It is difficult to discern whether the Tigers should be happy or not about what transpired in New York over the weekend. On one hand, it was great. The White Sox were swept in three games by the Yankees while the Tigers took three-of-four from the Royals. Detroit�s two-game lead in the American League Central at the All-Star break became a 4 1-2 game spread with the snap of fingers. But in the process, the Tigers lost a game on the Yankees, who seem to be their likely competition for a wild card spot if the Tigers do not win the A.L. Central. Before this happened, the last time I posted on this blog, I wrote that, player-by-player, I thought the White Sox are a better team than the Tigers. I still believe it for position players, but not pitching. Mark Buehrle has been awful lately, and Freddie Garcia is not even hitting 90 mph on the radar gun. The White Sox lack bullpen depth, so if their starters do not chew up innings, they are in trouble. After the way the White Sox played against Boston before the All Star break, and in New York following the break, the epic three-game series between the White Sox and the Tigers starting Tuesday at Comerica Park figures to be a bigger test for Chicago than for Detroit. For the Tigers, it is a great opportunity. If they sweep the White Sox, they are looking at a 7.5-game lead. The Tigers can blow the division race open if they do that. If they merely win two-of-three, they will be 5.5 up. And even if Chicago sweeps, the Tigers will still be 1.5 games ahead. The White Sox are vulnerable right now. It is up to the Tigers to take advantage of it.
Note: I will be updating this blog following all three of the games in the Tigers-White Sox series.
Random thoughts
- You want to know why Jim Leyland is a great manager. It is because he has the guts to do the right things, such as resting Ivan Rodriguez, Placido Polanco and Magglio Ordonez on Sunday. People forget that Pudge and Polanco have had back problems this year, and that Ordonez has been playing with a bad leg. It was a day game after a night game on a beastly hot afternoon. Pudge and Ordonez are not rested from the All-Star game because both played in it after taking cross-country flights from Seattle. The way Leyaland is handling these guys means they should be relatively fresh for the stretch run.
- It is difficult to believe the Angels are only a game and a half off the lead in the A.L. West, and that the Braves are just 5.5 games out in the N.L. wild card race. Both those clubs were left for dead at the side of the road a few weeks ago.
- His shooting lacks consistency, but Flip Murray is a scrappy player who should fit in well with the Pistons. He did a lot of things to help Seattle win a lot of games before he was traded to Cleveland.
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17 Comments:
I think Flip has the ability to score big time and can be a spark coming off our bench. However, dont you think he has an attitude problem. He pouted in Seattle about not getting the type of playing time he wanted behind Ray Allen, and he wasnt happy in Cleveland with Lebron after he had all the opportunity to start once Larry Hughes went down with the hand injury.
It just seems like this was the type of player Dumars would have stayed away from the past couple of years now he is almost forced to sign him because there really isnt anyone else for him to grab.
jason,
i agree, but he does have some athleticism to do what is necessary to help the pistons with their more uptempo style. he plays pretty good defense. and it's like the muhammad signing, beggers can't be choosers. the free agent crop isn't very good and dumars obviously doesn't want to mess with the nucleus of the four remaining starters and mcdyess.
caputo
Pat,
Big series for the tigs. Good call on updating your blog daily for this. But I don't see this being as big a series everyone says. This series is absolutely huge if either side sweeps, but if we go 2-1 or 1-2, its only a one game move in the stands either way. That really isn't a big deal. Going game by game...
garland v robertson, this is the toss up game
vazquez v bonderman this is a tigs lock IF bondy avoids the big inning early
contreras v rogers lock for the sox, rogers has been lousy as of late, contreras has been very good this year.
I think this has the potential to be a big series as the tigers have a small chance of sweeping, and the white sox have no chance of sweeping.
but again, we'll see.
glad to see you pick the tigs picthing over white sox
That heat was brutal yesterday too. I've heard people complaining about giving those guys days off because of the break being right behind them, but I agree with you Pat. No sense wearing out your big guns when you have the White Sox coming to town.
nick p,
it's a bigger series in terms of perception than reality. perception is the tigers can't beat the "big boys." And they haven't played a series of any great magnitude in so long, the fact this series will generate a lot of attention this late in the season is unique from the tigers point of view. As for reality, the standings, obviously winning or sweeping the series would help, but any way it goes, there is still a lot of the season remaining. i agree. this is by no means a "do-or-die" series.
caputo
Nick P,
Even a one game swing is big though. A five and a half game lead doesn't sound like a lot, but historically, a lead like that stands more times then not.
This should be the most interesting trade deadline for the Tigers in a long time. Should be interesting to see who adds first. If the White Sox make a move (Ken Griffey?) will that force the Tigers hand. Or if the Tigers pull the trigger first and get Abreau, will that force the White Sox to make a deal to keep up.
