During the off-season, a few observers thought the Justice League lineup the Detroit Tigers assembled might be capable of scoring 1,000 runs.  Apparently, the Tigers have decided they're going to spend September doing their best to reach that lofty number.  Over the past three games, no ballpark has been able to contain these guys. 

It was Home Run Derby at Comerica Park last night, with five balls getting launched into the seats off Oakland Athletics pitching.  It might just be easier to list the Tigers that didn't hit a home run last night.  But that would mean not mentioning Gary Sheffield, who not only had a fantastic night with two home runs and five RBIs, but also attached his name to one historically impressive number. 

Sheffield's second long ball of the evening was the 250,000th home run in major league history.  And his grand slam in the first inning was the 249,999th, which makes you wonder if someone in the dugout told him about that and he figured he might as well get the big number, too.  It's like the baseball equivalent of having the top two scores on an arcade video game. 

On the flip side, Oakland's Gio Gonzalez created a bit of history for himself, as well, becoming the roadkill underneath the Tigers' home run motorcade.  Gonzalez not only gave up #250,000, but also threw the pitches that resulted in #249,998 (hit by Magglio Ordonez) and 249,999.  That has to be worth at least a few appearances at card shows in the years to come. 

You think there's any chance Gonzalez posed with Maggs and Sheff for a photo after the game?  Nah...

One down note for the Tigers: Being handed a nine-run lead should really be enough for a starting pitcher. If you can't even get a decision with such a margin, you really didn't have a good night.  Zach Miner, we're looking at you.  Perhaps the focus wanes with an 11-3 lead and long breaks in the dugout.  But in his last two starts, Miner has allowed 13 runs and 19 hits in 10 1/3 innings.  Cause for concern?  Could the innings he's thrown be catching up to him?

Back to the positives, Sheff's two homers also put him four away from the 500 mark for his career.  Could he reach that number this season?  Probably not, with 18 games remaining on the schedule.  But it's possible, especially with some of the pitching the Tigers will be facing to close out the year. 

Another number worth keeping an eye on is Miguel Cabrera's season home run total.  As you know, the young man has been swinging a seriously hot bat in recent months (22 home runs since July 4) and his production has steadily moved him up the list of home run and RBI leaders.  With 116 RBIs, Cabrera is currently fourth in the majors.  But at 33 homers, he's second in the American League, and with Carlos Quentin's season-ending wrist injury, he has a decent shot at taking the lead in that category.  (Alex Rodriguez and Jermaine Dye are right behind him, with 32 home runs.)

We also probably shouldn't underestimate the power of Tigers bloggers' birthdays as a determining factor in this power surge.  Were those Detroit bats lifted in celebration for the births of Billfer and Samara?  It's a theory that shouldn't be discounted.  (I clearly missed the memo on birthdays when I signed up for this Tigers blogging gig.  I'm a June baby.)  Does the Tigersosphere have any more birthdays between now and September 28?  This could be an important question.

Before today's game, the Detroit Tigers announced which players they'll be adding from the minors once major league rosters can expand tomorrow.  However, the names not being added might draw as much attention as those joining the team.

First, who's up: Catcher Dusty Ryan, infielder Mike Hessman, and pitchers Freddy Dolsi, Clay Rapada, Chris Lambert will be added to Detroit's roster on Tuesday.  Dontrelle Willis will be called up from Toledo tomorrow, though it's not certain whether he'll be pitching in any games for the Tigers.  Another veteran pitcher coming up from the Mud Hens will be Freddy Garcia, but as of now, Detroit won't put him on the active roster.  That could change, however.

And that's it.  No Clete Thomas, no Brent Clevlen, no Michael Hollimon.  And perhaps more interestingly, no Francis Beltran or Francisco Cruceta added to the bullpen. (Never mind a top prospect like Casey Fien.)  

So what is to be made of this?  Jim Leyland said last week that he doesn't like overloading the roster in September, believing that his team should remain competitive (stop snickering!), rather than hold a "tryout camp."   But not calling up players who could presumably help the Tigers, not to mention provide a head start for off-season planning, is rather baffling. 

In Clete's case, one reason he might not have gotten the call is because he was put on the disabled list yesterday with a strained elbow.  But with Matt Joyce making a solid case to be next season's left fielder, along with Marcus Thames and Ryan Raburn needing playing time, maybe the Tigers just didn't think there was a spot for him (or Clevlen).  The Cult of Clete, of course, refuses to abide by this development. 

In terms of veteran experience, perhaps the Tigers are a better team with Aquilino Lopez and Gary Glover in their bullpen.  But I sure don't see it.  Why not give a live arm like Cruceta (60 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings with Toledo) another shot?  Or see how Fien (59 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings) can handle major league hitters for the first time?  (The organization could be worried about his innings.)  Maybe the Tigers feel Dolsi and Rapada will take up whatever innings are available for the minor league call-ups.  I hate playing devil's advocate. 

On the bright side, seeing Ryan get a chance to play in the majors should be exciting, as he could very well be Brandon Inge's back-up at catcher next season.  Between Erie and Toledo this year, Ryan is batting .260/.350/.496 with 17 home runs and 62 RBIs.  The soon-to-be 24-year-old also has good size at 6'4", 220 lbs.

To make room for Ryan and Hessman on the 40-man roster, Jeremy Bonderman and Vance Wilson were moved to the 60-day disabled list.

   Freddy Garcia is movin' on up... to Toledo.  After throwing two scoreless innings in Lakeland on Saturday, the Tigers are pushing him up to Triple-A and he'll start for the Mud Hens on Wednesday.

As Jason Beck points out on his blog, there's only so much time to pitch Garcia in Triple-A, with Toledo's season ending in a week.  He could conceivably get two starts with the Mud Hens, as currently scheduled.

   Maybe we could've guessed this when the Tigers opted for Chris Lambert to start on Tuesday, but Baseball Prospectus' John Perrotto hears rumblings that Dontrelle Willis won't be added to the Tigers' pitching staff when rosters can expand on September 1.

  The Spot Starters looks at the Tigers' final 32 games, breaking down what should be a favorable schedule.  But will it be?

   Minor League Chew takes a look at the Olympic performances of Mike Hessman and Blaine Neal.  Unfortunately, their experience in Beijing didn't go very well, with Neal giving up two homers in 3 2/3 innings and Hessman batting .091 with 11 strikeouts. 

(Making matters worse, Neal might be in the Tigers' bullpen right now, had he not been with the Olympic team the past three weeks.)

   Mack Avenue Tigers would like to see Nate Robertson get a shot at the closer job.  But get that slider back first.  (Yesterday's outing may have gone a long way toward that.)

   Did you know... if Gary Sheffield hits his 500th homer with the Tigers, he'll be the first guy to ever do it in a Detroit uniform?

   Who is Matt Lindstrom?  He's the pitcher Detroit wanted from the Marlins in exchange for Pudge Rodriguez.  Lindstrom has 32 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings (with 17 walks and 39 hits) for the Marlins this season.  The Miami Herald called him a "potential future closer." 

(via The Cutoff Man)

   Speaking of Pudge, he's "very happy" with the Yankees.  Before reading, just remember that grinding your teeth will wear away that enamel.  Not good for you.

   Over at Baseball Prospectus, David Laurila talked to former Tiger Travis Fryman, who's now managing in the Cleveland Indians system.  Among the topics discussed were Tiger Stadium, moving from shortstop to third base, playing alongside Alan Trammell, and Ernie Harwell.

(Hat tip to Jay from Let's Go Tribe)

   Today is the day Freddy Garcia throws for the dozen or more teams that might be interested in signing him, if healthy.  Is this a move the Tigers should still consider making or has it now become pointless?

(via MLB Trade Rumors)

   Which Detroit starting pitchers like to eat more on the days their turn comes up in the rotation?  That is one of the things to be learned from this Steve Kornacki article on pre-game preparations.

  Based on the eyeball test (or a check of any stats page), we knew Nate Robertson was bad this season.  But how bad, exactly?  Blake lays it out in excruciating, stats-backed detail at The Spot Starters.

  If you need something to feel optimistic or hopeful about, in regards to the Tigers' bullpen, Lynn Henning has a report on Detroit's crop of relievers from this year's draft.  So far, they're all looking good.

  Mike Hessman hit two home runs yesterday for Team USA, in an exhibition contest against Canada.  The Americans hit four home runs altogether, in a 17-5 victory.  The U.S. Baseball team leaves for the Beijing Olympics this week, and their first game will be against Korea on August 13.

   Over at The Spot Starters, Blake rounded up a few Tigers bloggers for an All-Star break "State of the Tigers" panel.  I joined Kurt of Mack Avenue Tigers, Lee of Tiger Tales, Bill from The Detroit Tigers Weblog, and Blake himself to discuss several pertinent topics including Justin Verlander's second half, the Gary Sheffield dilemma, who could finish the season strong, and which off-season deal to call a Mulligan on.

Thanks to Blake for inviting me onto the panel.

  Lee and Kurt weren't finished talking Tigers with us, however.  They also participated in Life in the Cell's mid-season report on Detroit's baseball team.  Jeeves is doing this for each of the teams in the AL Central.

  I already knew Big Al might be a better man than me, but his willingness to post in-depth mid-season grades (something I just couldn't bring myself to do) for each part of the Tigers' roster confirms that.  You can read the grades for starting pitching, bullpen, infield, and outfield in separate posts at The Wayne Fontes Experience.

And as you should expect, Big Al was far more harsh - and honest - than Jon Paul Morosi was with his grades.  I'm convinced that Morosi either made out those grades in the middle of the clubhouse with the entire team watching, or had each player grade himself.  Though your perspective is obviously different when you cover a team each day.  

  At Take 75 North, Matt examines how the Toledo Mud Hens will be affected by Mike Hessman and Blaine Neal leaving to play with the USA Baseball team in the Beijing Olympics. 

  Christina Kahrl has a Transaction Analysis of the AL Central at Baseball Prospectus ($$), looking at each team's recent big moves, gaping holes and potentially cool (and underrated) moves.

  Finally, two housekeeping items: 

1)  If you have a Facebook account, have you signed up for the Bless You Boys page?  If you're taking any photos or videos from the ballpark that you'd like to share with others, this is a fun place to post them.  Someone added some pretty cool pictures from the recent fan appreciation effort when he and a buddy were able to play catch on the Comerica Park field.

2)  I also just started a BYB Twitter page, which has a feed for each blog entry, but I'm hoping to post items that might be too short to warrant a full post by itself or just pass along some Tigers news and thoughts for the day.

Earlier today, USA Baseball announced its roster for the 2008 Olympic Baseball team, and a familiar face will be among those headed to Beijing.  Toledo Mud Hens third baseman Mike Hessman was one of the 23 (with a 24th to be named by July 22) players who will compete in the baseball tournament held from August 13 to 23.  (The Beijing Games will be played from August 8 to 24.)  

But Hessman wasn't the only Mud Hen selected to the Olympic Baseball team.  Closer Blaine Neal will also be on the roster selected by manager Davey Johnson and general manager Bob Watson.

In 419 plate appearances with Toledo this season, Hessman is batting .266/.368/.596 with 30 home runs and 68 RBIs.  Neal has pitched in 33 games for the Mud Hens, compiling a 1-0 record with 23 saves, and 36 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.  Both players were also named to the International League All-Star team (along with teammate Brent Clevlen) earlier this month.

The United States returns to Olympic competition after failing to qualify for tournament play for the 2004 Games in Athens.  In 2000, the U.S. team won the Gold medal over Cuba at the Sydney Games.  This will be the fourth Olympic Games USA Baseball has competed in since baseball became a medal sport in 1992. 

You can view the complete roster, which is made up almost entirely of professional ballplayers, at USABaseball.com.