tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-297643832024-03-07T16:34:38.517-05:00Open Book: A Sports BlogPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.comBlogger2773125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-78832376433321914282015-08-17T11:31:00.003-04:002015-08-17T11:54:59.122-04:00A comeback for golf?Golf has been in crisis mode. Tiger Woods, who had spurred golf's emergence to the masses, ran into trouble off the course after being injured, and simply hasn't been the same, not winning a major since the 2008 U.S. Open. The Great Recession hurt golf even more than other industries at the participation level. It's also a difficult game that takes considerable time to play and learn, Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-91201187536127856712015-08-04T11:29:00.000-04:002015-08-04T11:58:58.739-04:00On the passing of Mel FarrWhen I was in elementary school, I remember going to Cranbrook and watching the Lions practice during training camp. Among the players I remember seeing were Mel Farr and Charlie Sanders, both of whom died recently, Farr on Monday.
I was hooked on football from that point forward to the point, where even to this day, I look forward to the start of Lions' training camp, which happened to be Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-46362783635059629962015-08-01T14:55:00.002-04:002015-08-01T19:19:01.176-04:00Perspective about what the Tigers got for being sellers at the trade deadlineI thought the Tigers did well in their role as "sellers" at the trade deadline, considering the circumstances. All three of the assets they "sold" (David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Joakim Soria) are eligible for free agency after the season, and the teams that acquired them can't get a draft pick in return should they leave as free agents.
But the degree the Tigers have helped Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-66431078874358519212015-07-18T23:24:00.001-04:002015-07-18T23:27:17.464-04:00The most difficult aspect to understand about the current state of the TigersThe Tigers have had a lot of issues this season as they've floundered to a .500 record, even after the All Star break.
The most tangible explanation is their pitching is just mediocre. Ah, that was before they were one-hit Saturday night by the Orioles and lost despite an excellent start by David Price.
One thing I'm perplexed about is why the Tigers aren't better at home. They Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-47979429304247460182015-07-15T14:05:00.001-04:002015-07-16T02:27:59.591-04:00History and what it suggests about the Tigers reaching postseasonThe Tigers are 44-44 after 88 games. Does it give them a realistic shot at making the playoffs as a wild card now that there is a one-game playoff between two teams? The past suggests they are fighting an uphill climb. This is a breakdown of where the wild card teams stood after 88 games since the one-game playoff was implemented in 2012:
2012 - NL Cardinals (46-42) Braves (Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-32144002487647942302015-07-02T14:25:00.001-04:002015-07-02T14:25:55.862-04:00Help from the minor league for Tigers bullpen? Here's one possibilityJeff Ferrell has been under the radar in the Tigers' farm system - and with good reason.
He was a 26th-round draft pick out of junior college. He was just another OK minor league starter his first years in professional baseball.
But moved into the closer's role at Double-A Erie this season, he thrived with 12 saves in 13 opportunities, a 1.76 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 27 innings. His WHIP wasPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-18132491549014204192015-07-01T22:27:00.004-04:002015-07-01T22:27:27.800-04:00Should the Tigers release Joba Chamberlain? My thoughtsPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-65726640371211430702015-06-30T21:39:00.002-04:002015-06-30T21:39:25.999-04:00My thoughts on Justin Verlander's outing - and James McCannThere are two ways of looking at Justin Verlander's outing tonight. One is that he used to deal like Gerrit Cole is for the Pirates tonight, and doesn't anymore. The other, is Verlander did make progress. He adjusted well after a bad start and kept the Tigers in the game. I think he is going to contribute significantly to the Tigers as the season moves on. He did hit 96 mph and started to show Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-41317392212080012902015-06-23T11:46:00.000-04:002015-06-23T11:49:42.213-04:00How the Tigers at 70 games stack up to notable teams from their pastAre the Tigers contenders or pretenders this season? This is how the current edition of the Tigers stacks up against their recent teams, and some of their most notable teams of the past:
2015 - 36-34, 5 1-2 games out AL Central
2014 - 38-32, half-game up AL Central (lost ALDS to Baltimore).
2013 - 39-31, 3.5 games up AL Central (won ALDS over Oakland, lost ALCS to Boston).
2012 - 34-36,Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-8148217078857284142015-06-22T23:05:00.001-04:002015-06-23T11:46:46.866-04:00The bad part of the Tigers' 7-5 win over Cleveland WednesdayPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-43164717000230595242015-06-08T23:49:00.000-04:002015-06-09T00:11:13.516-04:00My thoughts on Detroit Tigers first two draft picks
Kyle Funkhouser
The Tigers' 2015 MLB Draft is going to be defined by two factors. They stretched a bit, in my opinion, by taking Beau Burrows, a high school pitcher from Texas, a shorter (6-0) right-hander, who throws hard (mid 90s) at 22nd overall. With the next pick, Nick Plummer, the outfielder from Birmingham Brother Rice High School, was chosen by St. Louis. He was expected to go Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-846372371957072842015-05-27T13:40:00.001-04:002015-05-27T20:32:44.672-04:00Some observations after watching the Lions OTA Wednesday- Eric Ebron dropped a couple passes in individual drills, but made some good plays during the team portion of the workout. You can see a sense of purpose with Ebron's effort and the way he is being pushed by the coaching staff. When asked about Ebron after the OTA, head coach Jim Caldwell kind of put him in the category of "all young players." Yet, it's obvious the expectation is dramatic Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-50967631382055943392015-05-24T15:27:00.002-04:002015-05-24T15:27:41.058-04:00About Anibal Sanchez and his recent strugglesThere are many concerns about Tigers Anibal Sanchez, and they are more than understandable. Is hurt? How come he is allowing so many home runs?
