Tigers Weekly 2009 Season

WEEK 6: 5/11/09 - 5/17/09

What a strange week in the life of a Tigers fan.  
Starting off the week, Tigers fans were on a high 
having just swept Cleveland.  The Tigers were off to 
the Metrodome to face the “almost hated as much as 
the White Sox” Minnesota Twins for a three game 
series.  Things looked promising.  But, nooooooo 
Tigers go in there and come away with a “what in the 
world just happened” look to their faces.  The 
bullpen could not do anything and single-handedly 
gave away two winnable games.  In fact, the one 
they absolutely gave away was on the same night as 
Justin Verlander’s 13 strikeout in only 6.1 inning of 
work domination.  If you missed it, the Tigers had a 
5-0 lead after six innings only to give up 6 in the 
bottom half of the inning and lose 5-6.  The Tigers 
went from four games over five hundred to one in a 
matter of three days.

Normally things would be pretty down at this point, 
but knowing the Oakland Athletics were coming to 
town should not have kept you down for long.  
Although a 3-0 series sweep the way they did it was 
not forecasted, a 2-1 series would have been just 
fine.  The Tigers hitters led by Ramon Santiago of all 
people blasted hit after hit after “oh wait there was 
some unreal errors mixed in there” after grand slam.  
A total of 34 runs were scored in three games and 
the runs came from clutch hitting everywhere and 
anywhere.  The Tigers took turns on the “look at me 
ferris-wheel”.  Sunday’s comeback from being down 
6-0 to start the game was very impressive.  Who 
though Santiago could hit like that?  He is averaging 
an RBI less than every three at-bats.

Rangers and Rockies ahead on the week’s schedule 
at home.  The Tigers have yet to have a losing week 
on the season.  The way some of the weeks have 
started, this is a pleasant surprise (5 of 6 weeks have 
started off with a loss and all six weeks have ended 
with at least 2 wins).  Let’s hope the Tigers can find 
a way to win some more games to start weeks and 
continue their weekly closing success.  This is the 
time the Tigers need to start distancing themselves 
from the rest of the Central.

Week 1 = 4-3; LLWLWWW
Week 2 = 3-2; L–W–LWW
Week 3 = 3-3; –LWLLWW
Week 4 = 3-3; WLL–LWW
Week 5 = 4-2; LW–LWWW
Week 6 = 3-3; –LLLWWW

New Subscribers…

Peter Frankfort 
 
www.tigersweekly.com
 
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5/11 – 5/17
 
Record: 3-3  -LLLWWW
 
Undy-Five Hundy: Another week bites the dust… 
Undy-Five Hundy Index still sitting at negative four.
 
Up Next for the Tigers...
 
May 11       No Game Scheduled
May 12 - 14  Texas Rangers (3-0)
May 15 - 17  Colorado Rockies (0-0)
 
AL Central Standings...

	W	L	GB
DET	20	16	 -
KC	20	18	1.0
MIN	18	20	3.0
CWS	15	21	5.0
CLE	14	25	7.5
 
Tigers Division...

	W	L	GB
LAD	26	13	 -
|
NYM	21	16	4.0
STL	21	16	4.0
DET	20	16	4.5
PHI	20	16	4.5
KC	20	18	5.5

Tigers News and Notes:   On Tuesday, the Tigers 
designated Juan Rincon for assignment.  He was 
given the choice of either going to the minors or 
being released from the organization after clearing 
waivers.  On Friday, Rincon chose to become a free 
agent, voiding the rest of his $750,000 contract.  He 
is no longer with the Tiger organization and the 
Tigers do not owe any more of his salary since he 
chose the free agency route instead of the minors.  
Rincon’s designation made a position open on the 
roster for Dontrelle Willis to make his season debut 
(or should we say debacle).  Hopefully Dontrelle can 
find the strike zone and have healthy contributions 
throughout the season.  His first inning did not go so 
smoothly, as Justin Morneau of the Twins took him 
to straightaway center for a 2 run bomb.

Late Wednesday night, Nate Robertson was placed 
on the 15-day DL with a muscle strain in his lower 
back.  That answers a lot of questions why Brandon 
Lyon stayed in the 13th inning after pitching half a 
game it seemed.  Taking Nate’s spot on the roster is 
23 year old rookie left hander Luke French.  French 
had a 2-2 record with a 2.91 ERA and 29 K’s at 
Toledo (AAA).  Word on the street is Robertson will 
be out for some time unless his back cures quickly.

