Category Archives: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Site news

9 Comments

This is an analysis free post, but I have several site-related odds and ends I’ve been wanting to mention.

First, you may have noticed a link labeled ROSTER up in the navigation bar. If you haven’t visited, it has the complete 40 man roster as well as links to various stat sites for each player. There are links to Baseball Prospectus, Baseball Reference, Baseball Cube, and Retrosheet for each player where there are stats available. Also, if you want to search for times this site has mentioned a particular player, each player’s name is a link to just such a search. I plan to add a couple more data sources including ESPN and Baseball Musings Day by Day database. Continue reading Site news →

2006 Season, Players, Uncategorized

Pudge to play first?

3 Comments

It appears that Pudge has volunteered to play first base, or any other position for that matter. Rodriguez just wants to stay in the Tiger lineup, and if that means playing another position when he isn’t catching, he’s all for it.

“Give me a glove,” Pudge said Thursday morning before a game he was scheduled to catch. “Trust me, I can play anywhere.”

While the thought of Pudge playing first base is intriguing, it only becomes practical if he hits more like the 2004 version than the 2005 version. He’s off to a good start this season, even after the 0-11 the last two days. However, if it is last year’s offensive version of Rodriguez, there really isn’t a reason to try and keep his bat in the lineup.

And while Chris Shelton will probably need a day off before Dmitri Young is able to play the field, I question having a 5′ 8″ first baseman. While he’s very athletic, his stature limits his reach. Then again, the only real alternative right now is Carlos Guillen who’s first base experience includes the WBC and one inning today.

Uncategorized

More TV games

2 Comments

According to Rob Parker the Tigers and TV 20 will be airing 15 games. The first game that 20 will pick up is the home opener which will be a simulcast. Otherwise, the schedule hasn’t yet been made available.

There has been no word yet from either the station or the Tigers, and Parker states that calls weren’t returned. So take this information as you please.

Assuming this actually pans out, it is great news for excited Tiger fans who are bummed they can’t see their hometown team. It’s too late to see if the Tigers can extend their streak to 4-0 tonight, or for Justin Verlander’s start on Saturday, but more games is always a good thing. Also, for those that don’t have cable – or at least don’t have FSD – they’ll be able to see games for the first time in 2 years.

UPDATE: Okay, it’s official. The Tigers will have 127 games on television this year. A revised television schedule has yet to be decided. Rod Allen and Mario Impemba will be doing the broadcasts. What happened is that FSN Detroit acquired the rights to 15 additional games – starting in June – that will be aired on TV20 and a network of over-the-air stations.

2006 Season, Uncategorized

It’s only 2-0 – Recapping the Royals and Tigers series

8 Comments

Don’t get me wrong, I’m thrilled that the Tigers are 2-0. Both games were very well played both offensively and defensively, and I really couldn’t ask for anything more. At the same time, and I don’t mean to be a jerk about this, but it was the Royals. Oh yeah, and it’s only two games. I’m happy the Tigers are undefeated and atop the AL Central all by themselves – but it’s only two games. (I keep repeating this more my benefit than for yours).

That said, there was a lot to like about this series. Jeremy Bonderman and Kenny Rogers turned in the top two starting pitching performances of the season with game scores of 72 and 67 respectively. The pitching staff threw 71% of their pitches for strikes, striking out 20 and only allowing one walk.

Offensively, it is hard to find much to complain about when you hit 8 homers in two games. True, the Tigers only walked once today, but I can let that slide given the 18 hits. Curtis Granderson struggled in the first game, but bounced back with a 3-6 effort in the second game. Pudge Rodriguez today seemed like he really should be the #3 hitter with a 5 for 5 day. Chris Shelton continues to do what Chris Shelton does. Really, the only player to not get in on the action was Magglio Ordonez who is still looking for his first hit. But even Ordonez managed to drive in a run.

Now it’s only 2 games, but the series ended with the best possible outcome.

Injuries, Minors, Players, Uncategorized

Tiger Links – and quick

1 Comment

A lot of interesting stuff the last couple days, but I’m short on time so here’s a Joel Zumaya -fastball-esque link round-up:

Tiger Stuff

Other baseball stuff you might care about

  • striketwo.net: Summarizing the latest news and discussions from 678 MLB blogs: This is a newish site that I’ve become a big fan of. It tracks discussions across the blogosphere. You can view the hottest topics, or keep up to date with what others are saying about your favorite players or teams.
  • Ballbug : This is another tool that tracks discussions on the hottest topics in baseball. Ballbug just launched on Monday. If you’re familiar with memeorandum, this is the same thing but for baseball.
  • ATM Reports: Lee Sinins who publishes the very popular Around the Majors newsletter is doing it via a blog now.

detroit tigers, baseball, ballbug, striketwo

2006 Season, Uncategorized

Winning makes me smile

2 Comments

Aside from getting a win on Opening Day, there were quite a few things from today’s game that made me happy.

