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Time to find out if the Tigers are for real
It is not as if we did not know this was coming. We have been waiting for this for some time. Accomplishing something as good as making the postseason in Major League Baseball always come with a price. The price comes with that wrenching feeling in your stomach. You know, the one everybody has now that the Tigers have lost five straight games and lead the White Sox by only 5 1-2 games in the American League Central. Wait a second. Did I just write only 5 1-2 games? That is still a pretty big lead. The problem is this week. It has the Tigers playing three games in Boston against the Red Sox, while the White Sox have four games at home against the Royals. Yeah, the same Royals who were drilled 13-0 Sunday by the Indians. This could get really tight really soon. A part of me has suspected all along that the White Sox are a better team than the Tigers. But every time that notion has crept into my head, the Tigers have done something to dispel it. They have always bounced back this season. Consistency is their trademark. Who knows? Maybe that is what will happen again this week in Boston. I do know this, they have to field better - especially Carlos Guillen. That much is obvious, I suppose. I also know that the White Sox have already had their rough moment. They played very poorly in July - and survived. The Tigers have only themselves to blame for that as it relates to the American League Central title. The Tigers have given away too many games they should have won lately. Now it is coming back to haunt them. I still think the Tigers will make the playoffs, though.
Random thoughts
The best thing about the Lions preseason opener was the play of quarterback Dan Orlovsky. It looks like he has a bright future. The worst thing was the lack of passes thrown toward Mike Williams and Charles Rogers. How are they going to know what these guys can do if they do not throw them the ball?
I liked the Tigers deal for Sean Casey, but it seems to me he already has a lot of doubters around these parts despite a career batting average that tops .300.
Random thoughts
The best thing about the Lions preseason opener was the play of quarterback Dan Orlovsky. It looks like he has a bright future. The worst thing was the lack of passes thrown toward Mike Williams and Charles Rogers. How are they going to know what these guys can do if they do not throw them the ball?
I liked the Tigers deal for Sean Casey, but it seems to me he already has a lot of doubters around these parts despite a career batting average that tops .300.
posted by Pat Caputo at
3:09 AM
16 Comments:
Pat,
Saturday 5pm-ish
Best. Radio. Ever.
The Book, Boodini, mike and terry, it was like the dream team of dysfunctional sports radio. I was laughing the entire car ride. I think there might have even beeen some sports in there some where.
anyway
tigers - yikes
post all star break
miner 6.60 era
rogers 6.37
robertson 5.45
bonderman 4.70
This is a team that was pitching first. At what point do you pull rogers and minor for maroth and ledezma?
Pat,
Quick lions comment.
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Rogers & M. Williams combine for 2 passes and 3 balls thrown to them. What do we learn, nothing. Throughout this entire lions debacle, we've tried changing everything except one:
clap-clap-clapclapclap
FIRE MILLEN!!!!!!!!!!!
clap-clap-clapclapclap
FIRE MILLEN!!!!!!!!!!!
(and repeat)
Mr.Caputo: If the tigs don't start hitting and score 5 or 6 runs a game get the gas pipe out. Have to score runs to take some pressure off the pitching staff. Please catch the ball get some double plays. Seems like when they were at there best the tigs turned many more 2 for 1 ground balls. It may be just my memory i don't know what the stats say. Have to hit more home runs. Please you guys "no errors" Vinny
Nick p,
what you're talking about, pitching - and fielding - is what i wrote about in my column today in the print edition of the paper. this team is all about pitching and defense. that will make them or break them. right now it is breaking them.
caputo
j.t.
i do believe maroth will help them, but it is not going to be for awhile. bonderman and verlander are the key. they have to become very consistent and almost dominating forces or this race is going to become frantic down the stretch.
caputo
vinny,
you're point on home runs is important. chicago is a small park. they needed to hit some homers there to keep pace and didn't. it will be the same this week in boston. ordonez hasn't hit home runs lately. that is really hurting them.
caputo
Pat couldn't agree more. I tell you it was coming. The tigers hit a stretch where they are struggling a bit and everybody is ready to put them into the ground. Thi stretch is extremely important. They need to stay a float just a little bit. because I really like there september schedule. Pitching hasn't been all that bad. The defense behind us is what hurt us The offense wasn't that much better. I agree with them needing to a lot more selective at the plate. the tigers seem to be at there best when they are manufacturing runs. base hits drive the gaps. I think that is why they got casey. No crap soriano is better then casey. However, this is where monroe hits his streak. You didn't need him. And Dimitri has been pretty damn good. People just need to relax a bit. We are always so quick to give up. Hell the held onto the best record in baseball with out casey and soriano. The addressed the slumping shelton situation. My opinion Bonderman, Verlander, and Robertson have to be your startign three going into the playoffs they have been the most consistent. Having a rogers, maroth, ledezma, and miner in either bull pen or games 5, 6 and 7 isn't a bad situation to have. We are in good shape in my mind. That is we don't get to far behind in this stretch and I have a feeling the skip has one more bad game before he puts the team back in the right state of mind.
