Archive for the ‘Detroit Tigers Baseball’ Category
Detroit Tigers Report: Sizemore, Valverde and the Tigers Blow Lead
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on April 8th, 2010
I was seriously pissed off at the Tigers yesterday after they blew a lead in the 11th against the Kansas City Royals. It took ninth inning heroics from Miguel Cabrera who tied up the game while being down to his last strike with two outs. Cabrera smacked a home run which tied the game at 2-2 and sent it to extra innings.
I was not sure how in the hell why lost that game last night. Here are the things I have major issue with this morning:
1) We paid a high price for new closer Jose Valverde and shipped out the cheaper Fernando Rodney who blew like one save last year and it took Valverde one night, in the second game of the series, against the Royals to blow his first save. He had some help from an error by a rookie, but so what he should have slammed the door shut.
2) Second Baseman Scott Sizemore booted the ball in the 11th inning to allow the run to score. We can’t have errors up the middle of our infield late in games. Rookie or not, this was a colossal mistake and it cost us the game. If Sizemore can’t be an effective fielder, Manager Jim Leyland needs to figure out how to sub him out late in games from now on until he can be trusted.
3) We’re losing to the Royals again this year. In recent years the Royals have been giving the Tigers problems but there seems to be no good reason why.
4) The Tigers absolutely wasted a phenomenal Tigers Pitching Debut by Max Scherzer. Doing so probably crushed his confidence and will help him digress from here. For young pitchers, it’s critical that your team can pull this type of game out for a guy who is new to the team and battled one hit baseball through the sixth inning.
5) Tiger hitters look to have the same problem as last year in that they can’t seem to score runners from third with 1 out. I’m not sure what they see in Lloyd McLendon and I really wish they had addressed this issue with a new hitting coach in the offseason.
Detroit Tigers Report: Nate Robertson Traded to Florida Marlins
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on March 31st, 2010
Working off a post from yesterday:
Long time Tiger Nate Robertson was traded yesterday to the Florida Marlins for a minor league prospect Jay Voss.
Nate was having a good spring for the Tigers but the pitching staff was rounded out but Jeremy Bonderman and Dontrelle Willis. Nate will most likely fill the 5th starting slot for the Marlins. Nate had a big contract so unloading it seems like a good idea of Bonderman and Willis can step up this year.
Detroit Tigers Report: Nate Robertson to be Traded?
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on March 30th, 2010
Rumors have it that the Tigers are trying to move Nate Robertson in a trade. That means that Jim Leyland is good to go with Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Bonderman for the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation.
I’m all for trading Nate but good luck with his clearly bloated contract. Nate’s contract is an example of several bad contracts in which players have not performed that Dave Dombrowski and ownership has given several players over the past four years.
Detroit Tigers Report: Joe Nathan Injured
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on March 11th, 2010
Tests on Nathan’s right throwing elbow of Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan have revealed a significant tear in the ulnar collateral ligament, an injury that could require season-ending Tommy John surgery. Nathan’s 246 saves over six seasons are the most in the majors during that span.
What this could be mean for the Tigers remains to be seen whether the Tommy John is necessary. It’s conceivable that the Twins could have a fill in for Nathan in John Rauch, but let’s face facts here; John Rauch is no Joe Nathan. The Tigers have historically been shut down and out by Nathan’s dominating late game heroics.
Although no one likes to see anyone hurt, one can’t help but wonder if this could swing the American League Central more towards the Tigers or White Sox. Joe Nathan may not need the surgery, so we can only wait and see as the Twins wait out the news of how he’s feeling in the next couple weeks.
Detroit Tigers Report: Scherzer gets Rocked in Spring Training
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on March 8th, 2010
For his second straight appearance, Max Scherzer got rocked. He gave up 5 runs in the first inning, got yanked and had control issues again. In an earlier post this Spring, I mentioned concerns about the starters in the 3rd, 4th and 5th spots. I know it’s only Spring Training, but without at least a solid 3rd starter, you can forget the Playoffs or battling the White Sox or Twins for the division.
On a side note, Dontrelle Willis has been ok in his outings in Lakeland, FL. He’s been better than both Bonderman and Scherzer. I’m not getting my hopes up, but the guy has always had serious talent. Maybe this year he can eat up some innings and start earning that big contract?
Baseball is here!
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on April 11th, 2009
For us folks who live in Michigan, baseball is a welcome sign in the spring. It means we can say hello to Spring and Summer and goodbye to the long winter. The Detroit Tigers held their home opener yesterday and un-ceremoniously bashed Texas Rangers’ pitching on the way to a 15-2 slaughter.
The win was their second of the season and after a few questionable moves by Tigers’ Manager Jim Leyland in the season’s opening series in Toronto, the win was welcomed by Tigers’ fans at Comerica Park. The highlight of the game was an early Grand Slam by First Baseman and Slugger Miguel Cabrera. Cabrera is off to a fast start and he had a career high 6 RBI.
