Save Some for Tomorrow

Hey, I like scoring a truck-load of runs as much as the next guy.  Could it be said that two grand slams in one game is a little greedy?  Perhaps.  We haven't done it since 1968, when Jim Northrup hit both!  

What I don't like is getting skunked the following game.  I've seen the Tigers do that a couple times in the past.  Let's avoid that scenario tomorrow, could we?

Ryan Raburn must have heard me bad-mouthing him moments before he knocked in four runs with one swing of the bat.  I said something about him probably belonging down in AAA.  This comment was based partly on his sub .100 batting average, and partly on several fielding mishaps (read disasters) that have occurred in his limited playing time with the big club this year.   Well, you've shut my mouth (for now).  Very nicely done.

Brandon Inge, also oft-maligned by yours truly, decides to silence my criticism as well.  I'm happy to give credit where it's due.  The power certainly seems on the increase for Mr. "Inge-credible" this year.

Edwin Jackson's ERA now stands at 2.42, and he walked NOONE.   He averaged 4 walks per 9 last year.  His WHIP is down to 1.07.  Hmmm, I'm tempted to heap lavish praise on him right about now.  Last time I did that, it seemed a little over the top.  I'll just say, I'm pleased to say Edwin Jackson is wearing the Old English D.

Magglio Ordóñez defies the doom and gloom-ers who insist he's on a serious decline, and goes 3-3 with a walk and two RBIs.

Young Luke French comes into a nice low-pressure situation, spotted 13 runs, and gets a 1-2-3 9th inning.

Just a feel good night. 

Bunch of New Bloggers

There are several newish additions to the Tigers blogging community.  When I first started out (not so long ago), many of the veteran bloggers were supportive, kind and encouraging.  I really appreciated that.  So, here's an enthusiastic welcome to several newer writers.  I can never get enough of Tiger baseball, so new additions make me a happy reader.  The links have been added to the blog roll at right.

Always a Tiger

Tigers Amateur Analysis

Hazaa - the J. Ellet Lambie Blog

Check 'em out.

am...sad...now

Poor lil Justin.  I could see the frustration in the way he was crushing his Gatorade cups and throwing them down in the dugout.  He strikes out a career high 13 batters, is out there on the hill twirling a gem, and gets a no decision out of it, and the team takes a loss.

After last night's kick in the cornflakes, who'da thought it could get worse?  Well it did.  We got swept at the Metro-dump.  That smarts, people.  With two good chances to win, we come away with nil, and reduce our road trip to a losing effort 3 and 4.

If someone were forcing me to come up with a couple positives, they would be this:

We got to see a spectacular eruption by Jim Leyland after home plate umpire Paul Schrieber puts his hand on Magglio Ordóñez' back in attempt to usher him back to the dugout after a disputed called third strike.  Leyland was totally gonzo.   That was great.  Number one, it was just fun to watch.  Number two, I like to see a manager stick up for his player like that.  Even if Leyland totally backed off today and said he hopes Schrieber doesn't get fined or suspended.  I'm fine with all that.  It's clear Schreiber was trying to avoid having to toss Magglio, but he shouldn't have put his hand on him.  That's because a player would be suspended for such conduct, and a huge deal would have been made about a player making contact with an umpire.   Turnabout is fair play, you know.  It's understandable that Ordóñez and Leyland were a wee bit upset last night when it first happened, because it's clear they were thinking about how it would have gone down if Magglio had initiated contact.

Also, I do believe we came just shy of seeing a position player pitching for the Tigers.   We all know that would have been Brandon Inge.  He's first in line for that job.  I, for one, am always tickled when a position player pitches.  I want to see every pitch.  I know a lot of guys pitched in college and whatnot, but when you haven't done it in a while, and you're just thrown out there cold, it's compelling drama, you know?

But, all in all, a very traumatizing little junket into Twinkie-land.  So happy the boys are coming home now.  Lick your wounds, and get ready to put a whupping on Oakland.

Deep Breaths and Righteous Indignation

I'm not going to sit here and lie to you.  As I began watching Dontrelle Willis' start tonight, I literally found myself, in between pitches, closing my eyes and inhaling deeply.  No hyperbole.  I was that nervous.  Mike McClary at The Daily Fungo has already given Dontrelle what he terms an "advance mulligan" for tonight's game.   This is wise.  It's the Metrodome, for one, and it's his first start after coming off the DL with an anxiety disorder, for two.  It seems that Dontrelle was quite nonplussed over the whole diagnosis and trip to the DL.  Naturally, now, there's his whole baseball career hanging in the balance and whatnot, so let's allow him to get one start under his belt before the judgment comes rushing in.  I know there won't be a long leash, nor should there be.  I'm just saying, give the guy one start to get his sea legs back.  As I finish up this post, Willis exits the game after 4.2 innings.  Not a disaster, not a jewel, but possibly something he can build on.

