Tiger Geist

Right now it appears Michael Phelps has a better shot at 8 gold medals then the Detroit Tigers have of making the playoffs.  7.5 games back in the AL Central; 8.5 back of the AL wild card.

Sitting at 58-59, with the Chicago White Sox looking at 91 victories (currently with their .560 win percentage leading the central).  That means to keep up, Detroit needs ~33 victories (with 12 defeats) over their last 45 games…. a .733 win percentage.  When they can’t sweep the struggling Athletics, its looking dismal.

Sounds like they’re concerned about Thames’ shoulder (I wondered why he wasn’t playing), and dealing with Sheffield’s attitude.  I’m more concerned with Sheffield’s rapid decline of skill.

Dontrelle Willis had a game in Lakeland.. I still think they keep him shut down for the year.  To that point, once rosters expand in September, i think they need to basically shut down Rodney and Zumaya, if both figure into the team for next year.  Thoughts on their performance later.

Who knows.  Will Detroit take the next few series by the balls and attempt to get back into the playoff race?  Or will they do their best to walk as many players as possible and attempt to blow up their bullpen yet again?  We’ll know by Sunday.

Sheffield talks about how he’s feeling great now (awesome, thanks for tanking it all year) and how the strike zone favors the pitchers.  Somehow I wonder why Detroit’s pitchers haven’t taken full advantage of this expanded strike zone.

I don’t know what to think about Sheffield right now.. if he just smokes it the rest of the year, does that mean they try to bring him back?  I wish his arm would fall off and just make the decision easier.

Blah.  Oakland is playing like poop and they’re in town, and pitching three straight left handers.  Detroit’s best starting pitchers right now are 1)  a cast off from Texas and  2) their former long reliever.

Interesting news is Leyland wants Zumaya to throw this winter.  I thought that Zumaya would still be a solid reliever even if his fastball didn’t come back, since he had such a devastating curve ball in 2006.  It looks like that is giving him trouble now, turning him into a Billy Koch.

I haven’t quite reached my moment of zen and come to grips with last night’s defeat.  But here’s a thought I had last night:  Isn’t the bullpen costing themselves a lot of money?  Zumaya, Rodney.. they’re all on short term restricted deals.  Farnsworth is a free agent… he might not want to pitch in detroit next year, but doesn’t he have the sense to try to sign another multi-year deal with someone?  He’ll be pitching for Pittsburgh if he’s not careful.

At this point, Bobby Seay can’t pitch multiple innings every day, and the bullpen seems hell bent on having at least one person blow the game.  Maybe it will work at home on some nights, when Detroit can bat in the bottom half of an inning.  But the playoff window is closing fast.

What does Detroit do now?  Do they try to figure out if there is a place on next year’s team for Hessman (upon return from China), Larish, Clevelen, Hollimon?  Maybe try out some of the relievers (Clay Rapada, San Francisco Cruceta) again?  Do they offer up some of the dead weight now (Renteria, Sheffield)?  What about some of the starting pitching from Toledo?  Virgil Vasquez has been inconsistent in Toledo, but is he any worse then Nate Robertson?  Is there any chance a team would need Kenny Rogers for a stretch run?  If so, would we make him avaiable for the right deal?

Its getting to the point where i’m more interested in reading about how Toledo and Erie are doing.  Thats not a good sign during the playoff run.

In a chat wrap today:

We’re at the stage of the season where a 6 1/2 game deficit is tough to make up on one club, much less two. As of yesterday, the Twins and Sox had winning percentages of around .560. If they play close to that the rest of the way, Detroit has to go something like 35-16 to win the division. The Tigers simply aren’t that good.

He certainly has a point.  My fear (post-all star break) was around the schedule, and the lack of games against Minnesota, in that we can’t easily gain 4 games on the leader in one week.  That, in conjunction with our inability to bury Chicago last week, worries me.  The upcoming schedule with Toronto, Texas and Oakland may be beneficial, however.  But Detroit really has to make a run… and soon.

Not sure how it might work out, but Livan Hernandez is somewhat available, having been designated for assignment by Minnesota.  He’s listed at 33 years old, but could very well be 137.

Would he be an upgrade to the starting rotation?  Currently he’s sporting a 5.48 ERA, but at least he’s not walking many (29 in 139 innings).  If they could figure it out, he would be reunited with Jim Leyland, another Marlin connection, where he was the 1997 NLCS and World Series MVP.

