Tigers Weekly 2006 Season

Week 4: 4/27/06 - 5/9/06

We're back from a one-week hiatus to get you up to
speed on what's been happening in Tigerland.  When we
last looked the Tigers were four games above
five-hundred and a game and a half behind Chicago. 
After two weeks Detroit has improved to seven games
over but now trail the White Sox by three and a half. 
This two-week period can be broken up into the good
and the bad:  the first part was good and the second
part was bad.  The kittens won the first six games of
their seven-game homestand.  After dropping the last
game to the Angels the Tigers lost three of the first
four games on this roadie.  The bullpen, which had not
given up a lead before this weekend, has blown saves
in its last two chances.  Both Todd Jones and Fernando
Rodney surrendered leads late in game; something that
was bound to happen eventually.  Whether the team can
right the ship and get back to their winning ways
remains to be seen.  

Deana "Carter" Carr has written a recap from Friday's
game in Minnesota.  Make sure you check it out in the
game linescores section.  Thanks to Deana for the
submission and I continue to invite all readers to
relay their game experiences.  There's nothing like a
trip to the old ballpark.

New Subscribers...

Dan "Petry" Schneider

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Two-Weeks of 4/27 - 5/9

Record:  7-4  -WWWWWWLWLL-L

Undy-Five-Hundy:  -7  Remember that negative numbers
here are a GOOD thing.  The index was all the way "up"
to -10 at one point, but bad baseball has the
barometer falling.  There is still some breathing
room, however.

Up Next for the Tigers...

5/10 - 5/11  @ Baltimore
5/12 - 5/14  @ Cleveland
5/15         no game scheduled....
5/16 - 5/18  Minnesota

AL Central Standings...

CWS  23 9  -
DET  20 13 3.5
CLE  17 17 7
MIN  14 19 9.5
KCR   9 22 13.5

Tigers Division

CWS  23 9 -
|
BOS  20 12 3
STL  20 12 3
DET  20 13 3.5
NYY  18 12 4
COL  20 14 4

Note:  The Tigers Division lists the top team in the
league and the the teams whose reacords are most
similar to the Tigers.  It is a sort of measure of
what teams are comparable to Detroit.  

Tigers News and Notes:  Dmitri Young is back off the
disabled list.  He made his first start Friday night
in Minnesota.  Alexis Gomez, who hit .222 in spot
duty, was sent to Toledo.  Young is three for twelve
since his return.  Placido Polanco has missed four
straight games with a strained back muscle and is
listed as "day-to-day".  The combination of Santiago
and Infante have gone four for fourteen in his
abscence.

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Tiger of the Fortnight...
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Magglio Ordonez is starting to produce like the player the Tigers signed just over two years ago. Over the past two weeks he's slammed six home runs and he's homered in four straight games. The best part about these homers is that they have come in close games, i.e. they haven't been Dean Palmer shots (famous for the grand slam when it's already 10-1). It's not always about how many homers you hit but when you hit them. So far Magglio hasn't been wasteful. Throw in the fact that he's hitting .309 and the 16.2 million bucks he's being paid this season seems reasonab... ok no it doesn't.

Honorable Mentions: Kenny Rogers, Carlos Guillen

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Bat Flip...
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Dmitri's little brother Delmon was suspended for 50
games after he tossed his bat at a minor-league
umpire.  Young was called out on strikes and had words
with the umpire.  As he walked away the ump tossed him
from the game.  Young then flipped his bat and hit the
umpire.  It was definitely deliberate.  You can view
video of the incident and of his apology here:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2438919

Both guys are lucky that bat didn't hit the ump in the
face!

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Who's on First?
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Chris Shelton got his first day off this year and it
was Pudge Rodriguez, not Dmitri Young, who replaced
Shelton at first base.  Shelton probably won't get too
many games off (unless his slump continues) so
Rodriguez playing first will be a rarity.  

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Poll Question...
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Now that you've all seen the bat-flip incident, what
do you think about the suspension?  Should he have
gotten more or less or was this about right?  Do you
think Delmon will ever be able to shake this from his
image (it did happen in the minors)?

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Game Linescores...
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April 27:  no game scheduled...

April 28:  Minnesota 0 - Detroit 9
Starters:  MIN: Radke 2.1IP - DET: Robertson 7IP
MIN  000 000 000  0  6 0
DET  114 000 30X  9 15 1
W: Robertson (3-2)
L: Radke     (2-3)

April 29:  Minnesota 1 - Detroit 18
Starters:  MIN: Silva 2.2IP - DET: Verlander 7IP
MIN  000 010 000   1  7 1
DET  324 204 21X  18 23 0
W: Verlander (3-2)
L: Silva     (1-4)

Toolie Sees a Ball Game:  Trip number two to Comerica
this season was a good one.  After seeing Detroit fall
in their home opener I hoped to catch a winner as the
Tigs took on the Twins.  Boy did I ever.  

