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On Nate, New Lions QB, MSU RBs and Tigers Indoors
Nate Robertson will get another start for the Tigers Thursday.
It’s iffy how well he will do, although the Indians are not a strong hitting club.
Robertson doesn’t throw quite as hard as he used to. There isn’t nearly as much bite to his slider, which is his key pitch. And even at his best, he was essentially a .500 pitcher. Dave Dombrowski made a mistake giving him such a big and lengthy contract.
But Nate Robertson has a good quality that may trump others. You hear it said a lot, but I’ll say it again - he’s a bulldog. He will fight the good fight. He reminds me a little bit of Walt Terrell back in the day. He didn’t bring that much with him to the mound, either, but he got the most out of what he had. Robertson was throwing a little better against Tampa Bay Saturday than earlier in the season, although I’m not sure if the results weren’t misleading. But he did earn another shot, right? Glad he is getting it. It’s not like the Tigers are overflowing with options for the final spot in the rotation.
Random Thoughts
- Birmingham Brother Rice’s Caulton Ray winning the starting running back spot at Michigan State surprised me. The redshirt freshman is in a tough fight as a 3-star recruit competing against incoming freshmen, Oak Park’s Edwin Baker and Battle Creek’s Larry Caper - both 4-star recruits.
Ray is a little undersized, but is obviously a tough runner, who hasn’t backed down from the competition. It figures to remain fierce.
- It can say much for quarterback Kevin O’Connell, claimed on waivers by the Lions this week, that he was released by New England just a year after being selected in the third round of the draft. It’s my understanding he isn’t much of a downfield passer. Oh, by the way, his college coach at San Diego State was Chuck Long. Yikes.
- Indoor baseball and the Tigers don’t mix. They are 3-10 this season, and 6-21 the last two years, playing indoors.
They have six indoor games remaining down the stretch, three at Tampa Bay this weekend, and later at Minnesota.
The Tigers have lost five of their last six games at Tampa Bay, in 2007 and 2008. They are 3-12 at Minnesota this season and last, including 1-5 this season. Their one victory at Minnesota in 2009 took 16 innings.
It’s iffy how well he will do, although the Indians are not a strong hitting club.
Robertson doesn’t throw quite as hard as he used to. There isn’t nearly as much bite to his slider, which is his key pitch. And even at his best, he was essentially a .500 pitcher. Dave Dombrowski made a mistake giving him such a big and lengthy contract.
But Nate Robertson has a good quality that may trump others. You hear it said a lot, but I’ll say it again - he’s a bulldog. He will fight the good fight. He reminds me a little bit of Walt Terrell back in the day. He didn’t bring that much with him to the mound, either, but he got the most out of what he had. Robertson was throwing a little better against Tampa Bay Saturday than earlier in the season, although I’m not sure if the results weren’t misleading. But he did earn another shot, right? Glad he is getting it. It’s not like the Tigers are overflowing with options for the final spot in the rotation.
Random Thoughts
- Birmingham Brother Rice’s Caulton Ray winning the starting running back spot at Michigan State surprised me. The redshirt freshman is in a tough fight as a 3-star recruit competing against incoming freshmen, Oak Park’s Edwin Baker and Battle Creek’s Larry Caper - both 4-star recruits.
Ray is a little undersized, but is obviously a tough runner, who hasn’t backed down from the competition. It figures to remain fierce.
- It can say much for quarterback Kevin O’Connell, claimed on waivers by the Lions this week, that he was released by New England just a year after being selected in the third round of the draft. It’s my understanding he isn’t much of a downfield passer. Oh, by the way, his college coach at San Diego State was Chuck Long. Yikes.
- Indoor baseball and the Tigers don’t mix. They are 3-10 this season, and 6-21 the last two years, playing indoors.
They have six indoor games remaining down the stretch, three at Tampa Bay this weekend, and later at Minnesota.
The Tigers have lost five of their last six games at Tampa Bay, in 2007 and 2008. They are 3-12 at Minnesota this season and last, including 1-5 this season. Their one victory at Minnesota in 2009 took 16 innings.
posted by Pat Caputo at
2:12 PM
4 Comments:
Good point about indoor play.
Well, not good if we're looking for optimism.
Robertson did indeed earn a second start in my book. If he keeps it up - it will be good to have him back - I was skeptical - wondering why we kept him at all. So far it looks like I owe Nate an apology ... so far.
But we still have two left to play with Cleveland, and but for the grace of the baseball gods, we could be having Cleveland's season. They're not a bad ballclub - and they have an axe to grind a point to make. This is a team to be wary of.
Like Kansas City in the last series against the Tigers in '06.
Oh, and I told you a couple weeks ago that I didn't feel Minnesota was going to be a threat ...
well I'm feeling it now brother.
Fred Brill,
The good part from the Tigers standpoint is they have a lot of home games, too. Should balance it out. Key will not be turning those trips into a disaster - Not getting swept.
Caputo
Don't know why? but I hate the schedule in Sept maybe because I don't like the teams.
For some reason I can't stand Kansas City or Toronto and I can barely tolerate the Indians.
I believe Baseball In Canada rubs me Like Hockey in Tennesse it just ain't right. it must be the uniform colors eh? or yaw.
In doorbaseball should be banned!
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