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  • Jeremy Bonderman out for season

    Jeremy Bonderman is officially out for the season due to circulatory problems in his shoulder.

    Bonderman was examined yesterday at the Detroit Medical Center and it was determined he has a blood clot of the axillary vein due to thoracic outlet compression syndrome. Bonderman underwent a thromblysis last night, followed by an angioplasty this morning at the Detroit Medical Center, performed by Dr. Monte Harvill under the supervision of team physician Dr. Stephen Lemos. He will undergo further examination of his condition at a later date.

    This is devastating news for a team that has been pretty much devastating. A corresponding roster move hasn’t been announced yet. Aquilino Lopez is expected back from bereavement leave shortly, and in the interim Toledo is at home this weekend if the need arises.

    This is a pretty serious condition and if it sounds familiar you can look to Kenny Rogers last year. While it is terrible news as it relates to the season, in the scope of shoulder discomfort this is probably relatively good news long term. There isn’t talk of labrums or rotator cuffs which provide bigger challenges.

    Best wishes to Jeremy on his recovery.

  • DTW hacked

    Detroit Tigers Weblog (as well as my other sites) were hacked this week. Thanks to those of you who contacted me via email and Twitter to give the heads up.

    For those of you coming directly to the site you probably didn’t notice anything different. But for those who come from Google or Yahoo, you were being redirected to another site. This appears to be a pretty widespread problem for blogs powered by WordPress at the moment.

    I have everything corrected now, but I don’t know how to ensure it doesn’t happen again. So if you see more of the weirdness, don’t hesitate to contact me. Sorry for any confusion and frustration this may have caused.

  • Bonderman headed for DL?

    Danny Knobler, now of national baseball writing fame, reports that Jeremy Bonderman is experiencing shoulder pain.

    After reporting some discomfort around his right shoulder, Bonderman went to see a doctor this afternoon. The Tigers weren’t sure what’s wrong, but two club sources said he would be checked for a possible circulation problem in the shoulder. The Tigers made no announcement before or after tonight’s game against Cleveland, but Bonderman isn’t expected to make his scheduled start Sunday, and will likely be placed on the disabled list.

    Bonderman has had elbow problems in the past, but never issues with the shoulder. His velocity has been down, but he’s found a way to pitch through it lately. I guess this would help to alleviate that whole Willis versus Galarraga situation though. Argh.

  • Tigers Minor League Wrap 6-6-08

    Toledo 2 Louisville 8
    Freddy Guzman had 2 hits. Wilkin Ramirez who was part of the organization shuffle today was 0 for 4 in his AAA debut. Fernando Rodney wasn’t good with 3 runs being charged to him. He allowed a hit, a HBP, a wild pitch, and 2 walks while recording just one out. In all he threw 29 pitches and only 15 for strikes.

    Erie 9 New Hampshire 4
    Dusty Ryan homered, singled twice, and walked. Kody Kirkland had 4 hits. Casper Wells was 2 for 4 in his AA debut. Josh Rainwater allowed 3 runs on 7 hits, 2 walks, and 6 K’s, over 5 innings.

    Lakeland 4 Daytona 12
    Joel Zumaya pitched a perfect inning fanning 1. Ramon Garcia was rocked for 12 runs, 8 of which were earned in 4.1 innings. Mike Bertrm homered and singled. Lou Ott added 2 hits.

    West Michigan PPD

  • Game 60: Indians at Tigers

    PREGAME: The Tigers return home after that long west coast swing. I noticed a lot of Tigers hats on the Red Wings players in today’s parade. I wonder if Lord Stanley’s Cup will be making an appearance at the game tonight.

    As for the pitching match-up it will be Paul Byrd and Justin Verlander. Byrd per usual is allowing a lot of hits, but walking nobody (only 8 this year). In fact he’s only been in 9 3-1 counts all year. That’s a typical start for Nate Robertson.

    He’s the kind of guy that could give a confused offense like the Tigers fits. He has some pretty dramatic platoon splits to the tune of 914 OPS for lefties and 664 OPS for righties. We’ll see if Leyland goes with a bold move and puts Mike Hollimon in at shortstop for a struggling Renteria.

