Tigers fan talk

[BringItHomeDetroit08]

Nobody has posted any Tigers stuff yet so here you go. What do you guys think about the off-season moves? I think that puts them automatically at least in the ALCS.

[Pistons_In_7]

On paper, the best team in baseball without a doubt. At least offensively.

[tlongII]

Should be a great season. I'm an M's fan and I think we have a shot at it as well.

[sa_butta]

If they execute they should come out on top.

Lets go Tigers!!!!

[samikeyp]

I would like them to strengthen their bullpen a bit but I think they are a serious favorite.

[Marklar MM]

They should be fine this year as long as the pitching staff isn't ravaged by injury like last year.

[ChuckD]

Tigers look to lock up Cabrera long term.
Jon Heyman's cnnsi column (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/jon_heyman/02/29/scoop.friday/index.html)

[DarkReign]

Yeah, let me blow your minds with my never-been-done analysis.

Their bullpen is their weakest link. If it holds, theyll be successful.

How about that for breaking news, huh?

[ATRAIN]

Astros fan here obviously but I am interested in seeing the Tigers play. I will be rooting for them in the AL. Best off season moves IMO.

[AFBlue]

On paper, the best team in baseball without a doubt. At least offensively.

If the Rays pick up Barry Bonds, I think they'd have something to say about that....

[Marklar MM]

If the Rays pick up Barry Bonds, I think they'd have something to say about that....


I would still take the Tigers.

[AFBlue]

I would still take the Tigers.

Not sure what the ideal lineup would look like for the Tigers, but here is the Rays....with Bonds.

C Navarro
1B Pena
2B Iwamura
SS Bartlett
3B Longoria
LF Crawford
CF Upton
RF Baldelli/Gomes
DH Bonds/Floyd

Just looking at it....yeah I'd say you're right. :lol

Maybe I got a little ahead of myself.

[Marklar MM]

Not sure what the ideal lineup would look like for the Tigers, but here is the Rays....with Bonds.

C Navarro
1B Pena
2B Iwamura
SS Bartlett
3B Longoria
LF Crawford
CF Upton
RF Baldelli/Gomes
DH Bonds/Floyd

Just looking at it....yeah I'd say you're right. :lol

Maybe I got a little ahead of myself.

This is going to be the lineup...per Leyland. The average is last season. 2nd average is career




Curtis Granderson, CF .302 .280
Placido Polanco, 2B .341 .305
Gary Sheffield, DH .265 .296
Magglio Ordonez, RF .363 .312
Miguel Cabrera, 3B .320 .313
Carlos Guillen, 1B .296 .290
Jacque Jones, LF .285 .280
Pudge Rodriguez, C .281 .303
Edgar Renteria, SS .332 .291

[AFBlue]

This is going to be the lineup...per Leyland. The average is last season. 2nd average is career




Curtis Granderson, CF .302 .280
Placido Polanco, 2B .341 .305
Gary Sheffield, DH .265 .296
Magglio Ordonez, RF .363 .312
Miguel Cabrera, 3B .320 .313
Carlos Guillen, 1B .296 .290
Jacque Jones, LF .285 .280
Pudge Rodriguez, C .281 .303
Edgar Renteria, SS .332 .291

Tough to find a hole in that....

Specifically like the addition of Renteria, even though some bigger names obviously are new acquisitions. Live in Georgia and got to see him quite a bit last year....he's a solid pickup.

[Marklar MM]

He basically gives the Tigers 2 leadoff hitters...after the 1st inning.

[JamStone]

Not sure what the ideal lineup would look like for the Tigers, but here is the Rays....with Bonds.

C Navarro
1B Pena
2B Iwamura
SS Bartlett
3B Longoria
LF Crawford
CF Upton
RF Baldelli/Gomes
DH Bonds/Floyd

Just looking at it....yeah I'd say you're right. :lol

Maybe I got a little ahead of myself.


That's still a heck of a line-up. Just really young. If Evan Longoria can hit like he did in the minors and if Bartlett has improved, that line-up looks nice. Hopefully, Carlos Pena can continue to put up numbers. I'd take Carl Crawford for left field on the Tigers. You guys want Brandon Inge? LOL!

