I hate the Twins: Revere, Thome, Morneau and a 9th inning rally take out the Tigers, 6-5
by BigAl on Aug 17, 2011 11:04 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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PrintKEY STAT
Jose Valverde doesn't like non-save situations.
Via Matthew B. Mowery of The Oakland Press:
Jose Valverde in save situations: 35-35, 0.51 ERA, 0.971 WHIP; in non-save situations — 21G, 2-4, 17R, 14ER, 6.88 ERA, 1.80 WHIP
KEY PLAY
Justin Morneau's top of the 9th, bases loaded, two RBI single, giving the Twins a 6-4 lead.
I really hate the Twins.
KEY THOUGHTS
To open the scoring, Jim Thome hit his 66th career home run against the Tigers in the 2nd inning, his 3rd of the series.
Dave Hogg of the AP adds some context:
Jim Thome has as many homers at Comerica Park this season as Magglio Ordonez and Brandon Inge combined.
The Tigers need to sign Thome in the off season, if only to keep him from doing things like hitting historic home runs against them.
I don't know what Delmon Young did to Ben Revere, but he best apologize. Revere stone cold stole a pair of extra base hits from Young. He ran down Young's fly to deep center in the 1st, making a nice over the head catch. What looked like at least a double and two RBI for Young in the 3rd was turned into a sac fly, thanks to a diving catch by Revere in right center.
It was a show of great defense, something we don't get to see very often, because, as you know, the Tigers play lousy D.
To get out of a bases loaded jam in the 4th, Brad Penny had to outrun Tsuyoshi Nishioka to 1st base after Miguel Cabrera ranged too far to his right on a ground ball to 2nd base, leaving only the lumbering Penny to cover. It was not pretty to watch, but Penny somehow won the race to the bag. The last time Penny had to run like that had to be...thinking about it, has he ever?
The only way get the ball past Revere, who covers more ground in center than a grounds keeper's tarp, is to hit it out of the park. Jhonny Peralta figured that out in the 6th, and crushed a solo home run to left center over everyone, including Revere, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Penny threw six excellent innings...then came the 7th. Jim Leyland trying to one more inning out of Penny was just too much to ask. Given a one run lead by Peralta, Penny immediately lost it to the bottom of the Twins order. Batting 7th, Danny Valencia hit a long double to Comerica Park's Death Valley in right center. Number 8 hitter Rene Tosoni, whom the Tigers apparently assumed was bunting, drilled a no doubt home run deep in the right field stands. A very good outing by Penny was tainted by a couple of mistakes, and not enough run support.
Penny was taken off the hook by Miguel Cabrera in an odd bottom of the 7th. The Tigers parlayed a Ramon Santiago walk, an Andy Dirks sac bunt (Let's not play for the big inning, shall we?), a Brennan Boesch hit by pitch and a Cabrera rocket off the the right wall into...one run. Santiago scored easily on Cabrera's single, but Boesch was waved around (according to FSD's Mario Impemba) by by everyone's "favorite" 3rd base coach, Gene Lamont, despite the relay having reached the infield. Boesch was thrown out in a play closer than I thought it would be (I think the Twins were shocked as I was Boesch was trying to score), ending the inning.
Sac bunts and bad base running do not a big inning make.
Duane Below started the 8th inning, and as a left handed pitcher, the Tigers needed him to get the Twins' left handed bats out. He didn't. Joe Mauer led off the inning with a double. With two outs and 1st base open, Thome continued his Tiger killing ways. His single up the middle gave the Twins a 4-3 lead, ending Below's night.
Carl Pavano, noted Tiger killer, had a typical start against the Tigers; 7 IP, 9 H, 3 ER. Not stellar, but solid. He also left as the pitcher of record with a 4-3 lead, and handed the game to the Twins bullpen.
Glen Perkins entered in the bottom of the 8th and proceeded to load the bases, getting no one out in the process (Victor Martinez doubled, who was replaced by Austin Jackson, walks to Alex Avila and Peralta). Leyland sent left hand batting Wilson Benemit to pinch hit for Don Kelly.
By the way, the Tigers were left with no catchers available, other than Avila, after Martinez and Kelly were pulled. Could someone on the Tigers please wrap Avila in several layers of bubble wrap when these sort of situations arise? But I digress...
With Benemit batting, Ron Gardenhire countered with righty reliever Matt Capps.
