Tigers Weekly 2005 Season

Week 25: 9/21/05 - 9/27/05

Less than a week to go in the 2005 season and the
Tigers are doing their best to remain relevant.  After
extending their losing streak to a painful eight
games, the D has rattled off four wins in a row.  The
last two wins this week have been one-run victories
over the AL Central leading Chicago White Sox. 
Cleveland sits just two games back of the Sox and were
unable to capitalize on the Tigers' help (the Tribe
has lost back-to-back games to the Roylas and D-Rays).
Teams around the league aren't taking it easy on the
contenders, which is making for a wild and exciting
finish to the regular season.  Only the Angels,
Braves, and Cardinals can say for sure that they will
be playing bonus ball this season.  It will be hard
for the playoffs to live up to the hype of this
playoff chase.

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Week of 9/21 - 9/27
 
Record:  4-2  L-LWWWW
 
Undy-Five-Hundy:  Detroit improves to only fifteen
games undy, so it looks as if the index will finish
somewhere in the teens.  It's nice to see the Tigers
have a little revival here, and it's especially sweet
to see them sticking it to the White Sox (yyyyyyyes!).
Too bad the Tribe can't cash in.  Last year the
Tigers had 72 wins and finished eighteen games undy. 
They need two wins in their last five games to improve
on last season's record.
 
Up Last For the Tigers...

September 28-29           Chicago White Sox
September 30 - October 2  @ Minnesota
 
AL Central Standings...

CWS  94 63  -
CLE  92 65  2
MIN  79 78  15
DET  71 86  23
KCR  54 103 40
 
AL Wild Card...

BOS/NYY/CLE -
 
NL Wild Card...

HOU -
PHI 2.5
 
NL West...

SDP -
SFG 4
Note:  These teams play each other twice more.

Tigers News and Notes: The Tigers finally signed their first-round draft pick, Cameron Maybin. The Toledo Mud Hens were honored Tuesday night at Comerica Park for winning the International League title. A picture is attached.

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Tiger of the Week...
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Jason Grilli, a Mud Hen call-up, pitched the Tigers out of their losing streak by going seven innings and giving up just one run to Seattle. Grilli, whose father pitched for the Tigers in the 1970s, surrendered two hits and issued four walks in the win, while striking out four. One good start doesn't mean great things are guaranteed, but this one meant a lot in terms of getting the Tigers rolling. Grilli is slated to start in Thursday's home finale against Chicago.

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Domination...
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The Atlanta Braves locked up their fourteenth straight
division title tonight.  Good grief, that is an
amazing streak!  The Tigers, meanwhile, have now gone
eighteen straight years WITHOUT a playoff
appearance... much less a division title.  I know that
Doyle Alexander was fantastic down the stretch in '87,
but this dry spell could be the Tigers' Curse of the
Smoltz.  Smoltz has been on every one of those
winners.  I definitely envy the success of the Atlanta
Braves.

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Reader's Predictions...
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Here's a look at how the readers did in predicting the
division and wild card winners.  Here I list division
winners followed by the Wild-Card winner.
 
Adam Twa:  NYY-CWS-ANA SEA : FLA-STL-SDP ATL
Dallas Senters: NYY-CLE-ANA MIN : ATL-STL-LAD FLA
Dug Senters:  NYY-CLE-ANA BOS : ATL-STL-LAD PHI
Matt Stevens:  NYY-DET-ANA BOS : PHI-STL-LAD ATL
Steve Sprague: NYY-MIN-ANA CLE : ATL-STL-LAD HOU
Chas Claus:  NYY-MIN-ANA SEA : ATL-STL-SDP FLA
Matt Weiland: NYY-MIN-ANA BOS : ATL-STL-SFG LAD
Toolie:  NYY-MIN-ANA BOS : ATL-STL-SFG PHI
 
Can't really tell whose picks are the best yet, but
everyone nailed the Angels and Cardinals.  Chas and
Twa look good with their picks of SDP, and Twa was the
only person to pick the Sox to make the post-season. 
To score at the end, I'll say you get two points for
picking a division winner, three for the correct wild
card team, and one point if one of your playoff teams
makes it in the wrong spot.  I'll figure out who wins
after the dust clears.

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Trammell in Trouble?
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Danny Knobler, the Tigers beat reporter, has recently
written that Alan Trammell will be fired at the end of
the season.  In September, the Tigers have gone
through losing streaks of eight and nine games.  With
managers such as Jim Leyland and Lou Pinella
available, many people are hoping that a change will
be made.  I think Trammell deserves a shot to manage
this team next season.  He's had to deal with a lot of
uncontrollable setbacks this year (as I've stated). 
As a real man of the organization, it would be a shame
to see him sacked after three seasons.

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Steroids Penalties Increasing?
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It looks like the penalties for steroid use could be
increasing, although the third strike penalty is still
an issue.  
 
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2173082

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Poll Question...
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What have been your favorite memories of the 2005
season?  What will you remember most about this
season?

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Game Linescores...
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September 21:  Detroit 3 - Kansas City 4
Starters:  DET: Johnson 6IP - KCR: Gobble 5.1IP
DET  002 001 000  3 8 0
KCR  001 001 002  4 8 0
W: Snyder (1-3)
L: Rodney (1-3)
 
September 22:  no game scheduled...
 
September 23:  Seattle 2 - Detroit 1
Starters:  SEA: Franklin 7IP - DET: Douglass 6IP
SEA  001 000 010  2 7 0
DET  001 000 000  1 7 0
W: Frankiln (7-15)
L: Spurling (3-4)
S: Guardado (34)
 
September 24:  Seattle 1 - Detroit 7
Starters:  SEA: Moyer 7.1IP - DET: Grilli 7IP
SEA  010 000 000  1  5 0
DET  100 101 04X  7 10 0
W: Grilli (1-0)
L: Moyer  (12-7)
 
September 25:  Seattle 1 - Detroit 8
Starters:  SEA: Meche 2IP - DET: Maroth 7IP
SEA  000 100 000  1  5 0
DET  100 050 02X  8 11 0
W: Maroth   (14-13)
L: Hasegawa (1-3)
 
September 26:  Chicago White Sox 3 - Detroit 4
Starters:  CWS: Garland 6.2IP - DET: Johnson 7IP
CWS  200 010 000  3  7 0
DET  000 201 001  4 10 0
W: Rodney  (2-3)
L: Politte (6-1)
 
September 27:  Chicago White Sox 2 - Detroit 3
Starters:  CWS: McCarthy 6.1IP - DET: Robertson 6.1IP
CWS  000 010 001  2 8 0
DET  001 011 00X  3 9 0
W: Robertson (7-15)
L: McCarthy  (2-2)
S: Rodney    (9)
Editors Note:  The Tigers also walked 8 batters in
this game and managed to allow only two runs.

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Readers Write In...
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Derek "Clone" Muller
 
Listen up, Pilots fans, and listen good, because I
blame you exclusively for the downfall of this year's
version of the Mud Hens' Major League Affiliate.
 
I know that you're currently reveling in your
inevitable last-place finish in the AL Waste, savoring
the sound of that stupid locomotive engine chugging
through left field, and shouting
IIIII-CHIIII-ROOOOOHHH until you vomit Japanese hot
dogs.  But it's your fault that we suck right now.
 
In 1984, the Tigers began their miracle season 35-5. 
It was a calm Friday afternoon when you probably left
work, thinking, "Ahh, now time for the Tigers to mop
up the Pilots."  When you hit the water cooler Monday,
you were probably ready to rip the smirk off anyone
who uttered the word "Kingdome" around you.
 
This year, 2005, the Tigers sat pretty pretty, just
outside the wild card race, right at the coveted .500
mark, when they began a little Waste Coast road trip
to the Pilots and the Elephants.  "Split those series
and come home" is what we hoped.
 
Instead, we lost 2 of 3 to the hapless Pilots.  From
there, it was a pure tailspin.  Swept by the Elephants
of Oakland.  Seek redemption, only to drop one against
the Pilots in a home series.
 