ESPN is reporting the Mets and Rockies as possible suitors if Hernandez clears waivers… but why not Detroit?

Side Note:  If you want a great baseball read on Cuban baseball, including details on the Hernandez half-brothers, pick up The Duke of Havana.  Great read.

Yesterday’s loss was quite hard to take.  I turned off the almighty iphone when I went to see the Dark Knight, right after Granderson tied the game.  After leaving the theater with mixed feelings on the movie, my mood went south after reading the play by play of extra innings in yesterday’s Tiger loss.

I talked with my sister who watched the game, and apparently Rodney was close to killing the guys with his lack of control.  This is after Leyland blew up at the media about possible changes (we’ve heard this before).

I took the day off from writing anything until I could calm down.  This morning, i’m much more subdued.  But I’m still angered by this team.  I think they have to make some changes now.. even though I doubt the minor leaguers are ready for full time action.  Thoughts on changes:

• Demote Rodney.  I like his potential; maybe he’s hurt.  Maybe he just sucks.  But if he’s going to kill a batter, might as well kill someone in AAA.
• Put Zumaya on the DL.  If he can’t pitch every few days, shelve him for two weeks.  His control problems appear to be mechanical (i hope) and his mechanics are related to his health.  I’d almost consider shelving him for the season in better hopes of next year.
• Move Robertson to the ‘pen.  I’m sure he’s on high alert that his next start better be good anyway, but why wait?  He’s had a bad year, and really only had one good year in his seven year career.  Make a statement.
• Offer Gary Sheffield to the Rays for a bag of baseballs and a lobster dinner.  He likes playing in Tampa, they could probably use his leadership, and even if he warms up for Detroit its too late.  Bring up someone who can play in the field.  Or has some hope of hitting.  Maybe they just option Sheffield to the Olympic team.
• Rotate catchers for a week.  Inge is having some problems receiving the ball (or maybe the pitchers are all mental at this point).  Give him some time to solely study catching, and not worry about playing third.  Let him focus on finishing the season strong behind the plate.

Other interesting items:

• Cabrera is nearly hitting .300 (.298).  Solid.
• Thames has come back down to earth.
• Guillen’s average is at a five year low (hitting .269 over the last month), and his power numbers are way down.

You keep looking at this team, and it seems they have the ability to make a run for the playoffs.  Then you realize that the starting shorstop, DH and catcher are hitting .258 / .230 / .221 with a combined 23 home runs.  Looking back, it sure seems like Mike Hessman could have had a role on this team.

Going into tonight’s game, Detroit appears to be both 5 1/2 games behind in the division lead and the wild card.  Big series tonight against the (Devil) Rays.  It would have been nice for a gem from Verlander yesterday, especially with the Indian fielders looking more like monkeys humping a football then baseball players, but with the lack of a bullpen there wasn’t much Leyland could do to stop the bleeding.

Interesting article out of New York (thanks Buster Olney) about how one NY Yankee writer doesn’t seem to think NY got enough for Farnsworth.  When both sides filled a need and both sides thought their player was worth more then they got in return, it sounds like the right move by Dombroski.

I did like this comment from the article:

So this is a case of buyer beware. Dombrowski and Jim Leyland are as sharp a GM-manager duo as there is in the major leagues. Yes, they desperately needed bullpen help, and they had Brandon Inge to play catcher. Nevertheless, I’d always be wary of anyone these two are willing to give up.

I’m hoping Zach Miner continues to give Leyland the big F-U by going seven strong innings tonight.

In a game Detroit had ABSOLUTELY NO BUSINESS winning, they pull out a 14-12 victory.  I think its huge — Nate Robertson did everything in his power to bury the Tigers after the emotional Pudge Rodriguez trade, yet Detroit battled back.  Detroit also showed why they had to address their bullpen, as Rodney blows the save after detroit took a 12-11 lead in the top of the ninth.  Bullpen wasn’t spectacular, but I guess it kept them in the game.

Here was my ties to the game:

• Listened to the game at work, left for happy hour while Detroit scored their first run, down 5-1.
• Checked the score (go iphone!) after leaving sutter street tavern, heading to casanova, and Detroit was down 8-6
• Walking home, Detroit down 11-7.
• Got home, Detroit tied 11-11
• Pulled out the laptop, tied 12-12
• Watched the gamecast, Casey Fossum loads the bases with no outs, bottom of the 12th, and nearly threw the laptop into our TV (which would have upset the wife, who was enjoying “project runway“
• Checked the score for no real reason at midnight, realizing Fossum somehow got out of the inning, and Detroit scored two in the top of the 13th for the win.