As for the lions.
I liked orvlosky last year and would have perfered him over harrington and garcia. I thought he looked the best in camp last year and looks pretty damn good this year. the kid has a good arm. Has to work on the smarts but that comes with experience. Martz offense overall looks like it will be a good fit. Take notes Mooch on how to adjust to the game. Lets face it Rogers is gone. He is screwing them on the 10 mil. they want back and so they are giving him a bad name back. I like Mike WIlliams for a down the middle type guy. HE is in year two give him a chance put him in a position to try and succeed if he doesn't then you have our answer, but give the guy a chance.
Mr. C. i feel the same way about ordonez. Did not want to mention his name this am as he seems to come through with runners on base. There are times when the team needs instant runs like a two run hr. I think what Mr. Ordonez needs is a big hr rbi guy like CWS Dye or someone else who makes the opposing manager think who should i pitch to. Wishfull thinking on my part. Tigs are overdue to get a guy like that from their farm system. It may be time to spend money to fill this spot. What ever happens i have enjoyed this team and season a real change for everyone. (p.s. don't trade Palanco.) Vinny
vinny,
they have tried to address their hitting situation in the early rounds of recent drafts, selecting players who put up gaudy numbers in college. in the last draft, they took the big ten and southeastern conference players of the year, both lacking most tools. but each possibly developing into solid hitters.
caputo
maddog52,
yeah. i have to admit i'm intriqued by orlovsky. he doesn't have a lot of mobility, but it seems to me like he has developed a better feel in the pocket than from what i remember of him in college. i sense has pretty good leadership qualities, too. of course - and i may be wrong about this because it is still early - but i don't think that kitna is the answer based on what i've observed so far.
caputo
You'd have to be a fool if you ever thought that Kitna was the answer. I mean yeah he had a nice season a couple years ago, but there is a reason why Cincy made the switch to palmer. He maybe ok, but log term no way he is the guy. I can see him starting this year, but I can see Dan. O if he continue to impress with the arm get the rains. I mean Warner and Bulger sucked prior to Martz.
BEst thing I saw SUnday in my mind. Bullocks and SIms. I know it is early but those kids were good in college and are off to a great start in the pros. It is nice to finally have a good linebacker with a nose for the ball like SPeilman.
Regarding lions recievers, you can learn how they run their routes, block, have the discipline to not commit penalties. You don't have to throw at them to see how they're playing. Regarding the bright spot of the game, it was the 1st-string offense being productive against Denver's starting defense. Contrast that to last year's 1st exhibition game: Lions starting O stunk. Things are looking up. To fire Millen would be stupid.
golf guru,
you make valid points about mike williams and rogers, but i feel they do need to throw the football a lot to them this preseason to see what they can do. as it stands right now, teams are going to be rolling their coverages toward roy williams and possibly take him out of games. they need one of these two guys to provide a threat to keep the pressure away from roy williams. that has nothing to do with how they block. i don't see mike williams doing that. he is not that fast. rogers is really fast. why not see if he can still translate that speed into making plays? at some point, they must make a decision with these guys. time to you-know-what or get off the pot. it's maddening they remain stuck somewhere in the middle.
caputo
maddog52,
i like what i've seen from bullocks and sims, too. the only questions i have is whether they passed on the next qb in leinart, and whether sims can avoid concussions.
caputo
Pat,
What a welcome performance by Nate Robinson; someone who tends to get overlooked as a major contributor to the staff. Monday's game was by no means an outstanding performance by the Tigers, but they did enough to get the job done, with a little help from the Bosox. While facing a lot of criticsm to not being patient at the plate, Curtis Granderson comes up to the plate, and smacks the first pitch of the game for a triple. So much for exposing their concern for waiting the pitcher out.
It was especially nice to see Sean Casey and Vance Wilson come through with the key hits of the evening, and Dmitri stinging the ball, while Leyland implemented his plan to rest the infield starters, who rarely have a day off; what... he worry?
Tonight Placido and Pudge are back, Inge sits, and "Bulldog" takes the mound against Schilling. Boston IS a different team without Varitek's presence. Hopefully, Bondo can keep it going, and dig down to deliver a gutty performance. Another win tonight would be the perfect shot in the arm to get the juices flowing again.
Garold,
i have to admit i was wrong about robertson. i didn't think he was a bulldog, but he is. tonight we'll find out of bonderman is cut of the same ilk.
caputo
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