Attempting another comeback to the rotation and the 
roster, Jeremy Bonderman made his first rehab start 
of the season at West Michigan (A) on Saturday 
picking up the win in an OK start.  Bonderman’s 
next start will be Thursday for Toledo.  If and when 
Bonderman can come back healthy, a very interesting 
situation may develop.  Verlander and Jackson are 
locks for rotation spots.  Galarraga seemed a lock but 
has really lost his form as of late.  Porcello is doing 
decent on the season, but is still just a rookie.  And 
then there is Willis and Bonderman.  Six pitchers for 
five spots create an interesting problem, but a good 
one to have.  Let’s hope all six can maintain health 
the rest of the season.  More than likely we will see 
Bonderman back soon, but going to the bullpen to 
build up arm strength.

This week saw another bullpen injury when Bobby 
Seay had a tightening of the back as well.  Although 
he will not hit the disabled list, the back has bothered 
him as of late and has taken a couple days off to try 
and rest it.  He should be ready to go for when the 
red hot Rangers come to town on Tuesday.

A last note of Tiger roster importance, it was 
announced on Saturday that Magglio Ordonez 
would be taking the first half of next week (the 
Rangers series) off for personal reasons and will not 
be available.  On Sunday he was placed on the 
bereavement list, as he goes to be with his wife 
during surgery.  It was not immediately known who 
would be called up to take his place for the time 
being.  With the way Clete Thomas is swinging the 
bat and how Ryan Raburn has picked it up all of a 
sudden, it may be a blessing in disguise.
 
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Tiger of the Week...
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Ramon Santiago single-handedly is named Tigers Weekly Tiger of the Week for his performance both on Sunday and for the entire year as super-utility man. He appeared in four games this week, three as a started and proceeded to go 8-12 (.667) with 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 5 runs scored, 6 RBI, and 0 strikeouts. His game on Sunday he started off with homerun, triple, single, and in his fourth at-bat settled for another up the middle single to complete the 4-4 day. If the bench production continues the way Santiago, Raburn, and Larish are starting to hit, it could be a long year for opposing pitching. Now we just have to get all the regulars (Ordonez, Laird) hitting like this.

 
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Tiger Homerun Kings of the Week...
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            Season  Weekly  Weekly
Player      Total   Total   No(s)               

Gonzalez (SD) 15     5     (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
|
Inge          10     2     (9, 10)
Granderson    10     1     (10)
Cabrera        8     1     (8)
Larish         4     2     (3, 4)	
Santiago       3     2     (2, 3)
Raburn         2     2     (1, 2)
|
Ordonez        2
Everett        1
Laird          1

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Poll Question...
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The poll question of the week comes straight from 
the Tigers notes above.  Granting all six guys are 
healthy (Verlander, Jackson, Galarraga, Porcello, 
Willis, Bonderman), who is your starting five and in 
what order, and what do you do with the odd man 
out?  This could come to fruition very soon if 
everyone stays on their recovery tracks.
 
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Arby's Index...
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On Wednesday night, the Tigers turned up the heat 
and brought us our third Arby’s Free Sandwich 
Night of the season.  Brandon Inge, Miguel Cabrera, 
and Jeff Larish all went deep in the Tigers tough 13 
inning loss against the Twins in the Metrodome.  
Hope you all had a happy eating day courtesy of 
Arby’s.

Arby Index +3

(April 8, April 25, May 13)
 
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All-star Voting Begins...
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If you ventured to Comerica Park this week, you will 
have noticed those lovely all-star boxes around the 
park.  Believe it or not, it is already time to start 
voting for your beloved Tigers for the All-Star Game 
in St. Louis.  Paper ballots are in the ballpark on the 
lower concourse and electronic voting can be done at 
www.tigers.com/vote.  Do not be afraid to cast your 
daily vote.  Let’s see how many Tigers we can get 
into the game!  Also online, the Tigers are doing a 
voting contest.  If you cast at least 20 ballots online 
and select Tigers as your favorite team, you will 
automatically be entered into a drawing for two 
tickets to the August 4th game against the Orioles 
and also get to meet the All-Star Tiger(s).  Click here 
to start voting for your Tigers now!
 