The sweat on my brow collected.  Swept by the Tribe. 
Three of four dropped to Toronto.  Season over.
 
Sure, we ran the table one week, lighting up the
Powder Blues, the Bean Eaters, the West Nile
Virus-Laden Canadian team.  But we've jsut been swept
in a four-game series by those same Powder Blues
that're ten games worse than ANY OTHER TEAM in
baseball.  It's done.
 
Do you realize that the Indians, after collapsing
post-Joe Table-era, have fallen apart, replenished
their farm system, provided a system overhaul, and are
now back on top?  They've gone through an entire
business cycle while we're still figuring out which
way our cup should be positioned.  (No, Omar, DANG IT,
the other way.)
 
I hate to say it, oh wait, no, I don't hate to say it,
but Tram has got to go.  Skipper, you'll be flushed
down with the likes of Buddy Ball and the Garner
'Stache, because the ol' Number 3 just ain't cuttin'
it.  Get out of town while you can, and I look forward
to signing Lou, a man who's turned around the DRays,
at least a little.
 
And through Pinella, Pilots fan, is the only way that
your miserable little pennantless franchise will be
able to redeem itself in my books
 
WAR 1935.
WAR 1945.
WAR 1968.
RUN Randy Smith.
RACK ME.
Out.

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Dallas "Boom Boom" Senters
 
the offenses of the yankees and redsox seem to really
have come alive in the past couple of weeks...this
saddens me.  i think that the yankees will probably
pull this off, beginning another era of whining from
new england baseball fans.
 
it would be GREAT if the indians caught the
whitesox...right now they are sitting 1-1 on the
series with chicago, so tomorrow is a big, big deal 
in that race...c'mon elarton!  i also agree 100% (not
110% for all the moron that love that impossible
number) that the tigers should beat the white 
sox...it'd be good for the tigers, good for my
tiger-fan friends, and great for the indians.
 
having a brother that loves the oakland a's, and
having no reason to be against them (other than back
in '90 when my favorite team, the reds, was good and
swept them) i am hoping that the a's can make the most
of their last few meetings with the angels and pull
out the west.
 
my gut says that we're looking at
east:  nyy     central:  chw     west:  ana    
wildcard:  cle
but with the indians currently hold the 3rd best
record in the majors, i would love to see them grab a
flag.

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Nick "The Campaigner" Ciofani
 
I'd like to ask for all the Tigers fans to jump on
board with the Indians.  We need your support in
defeating the hated Yankees, Red Sox, and White Sox. 
Thank you.

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Anthony "Ferny" Morano
 
In regards to Pudge critical comments about the tigers
I feel they should try to trade him in the offseason.
He only came to Detroit for the $$$$. Rumor out here
in Southern Ca is the dodgers have looked into
possibly getting pudge and Dmitri in a trade? Also
what to do you think about the Nook Logan/Granderson
situation?  I feel they should trade Infante, pena, 
maroth or robertson. Keep up the good work!

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???
 
9th inning, 3-2 Tigers with the lead, 2 outs, Royals
have a man on 1st and 2nd - BLAM! 
 
A two-run scoring single! for the Royals. Tigers lose
4-3
 
Goodbye anything close to a .500 season. Goodbye Alan,
it was nice while it lasted.

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Dan "Berol" Kemp
 
Well, I know that I'm a week behind, but it's never
too late for me to bash Barry.  Just in case everybody
has forgotten about what I think of him, I refer you
to the archives to Week 3 of this seasons' Weekly.
(editor's note:  can be viewed at
www.tigersweekly.com)
 
Some how I still don't notice all the 'persecution'
Barry predicted he would get as he chased down Ruth's 
all-time home run record because Barry is black. 
Maybe his agent finally informed Barry that Ruth 
doesn't hold the home run record anymore and that
Henry Aaron is black.
 
That said, he has hit four homers since his return. 
It will be interesting to see how next season goes as 
it will mean he basically had a year and a half away
from consistent playing time.  I think he'll easily 
over take Ruth.  He might not get to Aaron easily, but
I think that Barry might be the type to hang around
until he gets it done even if he has to go to the AL
and DH for a while.
 
