Results tagged ‘ Coaching ’
Quick Notes (4/25)
John Donovan: MLB Power Rankings (SI.com)
Sports Illustrated writer John Donovan has Detroit ranked #6, ChiSox #1.
Rule 5 Comes Out of the Shadows
Shelton isn’t the first to excel after being dropped by his team; other players have too, much to the dismay of the abandoning clubs.
DH changes Leyland’s Strategy with Pitchers
Leyland on differences in managing in the AL and strategy he may use in the future.
Tigers’ Win Streak Stalls with Offense
Detroit Tigers 0, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim 3
Great pitching carried the Tigers through at least a few of the games on their now-defunct winning streak, but it was not enough to roll Detroit to a sixth-straight win. Kenny Rogers pitched 7 strong innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 4 hits. Jordan Tata turned in another solid inning of work, allowing no earned runs.
Angels pitcher Ervin Santana was simply dominant, pitching 6 scoreless innings and recording 10 strikeouts. Further, the bullpen of the so-called Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim maintained its well-respected reputation by completing the shut-out Santana had started.
Tim Salmon led the way for the so-called Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with a solo homerun and an RBI single; the only runs allowed by Tigers’ starter Kenny Rogers.
Though the Tigers have won four of their last five, the offense has struggled to produce runs; averaging just 2.8 runs per game and stranding 78 runners (Team LOB of 37) over the same span. In order to maintain the pace that Detroit has set in this young season, they must find a way to get more of those runners across the plate. For starters, I think a shake-up in the line-up and a day off for slumping first-baseman Chris Shelton are in order.
OTHER NOTES
Craig Monroe went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Monday night; his average has now sunk to .205.
The Detroit Free Press contacted me this week about MLBlogs. By this time next week, I could be famous.
If you haven’t checked out MLB.com’s Gameday feature, it is a great way to experience the game when you’re unable to watch or listen to it; in fact, I will often keep Gameday on my screen when I’m watching or listening to the game. Featuring pitch-location, hit-location and an in-game box score, Gameday brings you all of the action live: play by play and pitch by pitch. I know this sounds like a commercial, but seriously, it’s probably better than any other site that you might be using and it’s offered free by MLB.com.
(click thumbnail on left for more detail)
COMING UP
Jeremy Bonderman (1-2, 5.55 ERA) will attempt to bounce back from a rough start as the Tigers take on the so-called Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the second game of this three game series. Bonderman is poised to bounce back with a good outing and with the rest of the rotation around him performing as well as they are, I think his chances are pretty good. Hector Carrasco (0-0, 4.38 ERA) will pitch for the Angels. This game will not be televised; gametime is 10:05 PM EDT.
Detroit Takes Series from Oakland in the Ninth
Detroit Tigers 4, Oakland Athletics 3
The Detroit Tigers clinched a series win in Oakland on Thursday, coming from behind in the 9th inning for the win. The Tigers entered the ninth inning down by 2 runs in a game that had been scoreless since the first inning. Back-to-back RBI singles from Chris Shelton and Carlos Guillen tied the game 3-3 before Justin Duchscherer, in for injured A’s closer Huston Street, would eventually walk home the winning run.
Brandon Inge kept the threat alive in the 9th taking a walk after a marathon 15-pitch at-bat; a truly impressive feat which, though bizarre, I would call the play of the game.
The offense finally came through for Detroit in the ninth inning, but not without failing to score on multiple opportunities in the middle innings. For example, Detroit had the middle of the lineup at the plate with 2 runners on base and no outs in the sixth, but came away empty-handed. So far, clutch/situational hitting has not been a strong point for the Tigers.
Jeremy Bonderman gave up three runs in the first inning but recovered to turn in a quality start. Over 7 innings, Bonderman allowed 3 earned runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. Though Bonderman was able to hold the A’s to three runs, he still struggled at times with control. In his last two starts, Bonderman has not shown the command and dominance he displayed throughout the first half of last season. Fortunately, his outing on Thursday was good enough.
Fernando Rodney entered the game in the bottom of the eighth and pitched a perfect inning prior to the Tigers’ 9th inning rally. He returned to the mound in the bottom of the 9th, gave up 1 hit and 2 walks on his way to load the bases. The last 2 outs of the game came with the bases loaded; a force out at home followed by a game-ending strikeout. Rodney, who has been filling in at the closer role during Todd Jones’ stint on the disabled list, was brought into the 8th inning with the Tigers’ trailing. I have to question this coaching decision as it is obvious that this was done with no plan, other than leaving Rodney in the game, in the event that the Tigers were able to tie or take the lead.
OTHER NOTES
Pudge Rodriguez Flexible
Pudge will DH tonight and Vance Wilson will start behind the plate. Pudge is also interested in helping out at first base.
Ramon Santiago pinch-ran for Chris Shelton in the 9th inning of Thursday’s game, and later moved to shortstop. Carlos Guillen, who played first base for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, moved over to play first base in the bottom of the ninth. Two good moves by manager Jim Leyland as Shelton is not too quick on the basepaths, nor the most experienced at first base; a potentially dangerous liability during a tight game in Oakland, which has no shortage of foul territory behind first base.
SERIES WRAP
4/18: Detroit Tigers 3, Oakland Athletics 4
4/19: Detroit Tigers 11, Oakland Athletics 4
4/20: Detroit Tigers 4, Oakland Athletics 3
COMING UP
Mike Maroth (2-0, 0.73 ERA) will attempt to lead Detroit to a third straight victory as the Tigers open a three game series with the Seattle Mariners. Jarrod Washburn (1-2, 5.00 ERA) will pitch for the Seattle Mariners, who are currently last place in the AL West. The game will be televised on FSN Detroit and is scheduled to start at 10:05 PM EDT.
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