Results tagged ‘ Fernando Rodney ’
Quick Notes (4/21)
Spurling Sent to Toledo
Leyland on Spurling, Rodney and the bullpen. Changes for tonight’s lineup include: Vance Wilson behind the plate, Pudge at DH, Monore in center and Thames in left (Granderson has the night off).
TIGERS CORNER: Rodney will be relieved
During Todd Jones’ 2 1/2 week stint on the DL, the bullpen has not blown a save or lost a game…Leyland on Spurling, Rodney, the bullpen, and Pudge playing first base.
TODD JONES: Leyland’s meeting: Healthy, necessary
Todd Jones (in his column for the Detroit Free Press) on new Tigers manager Jim Leyland.
Spurling to AAA Toledo
Chris Spurling was optioned to Triple-A Toledo on Thursday to make room for closer Todd Jones, who is returning from a pulled left hamstring. Jones will be active in Friday night’s series opener with the Seattle Mariners.
This move came as a surprise to me, as Spurling was so strong last season and was (not unlike Fernando Rodney or Jamie Walker) pretty much guaranteed a bullpen spot entering spring training. Still, Spurling has struggled early this season, giving up 4 earned runs, including 2 homeruns in his 7 innings (6 appearances); Spurling had also recorded 2 strikeouts and 2 walks. I was thinking that either Jordan Tata, who was called up when Jones went onto the DL, or Jason Grilli would have been sent down. Both are young pitchers who can be used in long relief situations and are prospective starters.
Chris Spurling was to have been used in the middle-relief/set-up role. Joel Zumaya, who has been dominant in his appearnces thus far, seems poised to step into Spurling’s role. If the 2006 Todd Jones turns out to be anything like the 2005 Todd Jones, then I like the sounds of a Zumaya-Rodney-Jones, 7-8-9 combo.
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.
Opening Day 2006
Detroit Tigers 3, Kansas City Royals 1
SOLID PITCHING
In his debut with the Tigers, Kenny Rogers looked great, if a little under the weather. His pitches were well-located and he showed admirable discipline on the mound. In a word, Kenny Rogers was effective. His departure after the sixth inning could probably be chalked up to his recent illness; I think we can expect a longer outing from Rogers in his next start.
No one could have expected a better outing from Joel Zumaya in his first Major League appearance. Though he walked Mike Sweeney, his first batter, Zumaya recovered with back to back strikeouts. Zumaya then gave up a single to Doug Mientkiewicz before working out of a 2-out & 2-on jam by inducing a ground ball from Angel Berroa. Though I am sure Zumaya will see his fair share of rough outings in his rookie season with Detroit, he was lights out on Monday; his fastball touched 100 mph and his off-speed pitches were just sick, when he was able to locate them. In his first Major League appearance, Zumaya showed the ability to recover, which is vital in a relief pitcher.
Rodney earned the save with a solid outing in the 9th. No real surprise there. This should become the pattern so long as Rodney’s role in the bullpen doesn’t fluctuate as often as it did last season. Obviously, changes are expected as we wait for Todd Jones to return, but if Rodney is given the opportunity to become comfortable with his role in this bullpen, his appearance on the mound should continue to be an unwelcome sight for opposing hitters.
OFFENSE
Chris Shelton (2 HR, 3-for-4) and Carolos Guillen (1 HR) composed the offense in Monday’s game with 3 solo home runs. Chris Shelton was the obvious player of the game in his first opening-day start with a homerun just inside each of the foul poles. As for Guillen, who looked good on the field, that’s 1 solid start. His homerun was a line-shot to left-center on pure strength. I’d even say that it was pure lower-body strength; a good sign from a player who limped through last season recovering from knee-surgery.
Other writers have made much of Pudge’s walk yesterday, but I see things differently. Sure, wow, Pudge reached first base on a walk. Unfortunately, everything else I saw from his at-bat’s reminded me only of 2005. Especially familiar was his 7th-inning stirkeout, which featured at least 2 terrible swings. Though it is early, still absent is any sign of poise or patience at the plate.
Too big a deal has been made of third-baseman Brandon Inge’s base-running mistake as he attempted to steal second in the 5th. The miscue occurred, ironically, as a result of a poor throw from KC catcher John Buck. The throw arrived well on the first-base side of second-base, where Inge stopped short, probably on instinct, to avoid colliding with second-baseman Mark Grudzielanek. I’m sure that Inge will react differently next time he finds himeself in that situation, but I think it had more to do with his level of experience on the basepaths than skill. Inge produced 2 of Detroit’s hits in the game and looked comfortable in the field.
Curtis Granderson looked uncomfortable in his opening-day debut at the top of the order. Though he went hitless, he did reach first base on a fielder’s choice in the 3rd, where he later went on to steal his first base of the season. I fully expect a slow start from Granderson, but I believe he will show up with power before long.
OTHER NOTES
Though they did not make appearances, Chris Spurling, Jamie Walker and Bobby Seay were seen warming up in the bullpen at different points after the 7th inning.
Zumaya’s heat touched 100 mph both on the Kansas City telecast and on the stadium monitors, but it never showed 100 on the FSN broadcast; what’s up with that FSN? I watched for it diligently yesterday, as I did any time Kyle Farnsworth was pitching last season, but I have never seen a 100mph pitch on an FSN Detroit broadcast. Is there no room for that third digit?! It’s like the second coming of Y2K! Get with times, guys!
THE BIG PICTURE
While the Tigers certainly looked decent in their Opening Day win over over the Kansas City Royals yesterday, there was definitely room for some polish. This is to be expected from any team at the start of the season, but it probably has just as much to do with a team adapting to a new manager.
Overall, in what I’d say was the first noticeable difference in the team under new manager Jim Leyland, the Tigers looked focused. We’ve heard focus and concentration preached all throughout Spring Training, and they were present and noticeable in the Detroit’s tight win over the Royals yesterday.
I was nervous as players got frighteningly close to each other on multiple pop-up plays. I think this is a visible sign of Leyland’s pressure on this team defensively; players are nervous about making mistakes on the easy plays. Leyland’s comments on defense show that he can forgive mistakes on the tough plays but may not be so quick to forgive mistakes made on the routine plays; Tigers fans saw their fair share of both last season.
Leyland was seen pacing the dugout. Pudge was looking to him for signs from behind home plate. You could sense Leyland’s nerves, but it was also clear that Leyland was in the game. Leyland was calling the shots in ways that I would bet Trammel never did. On Monday in Kansas City, this was Jim Leyland’s team.
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