    Byrd has allowed 14 homers this year, and it is hot and windy in Detroit today so maybe we’ll see some big flies.

    Verlander has seen his ERA trending downward with quality starts in 3 of his last 4 starts (and would have been 4 for 4 if not for some poor defense in his last outing). He’s still walking too many and not striking out enough, but his high 90’s heat has returned. Verlander struggles against Cleveland though, with a 7.03 ERA in his career against the Tribe.

    CLE @ DET, Friday, June 6, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

    POSTGAME: Nice job by Verlander, again. Crappy job by the offense, again. These things really do start to write themselves. Oh, and to torment ourselves a little more here is Cabrera’s last at-bat. Pitch 5 is the one he swung at. I guess pitches 3 and 4 weren’t far enough away for his liking.

  • Tigers Make Line Change

    The Tigers announced a ton of roster moves today:

    • Clete Thomas and Ramon Santiago hit the 15 day DL
    • Mike Hollimon and Brent Clevlen were brought up to take their places.
    • Aquilino Lopez was placed on the bereavement list and Denny Bautista was reinstated from the DL.

  • Chatting up scouts about the Tigers

    Frequent commenter Craig (aka West Coast Tiger) attended the Oakland series and sat near some scouts. Craig engaged them in some conversation and had the following report. This is from the Tuesday game.

    I feel like Phil Connors in Groundhog Day. This is the same thing over and over and over again.

    I have to begin by, Oakland fans have to be the most lame fans in all of baseball. I used to think it was confined to Pac 10 college football crowds. (I married a UCLA Bruin). The A’s fans have set a new benchmark. Even when they had the bases loaded, they were quiet, distracted and seemingly disinterested.

    I hope for all of you that it was less painful watching it at home. Here were my observations. And those of the scouts sitting in front of me.

    1. Clete Thomas and Running the bases. He was like a deer in headlights when the ball was hit. He stood there 10 feet off 2nd, when it was clear to everyone that it was going to drop, then he hesitated it seemed at third. He should have scored standing up. That was my take. I made a comment regarding the ability of Gene Lamont to do his job. At that point one scout turned to me and said you got that right, and said. “You know there are reasons teams lose”. He went on to say in his opinion Thomas made two errors and Lamont one. Thomas’ first and most costly was not getting to third on Granderson’s line drive to left. And the second being frozen on Polanco’s single. Lamont’s obvious error was once Thomas hesitated, not holding him at third. He added “and that’s a pinch runner.

    2. ON WILLIS. He felt he had pretty effective stuff and thought his best was after the injury time out when he seemed to be really just letting it go. Feels he can still be an effective pitcher who can get inside hitters heads.

    3. On CABRERRA. Both scouts had the same opinion. The question around the league has always been his motivation. In their opinion handing him 150mm before he’s had a single RBI for your team has it’s risks. Especially a 25 year old. On the upside he’s one of the most explosive hitters in all of baseball. Who will make Tiger fans happy in the long run.

    4. ON THE TEAM AS A WHOLE . Fundamentals are killing them. They feel they are in the bottom three of worst base running teams in baseball. They will continue to to flounder until the bullpen issues are resolved. Most salient comment was “look at their body language”. “This is a great team that is struggling in every aspect of the game right now.” “To many moving pieces” “A different lineup evey day” “ Inge is a 275 BA away from being incredible” “Zumaya and Rodney not being healthy have put a strangle hold on Leyland.

    Lastly. I’d like to leave this out because I love his offense. General consensus was Guillen should have had the Ball hit by Ellis in the 11th. They all felt Inge makes that play.

    And to all the Renteria haters. He was absolutely robbed on his line drive. Crosby made a great play.

  • David Chadd on Ryan Perry

    Notes from the conference call with David Chadd:

    • He identified Ryan as a top priority in the Cape Cod league. They liked he carried the high velocity throughout the course of the spring. It’s a player they were targeting all along.
    • He could be used either way (as a starter or reliever).
    • He needs to continue to refine his delivery and work on his secondary pitches. Coming into college as a shortstop he doesn’t have a lot of innings on his arm.
    • A development plan hasn’t been worked out yet. When asked if Perry could move quickly, Chadd cautioned that he had worked to do. It’s conceivable he could move fast, but it depends on how he does.
    • The draft didn’t surprise them, and the board went the way they thought it would.

