7-2 in Boston. Must have been a strange game; Bonderman lasted 5 innings and the bullpen actually held ok for the rest. Sheffield had a stolen base, and the managerial genius is keep having Pudge batting leadoff. KC took 2 out of 2 from the Yankees and the tribe signed Carmona to a 7 year $43-48 mil contract. That is pretty risky business... on one hand if he continues pitching the way he has 7 years at $7 per sounds like a good deal. On the other hand, he might prove another Joe Mays... Since he has 2 prearbitration years, the actual deal is more like 4 years @$11-12 per, which might prove to be pricey...
DLIE number:3
Showing posts with label Detroit. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Detroit. Show all posts
4/8/08
4/6/08
this game is over
The jaugernauts are down 9-1 at home after six (read the last line of the article linked)
How bad are Detroit's troubles?
The bad news about Rodney's condition, prompted the Tigers to have a 13-man pitching staff, keeping only 1 catcher on the roster that includes the still injured Sheffield. In addition, another potential member of the Tigers' pitching staff is placed on the DL, and the organization lacks pitching depth as well as potential trade bait to acquire pitchers if necessary. Leyland has been publicly criticizing his players, and there were enough early signs about the Tigers' performance on opening week.
[edit Sunday evening: Ivan Rodriguez is batting lead off. I think that this more than summarizes all of the above...]
[edit Sunday evening: Ivan Rodriguez is batting lead off. I think that this more than summarizes all of the above...]
4/5/08
Interesting factoid
No AL or NL team made the playoffs in a full season in the wild card era, after starting the season 0-5.
Detroit is threading on thin ice...
(and thanks to Dave E for the correction)
Detroit is threading on thin ice...
(and thanks to Dave E for the correction)
AL Central musings
- Several days ago I listed the team ages of all world series winners since 1980. So far the calculated team age for Detroit is 32.0 for batters and 30.7 for pitchers. If they go ahead and win it all this year, they will be the oldest team that accomplished that since 1980. I am not surprised to see Detroit struggle (I picked them 3rd in AL Central with a .500 record), but I was surprised to see them struggle against KC (which I picked 4th over the White Sox, and now see it challenging Detroit for 3rd.) Offensive slumps are a part of the game, but with Detroit relying on their offense to win cannot afford to have more than one bat slumping at the same time
- Speaking of offense, the addition of 2 ex-NL teammates to the Twins' lineup gave the Twins' fans a view of a rare but exciting play, the suicide squeeze. Everett's bat was a question mark coming into the season, but he has proven to be a very smart player that can help the team in several ways. Just early season numbers, but so far he has as many RBI (2) as the guy who leads the team in OPS (Kubel) in the same number of at-bats (10). Gomez has been a very positive surprise. I am sure that there is nobody west of the Mississippi who would like to see Span or Pridie over him up here. If he keeps it up (and indications are that he will only get better), by the all star break, a certain number 48 would be forgotten. His bunting the last 2 games has vastly improved and his last 2 bunts for hits can be repeated, with any infield defense in any formation... and this is just scary. I don't see Tolbert starting over Harris any time soon, but he could be a very useful piece of the bench, which makes Punto pretty much disposable. He can do everything Punto can, only better. I would not doubt that Bill Smith would (and should) be on the phone trying to unload Punto (but where and how?)
- Cuddyer's injury lands him on the DL and Span is recalled from Rochester. Most likely, Kubel would be the starting right fielder with Monroe the starting DH and Span on the bench
- Cleveland lost to the A's last night, so the Twins are 1.5 before the leaders of the division and the play them in the next two games. If they sweep, it is possible that they will lead the division by Sunday night. It is likely that the Twins will meet Mr Nomo tonight, and this is a good thing.
- Meanwhile, Bill James alledges that Puckett and Gaetti used steroids. Insane and inane. On another not, I received Hrbie's book. Look forward to reading it.
4/4/08
3/31/08
First game of the season for AL Central is completed
Royals 5 -Tigers 4 in 11
3 total homers for both teams (Cabrera, Guillen, Gordon), Nunez looked very good for the Royals late in the game as was Bautista for the Tigers. Polanco went 0 for 6, Sheffield had 4 BBs. Inge was the starting CF for the Tigers (interesting move) and Rentaria batted 1st. Detroil left 18 men on base, including a man on third with no outs in the bottom of the 11th
The official season DLIE (Detroit Left side of Infield Error) number count begun: 1 (Cabrera)
For reference, the 2007 DIE number was 50
3 total homers for both teams (Cabrera, Guillen, Gordon), Nunez looked very good for the Royals late in the game as was Bautista for the Tigers. Polanco went 0 for 6, Sheffield had 4 BBs. Inge was the starting CF for the Tigers (interesting move) and Rentaria batted 1st. Detroil left 18 men on base, including a man on third with no outs in the bottom of the 11th
The official season DLIE (Detroit Left side of Infield Error) number count begun: 1 (Cabrera)
For reference, the 2007 DIE number was 50
3/23/08
Granderson was placed in the 15 day DL for Detroit; this means that Jacque Jones is the only lefty hitter in the team
3/19/08
Division watch
Chicago White Sox
It looks like Joe Crede will be the starting 3B and Juan Uribe the starting 2B, while Nick Swisher the starter in CF. There also are questions about the leadoff spot. Ozzie Guillen is being Ozzie Guillen. The pitching rotation is set (Vasquez, Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, Contreras and John Danks). They had 42 wins and 52 loses as a group last year. Swisher, Brian Anderson and Konerco are having great springs where AJ Pierzynski, Cabrera and Crede are struggling. T. Ohka has been the surprise on the mount allowing only one run in 10 innings where Floyd and Conteras allowed 9 and 10 runs in 11 and 14 innings respectively. Chicago is 9-12 this spring.
