My Tigers Stand-Off Is Over

After the disgusting display of baseball the Tigers showcased in the Metrodome last weekend, I decided to take a break from this blog for a bit out of frustration. That three game sweep turned into a five game losing streak against the Red Sox this week and I was wondering when I would find the energy and joy to write again.

It came back last night. That was one heck of a 9th inning against possibly the best closer in all of baseball. Sure, we got a few breaks; like Matt Joyce's check swing turning into a perfect bunt and Renteria's hopper to short getting bobbled and dropped by Julio Lugo. But isn't it about time the Tigers caught a break?

Pudge laid down a beautiful bunt to get the runs over and Granderson did his job of hitting to the right side to score the tying run. It was a tough night for Curtis, but he came through in a big spot like we expect from our center fielder. Then, with Renteria on third and two outs, Polanco hit a bat-shattering blooper into left field and we finally had a win. Finally.

So where are we at now? At 15-20, you would think the Tigers have a long uphill climb to get back in it. The truth is, the division is doing a number on each other and we are only 3.5 games out of first place and only two behind the Indians. We're right there. Maybe this 9th inning rally can catapult us into the type of winning streak Detroit fans have been clamoring for since 2006. We'll see.

Justin Verlander takes the mound tonight against Josh Beckett to close out the four game strip with the Sox. Then it's another three-game series with the Yanks, who you know will be out to get us after sweeping them in New York a week and a half ago. It's not an easy stretch; baseball never seems to be easy. I'm just glad I had something I wanted to write about again.

A Little Nugget of Tigers Love

I found some information from the Elias Sports Bureau this morning after a big win to sweep the Yankees last night. Ramon Santiago had the play of the night with his two-run triple and Miguel Cabrera is really starting to show his all-out studness. Yes, studness. Anyway, from Elias:

AFTER 42 YEARS, A TIGERS' SWEEP AT YANKEE STADIUM

The Tigers defeated the Yankees, 8-4, to complete a three-game sweep-Detroit's first sweep of three or more games at Yankee Stadium since April 12-14, 1966. Only three other teams in MLB history went 40 years or longer between sweeps of three or more games at one site: the Braves, 82 years at Fenway Park (1915-1997); the Dodgers, 46 years at Milwaukee County Stadium (1953-1999); and the Senators/Twins at Yankee Stadium, 42 years (1924-1966). Note that Fenway Park was the home venue for the Boston Braves in 1915.

I have to admit that it was a pretty good time to have a series with the Yanks, what with A-Rod and Posada both on the DL. Still, sweeping them in New York is no small task. We even were able to try out our new reliever in the 9th, Francisco Cruceta, who looked a tad rusty but still got out of the inning without giving up a run. I miss Grilli even less today than I did yesterday.

Another thing popped into my head last night. Does anyone think that Magglio and Cabrera have a little friendly hitting contest going on? It seems like they are trying to top each other with each at bat. Maggs doubles; Miggy triples. Ordonez singles; Cabrera homers. When Magglio gets on, Miguel usually follows. I think I want to start following this trend. Ordonez currently leads in batting average (.315 to .279), but Cabrera leads in home runs (6 to 5) and RBIs (22 to 21). I'd like to think we have a Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris thing going on here.

The Tigers head to Minneapolis this weekend for a three-game set with the Twinkies. Armando Galarraga takes the mound against Livan Hernandez tonight. I'll be in the Metrodome Saturday night to watch Verlander take on Scott Baker. Hopefully me and my Ty Cobb jersey will continue to have luck watching the Tigers in that crappy dome. We're only 1.5 games out of first place in the AL Central, we could use another sweep. If we win the first two, maybe I'll bring a broom to the game Sunday. Not really.

Because He's My Main Man

I think everyone needs to know how truly important Curtis Granderson is to our Tigers. Jayson Stark of ESPN did the work for me in one quick paragraph in his Rumblings blog today. Stark writes:

The On a Roll Award

Curtis Granderson only missed the Tigers' first 21 games of the season. It just felt like 121. As our buddy Danny Knobler, who covers the Tigers for mlive.com, points out, Tigers leadoff men scored exactly three runs in those 21 games. In the seven games since Granderson returned, he has scored 11 runs -- more than any player in the whole sport. But that's not all he's done. He has reached base in 15 of his 30 trips to home plate, thumped three times as many extra-base hits (six) as singles (two), scored a run 73 percent of the times he has gotten on base and done more blogging than certain full-time Rumblings and Grumblings authors. Now that's a roll.

Word.

Grilli A Goner

A big night for baseball in Detroit as the Tigers won their second straight game in New York 6-2 (Polanco hit two homers!?!?) and news came that quite possibly my least favorite Tiger of all time was traded. That's right, Jason Grilli was traded to the Colorado Rockies today for Zachary Simons. Simons will start out in Single A.

This Grilli trade opens a roster spot for reliever Francisco Cruceta, who missed all of Spring Training and the season so far because of visa issues. Cruceta will join the Tigers tomorrow and the Yanks.

So I had to write my "so-long big guy" to Jason Grilli, a guy I've had some harsh words for in the last three years. And you know what? I don't take them back. I won't miss him. Enjoy the thin air of the Rockies.

Harsh? Sure, he might be a great guy. But I have a few too many gray hairs on my head because of him. And I shouldn't have gray hairs yet, I'm still 25.

Now, if we could just get Jacque Jones going...

Tigers Fall 4-3 to Angels

Game in a Nutshell

In a tough contest last night with the Angels, the Tigers were not able to come back from one bad inning from Nate Robertson and fell 4-3 to the AL-West leading Angels. Going into the top of the 4th, both teams were scoreless until Vlad Guerrero hit a two-run home run and Casey Kotchman hit a two-run single to take a 4-0 lead.

Detroit got on the board with a solo homer from Curtis Granderson, his second in two games. The Tigers seemed to be chipping away, totaling six hits and four walks during the game, but they couldn't get a key hit to go through. Both Pudge Rodriguez and Brandon Inge blasted hard line drives with runners in scoring position that were snatched away by Angels first baseman Kotchman.

A tough loss for the Tigs as they fall to 10-14 and are 3.5 games out of first in the division. With two more against the Angels, followed by three games in New York, the schedule doesn't get easy anytime soon. Armando Galarraga takes the mound this afternoon (3:55 ET) for Detroit against Dustin Moseley and his 7.78 ERA. Let's jack that ERA up even higher.

Bullpen Watch

Nate Robertson did a nice job of getting through seven innings to give a bullpen that was starting to get way overused a needed rest. Denny Bautista pitched the 8th to hold the Angels lead to one, giving up a hit and a walk, but no runs with one strikeout. Todd Jones came in still holding a one run deficit, pitching a one-two-three inning. It's amazing that the 'pen has all of a sudden became a strength of this team so far. Who knew?

Concern Level: 3 out of 10




Today's Key Play


In the bottom of the 8th, the Tigers were down 4-3 with one of their last chances to tie the game. With a runner on first and second, Pudge Rodriguez came to the plate looking to make it a 4-4 ballgame facing Justin Speier. Pudge hit a sharp line drive towards the right field line, but Casey Kotchman jumped a snagged the liner out of the air to end the inning. K-Rod would come in to dominate the 9th and we lost by one. Grrrrrr.




Tiger of the Game: Placido Polanco



It was nice to see Placido Polanco back in the lineup and looking somewhat healthy last night. Polanco went 2 for 4 with a walk and scored a run. Nothing spectacular, but he was the only Tigers batter with a multi-hit game. A healthy Polanco will make this lineup downright scary. Too bad it couldn't come through with a couple more runs last night. On another tangent, is Sheffield done? He rarely gets good wood on the ball anymore and is so injury prone now that it's becoming frustrating to root for him. Leyland needs to move Sheff down in the lineup or give him a long DL stint to give Clete Thomas another chance. It's cool that our skipper is a loyal guy, but sometimes he's loyal to a fault.

Tigers Blast Rangers with Season-High 19 Runs

Game in a Nutshell

After 1 1/2 innings tonight, it looked like the Tigers were in trouble, falling behind 5-0. That trouble faded real fast as Detroit took back those five runs in the bottom of the 2nd and then exploded for 11 runs in the 6th on their way to a 19-6 win.

Curtis Granderson made his first appearance of the season, going 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs in the leadoff spot. Carlos Guillen really smacked the ball around, going 3 for 5 with five RBIs and Miguel Cabrera hit a three-run home run to right field on a low outside pitch that didn't even look hittable. 14 hits and 10 walks in one game. Not too shabby.

Kenny Rogers didn't get the win, but was lucky to not get his 4th loss tonight despite giving up six runs in 3 1/3 innings. He got some run support. Clay Rapada got the win, as the trio of Tigers relievers combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings. What was the perceived weakness of this team again?

Bullpen Watch

Clay Rapada pitched 2 1/3 hitless, scoreless innings in relief of Rogers, striking out two with his lefty arm-dropping style. Aquilino Lopez followed with three scoreless innings, scattering two hits and striking out three. Lopez has now dropped his season ERA to 0.52. Jason Grilli was able to pitch with another huge lead, getting a 1-2-3 9th inning with one K. Beautiful work by this group again tonight.


Concern Level: 4 out of 10




Today's Key Play


With run after run after run crossing the plate tonight for Detroit, there are plenty of plays that could be considered tonight's top play. I think I'll go with Carlos Guillen's two-run single in the bottom of the 2nd that tied the game at 5 apiece. After falling behind by five, this 2nd inning rally basically started the game from scratch and the Tigers really took advantage of the new life.




Tiger of the Game: Curtis Granderson



Man, it seems like it's been a long time since I've been able to write glowingly about my main man C. Grand. With Curtis back in the lineup, it just seems like his energy brings this lineup to a new level. Granderson's 2 for 4 night with two walks, three runs, and two RBIs kept the show rolling as the Tigers had their season high in runs scored. I think we have plenty to look forward to from our starting center fielder.

A Big Switch

After last night's rout of the Texas Rangers, manager Jim Leyland announced that Miguel Cabrera and Carlos Guillen will switch positions. Permanently. While I've written that our defense at the corners is a weakness, I can't say I expected a switch like this so soon.

Guillen will no doubt have better mobility than Cabrera to get to grounders at third and Cabrera has looked pretty comfortable at first. I also wasn't very excited about Carlos' inability to scoop up short hops and get his footwork down at first. This may work. The biggest question is whether Guillen will be able adjust and be accurate on the tough throw across the diamond. We'll just have to wait it out and see.

In other Tigers news, it looks like there's a chance that Curtis Granderson will be back in the lineup tonight against the Rangers. Detroit's trainers will check out his sore legs before game time to see if he's ready to go. So, let me be one of the many to throw it out there. Can we start Clete Thomas in left and bench Jacque Jones? Just sayin'.