[AFBlue]

He basically gives the Tigers 2 leadoff hitters...after the 1st inning.

FWIW....

Rays win the first contest, 10-9...in Spring Training.

:lol

[T Park]

The only hole I can see for the Tigers is Jacque Jones in left, from just watching him the last couple years in Chicago against the Cardinals, dude is a streaaaaakky ass hitter and mediocre in the outfield.


Other than that, the friggen Tigers are NAILS.

Tigers should represent the AL and ohhh I'll say Dodgers in the NL.

[AFBlue]

That's still a heck of a line-up. Just really young. If Evan Longoria can hit like he did in the minors and if Bartlett has improved, that line-up looks nice. Hopefully, Carlos Pena can continue to put up numbers. I'd take Carl Crawford for left field on the Tigers. You guys want Brandon Inge? LOL!

Yeah, I think if the Rays weren't in the AL East they might actually have a winning season and possibly have a shot at the playoffs.

Longoria should be up within the first couple weeks and playing on an everyday basis by June. The stop-gaps are Willy Aybar and Eric Hinske, so he should get plenty of opportunity to prove himself this year. I'm optimistic...

Bartlett should be a MAJOR upgrade over Harris defensively, and if he can bring similar offense, he'll be a plus.

Pena is due for a letdown I think, but that's only because he had 46 dingers last year. I think he'll still hit 30+ homers and play solid defense at 1B.

In the outfield...Upton will emerge, Crawford will bring his ever-steady production, and RF will be a platoon that changes because of pitching or injury. I'd give the edge to Baldelli to start, but if Gomes continues to show power and patience at the plate, they'll slot him in somewhere (RF or DH is most logical).

Actually, the strongest improvement the Rays made was with their pitching. They added Matt Garza as their third pitcher with about 3 or 4 prospects vying for the last two spots...but more importantly they added quality depth in the bullpen. Troy Percival becomes the closer, Al Reyes and Dan Wheeler are the setup guys.

Okay, sorry for highjacking the Tigers thread. I still think the Tigers have a solid lineup and rotation...they should be the AL favorite.

[AFBlue]

That's still a heck of a line-up. Just really young. If Evan Longoria can hit like he did in the minors and if Bartlett has improved, that line-up looks nice. Hopefully, Carlos Pena can continue to put up numbers. I'd take Carl Crawford for left field on the Tigers. You guys want Brandon Inge? LOL!

Oh, and if Brandon Inge were agreeable to moving to catcher full time (assuming he's got the chops for it defensively), then I think that might be a match....

If the Rays are giving up Kurt Birkins.

[jochhejaam]

Preseason stats:
Polanco's picking up where he left off, batting .485 (16 for 33).
Pudge is batting .345 with 6 HR's in 29 at bats. He had 11 for all of last year. :spless:
Ordonez is batting .400.

[Hank the Tank]

damn...let the season start already. :hungry:

[T Park]

Yeah the Tigers could be 2004 Cardinals esque..

[jochhejaam]

damn...let the season start already. :hungry:
Or not. :lol

[TheTruth]

Yeah, that vaunted Royals pitching staff shut em down. Greinke looked solid today.

[DarkReign]

:madrun

[tlongII]

0 and 4 after the loss to the White Sox today.

[JamStone]

Wow Tigers with a horrible start of the season. Still way too early to assess the team. But, definitely not an encouraging start.

[Marklar MM]

They should never use Grilli at home.

[DarkReign]

What fucking joke. Way to get them prepared, Mr Leyland. They sure look it.

[DarkReign]

0-5

losers

How many games did they miss the playoffs by last year?

[jochhejaam]

What fucking joke. Way to get them prepared, Mr Leyland. They sure look it.
Last I heard, Leyland hasn't made any outs at the plate and hasn't given up any runs pitching.


It's on the players.

[jochhejaam]

Our Stud's pitching tomorrow (Verlander), time for the losing streak to end.