Leyalnd won the battle of the managerial minds (but never the war), as Benemit hit a sac fly to center, scoring Jackson. But Capps got out of the inning on a pair of easy fly outs. The Tigers and Twins headed to the 9th tied 4-4.
Only scoring one run after loading the bases with no outs would come back to haunt the Tigers in a big, big way.
Jose Valverde entered the game in top of the 9th, in the always scary non-save situation. It did not go well.
Tosoni led off with a single to right. As Tigers pitchers are wont to do, the Big Potato played Hot Potato with Nishioka's bunt, and everyone was safe. Revere bunted, and replays showed Benemit threw him out...but the umpire didn't have the benefit of replay. Bases loaded.
A glimmer of hope. Valverde K'ed Trevor Plouffe and Mauer with some high heat. Could Papa Grande pitch his way past Justin Morneau and get out of the inning?
No.
On an 2-0 count, Morneau singled up the middle. Two runs scored. Twins lead 6-4. Kill me now.
But the Tigers weren't going down easy.
With Joe Nathan on to close, Boesch singled to center. A Young swinging bunt advanced Boesch to 2nd, where he then scored on a Cabrera single, closing the lead to 6-5. Ryan Raburn pinch hit for Jackson...and was 1st half Raburn, popping up to short. It was all up to Avila.
But Nathan K'ed Avila swinging.
So the Tigers lose the series in one of those very odd, extremely painful losses which only seem to happen against the Twins.
With the Tigers getting an off day tomorrow, we get to stew on this loss the next couple of days, waiting for the Indians to arrive for another big series.
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Anyone want to rethink . . .
. . . the ineffectiveness of bunting?
it's not so much that the bunting was effective
as it was the fielding of said bunts were terrible
"I'm a simple man. I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food" - Ron Swanson
Bunting works great against a team that can't field it's way out of a wet paper bag.
Leyland calling for a sac bunt in the 7th, when you have the middle of the order coming up, I can’t agree with.
The Tigers were playing for just one run, instead of a big inning. And what did they get? Just one run.
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys, host the Bless You Boys Podcast and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
Yeah, again, I apologize for writing a post on bunting
only to be screwed by bunting that very same night.
And then, depression set in
well, at least the Tigers didn’t lose ground to Chicago tonight, but man it sucks losing a series at home to these bums!
What gets into Valverde in non save situations that makes him put his head up his arse and play like he has no clue out there. He goes from being a lights out closer to a lights out but nobody’s home, fool on the hill. He just made a bollocks of the easiest bunt play in the history of mankind. Total lack of concentration.
ON the flip side, bases loaded and nobody out, and we get one run off three pop outs. It’s not just losing that is a bummer, it’s the way that the Tigers lose games to Minnesota. I am resigned to the idea that the Tigers are what we’ve seen all year long. A barely above .500 team that is destined to win 85 games or so, and hope that Chicago cools off and Cleveland keeps losing 60% of their games. Better beat the Tribe this weekend, sans our stopper.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
I HATE THE TWINS.
THIS kind of weirdo voodoo is why the Twins will ALWAYS be the most hated rival in my mind. Not Chicago, not Cleveland, not the Yankees, not an eventually improved Royals team…
ALWAYS AND FOREVER THE STUPID, STINKING TWINKIES. #rage
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
Honest, I'm completely harmless. I make up in ALL CAPS and creative threats what I lack in actual violence.
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
by Baroque on Aug 17, 2011 11:15 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
Rec'ed for righteous hatred
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys, host the Bless You Boys Podcast and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
Valverde Splits
From Matthew B Mowery on Twitter
Jose Valverde in save situations: 35-35, 0.51 ERA, 0.971 WHIP;
Valverde in non-save situations — 21G, 2-4, 17R, 14ER, 6.88 ERA, 1.80 WHIP
This to me is inexplicable.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
The splits are beyond weird, to say the very least
But you still have to use Valverde in the 9th. I can’t hold that against Leyland.
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys, host the Bless You Boys Podcast and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
true
In a tie game at home. the closer comes in to do exactly what he would do in a game with a close lead – shut the opposition down. Instead of securing the win, it secures the opportunity to win in the bottom of the ninth with just one run, maybe one swing of the bat.
Every manager in baseball does this because it makes sense and far more often than not works, all across the majors. The fact that one team has a closer who seems to be allergic to non-save situations doesn’t alter the fundamental validity of the strategy.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
Honest, I'm completely harmless. I make up in ALL CAPS and creative threats what I lack in actual violence.
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
I beg to differ
and would like to see stats on this. Valverde is not the only closer that sucks ass in non-save situations. Commentators always mention this fact in games. I hate it, I hate it, I hate it when a closer gets into these situations.
Then you have a $ 7 million pitcher going from 56 appearances to 35
He’s supposed to be your best reliever. If he can’t pitch in “non save” situations, then that is a deficiency that he has to address.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
my brain is complete mush as I am home with a horrible cold
But I’ll try to give you something. I went to Baseball Reference and sorted pitchers this year by saves, then took the top 10 guys (all have more than 20 saves plus 10 is a popular number).
Here are their numbers for games pitched in, games finished, saves, and W-L record (followed by name because then the numbers line up with each other). As you can see, pitchers used for getting saves often show up in situations where they don’t get anything out of it. Sometimes they don’t finish the game (That would be the result if Valverde was able to hold the Twins off the scoreboard, the Tigers didn’t score in the 9th, and then someone else was brought in for extras.) Also, I think it is safe to assume that in many cases where the closer didn’t get any result to his name it was a case where the team was already winning or losing, but he “needed some work” and finished off the game even though there was no result that he could realistically plan to be involved in if all things went according to plan.
GP – GF – SV – W – L – pitcher
55 – 51 – 35 – 2 – 3 – Valverde
49 – 41 – 32 – 1 – 2 – Mariano
51 – 47 – 30 – 1 – 4 – League
51 – 46 – 28 – 4 – 0 – Papelbon
49 – 33 – 26 – 3 – 3 – Jordan Walden (who?)
48 – 42 – 25 – 2 – 5 – Perez
49 – 38 – 25 – 3 – 3 – Santos
48 – 40 – 23 – 2 – 3 – Feliz the ROY thief
50 – 37 – 21 – 5 – 5 – Soria
50 – 41 – 21 – 4 – 1 – the Farns
All managers do it, although the probably also all hold their breath a little bit when they do. (Here’s the page I was goofing around with: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2011-standard-pitching.shtml )
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
Honest, I'm completely harmless. I make up in ALL CAPS and creative threats what I lack in actual violence.
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
I agree, but there has to be some reason for this
I think Valverde gets cocky and doesn’t focus. That flubbed bunt play was a perfect example of just not concentrating.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
The botched bunt was a sign of being out of shape
Valverde was not focused in a tie game in the ninth?
Do you really believe a professional baseball player would not be focused in that situation?
You know I'm right about this.
He's done this before
Most of the non-save situations where Valverde has given up runs occur when the Tigers are way up and he relaxes, not in tie games. I’d be interested in seeing how he’s done in games where they are tied or trailing, because it really is a different thing. One is a pressure situation, the other is not. This is at least the second game I can think of where he’s coughed it up in a tie game.
Either way, I am not interested in hearing about how he hasn’t blown a save in 35 chances when he’s done this in the meantime. Glad to have him, but it cheapens that stat for me—a lot.
by ButternutMI on Aug 18, 2011 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions
When was the last time we had a closer who didn't make us start pulling out our rosary beads whenever he came in?
(Or for those among us who were not raised Catholic, our Bibles, Korans or Torahs?)
Seriously though, it’s like being the Detroit Tigers closer means you’re automatically possessed with the spirit of Todd Jones. And at least he had no pretensions about throwing mainly junk and getting flyouts. — even if that meant giving up a hit or two along the way, you never expected him to strike out the middle of the team’s order or anything. I almost miss him. (Almost.) I like Papa and I think his enthusiasm fires the team up sometimes, but… I really hope DD goes after someone who’s a little more consistent in every situation next year.
because he's the best reliever in the bullpen
Would you rather have Perry or Schlereth out there?
"I'm a simple man. I like pretty, dark-haired women and breakfast food" - Ron Swanson
by rock n rye on Aug 18, 2011 9:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
psh it's never the player's fault
if leyland had pushed the A button at the right time they totally would have fielded, hit and pitched better
by Kurt Mensching on Aug 17, 2011 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Hey man, it's not Leyland's fault that he's rusty
Back in his day, you didn’t have all these fancy-shmancy “Exbox” machines. You went to the arcade, put your 25 cents in “Miss Pac-Man” and rose that joystick until your palms bled. And you LIKED it, by damn!
I suspect so.
They didn’t execute. When all anyone needed was a fly ball, they’d strike out instead. When all they needed was to field a bunt, they couldn’t manage it. They handled a bunted baseball as though it was a lively rabid ferret.
That isn’t Leyland’s fault. That is all on the players.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
Honest, I'm completely harmless. I make up in ALL CAPS and creative threats what I lack in actual violence.
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
Leyland managed an awesome game
I hate Leyland and he did great tonight.
The Dirks bunt was a horrible call by Leyland.
But, I thought he made all the right substitutions at the right times. I like pitching to Thome rather than risking a bigger inning. In fact the Tigers got that run back. Valverde was the right pitcher for the ninth.
You know I'm right about this.
agree with you on the Dirks bunt
but not Thome. never should have pitched to him, he’s already killed us in the series. I would much rather take my chances with Danny Valencia up next. It probably takes two hits to score Thome from first unless Valencia hits one out.
[insert signature here]
by Mark in Chicago on Aug 18, 2011 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions
your crazy. penny shouldve been gone after that double.
but of course leyland waits. if that was rick, he wouldve been lifted immediately. i dont get it. penny is not good enough to pitch past the 6th, thats if he gets there.
And to pitch to Thome was the right idea, crazy. Hasnt the guy killed us enough. you walk him! And valverde should never pitch non-save. its been that way for years. They spent 16M on benoit, let him pitch more than 1/2 or 2/3. whatever it was. but leyland is old and needs to go
I don't own a crazy
Pulling Penny after the double is definitely debatable.
The lefty-lefty match up with two outs was a good one. Thome got a hit. It happens.
Using your best pitcher in the ninth makes sense. As the home team you never know when the game will end so starting in the ninth I’d start using available pitchers in decreasing order of skill. Valverde pitched great. He allowed two ground ball singles and struck out two batters. If a bunt isn’t perfect or if he doesn’t make an error or if he gets a little luck on balls in play the Tigers win.
You know I'm right about this.
It was Plouffe, Typo! Fixed!
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys, host the Bless You Boys Podcast and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
AAAARRRGGHHHHHH
I don’t want to hear about non-save situations. You use your best pitcher in a tie game late when you are the home team. What would you save him for?
Valverde was awesome other than his error. He gave up a seeing eye single, a well placed bunt single and another ground ball single. He struck out two.
Valverde was fine.
You know I'm right about this.
by HighOPS on Aug 18, 2011 12:03 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
This one is not on Leyland and it's not on Lamont
I like the fact that Boesch tried to score from first on Cabrera’s shot off the wall. Make the Twins make a perfect play to get him out. He almost scored another run there. With two outs especially, I like aggressiveness on the bases. The runners are moving on the play, and if he’s stranded at third, there’s a one in three chance that he scores. If sending him home gives you better odds than that, go for it.
I like using Valverde in a tie game in the ninth. He’s our best reliever and should be used in high leverage situations. If anyone has a rational basis for why El Papa fails in non save situations, I’d like to hear it. At some point, you rule out coincidence, but it’s then got to be something in his head. Something that can be adjusted by taking the same attitude in a tie situation as he does with a one run lead. His brain went AWOL out there.
I don’t even care about pitching to Thome, just don’t groove fastballs for him. He doesn’t hit curve balls out of the park unless they’re hung out over the plate. Below had him, but grooved one and he drilled it. Penny served up a fastball and blew what was his best performance in over a month. Players have to execute. They had their chances and didn’t get it done. They are who we THOUGHT they were- a .533 team. Now let’s just beat the Tribe.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
It was a show of great defense, something we don't get to see very often, because, as you know, the Tigers play lousy D."
Did you forget A. J.?
by James Scarbrough on Aug 18, 2011 12:37 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
AJax is the exception to the rule
The rest of the Tigers, even the pitching staff, often act as if their gloves are disease ridden.
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys, host the Bless You Boys Podcast and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
More Valverde numbers
Before tonight, Valverde had allowed .148/.252/.221 in save situations and .300/.402/.414 otherwise. The Fielding Bible rates Detroit fielding from the pitching position as the worst in the American League. The Tigers have allowed the highest batting average on bunts in the Majors. Yup, PFP. Some things never change.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Appreciate the research; the numbers are pretty clear but somehow Leyland ignores them.
by keepitcomplicated on Aug 18, 2011 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions
There is no logical reason for these splits
other than Valverde takes a mental holiday when there is no “save situation”
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Defense and
spotty starting pitching are what preventing the Tigers from seizing control of what’s clearly the worst division in baseball. How frustrating must it be for Rays fans?
by keepitcomplicated on Aug 18, 2011 7:26 AM EDT reply actions
How do the tigers keep doing this to themselves?
Why can’t they beat a bottom-feeder in their own ball park with the division on the line? Man this is frustrating. My soul will be crushed if they lose the series to Cleveland. Also, bases loaded with no one out and it only produces one run on a sac fly? jeebus, you would think if the tigers were actually sacrificing some defense for offense they would actually get some offense.
Leyland might be forced to use Verlander against Cleveland even though he said he won’t. Hopefully not though. Go Tigers!
DETROIT RED WINGS – "war were declared"
I still don’t understand that move. Why give him the extra day off against the team chasing your for the division?
I understand wanting to give him the extra rest, but not at the expense of a team we’re trying to hold off.
If he pitched Sunday, his next scheduled would be Friday at Minnesota. Push him to Saturday. Then bring up a Mudhen for a spot start against the Rays to fill the gap. I know Leyland is just trying to take advantage of an off day, but it’s not an advantage if it costs us our Ace throwing against the team 2 games behind us.
Dancing Datsyuk Decidedly Dazzles Dainty Defensemen
Yeah, Im not sure
between that and keeping Betemit on the bench in place of Kelly it seems absurd. I think he’s a good manager and ultimately I think he puts the Tigers in position to win, but sometimes, geez.
What made tonight crappier is that Penny actually had a quality start (as far as they are defined anyway). 3 runs through six innings is not terrible and he put the tigers in position to grab control which they failed at.
DETROIT RED WINGS – "war were declared"
What if?
The Tigers lose the first two against the Tribe? Does Verlander walk in to Leyland’s office and say “give me the &*%$in ball?” Should he to save the series? Hopefully it doesn’t come to that, but…
I would hope that JV would do that if the situation arose
There’s really no reason to give him the extra day off right now.
JV would have to get an extra day off down the road
in order to still be lined up for the Chicago series in September, but that’s very doable, especially with rosters expanding.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Just wondering..
How do the Tigs stack up payroll wise with other clubs, i.e. the Tribe with roughly half the payroll yet they keep hanging around, the Dbacks in contention, the Rays who trade their top players year after year and still play tough with a lower payroll, the Brewers, Pirates…ect.
If not for JV the Tigs would be in trouble in a weak Central…
tigers were third in the division in payroll entering the season
behind sox (by a lot) and twins (by a little)
by Kurt Mensching on Aug 18, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
That payroll flexibility is an advantage that the Tigers have this year
both CHW and MIN are maxed out and can’t make any moves. Both were sellers at the deadline, at least in terms of salary movement. CLE made the big move for Ubaldo, but they also had a dire need in the outfield but passed on DY. Advantage: Tigers, at the moment.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Thank you for that info, Kurt
would like to your opinion though, on the smaller market clubs, specifically how they can compete with a MUCH smaller payroll, especially the Rays, who trade away and lose their top players to free agency year after year and can still compete without much fan support…
in the case of the Rays
it starts with year after year of finishing in last place and picking in the top 10. Remember they pretty much came out of nowhere in 2008 to get the World Series, before that they won 70 games once from 1998-2007. That’s 10 years of suck. They drafted early, drafted well, and could promote young cost-controlled players to the majors when they’re ready because they were replacing medoicre big leaguers. A few shrewd trades (Kazmir, Garza) and letting some high priced free agents walk because you’ve got a suitable replacement (Crawford) helps keep the young young talent pipeline full.
The Royals are doing essentially the same model, and they’ve built a terrific farm system.
[insert signature here]
by Mark in Chicago on Aug 18, 2011 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
small market, small payroll teams have long odds
Because there’s a lot of them, there will always be a team or two winning on a shoestring, but trying to compete year in and year out on a shoestring would leave fans disgusted most years.