Lia and I got a head start down I-75 as we heard that
part of the highway might be closed.  That turned out
to be the case, as it was closed from I-696 to 8 Mile.
My navigator successfully steered us through the
finer parts of the city and we managed to get to the
stadium a few minutes before the game started.  While
waiting in line for tickets a fellow approached us and
offered us two tickets...for free!  His wife and son
had to leave town on short notice so we lucked out. 
The seats were in the Pepsi Bleachers in the front row
as close to center field as you could get.  When the
wind was blowing the right way we would get a shower
from the General Motors Fountains.  

Right out of the chute the Tigers put on a hitting
display.  Carlos Guillen got things going with a laser
out to right-center.  The ball landed about a section
to the left of us but it caromed over about ten rows
directly above us.  There was a scrum and the ball
popped out and headed our way.  I would have ended up
with it but a guy sitting right behind me was in
perfect position.  It's the closest I've ever come to
a live home-run ball.  I did get to handle the ball. 
It felt nice!

The homers kept coming as Curtis Granderson hammered a
two-run shot in the second and Guillen launched
another in the third.  Before Carlos Silva (the Twins'
starter) could say "Aye Carumba" it was 9-0 and the
rout was on.  

Ordonez capped the home-runs with a solo shot in the
fourth, but the Tigers continued to pile on the runs. 
Hot prospect Francisco Liriano got roughed up and the
last three Twins relievers each surrendered runs
(though not all earned).  Verlander looked pretty good
but he had almost no pressure on him after the third
inning.  

In the latter stages of the game fans in our area
began chanting "Lew..." for Lew Ford.  This one guy
just would not give up on it.  This prompted a group
of little girls near us to say things like "I wish
that guy would shut up..." It was pretty amusing.  

Another thing about those seats is that we kept
getting pieces of peanut shells dropped on us from
people standing at the railing above.  Not big pieces,
but the crumbly stuff that flakes off when you crack
open a peanut.  That part, and getting the random
shower, was sort of annoying.  Still it was a good
place to watch the game.  Biggie Bagel won the Base
Race.  

Standings...
Biggie Bagel - 1
Cuppy Coffee - 1
"The Original" Dashing Donut - 0

Afterwards it was a feast of Hellas Greek cuisine and
dessert at the Astoria Bakery (both on Beaubein in
Greektown).  Oreo cheesecake is amazing.  Between that
and the Tigers win it was a fantastic afternoon.

---

April 30:  Minnesota 0 - Detroit 6
Starters:  MIN: Lohse 5.2IP - DET: Rogers 8IP
MIN  000 000 000  0 2 0
DET  000 024 00X  6 9 0
W: Rogers (4-2)
L: Lohse  (1-2)

May 1:  Kansas City 2 - Detroit 3
Starters:  KCR: Hernandez 6.2IP - DET: Bonderman 8IP
KCR  000 000 002  2 8 1
DET  000 100 20X  3 5 0
W: Bonderman (4-2)
L: Hernandez (1-1)
S: Jones     (4)

May 2:  Kansas City 1 - Detroit 4
Starters:  KCR: Redman 5.1IP - DET: Maroth 6IP
KCR  000 001 000  1 5 0
DET  002 001 10X  4 8 1
W: Maroth (4-1)
L: Redman (0-2)
S: Jones  (5)

May 3:  Anaheim 1 - Detroit 2
Starters:  ANA: Weaver 7.1IP - DET: Robertson 7.1IP
ANA  100 000 000  1 4 0
DET  000 001 01X  2 6 1
W: Zumaya (1-0)
L: Weaver (1-4)
S: Rodney (5)

May 4:  Anaheim 7 - Detroit 2
Starters:  ANA: Gregg 7IP - DET: Verlander 6IP
ANA  001 021 300  7 15 0
DET  000 100 010  2  4 1
W: Gregg     (2-0)
L: Verlander (3-3)

May 5:  Detroit 9 - Minnesota 6
Starters:  DET: Rogers 5IP - MIN: Lohse 4IP
DET  122 020 002  9 13 0
MIN  112 011 000  6 11 0
W: Rogers (5-2)
L: Lohse  (1-3)
S: Jones  (6)

Game Recap by Deana "Carter" Carr:

Hey Toolie - Thought you'd like an update on the
Friday, May 5th Tigers/Twins game at the Metrodome.
 
It was African-American night at the ballpark.  They
had a great band outside the park, playing as the
crowd came in.  Did a lot of Motown.  I liked that. 
There was also a group singing before the game, down
on the field.  A nice, festive atmosphere.  They
honored some african-american players on the field
before the game, too.
 
I've been to many games there, and the Tigers usually
get crushed by the Twins.  There was a different
feeling in the air going into this game.  The Tiger
hitters and pitchers (for the most part) were looking
very confident.
 
Kenny Rogers didn't look strong, but fortunately,
neither did Kyle Lohse.  Both gave up runs and hits in
each of the first 3 or 4 innings.  Good thing for us,
the Tigers stayed ahead the whole game.  Inge,
Ordonez, and Monroe crushed home runs early on. 
Ordonez' home run looked like it might be going
through the roof, it was hit so high.  Fortunately, it
was hit as long as it was high.  Guillen stole a base,
and looked like he was running fine.  Tried to steal
3rd in the same inning, but the batter struck out to
end the inning.  He might have made it.  Zumaya came
on in in the 7th and hit 99 on the gun.  Their display
only has 2 digits, so I wondered if he hit 100. 
Rodney struck out the side in the 8th, and looked
totally dominating.  Jonesy came on in the 9th
and....gave up a lead-off hit.  Surprise!  But then
promptly got a DP, and then a quick out to end the
game.  I've been to way too many games there when the
Twins dominated.  This was such a nice change.
 
Extras about going to the game.  I don't even try the
hot dogs at the Metrodome anymore.  They're just not
very good.  The nachos were pretty good, tho.  My
friends managed to sample many other things outside
AND inside the park.  They haven't been to a lot of
games, so they had to do it all at once.  The
honey-roasted peanuts and almonds were excellent. 
They also had to try the cheese curds (only at a
ballgame in Minnesota and Wisconsin....).
 
It also happened to be Torii Hunter bobblehead night. 

I didn't care.  I was just there for the Tiger game. 
Of the three that we got, one of them was broken. 
Torii's hands holding his gold glove snapped right
off.  Oh well, I gave the other two to my friends and
will send in for a replacement.  Now I just need to
figure out what to do with a Twins bobblehead doll. 
The only reason to consider keeping it, is that it's a
Torri Hunter bobblehead.

Editors Note:  to the readers - send in suggestions
for what Deana can do with her Torii Hunter
bobblehead.
 
My complaint about the park (other than the obvious
"dome" issues), is that you can't buy JUST a
scorecard.  You have to buy their Twins magazine to go
with it.  The whole thing is only $2.00, which is
better than the $4.00 it used to be.  But I only
wanted a scorecard.  One of my friends bought the
magazine.
 
All in all, a fun game.  The Tigers finally look like
they are a confident team.  It's great to see them
beat up on the Twins for a change.
 
Deana "Carter" Carr

---
       
May 6:  Detroit 6 - Minnesota 7
Starters:  DET: Bonderman 6.2IP - MIN: Baker 6IP
DET  010 120 200  6 10 1
MIN  201 100 102  7 13 1
W: Rincon (2-0)
L: Jones  (0-1)

May 7:  Detroit 2 - Minnesota 4
Starters:  DET: Maroth 5IP - MIN: Santana 7.0
DET  000 000 200  2 5 0 
MIN  201 010 00X  4 9 0
W: Santana (3-3)
L: Maroth  (4-2)
S: Nathan  (4)

May 8:  no game scheduled...

May 9:  Detroit 6 - Baltimore 7
Starters:  DET: Robertson 5.1IP - BAL: Cabrera 5IP
DET  000 230 100  6 10 2
BAL  002 002 21X  7  9 0
W: Hawkins (1-1)
L: Rodney  (1-1)
S: Ray     (8)

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Readers Write In...
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Jeff "Pee Wee" Herman

Toolie~

In the tradition of Detriot First Basemen I suggest
"Stormon Mormon" as Chris Shelton's nick name.

Go Tigs!

Jeff

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"Dig" Dug Senters

Ozzie Smith (my favorite SS of all time) had so many
great plays that I cannot narrow them down to just
one.  Because of that, I will have to leave him out of
the discussion altogether.  The greatest play I ever
saw (other than Ozzie's) was when Bo Jackson threw
Harold Reynolds out from the warning track in center
field to hom plate.  That is an awful long way to
throw a ball, let alone to make a throw on a line to
throw out one of the faster players in the Majors.  Bo
Jackson was a stud.  There is another great play,
however, that comes to mind.  On May 26, 
1993 the Indians' Carlos Martinez hit a long fly ball
into right field, when Rangers OF Jose Canseco went to
make the play.  The ball hit Canseco's head 
and cleared the wall for a home run.  Dallas and I
were there and are fortunate enough to have witnessed
one of baseball's most frequently played bloopers.

