s

It doesn’t seem that long ago that the Tigers were slogging through an excruciating West Coast trip. Well, this one isn’t quite as excruciating but it’s just as West Coast. Justin Verlander leads things off against Dallas Braden. A no hitter against a perfect game.

And no Magglio Ordonez tonight who has a heel problem, so of course his replacement Casper Wells is the logical replacement in the 3-hole.

Enjoy.

Tigers Minor League Wrap 5.18.2010

Durham 3 Toledo 5
Jeff Frazier had 2 doubles. Deik Scram was a homer short of the cycle and added a walk. Scott Sizemore singled and walked. Lauren Gagnier pitched 7 shutout innings allowing 3 hits and a walk to go with 3 strikeouts. Jay Sborz was roughed up for 3 runs in 2 innings of work.

Erie 3 Richmond 1
Andy Oliver allowed 1 run on 7 hits, 3 walks, and 3 K’s in 6.2 innings. Brendan Wise went the rest of the way for the save. Justin Henry and Michael Bertram each went 3 for 5 with a double. Andy Dirks and Andy Bouchie.

Lakeland 5 Jupiter 4 (10 innings)
Brent Wyatt homered and drove in 4 as part of a 3 hit day. Alden Carrithers added 2 more hits. Brayan Villarreal allowed 4 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks, and 3 K’s in 5 innings.

Lake County 5 West Michigan 2
Avisail Garcia tripled and Mike Gosse doubled for the only extra base hits. Jade Todd struck out 5 and allowed 1 run on 9 hits and a walk in 6 innings.

Tigers Minor League Wrap 5.17.2010

Indianapolis 0 Toledo 3
Enrique Gonzalez tossed a complete game 2 hitter. He walked one and fanned 9, throwing 79 of his 119 pitches for strikes. Ryan Raburn picked up his 5th double and added a single. Brent Dlugach homered, driving in all 3 runs. Scott Sizemore went 0 for 3 with 2 strike outs.

Lakeland 10 Jupiter 3
Mark Sorensen struck out 5 and walked none in 7 innings as he scattered 7 hits and allowed 2 runs. Daniel Fields blasted his first homer and drew a walk. Alden Carrithers and Kody Kaiser had 4 hit days. Rawley Bishop was missing the homer for the cycle. Carrithers has a 9 game hitting streak in which he’s picked up 18 hits and 8 walks for a .605 OBP. Bishop has a 10 game hitting streak and is hitting 395/400/581 over that span.

Junkballing: Red Sox recap, Miner’s elbow

My stream of consciousness on the Tigers most recent two games against the Red Sox, Zach Miner’s injury, and what ever else comes to mind.

Beating the Red Sox

Honestly, I’m thrilled with the series. Friday night was certainly a clunker and Saturday was shaping up to be one. From where they were in the first half of that second game to where they ended the series is reason to be excited.

Many of the Tigers earlier comebacks were against struggling pitchers or weak bullpens. That Detroit came back against the Red Sox and Jon Lester, and later out lasted the Boston bullpen is quite the endorsement for all those things like grit and never-say-die, and of course talent.

  • Dontrelle Willis might have been rusty. He might have reverted to his 2008-9 ways. He was all over the place, and not the least bit comfortable on the mound. It’s one thing to have rust, it’s another to walk 7 and not last through the 4th inning. I’m hoping for the best but have much skepticism, even given his success this year.
  • The Brennan Boesch phenomenon is something to behold. When I watch games now there are 3 Tigers who I don’t leave the room for when they are up. Boesch has joined Miguel Cabrera and Austin Jackson in that regard. That he is hitting lefties and breaking pitches is probably the most surprising aspect of his success. A Run Boesched In (Coleman term that is awesome) is around the corner.
  • Eddie Bonine gave up a two run homer. His first runs allowed since April 11th. A remarkable streak and one that has been instrumental in at least 2 wins. He’s definitely less heralded than other members of the bullpen but the ability to suck up 3 innings at a crack is huge for an overworked pen.
  • There are days like Sunday when the pitching match-up is heavily tilted one way, and Jim Leyland doesn’t put out the “A” lineup and there is a sense of hopelessness. Yet here come the Tigers, chipping away at Lackey to build a comfortable lead, and Galarraga finding his way through 5.2 innings of 1 run ball.
  • I love watching players make their debuts, so it’s been a good year to be a Tigers fan. Worth “blistered” a shot to shallow second base resulting in his first hit and RBI. The coolest part might have been Miguel Cabrera recognizing both feats right away and tracking down the game ball for him.
  • The bullpen isn’t out of the woods yet, even with Jeremy Bonderman chipping in an inning of help. Valverde has been used in consecutive days, as has Ryan Perry. But Phil Coke, Fu-Te Ni, and Joel Zumaya should all be ready tomorrow.