  • Tigers Draft Results

    We’ll use this post to track the draft. I’ll be largely unavailable this afternoon/evening, but will try to chime in.

    First Round: Ryan Perry RHP Arizona

    The Tigers went with collegiate right hander Ryan Perry with their first round selection. Perry has a high 90’s fastball, a change up and a slider. He’s 6′ 4″, 200lbs and 21 years old.

    He pitched as a reliever, but we’ll see if the Tigers keep him in the pen or if they make a starter out of him.

    Baseball America thinks that if he signs quickly he could be in the Tigers pen later this year.

    Baseball Prospectus notes the following about Perry:

    Perry is a story, let me tell you. Ryan Perry was, simply, not good enough to earn an invitation to the Cape Cod League last summer. However, when a different Arizona reliever needed to drop out of the league, Arizona coach Andy Lopez pushed for the Orleans Cardinals to take Perry instead. They did, and Perry might not have thrown a fastball less than 95 mph all summer.

    Catcher target Jason Castro went early. And relievers Josh Fields and Andrew Cashner went in the 2 picks prior to the Tigers.

    Analysis: Take it with a grain of salt because I’m not particularly informed. But with Casey Kelly and Shooter Hunt still on the board I would have preferred going a different direction. Perry got rocked as a starter this year and if they spent the pick on a reliever I’m disappointed.

    Second Round: Cody Satterwhite RHP Mississippi

    Satterwhite sounds a lot like Perry. He’a a 6’4″ college junior with electric stuff, but who has gotten hit a little more than he should. He pitches in the low to mid 90’s and has a good but inconsistent slider along with an inconsistent delivery.

    Third Round: Scott Green RHP Kentucky

    An even bigger right hander at 6′ 7″ but this seems to be a full potential pick. He hasn’t put together a solid track record at the collegiate level. His fastball is high 80’s to low 90’s with a meh slider and below average change. Oh, and he’s had TJ surgery already. I don’t really get this pick.

    Fourth Round: Brett Jacobson RHP Vanderbilt

    Hey, it’s a big tall (6-6) right handed college pitcher. A high 80’s fast ball with deception and a big curve and decent change.

    Fifth Round: Alexander Avila C Alabama-Tuscaloosa

    Yes, that is the son of Al Avila. BA says he’s being drafted more for his bat which has good power potential.

    Sixth Round: Tyler Stohr RHP North Florida

    Yeah, another collegiate right hander who struggled in the rotation and had some success in the pen.

  • Mock Draft Roundup

    Given the Tigers recent performance, draft day may be the highlight of the season so far. The draft kicks off tomorrow at 2pm. Below is a roundup of some of the mock drafts and who the Tigers might be taking:
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  • WTF Tigers

    I’m a pretty patient guy. My thing is to be pretty measured in my analysis. I try to consider all the angles. While I have the emotional response, I usually put that aside when it comes time to blog. But enough is enough. In a season full of disappointment, frustration, angst, and disbelief, today’s game left me disgusted.
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  • Middle infield depth takes a hit

    Ramon Santiago dislocated his shoulder on a diving play today and appears headed to the disabled list. I have to believe that Mike Hollimon would have his contract purchased to be the new utility infielder. At the same time, Lakeland second baseman Scott Sizemore is hitting the DL after injuring his wrist swinging.

    The Santiago news is disappointing – and this is from someone who was stumping for Hollimon to make the team over Santiago this winter. Santiago had been playing better than I would have ever expected hitting 353/476/618 in limited playing time going into today. This afternoon he added another walk and one of the Tigers 3 hits. I know small sample sizes and all, but he’d looked very good.

    Hollimon stuck in big league camp this spring until he had a sublaxation of his shoulder. He got a late start to his season. He’s not hitting for a lot of average with a 253/325/552 line, but he does have 12 homers and is a switch hitter.