[Burn531]

I'm going to the game today so hopefully I witness history! :lol

[trueD]

...

[Marklar MM]

Lets go Tigers! LETS GO!!!

http://www.littlefolkspuzzle.com/catalog/1350-30PCFLOORPUZZLE-KITTEN.JPG
http://disney-clipart.com/winnie-the-pooh/Tigger/Disney-Tigger.jpg

[Hank the Tank]

I'm going to the game today so hopefully I witness history! :lol
hope you had a lot to drink at the game so you enjoyed yourself in some way.
i went to the saturday game and saw walk after walk and an eventual choke job to finish the day off.

[Marklar MM]

http://www.tacketmusic.com/myspace/pics/canada/winni1.jpg

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

This is fucking pathetic. They look horrible; can't manage, hit, pitch or run the bases. Schedule is brutal the next two weeks, too. Eerily reminiscent of 2003, God help us all.

Fuck you, Tigers.

Fuck you all if you fuck this up.

[Marklar MM]

I am taking a guesstimate that the ESPN board is probably 90-95% trolled on Tigers threads right now.

[DarkReign]

Thank God for the Wings imminent playoff run.

By the time thats over, this little blip of (soon to be 0-9) will be a distant memory.

[TheTruth]

Man, it's not the losing that suprises me (I figured they wouldn't win as many as predicted with that bullpen), but I can't believe they aren't scoring runs. Unbelievable.

[tlongII]

It's early. The Tigers will be okay. They have too much talent no to.

[ATRAIN]

It's early. The Tigers will be okay. They have too much talent no to.


I like the Tigers but what the hell is going on?

[JamStone]

What's going wrong? Pretty much the bats the Tigers paid all that big money for in the middle of the line up aren't really producing. Starting pitching hasn't been great but not horrible in most of the losses. Bullpen is crap but that was expected. The Tigers aren't scoring runs. It's pretty discouraging. It's a long season but this is definitely not how you start a season when there were such high hopes.

[T Park]

Cabrera is pressing big time.

The bats will come around.

The pitching on the other hand.......

I think Willis is hurt, I think Bonderman for some reason is out of whack do to injury, or just isn't very good.

[Hank the Tank]

good ol grilli...tigers on their way to goin 0-7.


hell i see them goin 0-12 and not winning until they win a game against minnesota....and then cle. will beat up on us, as will tor.

my predicted end of april record: 6-22

thats a good strong record right there. ROAR

[Marklar MM]

I wish Sheff/Maggs/Miggie/Polanco would wake the hell up.

[DarkReign]

I heard this...no team who opened the season 0-7 has ever went to the playoffs.

This team is going to be 0-10.

You just dont make that ground up. I cant believe its April and the Tigers playoff chances are nearly gone already.

I wouldnt want to be Dombrowski right now. What do you do?

[sa_butta]

I heard this...no team who opened the season 0-7 has ever went to the playoffs.

This team is going to be 0-10.

You just dont make that ground up. I cant believe its April and the Tigers playoff chances are nearly gone already.

I wouldnt want to be Dombrowski right now. What do you do?I heard that also, but most of the other teams that went 0-7 where suppose to be that bad, this team is not suppose to be here. I think they can change history and make it up. I know its bad, but it is just too early to count us out.

[Marklar MM]

For being 0-7, the Tigers are 5 games back of the Central leading White Sox/Royals.

[Marklar MM]

Its encouraging to see the team hit the ball with RISP.

[Marklar MM]

Tigers win. Came complete with a Rollercoaster special.

[jochhejaam]

Tigers win. Came complete with a Rollercoaster special.
Heck yes, feel the Power! :lol



About time!

[jochhejaam]

Leyland said he's had good players go cold for a while (obviously), but never all of them at the same time.


Anyway, good win.

[Burn531]

Nice win tonight in Chi town. Gas can Grilli actually pitched good tonight after the 5th inning. The BP really did well. It's something to build off of at least.

Dontrelle has a hyperextended right knee (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Au9nwXwDPBUnRB1S0_Q49SaFCLcF?slug=ap-tigers-willisout&prov=ap&type=lgns) . Looked like shit tonight anyway.

