Willis and Jackson make their return to Comerica

Former Tigers, Edwin Jackson and Dontrelle Willis roll into Comerica Park this weekend, with their new team, The Arizona Diamondbacks. Jackson is having a rather subpar year, so far he is 3-6 with a 5.18 ERA. He has walked 35 while striking out 75. A 1.43 WHIP hasn’t exactly helped him.

The D-Train has made two starts for the Diamondbacks and hasn’t looked terrible so far. He still has control problems as he has walked 10 in 10 IP for the DBacks. I loved the D-Train while he was in Detroit. He was one guy I always rooted for, and I wish him the best in Arizona. Hopefully he can put it all together, and get back to the way he used to be. I just hope that the turn around doesn’t start tonight.

The Tigers, winners of 6 in a row, look to keep that winning streak going tonight as they send Mr. Perfect, Armando Galarraga to the hill. This guy has been fantastic since he was called up from Toledo. LETS GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!

It’s Boesch Time!

Brennan Boesch is by far the most impressive rookie I have seen play this year. This kid, who for the record, wasn’t rated in the Detroit Tigers top 30 prospects, continues to kill the fucking ball. I love Brennan’s baseball philosophy, “See Ball, Hit Ball”. That is exactly what he does. He rips the cover off the ball. It’s an absolute joy to watch.

He did it again tonight against the Nationals. The youngster went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI’s including a mammoth 3 run homer off of Livan Hernandez in the 7th. You knew the second that you seen him make contact that this ball was out of here, an absolute no doubter.  

I should also mention that Justin Verlander went 8 solid innings, including 11 k’s. This was the first time all year that Verlander had reached double digit strikeouts. Verlander did give up 2 long balls early in the game, but you know what they say “no harm, no foul.”

If we could only play bottom tier National League teams for the rest of the year. Bondo looks to complete the sweep tomorrow and the way he’s been pitching I’d say there’s a good chance of it happening.

‘Gers Beat the Nats

7-4 was the final score, the Tigers had a fine offensive performance including a 3 run shot by Ryan Raburn. Max Scherzer struck out 9, and gave up 4 earned over the course of 6 innings. Brandon Inge extended his hit streak to 10 games.

This win currently puts the Tigers win streak at 4 games, all which have come against bottom tier National League opponents. I guess you do whatever you can to make up ground, although Minny is currently up 9-3 on Colorado in the top of the 9th as I write this.

I think maybe the Tigers have things figured out. I realize that I’ve said this about 936 times so far this season, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen recently. The starting pitching has been consistent, if not pretty good. The bullpen has been very good, and the bats, especially the bottom 3rd of the lineup, have seemed to perk up.

It’s really to bad that we can’t play every game against Washington and Pittsburg, but what the well at least we get 6 in a row. Hopefully the Tigers can continue there magic over the next couple of games.

BTW, I’ll try to update the site a little bit more, life has been hectic lately. 

26 Hours Later

I thought I would take some time and allow myself to cool off before I wrote anymore on the debacle from last nights Tigers game. I briefly covered my feelings on the matter here.

A little more than 24 hours later and honest to God I feel the same way. Armando Galarraga threw the 21st Perfect Game in MLB History. I know that the record books will call this game a one hitter. However we fans of Major League Baseball sometimes have a duty to throw record books out the window. Jim Joyce admitted he blew the call. Bud Selig decided he won't overturn the botched call. So what? We as fans of the game have a duty to remember this as a piece of perfection. Cy Young would want it that way, Don Larson would want it that way. Hell Babe Ruth would want it that way. Major League Baseball has a rich and storied history, and Armando Galarraga just help write a new chapter. 20 years from now I sincerely hope that people remember 6-2-2010 as the day Galarraga threw a perfect game.

Fwiw Jim Joyce and Armando Galarraga may be the two classiest human beings to ever be a part of this game that we love so much. First Galarraga who in my epinion should have been irate last night, instead humbly accepted Joyce’s apology. He said that no one is Perfect we all make mistakes. Armando you were wrong because last night my friend you were perfect.

Jim Joyce will go down in the history books as my favorite umpire. It took s0 much guts to go out there today and call this game. And he did it, and called a good game. He had tears in his eyes when Galarraga brought the lineup card out to him. He profusely apologized to Galarraga for costing him the Perfect Game. That is guts. More officials in the game need to take a page out of Joyce’s book. It’s so easy to forget that we are all human and therefore prone to making mistakes. 

Armando has probably received more fame from almost throwing a perfect game, then had he actually done it. This was easily the top story in all of sports for the last 26 hours. He also got a sweet new Corvette out of the deal courtesy of Chevy. The quote of the day also comes courtesy of Mr. Galarraga.

I will keep the CD," Galarraga said. "I will tell my sons I have (a perfect game). It's not official, but I know I have it.

Well done Armando, Well done.

 

 

 

28 Up 28 Down

Armando Galarraga became the 21st pitcher in the history of Major League Baseball to throw a perfect game tonight. What makes Armando’s perfect game a little bit odd, is the fact that he did it with 28 outs.

Jim Joyce, who was the 1st base Ump for tonight’s game, made one of the WORST calls in baseball history. With 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, Joyce proceeded to call Cleveland Shortstop Jason Donald safe, when he was out by a full step.

Armando was brilliant tonight, and I don’t care what MLB says, this was a perfect game. Nothing will ever change that.

I waited about an hour after the game ended to write this, My anger has subsided but I am left with an empty feeling. Not only did the Tigers need some magic, but hell the State of Michigan could also use a bit of magic. However it was not to be on this night. Or maybe it was, I think in 10 years I’ll honestly look back on today’s game as a piece of perfection. And Fuck You Bud Selig if you disagree with me.

Goodbye Mr. Willis

 

 

 

 

The Tigers last night, in a move that surprised no one, Recalled Max Scherzer from Toledo and designated Dontrelle Willis for assignment. This ends the D-Trains reign of terror in Detroit. Since 2008 Willis record in the motor city is an appalling 2-8 with a  6.86 ERA.

Willis was a huge get for the Tigers in 2008, coming over from Florida along with Miguel Cabrera, for Andrew Miller, and Cameron Maybin, whom were the two top prospects in the Tigers organization.  This was a guy who was supposed to anchor the Tigers rotation, he was just a couple of years removed from winning 22 games and finishing 2nd to Chris Carpenter in the NL Cy Young race. However things were not to be as Willis had all kinds of problems throwing strikes. It was never an issue of him missing close, he would pitch and the ball would fly over the backstop. It was a little bit sad to watch.

Willis has 10 days to clear waivers at which point he would be eligible to go pitch in the minors, an option that the Tigers do not think that Willis will take. Gerald Laird seems to think that Willis’ career is not over. He noted that he has watched Willis make huge strides over the last couple of years.

Report Card: Quarter of the way through the season issue.

Yes we are a little over a quarter of the way through the 162 game season, time to do Grade Reports for Your Detroit Tigers:

Starting Pitching

Grade: C+

Starting pitching which carried this team last year has kind of been the Achilles heel of the Tigers this season. Outside of Verlander we really don’t know what we’re going to get. Verlander is a MLB Ace however, just ask Rod Allen, he’ll tell you all bout it. Porcello has had some really good starts and some really bad ones. Opponents are still hitting over .300 against him. Willis still walks every other guy he faces, the sad thing about this is, his pitches are really good. Guys have a hard time hitting the D-Train when he’s on. Bondo has been really good, this needs to continue if the Tigers hope to have a chance of winning the division. The 5th spot is currently held by Galarraga but he’s just holding the spot until Scherzer gets his issues figured out.

Prediction: Eddie Bonine becomes a starter if Galarraga, Willis or Scherzer can’t figure it out

Bullpen

Grade: A+

In 2009 the Tigers pen wasn’t very good. Zumaya spent the majority of the year hurt, Rodney was very inconsistent in non save chances, for the most part the pen sucked. Fast forward to 2010. Zumaya is pitching like the 2006 version of himself, except maybe he’s a little bit better. Jose Valverde has been phenomenal. He may be the single biggest free agent signing in Detroit since Magglio Ordonez.  You know when Valverde comes in to close a game out, its a done deal. Phil Coke and Fu Te Ni have been two very good lefty’s out of the pen. Both pitch extremely well against left handed hitters. Finally Eddie Bonine who I think is headed for a starting spot, has been very very good in long relief for the Tigers.

Prediction: Alfredo Figaro gets a call up to the majors in the near future to work long relief for the Tigers.

Outfielders

Grade: A

This unit has been very consistent, which is pretty surprising considering the youngsters they have playing out there. Both Brennan Boesch and Austin Jackson are rookies and they are probably the two favorites for AL Rookie of the Year right now. These kids can flat out hit, and Jackson is the equivalent of Curtis Granderson in the outfield.  Boesch started out slowly playing the field, but he has made some nice plays recently. Ordonez and Damon provide veteran leadership for the two youngsters, its nice to see Mags return to form. Lets face it 2009 was an anomaly. Damon was a good free agent pickup, he’s still one of the best table setters in the game.

Infielders

Grade: B-

Without Miguel Cabrera this grade would probably be a D+/C-, however Cabby is probably the 2nd best 1st baseman in baseball, right behind Albert Puljos. The rest of the infield has been pretty substandard. Lots of errors. At 2nd base so far we have seen Sizemore, Worth, Raburn, and Santiago, all start there. Guillen will be the starter once he gets back. Inge is still probably the best 3rd baseman in the game, yet he still can’t hit. Everett and Santiago platoon the shortstop position,a role that I would like to see Santiago get 75% of the playing time. Everett is well lets face it, he sucks at the plate. His glove is good no doubt about that, but Santiago’s glove is also good, and He can hit a little bit more consistently than Everett.

Prediction:  Brent Dlugach gets a call up sometime in June.

Catchers

Grade: D

The catching position has been woefully inconsistent. However even if Laird and Avila can’t hit they both are pretty solid defensively.  The Tigers are going to have to hope that Avila grows into this role, and hopefully he can replace Laird as the everyday catcher.

Overall Grade: 

 

There you have it folk the Tigers a little over a quarter of the way through the season Report Card We Own The Central Style.