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Brian "Stymie" O'Toole

OK Patrick Mulally now I usually don't have much to
say about other peoples posts . . . but a
"Freny-esque" laser???  Now I agree that the Fernster 
was arguabally the best defensive catcher and pitch
caller ever to don the Green and Gold, but watching
him trying to throw to second was like watching 
senior citizens throw lawn jarts.  That's why he had
to be and was such a good pitch caller . . . and why I
needed a major league pick-off move.  Love you Ferny! 
Well Toolio is day-to-day with a stomach virus but at
least there is NHL playoff hockey and baseball to
watch.  Here's sending all the Tigers Fans some North
Carolina love . . . by the way, anyone have a college
basketball coach for sale???

Yo brother

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Dan "Berol" Kemp

Hey Matt,

I drove down to Des Moines to see the AAA Iowa Cubs
play the Memphis Redbirds on Friday night.  It was a
great time and it was good to be able to see some live
baseball again.  We had second row seats on the first
base side which were the best seats I've ever had for
any ball game.  The game atmosphere is definitely
better when you're that close to the field.  Larry
Bigbie started in left and Junior Spivey started on 2B
for the Redbirds.  Both players didn't quite make the 

cut for the big league team in spring training. 
Bigbie made an amazing throw to home to prevent a run
from scoring on a basehit.

Cali, who has pitched in the bigs for us before,  came
in to pitch some relief by the end of the game.  The
bullpen is similar to Wrigley field-  it's in
foul-ground territory along the baselines.  We were
sitting only about 20 feet behind the bullpen, on the
catcher's side.  As Cali was warming up, the catcher
became frustrated with the fact that Cali couldn't
throw the ball within 3 feet of the plate.   After
about 10 pitches that would have creamed a
right-handed batter, the catcher stands up and throws
the ball hard back at Cali.  He yells "Seriously,
man!" and then points his hand where he wants the ball
to go.  I got a good laugh out of it.

If I would have had a glove and not been stuffing
myself with a soft pretzel, I could have gotten a line
drive foul ball that went right through the row of
seats in front of us.  As it was, I didn't want to die
or lose my pretzel (which I paid $3 for, and another
$1 for the cheese) so I just ducked out of it's way. 
To be honest, I wasn't really paying attention to the
game as I was eating so it kind of  
took me off guard.

Cubs won 2-1, thanks to a monstrous 2-run home run. 
The field is 335 to the corner in left, but the batter
must have hit it 400.  It's hard to say how far it
went exactly because it easily left the stadium. 
Thankfully the rain held off until the 7th and play
continued through a heavy mist.  Fireworks after the
game were actually an impressive show.

Up next is a trip to Busch Stadium on May 12th to see
a game against the Diamondbacks.  I'm pumped to see
the new stadium, and I'll be sure to give you a write
up and maybe a few pictures as well.

The Tigers are awesome this year!  I don't follow the
AL as much as the NL, but I do hope the Tigers make it
to the playoffs.  The two central divisions may have
very interesting races this season.

Dan Kemp

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Andy "Kin Korn" Karnitz

It's official. Carlos Guillen is back.
 
Sorry to hit and run, but I've gotta go to work.
 
Andy

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Danny "Tartabull" Simpson

Matt, 

Answer to poll question: The 2001 ALDS Jeter flip to
catcher play is obviously impressive (especially its
situation in the game and series), but that's not the
best in my book. (Additionally, Jeter is an overrated
fielder, including in the postseason. Sure, his
spin-around turn in the air after digging one out of
the hole is "graceful," but he has made his fair share
of errors in the past few Yankee postseasons. I don't
think he's a poor fielder, but he is overrated. (My
anti-Yankee sentiment probably has something to do
with it too))

The best play I have ever seen is one that I saw in
person with my dad, Chas, and a few other members of
the Claus family. Late summer of 1998 (I believe) at
Tiger Stadium (oh, how I miss thee) - Tigs vs.
Mariners.  Luis Gonzalez hit a shot to right-center.
Ken Griffey, Jr was playing center. Catches to rob HRs
are impressive - but this was one to top them
all. Many HR-robbers are made by outfielders waiting
at the wall and timing their jump perfectly. The thing
that made it so beautiful was that Griffey never
seemed to brake stride. He got a good jump on the
ball, sprinted towards the wall in right-center,
seemingly walked up the wall diagonally, and pulled
the ball in. #1 goes to #24.

Comments on the Tigers: This Tigers offense is
interesting. In the seven games prior to the Twins
series, the Tigers averaged less than 3 runs per game.
Yet they went 5-2. Then the Tigers gave my daughter
Susan a big birthday-weekend present as they routed
the Twins. 

In the past three games (3rd game a/st Min and two
a/st KC), the big boys (3-6) have been relatively
quiet (though Magglio getting that GO RBI last night
was important - Leyland even mentioned it). But the
bottom of the lineup has been hitting very well -
Monroe, Thames, Inge have gotten some key hits (most
of them long ones). 

These are the kinds of things that the Tigers need to
keep doing. Solid pitching and offense throughout the
lineup will keep the Tigs going strong. Four cheers
for Mike "Frank Tanana" Maroth!

Dan "thinking of a nickname" Simpson

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Dallas "Big D" Senters

hey matt

a detroit team is playing well in april/may!  the
tigers, not the redwings.  more importantly...the reds
are leading the majors, and griffey should
be back soon.  i would love to see the reds contend
all year.

amazing plays:  
-i was in the right field stands when jose canseco
turned a deep fly-out into a homerun in blockbuster
blooper-reel fashion.

-omar vizquel made so many awesome plays as the
cleveland shortstop.  i hated to see him go.  peralta
is holding his own and is offensively sweet, but omar
has continued to perform at a high enough level to
make me miss him.

-watching highlights of big time throws is so cool. 
vlad has a few every season.  i watched 2 particular
games on tv: ichiro's rookie year he gunned a guy at
third...that was cool.  jose guillen threw home from 
medium-shallow left and nailed the runner (can't
remember if he was playing for the reds or the angels
then) 

dallas 

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Jim "Twine Ball" Kendra

Matt
I changed my email address and haven't been getting
the newsletter.   Please sign me back up.  Gotta love
the arms we've got.  Not going to have too many
lengthy losing streaks with that kind of pitching. 
Tigers will be around awhile this year.
Jim Kendra

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Toolie's Trashtalk...

Seven games over .500 is great.  Blowing two saves in
three days isn't so great.  Blown saves will happen,
though, so we just have to hope that this is a blip on
the radar.  Fernando Rodney lost his perfect ERA by
giving up two homers to the Orioles.  Todd Jones,
however, has been far from perfect.  Opponents are
hitting .333 against him and his ERA is over 6.  If
Jones doesn't regain some of that magic he had in
Florida he may find himself watching Rodney close
games. 

How can you be the hero and the goat in the same game?
Ask Carlos Guillen.  Tuesday night in Baltimore
Guillen was a stud at the plate.  He reached base all
five times he batted (three walks) and had a three-run
double.  In the field, sadly, Guillen made two errors
that led to three unearned runs including the
game-winner in the eighth.  

Speaking of Guillen, his grimacing mug was on the face
of those free tickets that Lia and I got last
Saturday.  He had a look on his face like "You'd
better be rooting for the Tigers or I'll hit a home
run...off your head!"  He's been coming through at the
plate and he has a few stolen base attempts which
seems to imply this his leg injury is not bothering
him.  Now if he can just cut down on the errors; he
has nine already.  Look here for a comparison of his
stats in Seattle and his stats in Detroit.  He must
love the D!

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/players/playerpage/18701

The Tigers are in the midst of their second nine-game
road trip already.  It may be starting to show.  After
going 11-4 in their first two road trips the Tigers
are 1-3 on this current swing.  There's still time to
rebound.  

Gotta give some love to the Royals here.  While they
have a measly nine wins all of those wins have come
against AL Central opponents (zero wins vs. Detroit). 
They try to sweep the Tribe today.  Win or lose
Cleveland won't be too happy as the Tigers roll into
the Jake for a weekend series.  

Next week I'll be in North Carolina spending the week
with my brother.  He gets married a week from
Saturday.  I will attempt to write the Weekly from
Raleigh but I can't be sure that it will get done. 
This is where Gameday Audio will come in handy.  

One of the best plays I was ever present for, but did
not see, was Bobby Higginson robbing some Baltimore
Oriole of a home run at Tiger Stadium.  I was in the
center field bleachers and it happened in right field
under the overhang.  Higgy slammed against the fence
and his arm went flailing but he came back with the
ball.  I knew he caught it from the roar.  There have
been better plays but that's probably the best that
I've been present for.

That's a wrap for this week.  It's a good week for TV
as the rest of the road trip is going to be on FSN. 
Remember to check out the website for the weekly
trivia question.  You no longer are required to attach
your e-mail address.  

I'm out.
 





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