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Leyland Erupts For Good Cause...
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If you missed the long and very strange 14-10, 13 
inning loss on Wednesday night, you missed Leyland 
blowing up at the home plate umpire.  After Magglio 
was called out on a high and outside strike, Maggs 
went to argue with the ump.  Instead of just standing 
there the umpire came up to Ordonez and placed his 
hand on Magglio’s back and said move it along.  
Leyland immediately came flying out of the dugout 
and it was amazing he didn’t have a heart attack 
before he arrived at home plate.  Check out the series 
of events HERE from mlive.com.

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Grand Slam Mania...
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In Friday’s game against the Oakland Athletics, the 
Tigers hit two grand slams in a single game, which 
was only third time in team history this had been 
done.  After a 61 minute rain delay, Ryan Raburn 
started the game with a grand slam in the first inning.  
Up 9-1 after 4 innings, the flood gates opened and 
play was stopped.  The rain just kept coming down in 
spurts and for a minute, it did not look like the game 
would continue.  At that point, if the game was 
postponed, the 9-1 lead and the grand slam would 
have been wiped off the books and it would have 
started back at square one at a later date.  Luckily for 
Raburn the rain stopped after another 73 minute rain 
delay, Edwin Jackson pleaded to stay in the game 
and in the 6th inning Brandon Inge capped the night 
with the second grand slam in the Tigers 14-1 
victory.

Go to www.tigersweekly.com and enter the weekly 
trivia question to find the answer to the last time two 
grand slams were hit in the same game by the Tigers.  
Hint hint, have to think back to a good year of Tigers 
fortunes to find the last time the grand slam mania 
was accomplished.

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Fan Ballpark Photo Board...
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Developing at Tigers Weekly is the fan photo 
section.  We are asking all baseball fans to send in 
their pictures from stadiums across America and to 
write about their experiences at the park.  Pictures 
and memories do not need to be of Comerica Park.  
All stadiums are welcome.  Please take a look at 
http://www.tigersweekly.com/Photos/TWReader.htm 
to see all of the pictures our viewers have already 
sent in.
 
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Game Lines of the Week...
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Monday, May 11th
--- NO GAME SCHEDULED ---

Tuesday, May 12th           8:10 pm
Starters:  DET - Galarraga  5.2 IP
           MIN - Slowey	    6.0 IP
                        R  H  E  (W - L)
Detroit    000 001 100  2  9  1  (17-14)
Minnesota  022 001 01x  6  8  0  (16-17)
  W    Slowey     (5-1)
  L    Galarraga  (3-3)
  S    ---
  
Wednesday, May 13th         8:10 pm
***13-inning game
Starters:  DET - Willis	    4.2 IP
           MIN - Perkins    5.1 IP
                              R  H  E  (W - L)
Detroit    000 212 400 000 1  10 14 1  (17-15)
Minnesota  201 103 020 000 5  14 17 1  (17-17)
  W    Crain     (2-1)
  L    Lyon      (1-3)
  S    ---

Thursday, May 14th          1:10 pm
Starters:  DET - Verlander  6.1 IP
           MIN - Baker      6.0 IP
                        R  H  E  (W - L)
Detroit    000 005 000  5  9  0  (17-16)
Minnesota  000 000 60x  6  9  0  (18-17)
  W    Breslow    (1-1)
  L    Seay       (0-1)
  S    Nathan     (6)

Friday, May 15th            7:05 pm
***61 minute rain delay to start game
***73 minute rain delay start of 5th inning
Starters:  OAK - Anderson   3.1 IP
           DET - Jackson    7.0 IP
                       R  H  E  (W - L)
Oakland   000 100 000  1  7  4  (13-19)
Detroit   502 204 01x  14 13 0  (18-16)
  W    Jackson    (3-2)
  L    Anderson   (0-4)
  S    ---

Saturday, May 16th          7:05 pm
Starters:  OAK - Braden     5.0 IP
           DET - Porcello   6.0 IP
                       R  H  E  (W - L)
Oakland   001 000 000  1  4  1  (13-20)
Detroit   010 051 02x  9 14  0  (19-16)
  W    Porcello   (4-3)
  L    Braden     (3-5)
  S    ---

Sunday, May 3rd             1:05 pm
Starters:  OAK - Cahill     2.1 IP
           DET - Galarraga  0.2 IP
                       R  H  E  (W - L)
Oakland   510 010 00x  7  12 1  (13-21)
Detroit   044 030 00x  11 13 0  (20-16)
  W    Miner      (3-1)
  L    Cahill     (2-3)
  S    ---

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Reader Write In...
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Where are all the reader responses this season?  
Nobody seems to want to talk Tigers with the 
Weekly Community.  Take 30 seconds, send 
something in and it will get posted.
 
