BYOBYB: Friday Open Thread

by Ian Casselberry on Sep 11, 2009 2:00 PM EDT in News Comment 52 comments

by Charlie Riedel - AP

After the Tigers were swept in Kansas City, did you feel the need to walk away for a bit, like Jim Leyland is doing here?

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It's Friday, so how about some BYOBYB? If you're new to these parts, it's the open thread where you can chat about whatever's on your mind, whether it's the Tigers, the AL Central, MLB, or something completely off-topic.

Here are some possible Tigers-related topics to bat around:

Has Jarrod Washburn pitched himself out of a possible postseason rotation for the Tigers?
Should Fernando Rodney have just served his three-game suspension in Kansas City?
For that matter, should a writer such as the St. Petersburg Times' Marc Topkin (who wrote a letter to MLB about Rodney's behavior) be able to essentially influence a pennant race? Or am I overstating this?
Here's a response to the situation from the Tampa Tribune's Marc Lancaster, by the way.
After a 3-3 road trip (that strangely played with our expectations), what are you looking for during this seven-game homestand? Is four wins enough? Or do you need more?

And with that, we'll see you later tonight. You still have pennant fever, right?

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I hope

Washburn has pitched himself out of the rotation. period.

Welcome to Detroit >> Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Sep 11, 2009 2:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

HI PATTY!

No Run Support

by allikazoo on Sep 11, 2009 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

;o)

Welcome to Detroit >> Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Sep 11, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is plenty of room on my "I hate Jarrod Washburn" bus left.

Plenty of room!

by 13194013 on Sep 11, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can only sum up "mild frustration" and "consternation"

I think I used up all my trade deadline wrath on Farnsworth last year.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Farnsworth deal I filed under: Things I will never understand.

More confusing than anger inducing for me.

by 13194013 on Sep 11, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

"Hate" is a strong word...

And actually, i’m more pissed at Dombrowski for trading for an injured pitcher, who, despite the fact he (was) having a good year, is only a capable 3rd or 4th starter when healthy anyway.

On the other hand, i do love seeing his name in the starting lineup, cos it always reminds me of the Monkees version of that Leiber & Stoller song “D.W. Washburn”. And that joy last about until he gives up the third or fourth run…

Is this legal?
I don't know. It's fun, though...

by moonshineboy on Sep 11, 2009 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I use hate instead of a better qualifier like: frustration or bitter dislike.

My tolerance for Washburn ran out after his atrocious 2008. I do have one thing good to say about how he has pitched: he is not Carlos Silva.

by 13194013 on Sep 11, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It could be worse...

We could be paying him $29 mill over the next three years…

Is this legal?
I don't know. It's fun, though...

by moonshineboy on Sep 11, 2009 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you have a JV and a E-Jax, a third starter is what you're looking for, right?

I’m just hoping Washburn does something, has that one outstanding start in the playoffs or something, that makes us remember him fondly, as he takes off for another team in the offseason.

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Sep 11, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes I still have pennant fever

my dodger fan friends tell me I’m overreacting about the royals sweep… saying we’re up 5.5 and have no reason to be concerned. I think they are just saying that because the rockies are on their ass, but whatever.

can we get some wins this weekend plz?

No Run Support

by allikazoo on Sep 11, 2009 2:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I assume Topkin was in the press box?

Maybe it hit him in the nutters.

by rcpratt on Sep 11, 2009 2:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Pennant fever? definitely

My back hurts, my shins are bruised, why not pennant fever? Better than swine flu, anyway.

Actually, more than disheartened by the Royal sweep, I’m just annoyed. I don’t think the teams behind us have what it takes to catch up to the Tigers, but I don’t want that translating to the Tigers sonambulating their way into the playoffs. The Royals are a last place team, and the Tigers should have treated them like it, keeping the pedal to the metal, or the knife to the throat or whatever cliche you prefer. Instead, we fans get to pause, and wonder for a minute.

Then again, this season really has been a roller coaster of emotions; maybe it’s because i’ve paid closer attention to this year than I have in any season probably since 1998, I’ve felt those ups and down more than I have in a while. It’s been interesting to watch the temporary dips in confidence, the oh noes that have erupted after a tough, or otherwise disheartening loss or two, and then the euphoria after someone hits a walkoff to bring the team back when the situation seemed dire.

It’s been a fun ride, all told, and I’m hoping it doesn’t end any time soon.

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Sep 11, 2009 2:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Small sample size (only 2 starts), but Washburn hasn’t pitched all that badly on the road, at least in terms of grit and guile if not avoiding traffic on the bases (and, really, no one pitched well against the Royals this week, so I can’t really bring myself to single out one particular person). At Comerica Park, he’s been awful. However, if we get into the postseason, our ALDS opponent would likely be the Yankees. Even when he’s on his game, Wasbhurn is an extreme fly ball pitcher, and we all know what happens to fly balls at Yankee Stadium.

However, I think all this talk is still a bit premature. Don’t count your postseason rotations before they hatch, so to speak. Anything could happen between now and then, be it collapses, surges, or injuries.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

anyone have washburn's numbers agains the yankees this year?

by Tigersin2010 on Sep 11, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not good

One game, gave up four runs in seven innings (3 home runs), 8 hits, 1 walk, but six strikeouts. I do not know whether that game was at Safeco or Yankee Stadium.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Although...

From ‘06 to ’08 he had a 2.37 ERA against the Yankees. I’m trying to find his complete career numbers (ESPN won’t show me).

