Detroit Tigers

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:19 pm

Cicero wrote:RACK the Tigers. Hope that shuts Ozzie the fuck up for a couple of weeks.

doubt it. props to the tigers. i'm still reeling from that grand salami on wed and that thames take out slide on iguchi at second yesterday, two biggest plays of the series. plus dye muffing the ball in right field didn't help.

congrats on improving to 3-6 against the defending world champs. 'bout time you guys beat a team not located in a division cellar.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:58 pm

Shut it, screw. The Tigers have a record that equals the Sox in terms of series victories against winning teams.

Facts out front should have told you.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:03 pm

Screw_Michigan wrote:congrats on improving to 3-6 against the defending world champs. 'bout time you guys beat a team not located in a division cellar.

Touche...

I've gone over the record against certain teams. I fully acknowledge the fact the Tigers are fattening up on the weaker teams...kind of like what the Red Wings were doing against the patsies in the Central Division. But they beat everyone else though. There are probably only 4 teams who are dead in the water right now in the AL...Tampa, KC, Cleveland and Baltimore. No team in the West is out of the division race but I don't see any of them competing for the wild card but the bottom line is these teams have plenty to play for. The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, White Sox and Twins are all legitimate wild card if not teams in or near divisional contention. They have 25 games with these 4 "dead" teams and 42 games against teams with something to play for. Go .500 against the teams that have something to play for (21-21) and win 2/3 or 3/4 of the games against teams who are out if it, 17 or 18 wins. Do that and it's a 102 or 103 win season and likely home field throughout the playoffs.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:23 pm

Shoalz, no need for that "touche".

We can split hairs all we want, but the fact is the Tigers and the Sox both have ten series victories over winning teams. To act like there's some huge gap between the two teams as far as beating quality competition goes is ridiculous.

In addition, both teams have a combined ONE loss in their interleague series victories over St Louis, Houston, and Cincinnati.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:24 pm

The one thing I'll say about this team that wasn't true about them the past few years. They don't screw around with the awful teams. 11-1 against Kansas City. Most will say, so what? It's the lowly Royals. If the Royals were so easy to play against than why doesn't everyone mop the floor with them the same way? The Sox are just 6-3 against them...a quality record but any extra losses against these lower teams can cost you in the standings. If the Tigers are going to miss the playoffs, I'd prefer it be because teams like New York, Chicago, and Boston beat on them...not Kansas City and Tampa Bay. Beat the teams you're supposed and hopefully split or come out ahead against most of the contenders...that will get you in a position to contend. Or the more novel approach taking at least two wins in every three and four game series. A .667 winning percentage gets you 108-win season.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:35 pm

I'm a huge douche wrote:Shut it, screw. The Tigers have a record that equals the Sox in terms of series victories against winning teams.

Facts out front should have told you.

whatever. can i expect you to be bumping your gums when the assholes ERRR athletics take two from the tigers this weekend?

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:37 pm

There we go, enough of this kissy-kissy stuff between SoxFan and TigerFan...

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 8:17 pm

2-out-3 against the A's...could've been a sweep had they not gagged yesterday's 5-0 lead away. The Sox are salvaging one win against the Rangers but the lead is now up to 6-1/2 and the Twins are only 3 back of them for second place and the wild card after their win over the Indians today. The Yankees are 2 back of the Sox and Toronto is 5 games back...the Jays currently lead the Yanks this afternoon so that will change. Chicago is getting heat from both directions. I think from their standpoint, they have to worry about holding off the teams in the wild card and look at the Central race as a secondary goal. Big three game series ahead for the Sox as the Twins come to town. Awesome matchup on Tuesday, Contreras vs. Santana. I can't help but scoreboard watch at this point. I worry about it after the Tigers' game in the given day is decided and then I see what everyone else is doing. It's a good position to be in when you've got everyone behind you but I don't want to see any teams get too close to the Tigers.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:39 pm

With the lead getting up to 6-1/2 games it's nice to know that the Tigs could suffer a week long losing streak and still be in first place. They haven't lost more than 4 in a row all year (who'd a thunk you'd ever mutter that about the Tigers) and with their starters it'll have to be an offensive slump for them to have an extended streak.

