Posts Tagged ‘Justin Verlander’
 |
Disappointments AboundAugust 7th, 2008
|
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
|
Indians Shoot Up the Standings, Tigers WatchMay 16th, 2008
|
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.
|
Scuffling Rotation Soon to Subtract Its’ Most Productive MemberMay 14th, 2008
|
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.
|
An Offense Enlightened, A Rotation in OrbitApril 25th, 2008
|
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
|
Galarraga Shines Again in WinApril 22nd, 2008
|
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.
|
Stop! Don’t Panic YetApril 10th, 2008
|
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