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah it can't be too bad since the Yankees have been trying to get him the last few years

by Tigersin2010 on Sep 11, 2009 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, found it on baseball-reference

He’s 5-6 with an ERA of 2.76 in his career against the Yankees. Not too shabby.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And by the way...

That is his best ERA against any American League team.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great news.

by Tigersin2010 on Sep 11, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's hope we clinch this division and just let him rest for the Yanks

by Tigersin2010 on Sep 11, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Baseball reference dot com

Go there.

by 13194013 on Sep 11, 2009 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's not too bad....if at Yankee Stadium

i like that he went 7 and that the home runs were presumably solo.
i’d take that start in game 3.

by Tigersin2010 on Sep 11, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Regarding the homestand

I would love to get five wins out of it but four is probably more realistic. It is really hard to win a 4-game series, even though Halladay will not be pitching (and it’s not like our guys have done much against David Purcey, either; lots of walks and three-ball counts, but very few hits or runs). As far as the KC series goes, I’d be happy with taking two of three, just because Greinke will probably start one of those games and you don’t want to be in the position where you HAVE to beat Zack Greinke. Still, it appears the Royals want to be a pain in the neck down the stretch again this year.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i want five....

But I really want one today.

by rook34 on Sep 11, 2009 3:27 PM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs

The latest column on Royals Review is fascinating.

It also makes me want to think of eras of Tiger fans.

by 13194013 on Sep 11, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Washburn v. Willis

Check out http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/2009.shtml and compare the stats between Willis and Washburn, now that they both have the same amount of starts (7). I don’t think Washburn is much of an improvement over Willis, the only advantages he really has is fewer walks and one more quality start than D-Train.

by zumayafn on Sep 11, 2009 3:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That is scary...

Is this legal?
I don't know. It's fun, though...

by moonshineboy on Sep 11, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not too suprising

Willis’ stuff is better than Washburn AND Robertson combined.
The problem is he get anxious (or whatever psychological problem it is)
and loses all control. That means unpredictable disaster, where you
can be out of a game by the time 2nd inning rolls around.
WIth Washburn and Robertson, on the other hand, you know what you
are getting. THEY WILL KEEP YOU IN THE GAME. I’ll take that from
the bottom of the rotation.

by Tigersin2010 on Sep 11, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Some thoughts

* Has Jarrod Washburn pitched himself out of a possible postseason rotation for the
Tigers?

    No he has not. His experience in the playoffs still makes him a #3. He is two good
    starts away from solidifying that spot. As much composure as Porcello has shown,
   you cannot expect him to be the #3 in the playoffs—especially with a limited pitch
    count. Having said all this. Nate Robertson is a wild-card. If continues to throw up
   zeros, then he can pitch himself as the #3, rather than Jarrod Washburn pitching
   himself out.

* Should Fernando Rodney have just served his three-game suspension in Kansas
City?

    It’s is easy to say “yes” in retrospect. But Rodney could have saved 2 out of 3 or
    all three if the tigers had been focused and not so sloppy defensively. So I think the
    right decision was made. If his suspension gets reduced to 2 games or a single game
    then that is a chance worth taking. The fact that Lyon can close out games remains
    as the safety net in either case.

    * For that matter, should a writer such as the St. Petersburg Times’ Marc Topkin (who
       wrote a letter to MLB about Rodney’s behavior) be able to essentially influence a
       pennant race? Or am I overstating this?

       You are overstating this. Someone was bound to say something about Rodney’s
       toss. If not Topkin, then someone else. I also think that the MLB would have taken
       action even if Topkin didn’t complain. I know that the Tigers say otherwise, but I
       don’t believe it. There is a precedence for this behavior, it was shown on highlights,
       and MLB would have stepped in. Topkin is just the scape-goat

    * After a 3-3 road trip (that strangely played with our expectations), what are you
     looking for during this seven-game homestand? Is four wins enough? Or do you
     need more?

     4 wins is enough in terms of division. but we need 5 or 6 (yes 6!) to get hot
    and let that continue on the road trip. we need to steam roll into the playoffs to
    have a chance at the Yankees (who we would play). most importantly, I’d like to
    see consistent hitting and I think it starts with Magglio batting 3rd for the remainder
    of the season, no matter the opponent. also, we need Curtis to start getting
    confident and hitting some singles (some the other way, please?).

by Tigersin2010 on Sep 11, 2009 3:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Will NOT be satisfied with 4 wins

Because I don’t think the Tigers can sweep the Blue jays, and given that I just posted on Royals Review saying the Tigers could finish third in the AL East, I’d like for them to back up the thought by taking 3 out of 4 against Toronto.

So if you have three wins there….you can’t lose another series to KC, so they have to get 2 out of 3 there.

Hence I want a 5-2 homestand. Coming just before the final stretch of games against the White Sox and the Twins, a run like that will be disheartening to those teams, as well as setting this team up for the playoff run, like 2010 says above.

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Sep 11, 2009 3:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sigh

Is anyone else a “fan” of the Tigers on Facebook? Some of the comments on their Newsfeed updates are just stupid.

http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com

by SabreRoseTiger on Sep 11, 2009 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I am

I’ve learned to basically ignore all comments on all generic sports websites (espn, mlb) and fan pages like that with a large number of people. it’s all stupid shit.

No Run Support

by allikazoo on Sep 11, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs