Tiger Geist

I’m having a hard time understanding this team.  Make no mistake — they’re fun to watch and they’re winning.  They’re scoring runs, and at times they’re not allowing the other team to score runs.  So what’s going on?

• They play small ball and win with small ball
• They hit some home runs and some clutch doubles
• They hit only two solo home runs and still score 12 runs last night
• Arguably there are three starting pitchers (Galarraga, Jackson, Porcello) throwing better then four of the projected starting rotation going into spring training (Verlander, Robertson, Willis, Bonderman)
• They’re either awesome in the field, or just not very good.
• Josh Anderson seems to be hitting his way for more playing time;  everyone assumed it would be his glove and legs that got him more time.
• Miguel Cabrera is the best player in the history of baseball.

Ok, that last one might be a stretch.  I had thoughts of exactly how Leyland would play more small ball (or should we just call it ’speed ball’?) now that Raburn should get an extended tour of duty.  Then Raburn had a ‘rough’ outing in right field, so maybe he’ll be limited to more pinch running in the immediate future.

Other thoughts — ironically, i can’t watch as many west coast games since I’m generally busy in the evenings, but let’s give this a go:

• If Dontrelle Willis makes it back to Detroit soon, will Matt Treanor be his exclusive catcher?  Treanor can’t hit, and it seems that even if Willis is a viable starting pitcher, he’s going to carry a high ERA.
• I’m not surprised by Laird’s hot start, but he does seem to slow down during the year.  I felt it was important for Treanor to be able to play a few times / week.  If runs become a premium, that theory might get shot down quickly.
• The Tigers’ schedule has been favorable, but their injuries have not been.  So I still feel its ok to be excited.
• Magglio might have to swap with Granderson in the batting order if he keeps this ’singles’ thing up.

Other baseball notes:

• Caught the Giants – D-bags – D-backs game on Saturday.  One of the warmest baseball days in SF this year, day game… and maybe only 80% full.  Giants have an AWESOME pitching staff, and this was a “Lincecum” game.  This is why Detroit won’t trade Cabrera — its awfully hard to sell a decent team without a star position player.  If you can’t sell out a saturday day game with Tim Lincecum on the mound, marketing is pulling their hair out.
• Arizona’s starting pitcher, Doug Davis, had the longest delivery I’ve ever seen for a left hander.  In the first inning, the Giants got a speedy player to third, and Davis went into his full wind-up.  I said “wow, i can’t believe they don’t try to steal home” after the runner got a huge lead.  Next pitch, runner doesn’t get a huge lead but decides to steal home… and is thrown out by five feet (on a pitch in the dirt, with a right handed batter at the plate no less).  I still think it was the runner’s fault for indecisiveness, but I’ve never seen that attempted live.

Other random note:

• If you like The Mighty Wind and/or Spinal Tap, go see unwigged.  Caught the Oakland show last night and it was even better then expected.  Detroit show on May 29 at the Fox Theater.