The Tigers have not been as efficient with their spending as you’d like to see but in most years since 2006 you could point to them as having a chance to make the playoffs. They’ve seldom been an open-and-shut case and they’ve always had hoels you could point to. but trying to do it by loading up on prospects is basically a lightning in the bottle bet. I’d rather they spend money while keeping a couple prospects like Turner.
by Kurt Mensching on Aug 18, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
It takes a combination of moves- a balanced approach
from all sources. Draft, free agency, trades, international free agents, even some waiver claims and rule 5 picks. It also takes some luck. You acquire enough players and from the many will come a few good men.
Every team would like to acquire the top free agents every year, but few clubs can do that. The Tigers are basically an upper- middle class club that can get themselves a few free agents, lock up a few top rising stars, and the rest has to be moderately priced players whose value is suppressed while they’re under club control, and players who just aren’t worth that much but are efficient in their roles.
The problem with the Tigers’ approach, IMO, is that DD got away from the balanced approach that he used to assemble the 2006 Tigers. He shut down signing free agents almost completely, and signed everything in sight to a lucrative extension. Pretty much all of the extensions and options picked up blew up in his face and all the new free agents worked out well after 06. Some of that is chance, but much is bad decision making and overrating your own team’s talent level. Hopefully, the extensions to JV and Miggy will reverse the curse.
This past winter, the Tigers had a bundle coming off the payroll, yet stood pat at 2B, SS, 3B, RF, moved a RP to the rotation, and signed three free agents. The free agents are all doing well in their roles (Penny, meh) and DD is one for five with the stand pat moves. (Peralta). Not that the alternatives were great, but he’s been very good at trading, and I’d like to see more of that and less of the automatic extensions.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
I agree with your point that DD has gotten away from the best formula for winning, and hasn’t necessarily spent money wisely.. but I do think he’s unfairly criticized by many people in one area:
DD has shown a willingness to spend cash when given the ability to do so, and just because the team has XX money coming “off the books” doesn’t mean he has permission to spend the exact same dollar amount in that same off season. Maybe it was an option he had this year, but I tend to believe it wasn’t… history says he’d have spent the money somewhere.
There's more to it than just money
For example, there are always several fairly good relief pitchers that can be had for $ 1 mil, 2 mil on a one or two year deal, yet DD decides to go with the kids, to not replace Coke other than Benoit, even though the team was obviously lacking in the pen last year also. He spent 5.5 mil apiece on Inge and Peralta without really exploring other options. One worked out, one failed badly (again). No effort to upgrade 2B, spnet $ 10 mil to stand pat with Maggs, spent only 3 mil on the rotation for Penny with megabucks coming off the books in the rotation. Lots of ways to go, but DD remained in that comfort zone. Initially, I’m sure that he was having real problems getting players interested in Detroit. Don’t think that’s an issue now, though.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Not after last season
Maggs had a buyout if his $ 18 million option for 2010 didn’t vest, but he had a straight $ 15 million option for 2011, which the Tigers declined before they signed him to a one year, $ 10 million deal. I doubt he had better offers. Boras always needs two bidders to play against each other. If he doesn’t have them, he’ll make one up, and Kenny Williams allowed himself to be used. They weren’t going to sign Maggs after ponying up for Dunn, Konerko, and Punkzynski.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Thanks for the reply
but it just seems like this team can do better, we have both JV’s and a pretty solid lineup, but are still struggling to maintain the lead…DD seems to want to win it this year with some trades, but we are still only 2 or so games in front… kind of frustrating…
The rotation after JV has been inconsistent, at best
Numbers for Rick, Max, Fister line up with other contenders’ No. 4 starters. Need two to step up, big time, consistently.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
I think that at least some of the elevated non-save stats for closers
has to do with the psyche of the opposing hitters, who aren’t really expecting a win down by more than three runs. Of course, that doesn’t explain last night’s game, in which Valverde really didn’t pitch that poorly. Two botched bunts – one that was actually an out – were the key factors in that inning.
Rooting for Tiger stripes, not pinstripes
by JerseyTigerFan on Aug 18, 2011 11:31 AM EDT reply actions
anything you can do...
…to remove these Mauer Head & Shoulder ads from your page would be much appreciated…
He can't do that
The shampoo is sponsoring the website right now. Change your view from “narrow” to “wide” in the top right corner box of the page and that should help.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
Honest, I'm completely harmless. I make up in ALL CAPS and creative threats what I lack in actual violence.
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
I have never seen this Mauer ad that is the scorn of the blogosphere.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
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