Detroit Tigers
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Disappointments AboundAugust 7th, 2008
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Could it be new All-Star shortstop Edgar Renteria? What about legendary slugger Gary Sheffield or former 22-game winner Dontrelle Willis? Nate Robertson and Kenny Rogers posted impressive years in 2006, but bullpen stalwarts Todd Jones and Fernando Rodney are certainly strong candidates…
If you’re still oblivious to the topic du jour, or maybe more appropriately, de la saison, who most greatly deserves the designation “biggest disappointment” in Detroit this year? Here are your candidates: Read more
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Bonderman & Tigers Restore Winning WaysMay 24th, 2008
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Both Jeremy Bonderman’s season and career can be summed up in one word—inconsistent.
His pitching on Thursday afternoon stood more on the positive side for the Tigers. He led Detroit to a 9-2 victory over the hapless Seattle Mariners, who jerked back the trophy for Most Disappointing American League team. 40,166 fans watched Bonderman escape several early jams, three times stranding a runner on third base. Armed with one of the game’s most dominant sliders when working—the key phrase is when working—he limited Seattle to two runs on eight hits. Finally receiving sufficient run-support, Bonderman bumped his record up to 3-4, well off pace from his 10-1 streak a year ago.
Like most Tiger pitchers, control has been a major issue so far for Bonderman. In five full years with Detroit he has averaged 31 starts and 60 walks per campaign. Through nine games, he is already halfway to his normal walk total at 33. Striking out fewer hitters as well, his strikeout-to-walk ratio is roughly 1:1; that is one strikeout for every walk. Normally, Bonderman will blow away two batters for every one he gives a free pass. A 2006 runner-up to Johan Santana in strikeouts, his inability to zing strike three’s regularly has led to more hits, ground outs, and fly outs, which in turn has led to more runners advancing to score. Despite the number of prolific bats in Detroit’s lineup, the Tigers will not score 9 runs every time Bonderman takes the mound and he must regain the command he has displayed over the course of his career.
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Indians Shoot Up the Standings, Tigers WatchMay 16th, 2008
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Don’t look now, but finally there is a team taking control of the American League Central. Unfortunately for Tigers fans, it’s not your team.
The Cleveland Indians have recovered from their first month’s struggles, taking reign over what many expected to be baseball’s most competitve division. Much press has been devoted to the remarkable string of games the Indians rotation has put together, not surrendering an earned run in 48 1/3 consecutive innings. Cliff Lee has forgotten he’s Cliff Lee, C.C. Sabathia has shrugged off his horrendous beginning, and Fausto Carmona has given up more than three runs in a start just once. This leads to the obvious question, why can’t Tiger hurlers overachieve?
Appearing to be destined to disappoint, Detroit starting pitching looks both inexperienced and old. Wild, ineffective, and wildly ineffective would also sum the group up. Kenny “The Gambler” Rogers is now called The Gambler because every time he takes the mound, he is gambling not giving up three runs in the first inning. Speaking of giving up a boatload of runs early, Nate Robertson has put together one good start in eight games. Jeremy Bonderman has not grown out of his first inning troubles, but is earning a hefty $8.5 million this year. And Dontrelle Willis cannot fairly be judged because of injuries, though his first start was unique and unimpressive—five innings of one-hit, seven walk baseball. That leaves Justin Verlander, the supposed ace of the staff. He is two-for-nine in quality starts and has mysteriously lost five miles per hour on his fastball.
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Scuffling Rotation Soon to Subtract Its’ Most Productive MemberMay 14th, 2008
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The Charlotte Knights shelled starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis on Monday, spoiling his second rehabilitation start for Triple-A Toledo. Expected to be his second-to-last outing before being recalled to Detroit, Willis gave up 5 earned runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Against a less-than-impressive Charlotte squad, the six-year veteran and former Cy Young Award runner-up could not escape the sixth inning. After retiring three straight batters in the opening frame, Willis gave up two homers in the second. He fought back to retire the next three in sequence and did not give up another hit until the fifth. In the sixth, he surrendered four hits and an intentional walk, leading to three more earned runs. Though he pitched well through five innings, can Detroit afford to add another starter who cannot fight past the fifth or sixth inning?
