Upcoming: Carl Pavano

I know this will sound really whiny, but doesn't it seem like a "struggling" pitcher comes in and shuts us down all too often?  Enter Carl Pavano, 0-3. 9.50 ERA,  over 4 starts and 18 innings pitched.  Opponents are batting a robust .363 against Pavano.  He's only walked 5, but has given up 29, count 'em, 29 hits in his four outings this young season, resulting in a 1.89 WHIP.  He's got 16 strikeouts, eight of them coming in a six-inning start against Kansas City on April 14.  Now, his ERA is a little inflated as he only lasted one inning in his first start of the year and gave up 9 earned runs in that teeny little inning.  His other starts are as follows:

4/14, KC, 6 innings, 8 hits, 4 ER, 8 SO, 0 BB

4/19, NYY, 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 ER, 4 SO, 1 BB

4/24 MN, 5 innings, 11 hits, 5 ER, 3 SO, 1 BB

Is he gonna storm into Detroit and blow away our lineup?  I hope not, but I won't exactly be stunned if he does.

You know what?   My view of baseball is all too myopic.  I don't have time (scratch that, I don't take the time) to keep up on every MLB team.  I don't want to sound like I'm any busier than the next guy--we all make time for what we want to do.  Me, I'm focused in tunnel-vision style on the Tigers for the most part.  Surely this type of thing happens to all teams from time to time.  Maybe one of the "real" bloggers will dig into the stats and let us know whether the Tigers are more susceptible than other clubs.  I think part of it is that good ol' Rod and Mario may over-emphasize when a pitcher is struggling, and then express surprise when that guy pulls it together against the Tigers.  It's too early in this season, but many pitchers experience peaks and valleys over 162 games.  You can't just assume that a pitcher is going to continue to struggle based on the last couple starts alone.  

It's nice when a pitcher is consistent over the course of a season.  Take Armando Gallaraga, for instance, who happens to be tomorrow's starter.  He generally goes pretty deep in a game, and gives the club a chance to win.  Last year, he averaged 6.26 innings over 28 starts (Baseball Reference).  Long relief.  Um, while it is oh so gratifying to see various Tigers get playing time, rather than rotting on the bench, I'll take a quality start when given the choice.  We fans inexplicably like to give our fingernails a chance to be something more than nubs.

So Gallaraga, keep on rolling, or at least gut it out like you're so good at doing if you don't have your best stuff.  Carl Pavano???  Well, let's just say you're not a Tiger, so...

13 Games, 13 Opportunities to Own the AL Central

Apparently, the Detroit Tigers players, coaches and management do not read my blog.  What a shocking revelation!  They didn't get my message that we needed to win the Yankees series.  Hmm.  Guess I'll take to purchasing ad space inside Marlboro, Phiten and sunflower seed packaging and get the word out that way.

I don't have to worry about them getting the message I'm about to share with you.  They already know it, and so do you.  We need to win our upcoming 13-game sortie against AL Central opponents.  Last year, we were abysmal against divisional rivals.   Please, oh please, can we change that this year?  I beg of you.  Restore the roar of divisional ownership.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of the preceding public service announcement.

Two Words

NICK SWISHER

One Series: Available to Highest Bidder

Ok boys and girls.  I'm not gonna sugar coat this.  We need bragging rights over the Yankees.  I could lie and say that it's only one series early in the season, and we've got to keep it in perspective, the season is marathon, not a sprint, we've got to keep our emotions on an even keel, focus on one game at a time, not get overhyped based on the opponent.....are you buying that line of crap?  I hope not.  Our bullpen took one inning and turned it into a hall of shame moment in baseball history.  I'm so glad that my son had his school play last night so I was spared seeing that live.  With DVR, one can simply fast forward through the scenes of disaster.  Hey, a little head-in-the-sand action spares the sanity.

 I want to win tonight--badly enough that I'm considering a last minute ticket purchase, along with the very unsound idea of taking my 9 year old to the game on a school night.  Even worse, his mind has been poisoned in favor of the Yankees, so I'd be opening myself up to heckling, jeers and being doused with beer.

Adding to the interest of this game is tonight's matchup-Porcello/Chamberlain.   I like RoT's nickname for Porcello--"Little Ricky."  Might I add one adjective more and make it Pretty Little Ricky?

Eat 'em up Tigers, eat 'em up!

How Could I Forget Mi Magglio?

I neglected to mention that my Tiger, Magglio Ordóñez, hit a two run homer to right field last night, notching his second extra base hit of the season.  We were sitting directly behind where the home run hit, so it was difficult for us to tell whether the ball had hit of the top of the wall, or off of Swisher's glove.  I looked at the highlight this morning to ascertain what happened, and as you probably know, it hit off the top of the wall.

Well, that game winner was a pretty nice cap to my evening.

Now, if only I could go back to the ballpark tonight.   

The 2009 Season is Now Officially Underway

I finally saw my first game of the season in person last night.  If May had arrived before I made it to a game, I would  have had to shut down my blog and turn in my Tiger fan card.   Hey, I heard you say that you wish that had happened.  No one forces you to read this swill, you know.

Well, young Mr. Verlander turned in a very fine performance indeed.  He struck out nine and walked none over 7 innings before giving way to Bobby Seay in the 8th.   Bobby decided 0.00 is the number for him, so he stranded Justin's two baserunners in short order.

Fernando Rodney.  The man who loves to induce indigestion among Tiger fans everywhere.  He wanted to see if you could turn a non-save situation into an old fashioned nail-biter.  He succeeded in that quest in no uncertain terms.  Rodney's actually been pretty good this year, IMO.  There are some very frustrating moments, to be sure.  For example, on Sunday, he got Aviles down 0-2.  Unfortunately, I prophesied the home run ball he gave up next.  Sorry.  It's just that I've seem him do that too many times.  He has a guy looking like he's on the ropes, swinging harmlessly at stuff--and then gives up the long ball.  Oh well, he did get the job done both Sunday and last night.  Let's focus on that, why don't we?

Last night's game was very, very good.   The weather was just about perfect, with the rain holding off entirely.   The company was excellent--thanks for indulging me, guys.  The game was a well-played win over the dreaded Yanks.  Hmm, doesn't get much better than that.  Here's to a few more nights like that one this year.

Homecoming

Break out the formal wear, it's homecoming.  I'll be donning my ball gown and wrist corsage to see game 1 against the yanks tomorrow.  Would that be out of place at the ballpark?

Well, I'm happy to say that we took 2 of 3 from the Royals after losing 2 of 3 to the Angels--that series was not pretty.

My main note from today was a nifty square and throw from Sardinha to nip CoCo Crisp at second.  Very nicely done.  Our catchers are clamping down on the base-runners.  I like that.  His light-hittingness even got an RBI today on a sac fly.  Rod Allen said Sardinha's nickname was pineapple.  It sounded kind of sterotype-ish to me.  Let's start calling the Latin players taco.   

I was wondering about young Dusty Ryan, so I peeked at his numbers.  He's struggling a little at that plate, batting .175 over 40 at bats with the Hens so far.  I guess they just want him to get his reps in at the lower-pressured level.  Probably not a bad idea.

Right now, the Red Sox are poised to sweep the Yankees, so I hope they don't come into our house will all kinds of pent-up, angry energy that inspires them to kick our tails around.