Zach Miner

Zach Miner has been battling an injury for the last 2 months now. He’s been rehabbing and an MRI just revealed a torn UCL. He’s going for a second opinion in terms of treatment options (surgery versus rehab and a strengthening program).

I don’t know if the UCL just recently tore or not. But if it had been torn all along this is certainly disappointing. Regardless it is unlikely that Miner will be able to contribute this year.

Miner is the type of pitcher a team with a struggling rotation could use. Someone who can make spot starts or eat 3-4 innings. Yet the Tigers are getting by without him, and will need to continue to do so. It also opens up a potential role for an Enrique Gonzalez or another minor league free agent should injuries or ineffectiveness creep in at some point on the staff.

Tigers Minor League Wrap 5.16.2010

Indianapolis 5 Toledo 6
Alfredo Figaro started and lasted 6 innings despite walking 4. He allowed 5 runs on 6 hits with 4 strikeouts. Robbie Weinhardt allowed 2 hits and a walk in 3 shut out innings and got the win. Ryan Raburn and Jeff Frazier each went 2 for 4 with a double. Incidentally, the Mud Hens faced Wil Ledezma in relief and got to him for 2 runs.

Erie 4 Bowie 0
Justin Henry went 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and 2 stolen bases. Michael Bertram singled, doubled, and walked. Brooks Brown went 5 innings and didn’t allow a hit while walking 2 and fanning 5 and getting 9 ground ball outs. Ramon Garcia pitched the other 4 innings and allowed just 2 hits.

Lakeland 3 Jupiter 0
Kody Kaiser went 3 for 4 and stole a base. Luke Putkonen had another strong start going 7.2 innings with just 4 hits and a walk allowed. Cory Hamilton finished the shut out allowing a single baserunner.

South Bend 6 West Michigan 5
Jacob  Turner wasn’t touched for the first 5 innings. He gave up 2 runs in the 6th and his final line was 5.1 IP, 4 hits, 2 runs, 1 walk, and 7 K’s. Jamie Johnson, Michael Rockett, Wade Gaynor, Mike Gosse, and Hernan Perez all had 2 hit games.

Game 2010.038: Red Sox at Tigers

Armando Galarraga joins the Tigers rotation, and for more than just a day. He’ll take on John Lackey in the rubber game of the series. With a bullpen that is once again thin after two poor starting performances and 3 extra innings, 6 innings from Galarraga would be immensely helpful.

The Tigers send out a different kind of lineup with Austin Jackson getting his second day off this season.

  1. Damon, LF
  2. Santiago, SS
  3. Ordonez, DH
  4. Cabrera, 1B
  5. Boesch, RF
  6. Inge, 3B
  7. Kelly, CF
  8. Avila, C
  9. Worth, 2B

Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers – May 16, 2010 – MLB.com Preview

Tigers Minor League Wrap 5.15.2010

Indianapolis 3 Toledo 7
Ryan Raburn had 3 doubles, Jeff Larish added 2, and Ben Guez homered. Phil Dumatrait allowed 3 runs in 6 innings. Daniel Schlereth fanned 3 and walked none in 2 innings of relief.

Erie 9 Bowie 6
Jon Kibler allowed 6 runs in 6.1 innings. Wilkin Ramirez tripled and homered. Michael Bertram went deep as well.

Tampa 2 Lakeland 1 (11 innings)
Charlie Furbush struck out 9 in 7 innings of 2 hit ball. Kody Kaiser tripled and singled. Rawley Bishop and Alden Carrithers both doubled and singled.

South Bend 1 West Michigan 3
Avisail Garcia homered. Trevor Feeney pitched the complete game with 7 K’s, 1 walk, and 6 hits allowed.