Tiger Geist

This either could be very interesting, or it could just be a blip on the fifth starter screen (ala Eddie Bonine)… but Zach Miner’s start last night has to be enouraging for a team looking for starting pitching.  As Nate Robertson has shown he’s not any more then a fifth starter, and without holding out too much hope for an unknown (Galarraga) or a 40+ year old (kenny rogers), a ‘miner’ resurrgence could really help the team.  I don’t think they have any assets to trade for a solid starting pitcher — Joe Blanton is nice and cheap, but how much of an upgrade would he have been?

So, nearly a week after the all-star break, and Detroit has picked up 1.5 games on the division lead.  Yesterday’s beating on the Royals creates a good feeling deep down, but they have to dominate KC for the rest of the year in order to have a chance.

Matt Joyce continues to impress, as does Sheffield when they limit his at-bats.  This rotation might work out pretty well in Leyland’s favor:  he can continue to rest the older players and still get the lefty / righty matchups that he prefers.

One start does not a career make, but if Miner turns out to be a solid rotation guy, would this be another blunder in Detroit’s coaching this year (keeping him in the bullpen forever)?  Up there with “letting Gary Sheffield play in the field”, or “letting Gary Sheffield play when he’s hurt because he wants to”, or “allowing Jason Grilli to ever pitch for this team”?  I understand Leyland liking the sinkerball for more ground outs (and i’ve questioned this before), but it does seem that Miner does not excel in situations that involve him coming in to clean up another pitcher’s mess.

Freddy Dolsi has had some trouble lately, and that is a concern if Fernando Rodney really is on the trading block.