On the mound was Armando Galarraga and he pitched outstanding. He is looking more like the Tigers Ace and a real find via Trade from the Rangers (they could use him) 14 months ago. Today its the Rangers at home again at 1:05 for Easter Saturday. Justin Verlander takes the mound and lets hope he gets his early season jitters out of the way and starts pitching the old Verlander of 2006. He was absolutely shelled in the season opener in Toronto.
Detroit Tigers: Tiger Great George Kell Passes in Arkansas
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on March 28th, 2009
Long time Tiger Georg Kell passed away at the age of 86 in his home in Arkansas. George was a Hall of Fame third basemen for the Tigers and was a heck of a player. He edged out Ted Williams for the batting crown in 1949. He rarely struck out and consistently batted over .300.
Kell was a TV broadcaster for the Tigers from 1959 to 1996. He had a slight southern draw and he was a pleasure to listen to with his partner, another Tiger Great – Al Kaline. George was never flashy, but he called a solid game and had some funny sayings for sure.
When I heard George passed I remembered those hot summer nights watching the games with my grandma and listening to Kell and Kaline. I grew up with George Kell calling Tiger games, and what he did for the Tigers as a player and a broadcaster was something I appreciated.
George Kell was a great player, a great announcer and a great Detroit Tiger.
Detroit Tigers: Pitchers and Catchers Report
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on February 14th, 2009
Pitchers and catchers reported to preseason workouts in Lakeland, Florida today. This is exciting for a couple of different reasons: A) it means spring is coming and B) Tigers baseball is just around corner. I think the Tigers are going to be better this year. After last year’s surprising last place finish, I suppose the only way to go is up.
There are some interesting story lines this year, mostly to do with Pitching and Defense. I believe our offense is going to be just fine.
That said, here are 10 things I think we should to keep an eye on:
1) Who will be closer? Brandon Lyon or Fernando Rodney?
2) Who is going to fill the fifth spot in the rotation? Presumably, it will be one of the Lefties like Nate Robinson or Dontrell Willis. Will Willis return to form?
3) Can Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman make a comeback this year? Can they be the pitchers they were in 2006?
4) Will the bullpen be better? It was pretty much awful last year.
5) Can Joel Zumaya throw any amount of innings before blowing another part of his body up?
6) How is Curtis Granderson going to platoon the whole outfield? With Carlos Guillen in left and Magglio Ordonez in right, Granderson is going to have to make up for two guys who both have had their knees reconstructed.
7) Can Adam Everett bunt?
8) Is Gerald Laird the answer behind the plate? How is he going to adjust to a new pitching staff?
9) Can Jim Leyland pull another one out of his pack of Marlboros and lead us back to the playoffs?
10) What Tigers names are on the list of 103 that cheated by using Steroids and will MLB release this list after A-Rod was sold out?
I can’t wait for baseball to start this spring. I hope the Tigers can finish above the Kansas City Royals this year!
Detroit Tigers sign closer Brandon Lyon, releiver Scott Williamson
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on January 24th, 2009
The Tigers have signed a closer for the 2009-10 season – a need that had to be addressed from last year’s bullpen woes. Ex-Arizona Diamondbacks righty closer, Brandon Lyon has agreed to undisclosed terms – 1 year contract. He had a great first half of the season last year, posting 19 saves and a 2.43 ERA. Oddly, he had an awful second half. He finished the year with 26 saves to go with a 3-5 record and 4.70 ERA in 61 appearances.
I’m not sure Brandon Lyon is the answer to the closer issue, but he is a solid pitcher. He’s a clear upgrade from what they had before the signing for possible closer’s. It’s not clear that he will win or be handed the closer’s job, but I can’t see anyone else claiming the role at this point. Let’s hope he pitches like he did in the first half of the 2008 season.
With closer Todd Jones’ retirement from last year, the Tigers had a gaping hole in the bullpen closer’s role. They dabbled with Fernando Rodney last year at the position, but it was clear he could not cut it. Ideally, fireballer Joel Zumaya would have inherited this role, but with erratic behaviour and constant injuries, Zumaya is a question mark to even throw pitches every year.
They also signed right handed middle-late releiver Scott Willimason; a pitcher with decent career numbers, but has had issues with injuries. Williamson has 510 strikeouts, a 3.36 ERA, and 55 saves in 439.3 innings pitched. He once had a 98 mph power fastball, but underwent Tommy John Surgery in 2001. In his rookie season, Williamson went 12-7 with 107 strikeouts, a 2.41 ERA and 19 saves; made the All-Star team, and earned Rookie of TheYear honors.
Tigers Talking With Closer Brandon Lyon’s Agent
Posted by Joe in Detroit Tigers Baseball on January 20th, 2009
The Tigers bullpen was, how does one say – “AWFUL” last year. We have plenty of offense, but our middle and closing releif was literally non-existent last year. With the retirement of (a great Tiger) Todd Jones, we have a gaping hole for a closer. Can Brand Lyon be the answer?
I have not seen a ton of his games, and in fact have only seen him pitch once or twice.
Here’s some of his stats:
