Game 109: Tigers (55-53) at Rays (63-44)
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 6:06 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
Email
PrintDetroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays, Aug 1, 2008 7:10 PM EDT
Zach Miner (5-3, 3.65) vs. 
Scott Kazmir (8-5, 2.84)
Those who have been waiting for the Tigers to re-discover the magic from 2006 might find that good feeling in their opponent tonight. The Tampa Bay Rays are this season's Wonder Boys, leading the kind of last-to-first thrill ride that can energize a city and fanbase. Currently, the Rays lead the AL East by three games, ahead of the media darlings of baseball playing in Boston and New York.
You could see Tampa accumulating the sort of young talent that might make this sort of run someday, but as long as they were in the same division as the Red Sox and Yankees, it seemed like they might eventually hit a glass ceiling. To this point, however, the Rays have hung tough. It will be interesting to see, however, if a young team might be affected by their front office not making an addition at the trade deadline (though they took a shot at Jason Bay), while their vaunted rivals both made key moves.
With Justin Verlander blowing up in his last two outings, is it possible that Zach Miner is currently the Tigers' best starting pitcher after just two starts? So far, he's made a nice transition from reliever to starter, giving up just two runs in 12 innings, with just one walk vs. six strikeouts.
Also pitching well in his last two starts is Scott Kazmir, and his previous outing might have been even better, had a rain delay not cut his night short. Kazmir has also allowed only two runs in his last 12 innings, but of course, he has a much longer track record to judge. Approximately a year ago, Kazmir faced the Tigers in Detroit, and held them to just three hits in six scoreless innings.
DRaysBay has your SB Nation opposing view for this weekend's series.
154 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Ryan Raburn info?
I think Raburn’s minor league numbers look great, with no holes – good k to walk, has hit with power and average, and he’s proved himself in AAA. I’m also aware of his positional flexibility.
As Tigers’ fans, I have a few questions that I’d love your opinion on, even if you’ve only seen him a few times:
What’s his best position defensively? Does he play a legit 2b,3b, and all three OF positions…or is he sort of “not very good, but not terrible” at all of them equally?
Do you think that he hasn’t established a greater full-time role with more playing due to a.) the lack of openings on a veteran Tiger team, or b.) because Leyland and/or the front office don’t believe he can succeed as a full time player?
Do YOU personally think that he could be a viable big-league starting second baseman, third baseman, or corner OF? Could he post, say, a .750 OPS doing that full-time if the Tigers gave him the opportunity?
Thanks for your help! I’d really appreciate any of your comments and insights.
"The painting was a gift, Todd. I'm taking it with me." -Wedding Crashers
He seems pretty solid where ever he plays. No real “stand out” position.
I think he is kind of in the Brandon Inge boat when it comes to playing time. There are too many spots occupied by established players, on top of the fact that he is nothing spectacular offensively.
He could do it in a lower market team, or with a team that has a definite hole in their lineup at a position Raburn can play. Think Washington, Baltimore, San Diego, etc.
gumtime.mlblogs.com
This is also posted in the FanPosts section
Chime in if you get a chance. It’s definitely a discussion worth having about a player who probably deserves more playing time.
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Starting Lineups
DETROIT
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Carlos Guillen, 3B
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
5. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
6. Gary Sheffield, DH
7. Marcus Thames, LF
8. Edgar Renteria, SS
9. Brandon Inge, C
TAMPA BAY
1. Akinori Iwamura, 2B
2. B.J. Upton, CF
3. Carl Crawford, LF
4. Evan Longoria, 3B
5. Carlos Pena, 1B
6. Cliff Floyd, DH
7. Dioner Navarro, C
8. Eric Hinske, RF
9. Jason Bartlett, SS
Kazmir's wild!
The Tigers can’t let him off the hook here. He’s walked the bases loaded; they have to get a run out of this.
Wow
I had a good feeling Sheff would walk – with his good eye….....but it wasn’t hard not to swing at those four balls.
Ok..........
Marcus is bugging me lately…....I know he’s K’d alot the past few games and he wants to hit the first good pitch he gets….......but after a pitcher walks four batters in one inning….....WHY THE HELL IS HE SWINGING AT THE FIRST PITCH!!!!!
asian basbeall players
piss me off, no racial issues but slap hittings is fo-fagz
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
yarg!
Can’t you see woooooooooooo can’t you see why you don’t steal on Ingey
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
i know he's struggling
but he just layed out to try to make up for the flyout its no big deal even though it is hard not to hate him right now
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
don't tell MLB.tv
This game should be blacked out for me, but for some reason they still use my address from 2 years ago…
can't you see wooo can't you see why edgar sucks the D
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
wish you were here
by pink floyd is a beautiful song wanna cover it TK?