Ok.  Now, I must move on to the other topic of the hour.  Magglio Ordóñez is not likely to finish out the season wearing the Old English D.  Always a Tiger?  Think again.  I blame this whole situation on Scott Boras, and you'll soon see why.  Michael Rosenberg pens a column today for the Freep, which outlines the impossible nature of Magglio's contract, and the resulting quandary in which the Tigers find themselves.  If Magglio reaches either 135 game appearances or 540 at bats, hit option for next year automatically kicks in.  That options pays Ordóñez $18 next year.  Now, that figure approaches outlandish in the current market.  In addition, Ordóñez is 35 this year, and is a below average fielder and baserunner.  All of these circumstances conspire to get the rumor mill a-going, and good.  Many are predicting Magglio's outright release, so we eat this year's salary, but are off the hook for next year, other than a $3 million buyout.  I ask you, is it right that his career in Detroit could end in this way?  It strikes me as completely ridiculous.  How--how in the name of balls and strikes does it come to this?  Noone, not even I, could expect Illitch to pay out $30 million to Ordóñez over the next two years, nor will any team touch that contract.

I don't blame the club, because the market at that time was different, and Detroit had to overpay a little to get some talent to come here after the likes of the 2003 season.  I don't blame Ordóñez, because he had just been burned by Chicago, and felt he had to just go out and get what he could.  

I DO blame Scott Boras, evil überagent.  First, it's convenient to have an outsider on which to lay blame.  Second, he pollutes and corrupts all he touches.  Third, only Scott Boras, with his grinchy heart, 20 sizes too small, could craft such a contract and be brazen enough to bring it to the table and get it signed.  He doesn't care about us Whos down in Whoville, who love the game of baseball, and our ballplayers too.  Nope, it's only the jingle of millions in his pocket that motivates and delights such a man.

So, I demonize Boras in attempt to soothe my achy heart.  I'm sure a fan's ire has about as much impact on him as a mosquito hitting the grille of an 18-wheeler , but I put it out there just the same.

Gift Horse: Looked in the Mouth

I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to share these snaps with you.  Today seems to be the day, as the Tigers (Morris' 77-90 team) are playing the Twins (Morris' 91 team and current employer--he's in his 6th year as a Twinkies broacaster).  You surely do not recall (I don't expect retention of the fare produced here) that I mentioned I was going to the game on Monday, May 4.  The giveaway that night was a Jack Morris jersey/t-shirt.

Due to the reduced numbers of Tiger faithful at the CoPa this year, I became one of the 10,000 fortunate fans to receive the #47 tent/awning, I mean jersey/t-shirt.  My first thought was to wonder whether Morris had to approve the t-shirt.  Now, I feel a little guilty bagging on a freebie, because I kind of hate when people complain about stuff that's given to them, but somehow my I managed to shove that feeling aside long enough to get this post up, so...

I think there was only one size--XL.  I thought I saw some people with smaller sizes on, but someone said they were told there was only one size.  I understand that it would be a logistical nightmare to have different sizes, and you've got to just put it out there as is, and whoever likes it/wants it is happy.  Mine fits me like a glove--yeah, Shaq's glove.  I  mean, I'm not a small girl, but let's just say it's a lot of fabric.  Maybe I'm looking at this all wrong.  I should be thinking, this is a t-shirt for two.  Let's get snug in it together.  The Belle Tire logo is ever so prominently displayed on the arm.  Sure, they sponsored the promotion, they want recognition.  Who can forget Belle Tire, what with the same ad running between every half inning on FSN (and then in our heads like a hamster on a wheel)?

Anyway, the Tigers have done some really great promotional giveaways--like the DVD of Verlander's no-hitter.  That was a gem.   Sorry I wasn't more grateful for this one.

The Metro-dump

I wish I could say this is the last time the Tigers will play in the landfill known as the Metrodome.  Sadly, barring post-season play, that date does not arrive until September 20, 2009. 

Allow me to express, with heightened fervor, my abject abhorrence of the park in which home games are played by the Minnesota Twins.  The reasons are obvious, but I don't mind mentioning them:

The Baggie--offensive in its garbage bag plasticity.  This is not a wall, it's a disposable partition fashioned of sheeting.

The Carpet--so wretchedly ugly, so unnatural in its surface.  It makes balls go fast and take stupid hops.

The Dome--with its weird currents (and I love--and subscribe to--the conspiracy theory that its heating/cooling system is rigged in favor of the Twinkies).

So happy someone approved funds for a new park.  So ecstatic to see our Tigers relieved of the unfriendly Metrodome confines after 2009.  So enamored of the sight unseen Target Field, simply because it is NOT the stinking homerdome.  I did see some pictures/progress notes here.

Tigers Stand at 6-3 in Divisional Tussle

Remember when I said we needed to win this 13 game stretch against divisional opponents?  So far, pretty good.   We're 6-3, and it was especially gratifying to complete a sweep of the Tribe today, regardless of the fact that they've been playing poorly.

Although Pretty Little Ricky didn't have his best control today, I liked how he got some big outs when he needed them, and gritted it out to complete five innings.  Our pen needed some work anyway (glass half full).

Fernando Rodney shows us again that he only wants to be used in save situations.  These non-savers are clearly not for him.  The mental edge is not present in a 5-1 game.  He works to simulate a save situation.  That's why he gave up two runs, so he'd feel like he could be in "closer" mode (even though a non-save situation does not convert into a save situation when the lead drops to three runs or less.)  Thanks to Blake of The Spot Starters for confirming that little fact for me a few weeks ago. 

Now, off day tomorrow as the club travels to the Twin Cities for the finale of this little intra-divisional skirmish.  I like being in first place--even if it is shared with the Royals (technically we are four hundredths ahead of them).