No heroes when Tigers score zero: White Sox 3, Tigers 0
by Kurt Mensching on Jun 10, 2010 7:38 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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"THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value."
Whoops. I may have seen too many commercials for the US Men's National Team. (Don't forget to come back Friday morning for your World Cup open thread!)
But the point still stands: This hasn't been a very fun time to be a Tigers fan, short of 26 consecutive outs a week ago Wednesday.
After going seven-games-above-.500 and tying Minnesota for first place on May 20, Detroit has gone 6-12. After being shut out 3-0 today, the Tigers have lost back-to-back series to division foes Kansas City and Chicago. Heck, they've lost five of their last six series. And during that time Detroit scored three or fewer runs nine times.
I'm not sure the point of that last paragraph, but I was looking at the depth of the Tigers' recent pit and felt like I needed someone to suffer it with me.
First the good news: Max Scherzer pitched a pretty good game for the Tigers. He pitched into the eighth inning -- a debatable decision -- and allowed three runs, two by the long ball. But for a large portion of the game, he mowed down White Sox hitters.
Now the bad news: One run was all Chicago needed, as the Mighty Tigers were shut out. And by mighty I mean they mighty score once in awhile but sure haven't seemed to lately.
Now more bad news: Magglio Ordonez was again scratched with a sore oblique. He was said to be available but he did not pinch hit in the eighth inning with bases loaded. So I'm guessing he was available only if ebola broke out in the dugout during the game. But maybe not: He'll see the team doctor back in Detroit, MLB.com's Jason Beck says.
So it's not pretty.
Speaking of not pretty: Austin Jackson went 2-for-26 during this road trip, finishing with a .077 average. Yikes. His OBP fell from .387 to .358 and his average from .341 to .313 during that time.
Anyway, Pittsburgh is coming to town as Interleague re-opens. So if Detroit would like to redeem itself this weekend presents an excellent opportunity to try.
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.500 or worse Leyland
Besides the players that should be in AAA, Leyland and McClendon need to go. They are nothing but .500 level or below talent and they accept this as OK. Once we get a motivator around the club and stop making crazy decisions that drive fans into insanity, the talent and killer instinct that is absent should make some difference. Thankfully some of those that are overpaid will also be gone and off the books for real players to be acquired as well.
No way
Leyland has major problems as a tactical manager (lineups, bullpen usage) but his leadership skills are unparalleled.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Jun 10, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions
Leadership- you mean getting his players to give 100%? I concur.
But then, batting Clete Thomas or Ryan Raburn third
or continuing to run Adam Everett up there against RHP’s
or using Jason Grilli over, and over, and over, getting Grilled over, and over and over..
or pulling out an effective pitcher because the next guy bats left or right
or using Raburn in the infield
or using Sheffield 100 games past when he should’ve been gone
etc.
Like I said
Somebody needs to sit down and give Leyland a lesson in tactics.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Jun 10, 2010 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions
It's true
Shame we can’t have a “tactical officer” or something.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Jun 11, 2010 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions
There's a solution for Leyland's tactics.
Just make sure that every player on the roster is a stud, and he can’t screw up. But if you leave any weaknesses, he’ll find them and highlight them! lol.
It would be cheaper to hire a tactical officer...
It would also make the locker room sound a lot more like the bridge of the USS Enterprise.
I call that a twofer!
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Jun 11, 2010 2:34 AM EDT up reply actions
So who do you bring in if you fire Leyland?
And I’m willing to bet nearly every team in baseball will go through a stretch like this during the season. It’s bound to happen when you play so many games. No reason to even have your hand on the panic button whatsoever just yet.
by handsomerob1 on Jun 10, 2010 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions
ding ding
Someone has to manage this bunch – and if not Leyland, who would do a better job who is available?
It’s easy to say that a manager should be dumped when the team is doing poorly, but harder to propose a legitimate replacement.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
Science nerd and proud of it!
I'm not advocating getting rid of Leyland
but if they do, in this hypothetical discussion, I’d offer the job to Bobby Valentine. Just my two cents. I think we need fiery.
Rooting for Tiger stripes, not pinstripes
by JerseyTigerFan on Jun 10, 2010 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions
My Suggestion
Tom Brookens!
Lloyd McClendon & Rick Knapp Should Dissapear too.
Suggestions for those two, I have none right now.
We need someone who can get this team to play as a team not just for their personal Gratification. Teams win, Players loose.
by TigersFan1957 on Jun 10, 2010 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions
i'm all for tom brookens
but want him to be a coach a bit longer before taking over the job.
honestly people, changing the manager isn’t going to change squat with this team. Changing the team in the offseason is going to make a lot bigger difference than any manager could.
by Kurt Mensching on Jun 10, 2010 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Team
They need someone to turn them into a team, not just hitters/non-hitters. Sure they will come out of their slump but they don’t play as a team.
Of course this is just my opinion of this group of players.
by TigersFan1957 on Jun 10, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
funny
about two weeks ago we were commenting about how much the team had come together.
The only difference is that it’s lost a bit.