Fun times either way. It's been a great ride so far.
brian,
i think you're right on. jim leyland would never admit this, but it makes sense to gear up for a series against the white sox.
caputo
thinkingman,
i thought the white sox high ERAs were the result of their small ball park. But after watching a couple of their pitchers throw lately, it is obvious their velocity is down and they aren't the same. Maybe it's mechanics, or in the case of Garcia, overuse because of the World Baseball Classic.
caputo
Pistons:
Personally I don't think the Pistons are going to be that much different next year. However, I would like to see Joe put together some sort of move with those two draft picks possibly Dale Davis or Alex Acker and maybe get a guy like Chris Wilcox or even another legitimate big man that can get a double double like a Jamal Magloire to come off the bench. Like you said Joe has done "nothing". He still has some leverage to improve. With out selling the farm just yet. Has Dupree become the Ausmus of the Pistons. How many times we going to sign that guy.
Tigers:
I really think this is a huge series for these guys. Finally show the world what htey are made of. Yes this season is a great story. However, the respect comes with beating teams like the White Sox to show them you are for real. Send them guys a message. With the Yankees and Red Sox even the Blue Jays playing great ball who knows. I'd like to also say. Personally we have to go with Soriano over Abreu. Personally I like Thymes as a DH or LEft Fielder. ABreu isn't doing much better then Thymes. Monroe fine good bye. Grant it I wouldn't sell the farm, but I truely believe if the chance is there WIN now. Worry later. SO I say do what ever you can to get soriano. YOu can only keep so many guys in the rotation anyways. Eventually you are going to have to trade some talent away.
I have the same feeling that I had when the tigers were up againts St, louis for the world series. I thought Bob Gibson was too good to beat. A lot of gamblers had the same idea and lost a lot of money. A St. Louis scout reported, Denny was good but Lolich was their best pitcher. How right he was and the joy when Flood missed played that that ball hit to centre field...V
thinkingman,
the tigers are not close to making a deal for soriano. discussions are just heating up on that one. they obviously have interest. their primary competition for him is going to come from the angels. they are suddenly in the race because their starters have pitched so well. they are, however, desperate for offensive help. and they also have something to offer the nationals the tigers don't have - a catcher. because napoli has done so well this season, it has made jeff mathis expendable. there is a derth of catching in the major leagues beyond the usual, but it's even worse for washington. remember the matt lecroy situation? robert fick is their backup. Mathis was a more highly regarded prospect than napoli and he is having a good season at triple-a and is ready. he fits the m.o. of what the nationsls are looking for. the tigers have no catching prospects of note. if the angels offer mathis in this deal, it's over. they will get soriano.
caputo
thinkingman,
on jurjens and cleven...
both are solid prospects. jergens is a thin righthander with a decent fastball, but hardly one that falls in the overpowering category. He lacks one pitch that makes him exceptional, but has improved his command this season and is having a very good year. He'll pitch in the major leagues some day, but it doesn't appear he has a real high ceiling. Cleven is a good all-around athlete, but lacks one great tool that stands out. He might have some power potential, but at this stage strikes out way too much. He, too, will play in the major leagues someday, but it's a longshot that he will have a major impact.
caputo
maddog52,
I still see the pistons winning 50-plus games, but it appears as if window of opportunity to win a title has closed. It seems like the rest of the eastern conference has gotten better and they have regressed. I do like the flip murray signing. as for your trade proposals, I don't see those happening. As for the tigers, abreu is not in the picture at the present time. the focus is on soriano.
caputo
v,
good points. history has taught us that baseball is perhaps the most unpredictable of sports. many, many times the improbable has happened. the tigers this season are more proof.
caputo
What about Kelsko? He is injured, but might come cheap. If he can show he is healthy and will waive his no-trade clause why not throw the Pads a mid-level prospect for him? He also said he might retire at the end of the season another reason why he might be had for a little less.
Still don't like going after Soriano, we don't need another free swinging player...we have enough of those. If we are going to give up that much, then why not spend a little more and go after Bobby Abreu.
wombat,
klesko is a good player if he is healthy, but that's a big "if" a this point. i agree with you about soriano. there is a downside. it would be a gamble, but it might be worth taking because there is such an upside. he is extraordinarily talented. as for abreu, beyond any on-field evaluations, is that he has a no-trade clause and is looking to seal up a long-term deal before waiving it. soriano doesn't carry that baggage.
caputo
daver,
understand what you're saying, but i was talking about the 2003 marlins, not the team that was bought in '97 - and like the tigers, no one, in my view, could have reasonably predicted the level of success.
caputo
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