[jochhejaam]

Tigers no-hit for 7+ today, lose 7-0...

[Hank the Tank]

0-7 L yesterday

0-11 L today


tigers are getting fuckin RAPED!

i usually am a person who tries to help keep up the confidence when it comes to the tigers, but no...not this year...they are done already...and it is april!

[Pistons < Spurs]

shutout 4 times this year in just the first 12 games .... compared to only 3 shutouts all of last year.

[jochhejaam]

Among today's bright spots, Sheffield had a double and Detroit's pitchers combined to no-hit Quentin <although he scored a run>.

[jochhejaam]

shutout 4 times this year in just the first 12 games .... compared to only 3 shutouts all of last year.
I guess that makes it unlikely that we'll better last years mark.

[Burn531]

Holy shit. :depressed

[DarkReign]

:lmao

I am done being pissed about it.

[jochhejaam]

Considering we're 2-9 it's not a big deal, but why is Clete Thomas (0-8 with 4 K's over the lat 2 games) starting in place of Inge? Inge is the only one driving in runs (9) for the Tigers.

Granderson's missed big time...

[Marklar MM]

Pitching blows, but its good to see Sheffield/Maggs/Cabrera/Guillen all hitting.

[Marklar MM]

Now that is the offense we have been waiting for. Tigers win 11-9 after being down 9-5 in the 7th. Heart of the order, for the first time all year, goes 10-17 with 5 rbi.

Great game from Pudge as well. Home run, triple, 3 rbi, and the game winning run.

[jochhejaam]

Now that is the offense we have been waiting for. Tigers win 11-9 after being down 9-5 in the 7th. Heart of the order, for the first time all year, goes 10-17 with 5 rbi.

Great game from Pudge as well. Home run, triple, 3 rbi, and the game winning run.
T. Jones made it interesting in the 9th, but that's to be expected. Nice comeback, it should give the team some badly need momentum.

[jochhejaam]

Cabrera hits a 2 run 8th inning homerun, and the Tigers are on the verge of a 2 game winning streak. Up 6-4 in the top of the 9th.

[Hank the Tank]

:clap glad to see some of the bats waking up.

hopefully they can get on a little run here....it is nice to see them celebrate for once.

[jochhejaam]

:clap glad to see some of the bats waking up.

hopefully they can get on a little run here....it is nice to see them celebrate for once.
Now if the pitching can wake up too we should be able to get a nice streak going.

[Marklar MM]

Sheffield/Guillen/Magglio/Miggy all with home runs tonight.

[jochhejaam]

Tigers roughed up Cy Young winner Sabathia (8 runs in 4 innings), up 9-1 in the 5th. Cabrera with another HR and Renteria with a Grand Slam.

[jochhejaam]

Cabrera with 5 rbi's tonight and 7 for the last 2 games. Nice!

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Grilli is absolute dogshit.

Why is he still on the team?

[Heath Ledger]

3 in a row here we come...

[JamStone]

Grilli is absolute dogshit.

Why is he still on the team?


He's Leyland's personal salad tosser.

[jochhejaam]

Grilli is absolute dogshit.

Why is he still on the team?
Good question, he has an ERA over 7 this year and 5.26 for his career.

[jochhejaam]

A 4 hit 5 rbi night for Cabrera, breaking out in style!

[Rip-Hamilton32]

sabathia 0-3 so far this year :elephant

[Hank the Tank]

:lol tied with the tribe at 5-10!

now to keep hitting and march our way back to .500!


I'm glad Cabrera is finally hitting.....and Renteria with a Grand Slam....nice!


We still need to do something about our pitching though.

[Marklar MM]

:lol tied with the tribe at 5-10!

now to keep hitting and march our way back to .500!


I'm glad Cabrera is finally hitting.....and Renteria with a Grand Slam....nice!


We still need to do something about our pitching though.

ARMANDO. :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant :elephant

[Heath Ledger]

Tribe getting mucho revenge on our asses tonight.