Not to diminish Kenny Rogers outing, or Chris Shelton doing what Chris Shelton does, but I think the highlight probably had to be seeing Joel Zumaya in action. I’ve heard all the praise, and I saw him at the Future’s game (from the next to last row of the upper deck). I was ecstatic to see that he lived up to the hype – at least in this outing.

His fastball was consistently 97-99, and his curve ball seemed to have serious break. In fact, even though he ended up walking Mike Sweeney, it wasn’t before he put him on his seat with an inside curveball. (Jeff Weaver may have been a punk, and Sweeney may otherwise be a decent guy, but I’ve always hated him since the helmet throwing incident of 2002. As such I took glee in the confused look on his face after the pitch) As Eddie said in the comments,

Multi-inning dominant relievers are an assett. If they are 21 and throw 99 mph while keeping the ball down, all the better. I am looking forward to the Joel Zumaya era.

As exciting as it was seeing him come out of the pen, I couldn’t help but have visions of him in the rotation.

In any case, it was nice to see him get in right away and to succeed in a game that was still very much in doubt.
Continue reading Winning makes me smile →

Pitching, Players, Previews, Spring Training, Uncategorized

Off Day Tiger Round Up

1 Comment

The Tigers still have 45 players in camp, so there are a couple of sizable cuts coming.  The next one will probably be before the end of the week.  Until then, here are some items of note:

The rotation is set – sort of

Jim Leyland had already decided that Kenny Rogers would take the first turn, followed by Bonderman.  Now it appears that Nate Robertson will be the number 3, with Mike Maroth being number 4. There’s still no decision on Detroit’s 5th starter of course. While Leyland has said Joel Zumaya still has a shot (and really, he’s pitched good enough to deserve it), he’s slated to come out of the bullpen on Thursday. According to John Lowe, Zumaya could be the one to come in and face left handers, in lieu of another southpaw in the pen.
Continue reading Off Day Tiger Round Up →

Uncategorized

Book Review: The Last Nine Innings

I just finished reading Charles Euchner’s book The Last Nine Innings. The book takes a very in-depth look at the factors that are changing the game of baseball. The setting for the book is the dramatic Game 7 of the 2001 World Series between the Diamondbacks and the Yankees.

The main elements that Euchner identifies as revolutionizing the game of baseball are the globalization of the game, scientific analysis of baseball movement, and statistical analysis.

Euchner does a commendable job breaking down all the minute elements of a game, while framing it in a dramatic context. Even as an avid baseball fan, I enjoyed the examination of different preparation methods, gamesmanship, and the fractions of seconds or inches that seperate success from failure. The physical, and mental demands of baseball are well documented with scientific, as well as practical explanations.
Continue reading Book Review: The Last Nine Innings →

2006 Season, Uncategorized

Tigers and Fox Sports announce broadcast schedule

7 Comments

The Tigers and Fox Sports Net finally announced the broadcast schedule for the 2006 season. FSN will broadcast 112 games this year, or two more than last year. There is no word yet on whether or not the Tigers will also broadcast games on an over-the-air channel.

For Tiger fans who have been anxiously awaiting the start of the season, they better get used to tuning in their radios. Only 5 of the first 12 games are scheduled to be telecast on FSN. The season opener will be broadcast, as will the Thursday night game against the Rangers. However, the Friday and Saturday games will not be broadcast. After back-to-back airings on Sunday(Apr 9th) and the home opener(Apr 10th), fans are out of luck until the following Sunday (Apr 16th).

The complete schedule can be found here. (Right-click and Save As)

Uncategorized

A baseball pledge

2 Comments

If you haven’t already heard, David Pinto of Baseball Musings is holding a pledge drive. So far 137 people have contributed to David’s cause. If you’re not familiar with Pinto, or Baseball Musings I definitely encourage you to check out the site. David is a former lead researcher for Baseball Tonight, and for the last few years has become one of the most prolific baseball bloggers. Last year, he made blogging his full time job so this pledge drive is more than an opportunity to make a few bucks – it a way to feed his family.

I strongly encourage you to visit his site and make a donation. If you’re not a regular reader of his site, but you’re a reader of DTW, then you have benefited from much of David’s work. The probablistic model of range and day by day database are both products of Baseball Musings. Both are valuable tools that I’ve leaned on heavily in the past, and he makes them available for free. This is despite the fact that the data behind the tools comes at a cost. Just last week we were able to see the optimal Tiger lineup through a script that Pinto wrote and made available to the masses.

I know that money may be tight for many of you (belive me I know), but if you enjoy some of the analysis that you see here I’d hope that you would consider stopping by and making a donation. A dollar or two out of everyone’s pocket is a pretty small price to pay for the research and data that David provides. I’d love to see Tiger fans, and readers of DTW step up and help keep Baseball Musings going.