Tiger Geist

I watched the Tiger game into the 8th, at which point I had to head out to eat before I starved. I didn’t think they’d win the game at that point (down 9-5), but I really thought they had turned the corner. You could kind of see it on the field, they were embarrassed by the defensive miscues and finally did some damage offensively. I figured they’d get a few more runs and make it close and turn it into some positive momentum. Looking at my iphone with 2 out in the bottom of the ninth… yeah, i’ll take the win.

Thoughts on the game:

• Bonderman pitched very well, and held his own while his team nearly self-destructed. You could say he really put the game on his back, not Pudge. A very decent and very left-handed twins team up there.
• Guillen continues some clutch hitting. I think they’d sit him if he wasn’t the only decent hitter right now. I think you assume that, even with a short flight to Cleveland, you might not have him available for Wednesday game (leg stiffness) and you try to play him one more night tonight. Otherwise, you have to look to a possible DL stint to keep him healthy for the year. I like the idea of Larish coming up for a left handed DH / 1B platoon with Sheffield and Thames.
• Cabrera seems to be coming out of his funk. I liked the almost-double play after he took a grounder off his nuts.
• Speaking of double plays… Polanco isn’t hitting well, but he’s one tough SOB. Minnesota really took some hard slides trying to break up double plays and he really stood tough.
• Nice that Clete Thomas was able to triple in his last at-bat. His error was BAD.. but what you expect from a rookie.

Concerns

• Sheffield doesn’t look right. Sounds like he doesn’t feel right either. I think you have to find some flexibility on the team where guys can get healthy. Maybe Thomas has to go down for a power left handed bat; maybe Santiago has to go somewhere. But they have few options now besides playing guys when they’re hurt, hoping they’ll get out of their slump.
• Guillen’s hitting so well right now that he’s almost more of a liability to hurt himself batting then in the field. I haven’t read anything bad about Cabrera’s ability to play first, but its nice they have some flexibility there.
• Jacque Jones getting a late inning defensive replacement? Did he get hurt? I thought he was supposed to be an above-average left fielder? If this is all we’re getting from him, might as well play Thames or Raburn full time in left.
• I thought Raburn could play center; its time he gets some at-bats somewhere.
• How much of the pitcher’s walk problems relate to their trying to do too much? I wonder if their control will improve if Detroit got on the board with 2 - 4 runs in the first few innings. Not sure if it will help Willis.
• Not a fan of all of the booing going on at comerica park. Stand up for your team. Granted, if you pay those prices for seats I guess you can do whatever you want.
• I predict we’ll see Zumaya pitch in a game before Rodney. Its really too bad.