[TheTruth]

Verlander is blowing ass. What's the deal?

[jochhejaam]

Won 4 of the last 5 with 38 runs scored is a good sign

Leyland said, "When we're rolling, and we haven't been rolling yet, we figure we can strike anytime and strike good,"

Cabrera over his last 5 games is batting .500 (10 for 20) with 3 doubles, 2 homeruns and 9 rbi's.

Renteria over his last 5 games is batting .473 (9 for 19) with 2 homeruns and 9 rbi's.

Ordonez over his last 5 games is batting .470 (8 for 17) with 3 doubles a homerun and 8 runs scored.

Guillen over his last 5 game is batting .421 (8 for 19).

Things are lookin' up in Tiger Town.

[Thunder Dan]

sabathia 0-3 so far this year :elephant

what is Verlander's record?

[jochhejaam]

what is Verlander's record?

Verlander's got the better ERA, 7.03 to 13.50. :lol

I'd be surprised, along with everyone else, if they both didn't get on track real soon.

Sabathia looks a little fatter this year, is that the case?

[Thunder Dan]

Sabathia looks a little fatter this year, is that the case?

who knows. He is a large large man so it's harder to tell when someone over 300 pounds puts on weight. Who knows though, he still has good stuff- same with Verlander- they both seem to just not be able to hit their spots. It will turn around though. The cream always comes to the top

[Thunder Dan]

although, being fat is not an excuse for CC. If David Wells can pitch a perfect game still half drunk from the night before, the Indians can atleast expect CC to give them 6 innings and only 3 runs.

[jochhejaam]

who knows. He is a large large man so it's harder to tell when someone over 300 pounds puts on weight. Who knows though, he still has good stuff- same with Verlander- they both seem to just not be able to hit their spots. It will turn around though. The cream always comes to the top

Yeah, he's always been a big guy and winning the CY shows that it didn't matter. It may have been me, but I though he looked heavier when I watched him pitch against the Tigers. I guess I was wondering if there was any talk about a correlation between extra weight and a slow start.

[Thunder Dan]

Yeah, he's always been a big guy and winning the CY shows that it didn't matter. It may have been me, but I though he looked heavier when I watched him pitch against the Tigers. I guess I was wondering if there was any talk about a correlation between extra weight and a slow start.

Oh I don't know. I think all his weight shows is how much he prepared in the offseason, and that is what is showing. If you come in heavy, chances are that you didn't do shit in the offseason. Last year before the season all the talk was how hard he worked in the offseason and how he wouldn't golf during spring training. But I don't know if he is fatter this year than last, I'm just assuming that he is.

[jochhejaam]

April, 19th, 2008

Dear Mr. Granderson and Mr. Polanco,
Get well soon, Clete Thomas and Ryan Raburn just aren't cutting it.

Sincerely,
Tiger fans

[Marklar MM]

Granderson is back. WOOHOO.

On a side note, sad to see Clete optioned down.

[jochhejaam]

Granderson is back. WOOHOO.

On a side note, sad to see Clete optioned down.

Good news for the Tigers. In other news, Cabrera and Guillen swithed infield positions, Cabrera's not atheletic enough for the hot corner.

Goin' for 7 of the last 10 tonight.

[Marklar MM]

Tigers score 11 in the 6th. Up 18-6...in the 7th

[jochhejaam]

Tigers are now 4th in the ML in run scored, if they're pitching staff can come around they'll be in good shape.

Two quality starts in the last 3 games (Armando and Verlander) and a lights-out performance by the bullpen last night.

Rod Allen almost called it during Tuesday nights game, he said 'this team is going to drop a 20 run game this season'.

Granderson's debut last night went well; 3 runs, 2 hits and 2 rbi's. Welcome back Grandy!



edit: Tigers have scored 46 runs in their last 32 innings at home.

[Heath Ledger]

Tigers now third hottest team in baseball in last 10 games. 7-3 with 3 game winning streak.

[Heath Ledger]

Granderson with a homer today in first at bat. He's now hitting 600

[sribb43]

The Tigers can thank the Rangers for turning their season around...they will look back in October and look at this series as the day the offense came to life.

[Heath Ledger]

I don't think so they are 8-2 in their last 10 games, sure the sweep was nice but they came to life well before the rangers series.

[jochhejaam]

Tigers 2-10 start
Outscored by opponents 78-33
2.7 runs per game
6.5 runs per game for opponents

Tigers 8-3 since Leyland dressed them down
Outscored opponents 86-50
7.8 runs per game
4.5 runs per game for opponents

[Marklar MM]

Tigers are now 4th in runs scored and 7th in batting average.

[Heath Ledger]

Sweet ill bet you can expect those #'s to rise to the top 3 in each category.

[Marklar MM]

Grilli is GONEEEE!!!! :downspin::downspin::downspin::downspin::toast

Traded to Colorado.

[jochhejaam]

Polanco's back and his bat is smokin'!

He's been back for the last 6 games, and over his last 5 he has 10 hits in 21 at bats, with 2 HR's (both tonight), 2 doubles, 7 runs scored and 5 rbi's.

Granderson's just as hot, after breaking his finger and missing the first 3 weeks of the season he's batting (in 7 games) .348 with a .500 OB percentage, 11 runs scored, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 3 HR's, 5 rbi's and 7 BB's.


And they are up 6-2 on the Yanks in the top of the 9th.

[jochhejaam]

Grilli is GONEEEE!!!! :downspin::downspin::downspin::downspin::toast

Traded to Colorado.

The irony is that he had given up only 4 hits in his last 11+ innings.

[jochhejaam]

They were due for a bad game, and got it, an 11-1 beat-down from the Twins.

Didn't watch the game, but considering the score, I assumed Armando had a bad game, but he only gave up 2 earned runs in 6 innings. It was the bullpen that got smoked.


Verlander's up today, time for a good game from him.

[jochhejaam]

Zach Miner should not be pitching in the Major Leagues...

[jochhejaam]

Went to the game tonight, uhg!

[DarkReign]

pfffffffffffffffffffft..............

[SpursFan24445]

I'm not sure which team the Tigers are right now. The one with giant bats and bad pitching, or one with sluggish bats and mediocre pitching. Either way, they need to get some wins strung together

[DarkReign]

I see some Motivational Posters in the near future with the Tigers organization in the crosshairs.

Rightfully so, I say. What a disgrace.

[Horry For 3!]

Dontrelle Willis sucks!

1.1 IP 3 H 8 R 8 ER 5 BB 2 K 2 HR

[sribb43]

Dontrelle Willis sucks!

1.1 IP 3 H 8 R 8 ER 5 BB 2 K 2 HR

He should come pitch for the Rangers, he would fit right in

[Marklar MM]

Dontrelle Willis sucks!

1.1 IP 3 H 8 R 8 ER 5 BB 2 K 2 HR

Ya he is pretty horrible. Thats why he agreed to be sent down to the minors to fix mechanics.

[jochhejaam]

First post in almost 40 days here (and for good reason).

5 of the last 6 including a sweep of the division leaders, and still 96 games to play.

A bit of hope, and a bit of a reason for optimism.

[jochhejaam]

Ya he is pretty horrible. Thats why he agreed to be sent down to the minors to fix mechanics.

Hopefully he hasn't become a head case like a couple of pitchers, who in the middle of a stellar career, could never find the strike zone.

Any way, it's good to have him back (as in back to the minors until he works out his problems).



Willis deal makes no sense

DETROIT -- Dave Dombrowski has made a lot of good moves as general manager of the Tigers.

Signing Dontrelle Willis to a three-year, $29 million contract extension, however, wasn't one. It may, in fact, turn out to be one of the worst moves by an executive in this town in a long time.

The blockbuster deal with the Florida Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis made sense. Dombrowski looked at it as production over potential in dealing promising prospects for proven veterans. Dombrowski's goal was to win the World Series.

Huge mistake
Cabrera's deal made sense -- even at eight years, $152 million.