Besides that, you and I don’t know a thing about what goes on in the clubhouse, on the plane, in the dugout, or anywhere else. No one should pretend they do, either.
by Kurt Mensching on Jun 11, 2010 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions
You are right
What I have been seeing on TV in the games is hitters swinging like they want to kill the ball not just make contact & move the runner up. This is not all the time of course & you are right we don’t know what is going on in their minds or in the back ground. But what I see are players trying to hard to club the ball when a hit is all we need. This is the only thing I see wrong by the hitters that is (my opinion of course). They may be a close knit group of players & like I said they will come out of their slump but I just think they are batting for self & not what is best for team, but someone may be calling all the signs in the back ground & I don’t see it too. A manager change may not work either, but it might.
Who is the pitching coach in Toledo? He seems to have done a good job with Armando Galarraga & Max Scherzer this year.
Don’t think I am bashing them, I’m not, I am just posting what I think I see.
I’ve been a Tigers Fan all my 52 years & I always will be win or loose.
by TigersFan1957 on Jun 11, 2010 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
What I have been seeing on TV in the games is hitters swinging like they want to kill the ball not just make contact & move the runner up. This is not all the time of course & you are right we don’t know what is going on in their minds or in the back ground. But what I see are players trying to hard to club the ball when a hit is all we need.
That sounds like a talent/specific player problem, not a managerial problem. Guys like Raburn can’t hit their way out of a paper bag because they can’t hit, not because Leyland isn’t bringing them together as a team.
by handsomerob1 on Jun 11, 2010 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions
"Team"
Baseball is about the worst sport to use the word “team” in. It’s a collection of individuals and a game is a collection of individual efforts. I agree that there are situations that require “team” thinking such as sacrifices at the plate, but in general, even a defensive play is a collection of a few individual efforts. On a grounder to third, Inge hopefully fields the ball well as an individual and throws accurately at a target…both are individual efforts. At first, hopefully Cabrera catches the throw and covers the bag…also individual efforts. At the plate, it’s purely a matter of being able to assess what is needed and swing accordingly. 90% of the time or more, it’s to hit the ball hard…Very individual.
Team Work
The reason Cabrera has 53 RBI’s is because others get on base ahead of him & he hits well in the clutch. A few others come through but not enough of the time. Hitting the ball hard is not always good. It leads to double plays & fly/ground outs (not always of course but still lots of them). Watch these guys swing at the ball. Power Swings, not smooth quick swings. I like the way Damon & Ichiro handle their bats, smooth & quick & some power ocasionally, but they don’t have a long power cut. A bloop single is better than a hard hit liner to a defensive player. I like what I herd on the radio durring tonights game about Jackson showing bunt even if he doesn’t bunt, it keeps the defense off balance. Winning is still team work in baseball, get on base any way you can & let the next guy move you up & around to score. Let the pitcher supply the power or lack of power. Also the pitching/catching/fielding is team work. This team has not come together on all Cylinders this year at all. “Pitching is good”“No Offense”or"bad defense"Starting pitching good/relief bad, starting pitching bad/relief good" I hope some time soon they all start firing like a tuned engine & take off. I think the talent on this team is much, much better than most people give them credit for, they just need to all come together at the same time. They are as good & even better than any team out there.
Just my observations & opinions.
by TigersFan1957 on Jun 11, 2010 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions
The roster will overhaul itself over the next two years with all the expiring contracts.
It’s much more a GM’s game.
He's a 3 time coach of the year!
As well as a World Champion leader. How quickly you forget the rag-tag team he coddled to the World Series just 4 seasons ago. Sheesh guys, who else would you want? Torre, Scioscia and LaRussa aren’t going anywhere.
by Grubby stadiumdrives.com on Jun 11, 2010 9:25 AM EDT up reply actions
MAGGLIO UPDATE
Magglio Ordonez will have his sore left oblique examined by a team doctor on Friday in Detroit.
Ordonez took batting practice before Thursday’s game against the White Sox. He was penciled into the Tigers’ original lineup, but was later scratched. “He was better, but he wasn’t 100 percent,” head trainer Kevin Rand said Thursday evening. “And Magglio’s too valuable a player to push him out there and lose him for two to three weeks if he’s not 100 percent.”
we suck!
panic panic panic.
i’m only semi sarcastic here
i hate when we play like this
8 to 1 at the moment
and the moment is the 7th inning
Rooting for Tiger stripes, not pinstripes
by JerseyTigerFan on Jun 10, 2010 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions
well the tigers may have been shut out
but our team in slowpitched scored 18 and 16 runs in our doubleheader today, winning both. so at least some of the good guys won!
I Like Pie
I Dislike Raburn
I can't believe its been three starts
since Max returned from AAA. This season is flying by and the Tigers seem to missing it.
Rooting for Tiger stripes, not pinstripes
by JerseyTigerFan on Jun 10, 2010 10:28 PM EDT reply actions
they're the Twins
That’s what they do.
"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero
Science nerd and proud of it!
Candidates
1. Bruce Fields
2. Matt Walbeck
Both are Tigers, are familiar with our system and players, and have managerial experience.
I love Brookens, but he was offered the job at Oneida six years ago on a whim. IMO, he’s not at all qualified to be a MLB manager, aside from name recongnition.
The world's greatest wiffle ball tournament! TheFatty.com
No and no
Side note: I went to HS with Fields’ niece and she’s really hot.
by handsomerob1 on Jun 11, 2010 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions
The important things
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Jun 12, 2010 2:38 AM EDT up reply actions
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