Manager Jim Leyland said Willis will replace Armando Galarraga after one more rehab stint against Columbus on Saturday. Selected to remain in the rotation are Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, and Nate Robertson. Excluding Bonderman, each pitcher sports an ERA above 5.80, with Verlander topping out at 6.43.
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From Disabled List to Third in the Order?April 27th, 2008
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February 4, Curtis Granderson signs a five-year contract extension with Detroit.
March 22, Phillies pitcher Travis Blackley breaks a bone in Granderson’s hand.
April 23, Granderson bats 2-4, scoring 3 runs in his season debut.
After missing twenty-one games with a broken finger, Curtis Granderson has picked up right where he left off. Showing the extra base power he displayed in his breakout 2007 season, he has already racked up four extra base hits in as many games. A year removed from hitting 38 doubles, 23 triples, 23 home runs, and stealing 26 bases, Granderson is back on track hitting at a .353 clip. A stabilizing force, he is burning up the gaps at Comerica Park with his glove and bat.
With Granderson back setting the table, lead-off fill-in’s Clete Thomas and Ivan Rodriguez will return to their old roles. Thomas, not expected to see major league action this April, was shifted to Triple-A Toledo where he will pick up regular at-bats. Pudge will revert to the lower half of the order, bringing his .302 lifetime batting average with him. After a rough offensive start, the Tigers can finally trot out all their expected opening day lineup.
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An Offense Enlightened, A Rotation in OrbitApril 25th, 2008
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After hitting the snooze button the first two weeks of the season, Detroit bats have vaulted out of hibernation. The Tigers completed their second sweep of the year on Thursday, dismantling Texas 37-10 in a three-game series at Comerica Park. Whether by long ball or bases on balls, the Tigers scored their most runs in three consecutive games since putting up 47 against Baltimore in August 1993.
Expected to light up the scoreboard this season, Jim Leyland’s crew tormented Texas pitching in front of the home fans. Despite injuries to designated hitter Gary Sheffield and second baseman Placido Polanco, the Tigers pounded out 35 hits and took 20 walks in the series. Centerfielder Curtis Granderson finally re-joined the starting lineup after missing the first twenty-one games. Detroit’s spark plug batted lead-off, provided a home run, three runs batted in, and three walks. Read more
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Galarraga Shines Again in WinApril 22nd, 2008
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7.03, 6.33, 4.37, 7.48, and 7.20.
Through 20 games, those are the earned run averages of Detroit’s starters. From ace Justin Verlander to fifth starter Dontrelle Willis, the rotation is looking more like the Tigers staff that set the table for 119 losses in 2003.
The lone bright spot of the bunch is Armando Galarraga–- a pitcher who did not even survive the first Spring Training cut. Temporarily replacing the injured Willis, Galarraga earned two wins in two starts this past week. He one-hit the Cleveland Indians through 6 2/3 innings, tossing six strikeouts. Using eight pitches, he did not walk a batter in his Detroit debut. In his next game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Galarraga pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings. Though he threw only 46 of 85 pitches for strikes, he twice escaped bases-loaded jams en route to a 5-1 victory. Sporting a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings, Galarraga’s sound pitching has taken pressure off of Tiger bats.
Previously, Galarraga’s only claim to fame was being part of the deal that shipped Alfonso Soriano to Washington. Now, he has latched onto a major league team and is contributing. Picked up in the off-season from Texas for minor-league outfielder Michael Hernandez, he is paying dividends to a badly bruised pitching staff. When Willis returns from the DL, it remains to be seen whether he will reserve a job in the bullpen or be sent back to AAA Toledo. He will start once more for the Tigers before a decision is made.
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Detroit’s Attendance Not SufferingApril 13th, 2008
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Fan support in Detroit has not dwindled despite the Tigers’ rocky beginning. Expected to sellout a majority of the 81-game home schedule, Detroit drew a Comerica Park record 44,934 fans on Opening Day. The new mark was made possible with the addition of 778 seats over the winter, including a new section of bleachers atop the Pepsi Porch in right field.
Perhaps more impressive than Opening Day, 37,032 fans showed up for the second game of the season, the highest attendance ever for a second game in Detroit. Excitement for the team peaked in the off-season after the acquisitions of Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, and Edgar Renteria. Increased media exposure and ticket demands provoked a surge in sales—at least 26,000 tickets have already been sold for each contest. More than half of the 41,782-seat stadium will be accounted for all season long.
With so many tickets secured, it will take much more than a bad couple weeks to scare people away from the park. Neither a series sweep at the hands of the long-suffering Kansas City franchise, nor temperatures in the forties and fifties turned Tiger fans away last week. Detroit hosted the Chicago White Sox in their second series and welcomed over 34,000 people to each game. The middle match hosted 42,381 fans, the second largest crowd of 2008.
A total of 222,197 have already walked through the gates of Comerica Park, compared to 180,903 at the same point last year. Experts believe, as long as the Tigers stay competitive, they will beat last year’s season attendance record of 3,047,124.
So far, Detroit fans have proven that no matter how ugly the reality, they will continue to show up. At 2-9, Comerica Park is sure to be packed when the Tigers return home April 14 against the Twins. April tickets are the hardest sell of any month, but Detroit has drawn at least 32,000 for each game to date.
Perhaps backup turnstiles should be ordered for the summer.
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Stop! Don’t Panic YetApril 10th, 2008
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The Detroit Tigers upped their payroll from $95 million in 2007 to $138 million this season, making theirs the second highest in baseball. This splurging has so far proven ineffective.
After adding coveted veterans Miguel Cabrera, Dontrelle Willis, and Edgar Renteria to the books, owner Mike Ilitch has been blessed with just one victory in Detroit’s first eight games.
Is it time to panic? Conventional wisdom says no.
If the 2007 season showed us anything, it is that slow starts do not set the tone of a season. Just ask the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and Colorado Rockies. They all rose from the ashes to reach the playoffs last year. The less-than-impressive Phillies began 3-10 and stormed past the free-falling Mets in September. The flailing Cubs once dropped six in a row, falling to 22-31 but pulled themselves up by season’s end to capture the NL Central. And the Rockies completed one of the most impressive runs of our generation, streaking all the way to a World Series after compiling an 18-27 record. Read more
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Unprecedented Off-Season Leads to Increased Optimism in DetroitApril 3rd, 2008
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Baseball season is back in Detroit, and accompanying the new Tiger players are higher expectations. Long before barbecue grills flare up around Comerica Park and streets swell with excited fans, two major trades over the off-season sent shock waves across baseball, adding three former All-Stars to Detroit’s roster.
On October 29, 2007, the Tigers acquired Edgar Renteria for prospects Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez. This move stunned most fans, as many held Jurrjens in high regard. Unfortunately, Guillen’s poor defense at shortstop, his weakening knees, and the wealth of talented pitchers in the farm system made Jurrjens expendable. With the expected shift of Guillen over to first base to replace Sean Casey, the Tigers pursued and came away with a former Gold Glove winner in Renteria. He has quite an impressive resume over his 12-year career, including two Gold Gloves, five All-Star selections, and a walk-off single in game seven of the 1997 World Series. Reunited with Jim Leyland, the manager of the 1997 Florida Marlins, he adds another bat to the Tigers highly potent line-up. Tiger fans commended GM Dave Dombrowski for his quickness to address the glaring need at shortstop; his acquisition solidified the left side of the Tigers infield.
Thirty-six days after adding Renteria, the most significant move of the off-season stunned baseball fans nationwide, catapulting the Tigers into national spotlight. On December 4, Dombrowski sent six minor leaguers to the Florida Marlins in exchange for superstar Miguel Cabrera and former All-Star Dontrelle Willis. Detroit became an instant force to be reckoned with. Though this deal shipped several highly-touted prospects out of town, most notably Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin, it lowered the average age of Detroit starters. Cabrera and Willis, both under the age of 27, are perceived as players who will be productive for many years to come.