Willis' pact? No way, no how. <hindsight is 20/20, I don't remember Parker critizing the deal when it was made>

Dombrowski rewarded the left-hander on merit? A 10-15 record and 5.17 ERA last season in Florida?

That was a huge mistake.

And it's glaring now that Willis (0-1, 10.32 ERA) has been sent to the minors to work on his control.

On Monday, Willis walked five and allowed eight earned runs to the Indians in 1 1/3 innings. He has allowed 21 walks in 11 1/3 innings.

No one is sure when -- or if -- Willis will be back. Sadly, Dombrowski might have just given up all that loot for nothing.

"Anytime you don't have performance, you're not happy about it," Dombrowski said before the 2-1 victory over the White Sox on Thursday. "If it's Dontrelle's case or someone else's, you don't want to say you have regrets. I don't want to be flippant about that.

"But it's a situation where realistically, you make a lot of decisions and thought it was the right decision at the time."

What's the rush?
In reality, Dombrowski should have waited.

He should have made sure Willis was back to the form he showed in 2005 -- 22 victories.

But it was obvious in spring training Willis still was struggling.

"The reality of the situation is that when you trade for him, you make the decision that you're comfortable to give him a long-term deal," Dombrowski said. "We wouldn't have traded for him if we didn't feel comfortable to give him the deal.

"Even with all the inspection that we had -- we were aware of all the statistics -- when we watched him pitch, we felt he was throwing the ball better in September."

Dombrowski basically has written off Willis in the near future.

"My philosophy is more so, I want to get him where he can for sure help us in 2009," Dombrowski said. "And if he comes back before that, it's a bonus."

For all Dombrowski has done right, he has shown a tendency of prematurely giving guys long-term deals before they have actually earned them.

Willis' pact might go down in dubious history.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080613/OPINION03/806130398/&imw=Y

[Marklar MM]

Why post a Parker article? At least its not a Drew Sharp article. Willis' mechanics are all screwed up right now. He is overthrowing everything, and as good old Rod Allen has stated, he stands to far to the left side of the rubber, which rite now is causing everything to go outside.

[jochhejaam]

Why post a Parker article?

To tick you off? :lol

Okay, enough with the jokes. Tigers are on a bit of a roll, winning 6 of 7 (still 8 back, but my interest has been piqued). The pitching has been lights out, and the hitting clutch. It'll be interesting to see what the new kid from Toledo does in his pitching debut today. Bonine has gone 25-4 over the past two years, and with that record, Leyland said he's "earned a shot".
Rogers and Verlander have pitched great for the last few weeks and Galarraga has excelled all season. Rodney's rehab is over (2 innings last night, 1 slow roller infield hit, 3 K's, 24 of his 27 pitches for strikes), and Zumaya (hit 100 on a pitch Wed.) is due back Thursday.
So, as of now we have 3 solid starters, plus Robertson who's won 3 of his last 4 (pitching subpar, but getting good run support), and hopefully Bonine pans out.

[jochhejaam]

Six in a row, 8 of the last 9, and they've picked up 5 games in 6 days on the division leading White Sox.

[jochhejaam]

Notable:
Marcus Thames, with a homerun tonight, has homered in 5 straight games, and his last 8 hits have been homeruns.


edit: His homerun last night traveled 465 feet to dead centerfield, a part of the ballpark previously reached by only one other player, B. Bonds.

[DarkReign]

Ive been lurking/watching since the Wings and Pistons seasons' ended.

I'll start to get excited when theyre 0.500. Not a moment before.

[jochhejaam]

Ive been lurking/watching since the Wings and Pistons seasons' ended.

I'll start to get excited when theyre 0.500. Not a moment before.
Understood. They were virtually unwatchable during their 10-21 streak.

10-2 since then, and they've moved past the Indians (another shock, along with the Tigers and Mets) into 3rd place.



Take away our 0-7 start and the 10-21 slump and we're a stellar 24-10, best win percentage in the Majors.









^^^Intended as humor only.

[jochhejaam]

Update

Tigers have gone 12-3 over the last 15 games. Currently 36-39 (it's tough climbing out of a 24-36 hole!)