Sunday Sanchez was lit up like a pinball machine by the Houston Astros, blowing a lead and despite striking out 11. He doesn't appear to be the same pitcher he was in 2013 when he won the AL ERA title at 2.57.
Sanchez's pitches Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-40887654380126042592015-05-21T14:36:00.002-04:002015-05-21T14:40:21.054-04:00An improved Nick Castellanos? How evidence is starting to suggest itNick Castellanos' traditional statistics weren't bad for a 22-year-old rookie last year, but the Tigers' third baseman's advanced metrics were disappointing. He had a negative WAR (minus 1.4 baseball-reference.com version). His defensive ratings across the board were shocking below average. He had a high percentage of extra base hits, but otherwise his offensive statistics were not Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-56751568251890508622015-05-18T19:47:00.002-04:002015-05-19T12:28:47.602-04:00The Tigers, Victor Martinez and what to doYou must appreciate Victor Martinez and his desire to play with less than perfect health, but seldom has it ever been more apparent a player belongs on the disabled list. He is not only limping, but his knee ailment is clearly causing him issues hitting left-handed. His at bats during the Tigers' 3-2 loss to Milwaukee didn't look good. He hasn't been himself all season. The idea ofPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-5857317604281969492015-05-10T21:34:00.002-04:002015-05-11T10:42:43.719-04:00Is Shane Greene a Rick Porcello clone? Not really. This is why not One of the upsides about Shane Greene, at least when projected by the Tigers, is that he would throw harder and miss more bats than Rick Porcello, therefore reducing the margin for error.
Instead, Greene has been a groundball machine much like Porcello. especially tonight.
Greene's fastball velocity is down from last season when he was with the Yankees, from 93.5 to 92.4 according to Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-61671627892390702902015-05-07T00:05:00.002-04:002015-05-07T00:05:58.793-04:00My thoughts after Joba Chamberlain and Tigers loss to White Sox WednesdayPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-20699805511491077542015-05-06T23:03:00.002-04:002015-05-06T23:12:13.951-04:00Thoughts after seven innings Tigers, White Sox Wednesday- The Tigers need to consider sitting Nick Castellanos so he can pull himself together. He is really struggling and a break would help.
- His career numbers suggest Al Alburquerque is a serviceable reliever, but he really isn't. He simply can't be trusted in any type of situation with a lead or to hold runners. He is having a very disappointing season and if he isn't careful could Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-22807383389335488142015-05-05T22:58:00.001-04:002015-05-05T22:58:03.220-04:00A silver lining in the cloud of the Tigers' 5-2 loss to the White Sox Tuesday?Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-10648085810124366692015-05-05T21:29:00.001-04:002015-05-05T21:29:34.319-04:00My thoughts on Shane Greene and Tigers after three innings Tuesday- If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Guess that is the lesson of Shane Greene early this season. Tonight's start was alarming because he looked confused, like he was focusing too much on his mechanics (he is trying to throw on a more downward plane with his two-seam fastball to get more sink on the pitch)rather than just slinging it, which he was doing so confidently Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-66743647081756293792015-05-02T19:06:00.001-04:002015-05-02T19:06:01.334-04:00Why the Lions should be improved after 2015 NFL DraftMy column: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150502/pat-caputo-why-detroit-lions-should-be-improved-after-2015-nfl-draft
Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-38374759373522573852015-05-01T21:28:00.000-04:002015-05-02T00:16:50.619-04:00My thoughts on Ameer Abdullah as the Lions second-round NFL Draft pickUpdated - My column on Lions draft after three rounds: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150502/pat-caputo-ameer-abdullah-could-make-or-break-2015-nfl-draft-for-detroit-lions
Don't get me wrong. I love Ameer Abdullah and his competitiveness. By all accounts he is a great kid. But I don't see him as an explosive back, who is going to take the ball to the house with any level of Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-79706576247734848062015-05-01T00:41:00.001-04:002015-05-01T00:41:21.734-04:00Right idea, but Lions may reached by taking Laken Tomlinson in first roundMy column: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150501/pat-caputo-right-idea-but-did-detroit-lions-reach-taking-guard-laken-tomlinson-in-first-round
Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-8678217009165212932015-04-29T23:38:00.002-04:002015-04-29T23:45:57.903-04:00My thoughts and column on Red Wings' playoffs ouster and futures of Mike Babcock, Petr Mrazek and Jimmy Howard
My column. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150429/pat-caputo-detroit-red-wings-tampa-bay-lightning-and-how-the-better-team-barely-wonPat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29764383.post-16544358536217524452015-04-29T11:24:00.003-04:002015-04-29T19:39:42.485-04:00Right idea, but oddly arbitrary NHL decision to suspend Niklas Kronwall for Game 7Niklas Kronwall did leave his feet to strike Nikita Kucherov Monday night during the Red Wings' Game 6 Stanley Cup playoff loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It's the type of dangerous hit that has no place in hockey, nor any sport for that matter..
But if the NHL is going to take measures such as suspending Kronwall, the Red Wings' best defenseman and in some ways their most Pat Caputohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05102662407927366439noreply@blogger.com0