Now to this weeks' poll:
 
"Holy Crap, Lane!"  The Indians are here.  
My predictions for this week based entirely on
nothing:
Cleveland overtakes CWS.  NYY win their division and
Boston is the wild card (again).  Houston takes the
Wild Card for the NL Central.
 
This isn't really how I want to happen, but I just
have a feeling that it works out this way.  As a St.
Louis fan, I hate playing Houston.  They always play
us tough.  Maybe we can make things easier this year 
and have a 4-0 ratio?

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Toolie's Trashtalk...
 
Man, a Tigers win hasn't gotten this much coverage
since the middle of the season.  It was a weird day as
all the contenders lost their night games.  With
NYY-BOS and CLE-CWS playing each other on the last
weekend we are sure to be treated to great finishes. 
Chicago seems to have a firm grip on the playoffs. 
With New York and Boston having to play each other on
the last weekend, if the series went 2-1 and each team
didn't lose before the weekend, then Chicago would
have to lose the rest of their games to be outright
eliminated.  Remember, they hold a two-game lead over
Cleveland, Boston, and New York.  They only need to
finish higher than one of them to make the
post-season.  Two wins for Chicago puts them in.  
 
The one thing I hate about playoff baseball is that
games take FOREVER.  Forget about seeing a nice 2:30
game or a two-hour quickie.  If you get through a
playoff game in under three-and-a-half hours it's a
miracle.  Speed the game up!  In that regard, I'll be
rooting for the Braves and the Padres as they have the
weakest hitting teams.  That should help speed games
up.  I will also pull for the White Sox against any
team from the AL East.  In the AL I would like to see
Cleveland or the Angels make it to the Series.  In the
NL it would be wild if the Padres got there after
having a sub-five-hundy season.  I can definitely root
for the Cardinals.  There aren't any teams in the NL
playoffs that I would flat-out root against.  
 
Trammell is certainly in hot water.  It doesn't look
good for his chances of returning.  I did see him blow
an opportunity Friday night against the Mariners. 
With one out in the eighth and trailing 2-1 the Tigers
loaded the bases.  With Carlos Pena due up, Mariners
manager Mike Hargrove went to the bullpen for a lefty.
Trammell countered by replacing Pena with Carlos
Guillen.  Now, don't get me wrong, I love Carlos
Guillen.  The problem was that Guillen hadn't had an
at-bat since early August.  It took three pitches for
the Mariners lefty to dispose of Carlos, who looked
extremely uncomfortable at the dish.  The Tigers did
not score in the inning and lost 2-1.  Guillen may
have been the worst possible choice in that situation
and I was very surprised when Trammell made that call.
After the game Trammell had a look on his face that
seemed to suggest that Mike Ilitch was waiting in the
locker room to fire him Donald Trump style.  If they
do fire Trammell, at least they're waiting until the
end of the season.  Still, I hope that he is back for
2006.  
 
One thing that I hope management doesn't hold against
Trammell is the team's apparent lack of motivation in
September.  Lately the team has had some life, but
those moments have been sparse this month.  Major
League players should not need a manager to motivate
them to play hard.  They already have enough $$$ to
inspire good play.  The manager's job is to make the
decisions that give his team the best chance of
winning.  He should be judged on his decisions to
pinch-hit, his bullpen management, and his calls in
close games.  That's where a manager really has an
effect on the game.  Any player that needs his manager
to get him ready to play is, in the words of Matt
Miller, a devout coward.  
 
Great to see the Tigers winning!  Two more
high-intensity games and then a wind-down series in
Minnesota that will most undoubtedly be lost in the
shuffle of the other races, the NFL, and the Michigan
- Michigan State game (go Spartans!).  
 
Message to the Tribe:  Detroit has already done their
part to help you.  Don't complain if the Tigers lose
these next two games.  If you had won your last two
against the worst teams in the American League then
you'd be tied for first.  If the Tigers win either of
their remaining games with the Sox you should
personally call the Tigers and thank them.  But I am
rooting for you.  =-) 
 
One issue to go!
 
I'm out!






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