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
how dare you
root for the opposing team because of fantasy
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
by (TIGS) JIMDALE on Aug 1, 2008 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions
That Bartlett hit looked almost identical to Cabrera's
Maybe Miggy’s went higher, but it seemed to hit almost the exact same place on the wall.
Yep
Kazmir seems to have ironed out whatever was bugging him in the first inning.
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
shouldn't they have bubbles or fish on the turf
rather than a huge star…....when their sitting in the office and the Tampa brass is having a brainstorming meeting…..how the hell do they come up with hey…..let’s put a big, ugly blue star in the middle of center field…..that will pretty up the place.
Balfour's a really good reliever
Look at Tampa’s bullpen, you’ll discover very quickly why they’re so good this year.
Sheff
With runners on is hitting .186
Scoring position .234
Scoring position 2 out .192
In his defense,
Close and late .394, which is second only to…
You guessed it – Clete at .455
So he should be a $14 million pinch-hitter
The black Jeff Conine
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't even want to look at Nate Robertson right now
Thoroughly disgusted with him.
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyohe else glad the White Sox got Griffey
Playing him in center is a phenomenally bad idea. I hope the Sox do it. Their opponents will hit 5 doubles a game.
I agree
That trade really didn’t bother me at all.
My buddy called me up in the morning OUTRAGED. I’d have been much more concerned had the Sox got a pitcher, especially a reliever.
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions
he doesn't fit anywhere
I think trying to cram Griffey into that lineup will hurt them as much as it helps them, especially seeing as he’s not much of a defender anymore.
Absolutely
He needs more runs. They’re not losing this game because of how Zach’s throwing.
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions
especially
against the first place team in the AL East, let’s not lose sight of that (even though they are the Rays and we’re used to them being bad)...
but maybe not the quality start you were talking about....
The Tigers had their chance in the first and should had blown it open…...still three innings to go…
If I had something to throw...
I would throw it right now. At Leyland. Yes, I know he is a thousand miles away. Just an expression.
If the Tigers fall out of the hunt (even more)
Who would you like you be booted? Me:
1 Todd Jones#2 Gary Sheffield
#3 Nate Robertson
I'm sick and tired
of defending Sheff. I stood up for him for a LONG time and I stood up for TJ for a long time. Now? Throw the bums out.
And I’m not averse to putting Renteria on that same bus. Let the kids in Triple-A get some time in the majors so they’ll be ready for next year.
Ok, Nate can go too.
You DID say
Zumaya smells like gas. So I’ll give it to you.
by pfuhrmeister on Aug 1, 2008 10:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Anyone notice...
How the best players on every team just wear this staff out completely? Quentin, Dye, Morneau, Sizemore, Longoria. Can’t we get any of these guys out?
time to move on
I’m watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine reruns. And before you make fun, just realize that it was one of the best shows ever on TV and clearly the best Star Trek….
Here's a question
In the past, Leyland used to go out to the mound a lot more often, sometimes right in the middle of an at bat, and talk to his pitcher. Is it me or is that not happening as much lately?
I think that's been a problem all season
Though maybe he feels like these guys have to work it out themselves. I don’t know.
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 10:04 PM EDT up reply actions
It's certainly gotten quiet here
I think most of us really don’t think the Tigers are going to score 4 in the top of the ninth. I’m not about to watch Star Trek, but I’m close to packing it in.
Sorry. I am out of stuff to say without getting horrendously negative.
Actually, Seay has been pretty good lately. That is positive.
For those still with us
Percival walked the leadoff batter. Could this get interesting?
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 10:35 PM EDT reply actions
Sheff was the guy in position to knock six of them in.
He accomplished one, with a walk.
That is simplistic and overly blaming one guy, but he gagged huge two times.
My God
The Tigers probably could have walked in 4 or 5 runs at least in those first 4 innings if they’d just let Cazmir keep throwing balls all over the place. I found it absolutely unbelievable that some of the Tiger hitters didn’t take advantage of his horrid pitching those first few. RISP for pitchers just stand there. This game is distracting me from my sorrow from yesterday, but the Tigers look pathetic.
Todd Jones
Am I the only one suspicous that Toddd Jones just suddenly developed a sore shoulder 6 weeks ago, according to him, right at the trade deadline. I was actually thinking about this before my dog died. How convenient for him! I also think this will be Leland’s last year as manager.
Thank you rook34
I still haven’t accepted it yet. He was with me 14 years. The Tiger games at least keep my mind off it for a few hours and I get so pissed off at them.
I'm sorry to hear that, too
14 years is a long time.
by Ian Casselberry on Aug 1, 2008 10:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
- Will Bryce Harper start the season with the Nationals?
- Mitch Mustain puts football behind him, signs reported rookie deal with White Sox
- Robinson Cano and Denzel Washington face off in Jay Leno’s Yankees trivia contest
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