Amazing game.

Lots of news today, namely that Jones is hurt and on the DL;  Rapida has been called up for a day (and will probably pitch unless Verlander can throw deep), to be optioned back tomorrow with Farnsworth joining the team.  If Jones can return back to his earlier season form, that will help the bullpen… I think.. Maybe he’s done.

Other thoughts:

• Sheffield had a monster game, as did Cabrera.  Too bad Cabrera got pulled for a pinch runner.
• Matt Joyce is playing his way into a 2009 full time position.  After Galarraga, he’s one of the most pleasant surprises this year.
• Nate Robertson needs a solid next start or Detroit might have to think about swapping him with Casey Fossum for a few starts… or someone else from inside the organization (do they have anyone else?)
• Bobby Seay showed some cojones last night, with two shutout innings.  Not a fan of the walks, but he got the job done.
• Casey Fossum should buy drinks for the team.

Been reading around and people seemed split on the Pudge trade.

More thoughts I have:

• I did think they should have gotten something else in the trade.
• Detroit must feel their bullpen is really shaky;  I think Zumaya’s tricep tightness showed how fragile they are at the moment.
• All reports indicate that Pudge wanted out.  I don’t think its exactly a “Dmitri Young wants to leave and he’ll help the bullpen”.  I also think Farnsworth is an ass, so there can’t be any expectation that he won’t come in here and be everyone’s BFF.
• A Couple of teams (Marlins, Yankees, Reds) wanted a catcher.  Even with his salary, i bet Pudge wouldn’t have passed through waivers.  Therefore he had to be traded now if they wanted to trade him.
• Maybe Farnsworth was as good as they could get.  They weren’t going to get a starting shortstop;  they don’t need any slow power hitters.
• Depending on whether the espn rumors are true, there are a lot of catchers available right now (Bengie Molina, Greg Zaun, Rangers duo, Yorvit Torrealba).  Some are better hitters, most are younger.  Pudge was at his best lately NOT playing full time.
• In other words… lets not over-value Pudge.  You could get a catcher if you wanted one.  Detroit got a setup man on a team with a better record in a better division.
• Let’s not get too crazy about these sandwich draft picks.  Even with Pudge being unhappy, he could have accepted the arbitration tender, and then Detroit is stuck with him.  Would you rather improve the bullpen or hope that you get a draft pick that might help out in 2012?
• Personally… I think Kyle Farnsworth is kind of a douchebag.  I’d be happier trading for someone with his same skills, same stats, same birthday.  Just not Kyle Farnsworth.  I wonder how many other Tiger fans would feel better about this trade if it wasn’t the big KF coming back to town.

I walk out of a meeting and I found my last post become irrelevent almost as quickly as i posted it.

Pudge to the Yankees;  Kyle Farnsworth to Detroit.

It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me; I never thought Kyle Farnsworth was very good.  I don’t see losing Pudge to be that big of a deal, and it sounds like he is welcoming the chance to catch full time in the big apple.  I enjoy the loyalty he’s shown the team, so if he’s happy with the trade then I’m happy.

I wonder if this means Detroit isn’t done dealing;  at this point, in my opinion, Todd Jones is the worst pitcher in their bullpen.  Could they possibly ship him off to Atlanta, where he wanted to go in the off season?  Jones can’t pitch more then an inning, probably the only pitcher in the bullpen with that restriction, and he’s no longer suitable as a closer.  I can’t guess yet on a roster move, but they have to pull up a catcher from the minors, and they’ll have to make room for him.  Dolsi back to the minors for now?

What to do with Farnsworth?  Family and friends have mentioned possibly moving him immediately to the closer role;  I think Leyland should take a page from the Cincinnati Reds — the 90’s Nasty Boys approach, with Rodney, Zumaya, and Farnsworth taking turns.

Overall, I think they’re a better team then they were when I woke up this morning — they have upgrade the bullpen with minimal impact to the starting lineup, with probably a positive impact on next year’s team.

Last point:  Detroit can now see what they can get with Brandon Inge behind the plate, and maybe he gets hot playing every day.  And Raburn may get some additional playing time at third base.