Cleveland Indians
The Sabathia circus is in full swing and will not stop before he is signed or traded. Meanwhile, the 25 men roster is practically set with questions only about the last utility spots. Masa Kobayashi is getting adjusted to life in the States and sweems to be a lock in the bullpen. The only rotation question is whether Byrd will get punished by MLB for HGH use. Sizemore, Ben Fransisco and Gutierrez are having great spings where Dellucci and Garko are struggling. On the mount, all starters other than Westbrook who has not given up a run in 8 innings are struggling with ERAs ranging from 5.00 for Sabathia to 8.31 for Lee. Cleveland is 9-11 this spring
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are having bullpen issues while Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney are out at least until mid season for Zumaya and a couple weeks for Rodney. Detroit's roster is closed to final, with bullpen being the major questionmark. Rodriguez, Polanco and Guillen are having great springs while Rentaria and Sheffield are struggling. Infield error watch: Cabrera 3, Rentaria 2, Sizemore 2. Rogers is having a great spring on the rotation, while Bonderman and Verlander are struggling. Todd Jones has a 14.85 ERAand T. Byrdak 10.00. Between the 2 of them they gave up 23 runs in 15.2 innings. Detroit is 11-10 this spring
Kansas City Royals
The Royals' rotation is all but set with John Bale, Brett Tomko, Jorge De La Rosa and Luke Hochevar fighting for the last spot. J. Guillen's upcoming suspension means that the Royals need to find a replacement RF for the beginning of the season. All in all the team is in flux. Butler, Callaspo, Huber and Teahen are having great springs whereas Berroa and German are struggling. The pitching has been very inconsistent this spring with only Meche (2.70 ERA in 10 innings) and Hochevar (2.25 ERA in 8 innings) being the bright points. The Royals are 10-10 this spring.
It looks like Joe Crede will be the starting 3B and Juan Uribe the starting 2B, while Nick Swisher the starter in CF. There also are questions about the leadoff spot. Ozzie Guillen is being Ozzie Guillen. The pitching rotation is set (Vasquez, Buehrle, Gavin Floyd, Contreras and John Danks). They had 42 wins and 52 loses as a group last year. Swisher, Brian Anderson and Konerco are having great springs where AJ Pierzynski, Cabrera and Crede are struggling. T. Ohka has been the surprise on the mount allowing only one run in 10 innings where Floyd and Conteras allowed 9 and 10 runs in 11 and 14 innings respectively. Chicago is 9-12 this spring.
Cleveland Indians
The Sabathia circus is in full swing and will not stop before he is signed or traded. Meanwhile, the 25 men roster is practically set with questions only about the last utility spots. Masa Kobayashi is getting adjusted to life in the States and sweems to be a lock in the bullpen. The only rotation question is whether Byrd will get punished by MLB for HGH use. Sizemore, Ben Fransisco and Gutierrez are having great spings where Dellucci and Garko are struggling. On the mount, all starters other than Westbrook who has not given up a run in 8 innings are struggling with ERAs ranging from 5.00 for Sabathia to 8.31 for Lee. Cleveland is 9-11 this spring
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are having bullpen issues while Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney are out at least until mid season for Zumaya and a couple weeks for Rodney. Detroit's roster is closed to final, with bullpen being the major questionmark. Rodriguez, Polanco and Guillen are having great springs while Rentaria and Sheffield are struggling. Infield error watch: Cabrera 3, Rentaria 2, Sizemore 2. Rogers is having a great spring on the rotation, while Bonderman and Verlander are struggling. Todd Jones has a 14.85 ERAand T. Byrdak 10.00. Between the 2 of them they gave up 23 runs in 15.2 innings. Detroit is 11-10 this spring
Kansas City Royals
The Royals' rotation is all but set with John Bale, Brett Tomko, Jorge De La Rosa and Luke Hochevar fighting for the last spot. J. Guillen's upcoming suspension means that the Royals need to find a replacement RF for the beginning of the season. All in all the team is in flux. Butler, Callaspo, Huber and Teahen are having great springs whereas Berroa and German are struggling. The pitching has been very inconsistent this spring with only Meche (2.70 ERA in 10 innings) and Hochevar (2.25 ERA in 8 innings) being the bright points. The Royals are 10-10 this spring.
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