Good to see D young back in the fold. He had a clutch rbi single his first game back. I would still like a lefty bat, but not necessarily a first line guy. It would be rough to see Thames sit if an Abreau or someone came to town, he's having a break out year.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:39 pm

That was great when Ozzie had Garland throwing at Texas and he didn't have the balls to plunk them. Got chewed out pretty good for it too.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:55 pm

It looked to me like he threw at him...and missed. That's the second Chisox player to earn the rath of Oz for a non-plunk. I bet he doesn't send Garland to the mionors like he did the other kid.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 4:54 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:Good to see D young back in the fold. He had a clutch rbi single his first game back. I would still like a lefty bat, but not necessarily a first line guy. It would be rough to see Thames sit if an Abreau or someone came to town, he's having a break out year.

The second tier names being mentioned are David Dellucci, Sean Casey and Matt Stairs. Dellucci would be a very inexpensive acquisition...only making $950K this season. He can play all three outfield positions and he's left handed. Casey could be a platoon at first with Shelton. Leyland can choose either guy based on the starting pitcher.

To me, Shelton hasn't done much since April to warrant being the everyday 1B for a title contending team. He's hitting just .227 in June and July with 5 HR and 16 RBI. He's also tied for 11th in strikeouts. Surprisingly, Granderson is second in all of baseball in strikeouts...which is a disturbing stat for your leadoff hitter.

I really have a hard time seeing this team can go forward with their current corner infielders as being part of this team...

Shelton is very mediocre as a fielder and is maybe good for 20-25 home runs over a season...decent power but doesn't hold a candle to the top power-hitting/run-producing 1B in baseball (Pujols, Konerko, Howard, Berkman, Teixiera, etc.).

Inge...a guy who can make the great play but also makes a lot of errors and hits for a very low average and has decent power. He's no Rolen, Wright, A-Rod, Crede or Chavez...not even close.

I'd love to see them address these issues in a trade either before the deadline or in the offseason. Getting Soriano would complicate things from a lineup perspective...where does he play (OF, 2B or DH) and does hit lead-off or more towards the middle of the order? Abreu is strictly an outfielder and he's too good of a glove have him DH. The new name being brought up is Carlos Lee...like Soriano, a free agent after this year. He's a solid glove in the outfield and an RBI machine. The Tigers need to improve their production with runners in scoring position and getting Lee would help that. Just depends on what the Brewers would ask for and they aren't exactly dead in the water right now.

Dombrowski has wisely been very quiet about his intentions. He contends on not leaking to the media who he's pursuing. You kind of have to wonder where some of these names are coming from if he's being hush-hush about what he wants to do. I'm fairly certain he doesn't intend on gutting his farm system that he spent years rebuilding from the cesspool Randy Smith left it in.

If I was in his shoes, there really isn't one guy that addresses this team's most pressing needs. Some of these guys solve one or two problems but not all of them. If they could snag a power hitting corner infielder that can hit left-handed, that would be the ultimate acquisition. I only see a bunch of 2nd and 3rd tier starting pitchers and corner outfielders available. You've gotten this far with the current roster...do you want to possibly disturb and/or double up on a position you may already have? I don't think this team really needs another corner outfielder as much as they just need a bat. Maybin and Granderson are going to be 2-3rds of the outfield in the future with Magglio being in RF probably until his contract runs out. Why not just get a guy who can be a DH? That can open it up to any position and getting a guy who can play spot duty would be ideal. This kind of leads me to the idea of adding Soriano, Lee or Abreu is kind of overkill. Then again, look at what adding Thome did for the Sox.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:33 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:It looked to me like he threw at him...and missed. That's the second Chisox player to earn the rath of Oz for a non-plunk. I bet he doesn't send Garland to the mionors like he did the other kid.

He missed...twice? I don't think so.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:10 pm

Where does it say twice?

A rook earlier in the year missed plunking someone and Ozzie sent him down.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Jul 25, 2006 4:32 pm

What do you mean "where" does "it" say?