Last 5 series:

Indians (H) - Won 2 of the last 3 in a 4 game serise
WhiteSox (H) - Tigers Sweep 3
Dodgers (H) - Tigers Sweep 3
Giants (A) - Tigers won 2 of 3
Padres (A) - Tigers won 2 of 3

Up next
Against Cardinals - 3 @ Detroit
Against Rockies - 3 @ Detroit

[Marklar MM]

Tigers 5 games out of first in the Central.

[DarkReign]

Just so it out there, all I ever want from the team (no matter the sport) is to be competitive.

Tigers look and play competitive. Ive been watching/listening pretty damn regularly. Its fun again when you know they arent going to lose before the first pitch is thrown.

[jochhejaam]

Big win tonight! Tigers came back to tie the score in the bottom of the 7th, again in the bottom of the 8th, Jones held serve in the top of the 9th, and Sheffields' 4th hit of the game won it in the bottom of the ninth.

5 back.

[T Park]

Yeah that sucked.

[jochhejaam]

Yeah that sucked.

Times 2. Another come from behind win for the Tigers.

14-4 over the last 18

[DarkReign]

Gary-freaking-Sheffield?!

[T Park]

Fucking Franklin.

[Heath Ledger]

white porcelain

[Hank the Tank]

OMG tigers blowin it in the 9th. jonesy screwed it up. we were 1 out away from .500

noooo! ...tigers still have 3 bats though.....but its really rainin

[Hank the Tank]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! .500!!!!!!!!!!!! cabrera!! nice....i cant believe it.

[jochhejaam]

.500



Won 16 or 20, first time at .500 all season! About time!

[jochhejaam]

OMG tigers blowin it in the 9th. jonesy screwed it up. we were 1 out away from .500

noooo! ...tigers still have 3 bats though.....but its really rainin

Jones owes Cabrera (Polanco and Raburn too) a steak dinner.

[Marklar MM]

Tigers win. Now 41-40

[jochhejaam]

OMG tigers blowin it in the 9th. jonesy screwed it up. we were 1 out away from .500

Jones redeemed himself with a 1-2-3 ninth today, 15-16 saves.

Tigers are 17-4 over the last 21

[DarkReign]

Can they win the requisite 90-ish games to win the division though?

Theyd have to win 50+ games of their remaining 80 games.

The wild card is not coming out of the Central, IMO. Unless the Tigers actually come close to the needed 50 wins while the White Sox still maintain their play. (which would be nothing short of amazing).

[Marklar MM]

Tigers win again. 42-40

[DarkReign]

That was an awesome game to watch, and honestly, you cant say that about too many baseball games (watching on TV that is).

[DarkReign]

...damnit...

At least they were in it.

[JamStone]

Cabrera coming around...

...man Indians having rough times. Thunder Dan, you doing ok, bra?

[DarkReign]

Bottom of the 10th in Detroit, Indians up 7-6 with 1 out.

Lets see what happens.

[DarkReign]

Minnesota owns the Tigers. At least they didnt get swept (i guess).

[jochhejaam]

Tigers 6 1/2 back with 64 to play, they need to make a move soon. Sweeping the White Sox next weekend would help.

Justin Verlander's back in the groove, with a 2.57 ERA over his last 13 starts.

Marcus Thames has 19 home runs in 196 at bats, probably the best homerun to at-bats ratio in the Majors (Dunn has 28 in 300 at bats, in the same vicinity as Thames).

[jochhejaam]

They just needed one more out to pick up a big win against the division leading White Sox, and what happens, Jonesy gives up a 2 run homer. Tough loss.


Gone next year;
Jones
Renteria
Sheffield

[jochhejaam]

Cabrera's heating up, 22 rbi's in his last 11 games, tied for 3rd in the AL

[DarkReign]

Fucking White Sox...

[jochhejaam]

We do not have a legitimate closer...more to the point, we do not have a legitimate bullpen.

[jochhejaam]

Okay, another loss, the season's all but over. Bring on the Ohio State Buckeyes!