I don't know if there's a way to quantify this exactly, but if the Detroit Tigers make the playoffs this season, will they be the first team to do so despite its trade deadline acquisitions?
Jarrod Washburn has started badly in four of the five games he's pitched for the Tigers since coming over from the Seattle Mariners. But today, he kind of redefined the idea of starting badly. Tampa's first six batters reached base, and put six runs on the scoreboard before Washburn even recorded an out.
Washburn was victimized by some bad luck during that stampede. Consecutive doubles by Ben Zobrist and Pat Burrell were blooped over the infield, dropping into just the right spot where no Tigers defenders could reach them. Those two hits drove in three runs. But floating a fastball up and out over the plate for Carlos Pena to smash over the right-field fence was all on Washburn.
Falling behind so badly, Jim Leyland really had no choice but to hang his starter out to dry. Why waste the bullpen with no off-day this week? Washburn finally limped off the field in the sixth inning, having given up eight runs on nine hits. He also walked three batters and served up two homers.
With mere hours before the waiver trade deadline, I wondered if it occurred to Dave Dombrowski to try and ask the Mariners for a refund? Because so far, this transaction is most definitely not working out to the Tigers' satisfaction.
Whimper:
Detroit's other late-season acquisition isn't yielding much return, either. Aubrey Huff did nothing to help his team overcome Washburn's meltdown, batting 0-for-4 (though he did reach base once, due to an error).
And Ryan Perry spilled the bucket in mop-up duty. When he goes bad, he tends to make it count. In the seventh inning, four of the first six batters he faced reached base, resulting in another three runs. Whatever slim chances the Tigers had at a comeback fizzled out after that.
Purr:
Carlos Guillen had a fantastic day at the plate, batting 4-for-5 with two home runs. Whether it's because he's swinging with two hands or fresher legs from playing the outfield give him more drive in his swing, Guillen has become a pretty formidable left-handed power threat. Unfortunately, it was completely lost amidst the Rays' onslaught today.
Comment of the Day:
I realize this was a practical question, but it seems like you could add so much more meaning to it.
can we call this a "get away game" if they aren't going anywhere?
by murrajo