I watched it live.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:05 pm

Good gravy...who gives a rip? The Sox are going through a rough stretch where the Twins are right up on their bumper, crazy Ozzie is being crazy Ozzie and the Tigers are pulling away with the division...no need to bicker over semantics.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:10 pm

Shoalzie wrote:Good gravy...

Did you say that while pushing your glasses up to your nose?

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 5:27 pm

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
Shoalzie wrote:Good gravy...
Did you say that while pushing your glasses up to your nose?

What crawled up your ass?

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:02 pm

Never forget your roots, son, by defying the original scriptures of one, Webdog.

By nature, smack can be brutal

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:19 pm

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
By nature, smack can be brutal

I've seen/read/heard worse...believe me.

War one-sentence edits :?

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 6:20 pm

Shoalzie wrote:
MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
Shoalzie wrote:Good gravy...
Did you say that while pushing your glasses up to your nose?

What crawled up your ass?

forgive, mgo. he's menstruating. when are the tigers going to demote rodney to get him to wake the fuck up? holy shit, dude is pitching like armando benitez, jr. hitting dudes while ahead in the count, overthrowing pitches, throwing inside with pudge setting outside the plate, dude is a wreck. leyland was just a little pissed when he hit his second batter of the night.

that game was brutal. i swear the last three innings took 2 hrs.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 8:47 pm

Rodney has fallen off unfortunately. He pitched in the WBC and took that into the start of this season. This should almost warrant them to pick up another setup man. Walker is great from the left side and I don't know if Zumaya should be righty setup man just yet. He's got closer stuff but his control is touch and go. I've heard Tom Gordon's name mentioned as a possibility. Jones has settled down some and isn't nearly the same high-wire act he was earlier in the year. I'm not saying he's untouchable but he's at least finding ways to get guys out.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Tue Jul 25, 2006 10:18 pm

Shoalzie wrote:
MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:
By nature, smack can be brutal

I've seen/read/heard worse...believe me.

War one-sentence edits :?

So have I, but it looks like you missed my point.

Which was simply...we were all brought here...together...to smack.

In other words, take it in stride, Nancy.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:18 pm

The next biggest series of the season of the month of the week...3 games at the Metrodome this weekend with the molten hot Twins. This series is more important to the Twins given the Tigers have built a comfortable lead but it could be trimmed by three games very easily if Minnesota continues to it's amazing play of late. The best road team vs. the best home team...the team with the best record in baseball vs. the hottest team in baseball...I'd be very disappointed in the Tigers if they don't get up for this one although they have some breathing room. These games with the Twins and the Sox can help seal up the division and a postseason spot and losing these games could put the pressure back on them.

This weekend's probables:
Friday--Miner vs. Liriano
Saturday--Robertson vs. Radke
Sunday--Bonderman vs. Santana

The Tigers get to face the Twins three best including the two best lefties in the game and Radke has been a Tiger-killer in the past although he's 0-2 against them this year with a 9.72 ERA. The Tigers are a predominantally right-handed lineup and they face two lefties who oddly enough are tougher on right-handed hitters than lefties. Both are holding hitters around the .200 mark. One thing I'd like for Leyland to do is play Young in place of Shelton at first given how well he's done since his return and Shelton has been too streaky although he's around .300 against lefties. He's a guy who makes decisions on instinct...I'd like to think he'll ignore Shelton's numbers against lefties and start D.Y. at first on Friday and Sunday. Monroe's health could warrant Leyland to play Thames in left and that would give him the opportunity to have both Young and Shelton in the lineup anyways. Liriano got hammered in a 3 inning stint out of the pen at Comerica back in late April in an 18-1 loss where he gave up 5 ER and 8 hits. He's got an ERA of 17.18 against the Tigers this year but it was prior to when he joined the rotation and caught fire.

This one will be awesome...I'd love to just to get a split against the two lefties and the game on Saturday should interesting considering how poorly Robertson has thrown since the break...he needs a rebound start in a relatively big game for this juncture in the season. With the Sox in Baltimore, I'd at least hope for this 8-1/2 game lead to shrink by no worse than one game.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Thu Jul 27, 2006 4:37 pm

The pitching match ups favor the Twins. The back end of our rotation in the first 2 games. I love the Tigers winning the third game, either of the first 2 would constitute a steal imo. Who knows, we've blasted the Twins in meetings thusfar. That was of course before they caught fire. Leyland has a way of playing to win each series, I love that mindset.

this is how the possible series results would be viewed by me.
0-3-unacceptable
1-2-not a bad thing
2-1-sweet
3-0- Get your playoff tickets.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 1:38 am

10 Ks through 6 innings...this Liriano cat is sick. Without that Ordonez double, the Tigers haven't done squat to him. Miner is hanging in there but holding on for dear life. The Tigers need to start working the count and hopefully get Liriano out on pitch count. 76 pitches...56 strikes!?!?

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 2:59 am

Hell yeah!

That is a satisfying win. Miner has been scuffling but kept the Tigers in the game. Liriano was as good as advertised no doubt...he didn't lose but it was great to beat this team that was getting all of the attention. These are the types of games this team may run into the playoffs...road game against a tough pitcher...gotta grind out the win. The Tigers were a Ross Gload 9th inning grand slam away from ending tonight 9-1/2 games up in the division...he saved the Sox ass big time.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 3:00 am

Another great win. When you win a game when Liriano has a superb performance...beautiful.

Rack Miner. Great effort.

This game goes into the "steal" category.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 5:29 am

BTW...Rack Todd Jones.

Screw_Michigan · Post by **Screw_Michigan** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:03 am

does your asshole team ever lose? jesus fucking christ!

i never hated the tigers. i've always listened to them on the radio and watched them on tv. and i still do, but it fucking SUCKS because the jist of what i listen to is "tigers have won eight straight and the sox have lost eight straight." FUCK!!! even after the brawl in 00 on my birthday, never hated the tigers. but now, they are fucking everyone's shit up.

has ruined my past few weeks, jesus christ it's fucking overkill!

and yes, all sox fans are in full meltdown. bounces just haven't gone the way for the sox unlike last year, where they all went their way. it's baseball i guess. i'll sack up and deal with it, even though i hate it!

FUCK!!!

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 4:43 pm

This run reminds me of the Sox last year. All year long I waited for the extended slump. It never happened. I thought there was no way that group of pitchers could keep up the torrid pace all year. They did. But there is something about repeating. For whatever reason it is very difficult to do. Some say teams lose drive and focusn that they're less hungry once they've been atop the mountain. Some say it's the "target on their back". I happen to think when it's your year several players have to have career years. Most Chicago pitchers had their best years last year, and this year the Tigers staff is doing the same. With alot of players young or in their prime in Chitown, Minnie, and Detroit the central should be a power for years to come.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sat Jul 29, 2006 9:55 pm

WolverineSteve wrote:BTW...Rack Todd Jones.

He's very much settled down...has had a flawless July, no earned runs and 7 for 7 on saves. He's actually been better on the road this year...18 saves with a 3.26 ERA, .243 OBA vs. 10 saves and a 6.33 ERA and an OBA of .310 at home. One of his three blown saves came this year at the Metrodome back in early May.

Interested to see if Pudge plays tonight...he's supposedly nursing a hand injury. Wilson has been a quality backup catcher all season long so it isn't the worst thing to let Pudge rest.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 11:32 am

First team to 70 wins...never thought I'd be able to say that with the Tigers. Usually, they've been the last team in baseball to win 70. They are just a dozen wins from clinching a winning season. I had them down for 85 wins this year and it looks quite obvious they will eclipse that amount. I'm very happy that they've proved me wrong.

The Twins chipped away last night at what I thought was a safe 6 run margin. That second 2-run bomb knocked out Robertson, who had a decent outing but hasn't been as good as he was at the start of the season. He does become the 4th Tiger starter to win 10 games. Miner is currently at 6 wins but I don't know how many more starts he'll have to be able to get to 10. Maroth was 5-2 before he got hurt...he supposedly could be back next month. It's possible he could make reach double-digits.

RACK D.Y. for a clutch solo home run to make it 7-4 and for his great play at first. Since his return, he's hitting .400 with 3 home runs and 7 RBI in 25 AB. He's convincing me for sure that the Tigers don't need to acquire another bat. His return has been a feel-good story. It's unfortunate he had to have his problems to begin with but he's made a full recovery and he's been a major contributor to the lineup since he's come back.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Sun Jul 30, 2006 4:11 pm

RACK the Tigers for making S_M melt on a daily basis!

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:03 pm

Bonderman - tossing a one hitter through 7 with a 3-0 lead and then totally meltsdown in the 8th. Wow, what a collapse. I haven't seen anything like that in a long time. Bases loaded and he balks-in the tying run? Bwahahaha!

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Sun Jul 30, 2006 9:27 pm

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Bonderman - tossing a one hitter through 7 with a 3-0 lead and then totally meltsdown in the 8th. Wow, what a collapse. I haven't seen anything like that in a long time. Bases loaded and he balks-in the tying run? Bwahahaha!

I was under the assumption you were a TigerFan but I'm guessing now that you never were. You're here to give Screw some shit, I suppose.

Fuck me running...that flat out was pathetic. Bonderman fell apart but the Tigers blew golden opportunities to make that more than a 3-0 lead. They wore out Santana...he couldn't throw strikes when he needed them. 12 LOB through 8 innings...including stranding Polanco in the first after a leadoff double then wasting a 2nd and 3rd opportunity in the 4th inning. McClelland was squeezing Santana...gave him nothing on the inside part of the plate to right handers and he gave up some uncharacteristic walks and eventually was removed because of getting into a third jam and his pitch count being up. The Twins were rallying last night from down 6-0...that doesn't shock me they can make a come back. The main difference between last night and today...the Tigers brought their runners home and gave themselves some breathing room.

I'll give a tip of the cap to Brent Clevlen in his debut...throws out a speedy Castillo at the plate from center field, has 2 hits, scores twice and was on base 3 times.

Other than that, I hope that loss stings like hell for them as they head to Tampa Bay for four games. If they don't take at least three, that's a total joke.

MgoBlue-LightSpecial · Sun Jul 30, 2006 10:05 pm

Growing up in Florida, I became an A's fan (which I know doesn't make sense), but in short, I'm an A's fan. Having moved to Michigan, I became a very casual TigerFan by "association", and I like to see them do well, but I'm an A's fan first and foremost.

Shoalzie · Post by **Shoalzie** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:05 pm

MgoBlue-LightSpecial wrote:Growing up in Florida, I became an A's fan (which I know doesn't make sense), but in short, I'm an A's fan. Having moved to Michigan, I became a very casual TigerFan by "association", and I like to see them do well, but I'm an A's fan first and foremost.

Gotcha...

Terry in Crapchester · Mon Jul 31, 2006 1:23 pm

Screw_Michigan wrote:does your asshole team ever lose? jesus fucking christ!

i never hated the tigers. i've always listened to them on the radio and watched them on tv. and i still do, but it fucking SUCKS because the jist of what i listen to is "tigers have won eight straight and the sox have lost eight straight." FUCK!!! even after the brawl in 00 on my birthday, never hated the tigers. but now, they are fucking everyone's shit up.

has ruined my past few weeks, jesus christ it's fucking overkill!

and yes, all sox fans are in full meltdown. bounces just haven't gone the way for the sox unlike last year, where they all went their way. it's baseball i guess. i'll sack up and deal with it, even though i hate it!

FUCK!!!

If I were White Sox fan (and in these parts, they are the White Sox, not the "Sox" -- the "Sox" are the Red Sox), I wouldn't be melting just yet. They may be 8 1/2 down in the divisional race, but they're only 1/2 back of the Yankees for the wild card spot, and for that matter, 1 game back of the Red Sox. Plenty of opportunity left to get into the playoffs, although it's becoming abundantly clear that among the Tigers, Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox -- arguably the four best teams in MLB -- one of them will miss the playoffs.

WolverineSteve · Post by **WolverineSteve** » Mon Jul 31, 2006 6:50 pm

Headed to "The Trop" tonight for the first of four. Looking for the Tigers to get at least 3 of 4. Rogers vs. Fossum.

Go Tigers!!