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Tiger Trivia...
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Make sure you visit www.Tigersweekly.com and 
visit the weekly trivia question.  Play each week and 
see if you can beat Toolie!  Reader responses will be 
posted each week, so play away.
 
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Toolie's Trashtalk...
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What a down and up week for the Tigers... and for 
Tiger fans. After a painful sweep at the hands of the 
Twins, the Tigers returned home and beat up on the 
last-place Oakland Athletics. They lost a big lead 
Thursday at Minnesota, but then erased a big deficit 
in the finale against Oakland. Where last week the 
pitching was on display, this week the offense blew 
up for 51 runs in six games. They surrendered 35 but 
only managed to split this week. 

But that wasn't all bad when you consider what the 
rest of the Central did. The Tigers were a game better 
than the Royals, even with the Twins thanks to three 
walk-offs in a row by the Yankees, and now lead the 
Sox by five. Cleveland, meanwhile, is using all of 
their sports mojo on the Cavaliers (they even lost a 
game to the Rays while Tampa's Joe Madden goofed 
and "had" to bat his pitcher third). Nobody in this 
division is particularly strong this season, at least not 
yet. 

Texas is up next, and they're coming in white-hot. 
They've won seven in a row and thirteen of fifteen. 
However, the last time Texas came to Comerica they 
had just swept Cleveland and the Tigers were able to 
win all three games. We'll be throwing our best two 
arms in Verlander and Jackson against the Rangers, 
after Dontrelle Willis makes his second start of the 
year. Seeing that the last three series have been 
sweeps (the "unbiased" odds of that are one in sixty-
four) it would be nice to win the opener. Bummer 
that the series starts on Tuesday, when the Red 
Wings will also be in action. It's the second straight 
Tigers off-day when the Red Wings are also off. 

Sometimes I question Jim Leyland's motives, and 
sometimes I get put in my place. As the game began 
today I wondered why Ryan Raburn (two HR and 
eight RBIs in the first two games) and Placido 
Polanco (best AVG. vs. Oakland in the majors) were 
sitting, especially with an off-day on Monday. Well 
the lineup that Leyland had in there did just fine. 
Santiago (playing second for Polanco) was a double 
short of the cycle (4 for 4) and drove in four runs. 
Josh Anderson, playing left-field, had a hit and two-
out, two-RBI triple as part of the Tigers' comeback. I 
don't know why Leyland chose this game to sit 
Polanco and why he would sit Raburn (who until this 
weekend was struggling mightily) but I guess that's 
why he makes the big bucks. 

What's up with Gerald Laird? He started off the 
season hot, but is now hitting a measly .219. His 
three-hit performance on Saturday was his first since 
April 25th (when his average was .426). He won't be 
benched for Dane Sardinha anytime soon, so let's 
hope that he finds his stroke. Maybe some more 
games against his old team (5 for 11 last series vs. 
Texas) will get him going. 

Last week it was the Yankees' Phil Hughes. This 
week Armando Galarraga personally boned me in 
fantasy baseball, and he didn't do the Tigers any 
favors either. Armando gave up ten earned runs in 
just 6.1 innings (that's an ERA of 14.21 over the two 
games). What's noticeable is that hitters aren't 
swinging at his pitches which are close to but not in 
the strike zone. This is probably because he's not 
throwing a lot of first-pitch strikes and hitters are 
able to be more patient. Today his first-pitch strike to 
Oakland's Landon Powell got tattooed for a three-
run double. So nothing's going right for Armando, 
but I'm sure pitching coach Rick Knapp will 
straighten him out. 

Apparently Jeremy Bonderman will be doing some 
rehab with the West Michigan Whitecaps. If you live 
in West Michigan you may want to look into when 
he's to pitch, if you're lucky enough for the 'Caps to 
be home when he does. 

And lastly this week I'd like to thank Dave 
Dombrowski for trading for Edwin Jackson. If you 
remember, the Tigers acquired Jackson in a straight-
up deal for outfielder Matt Joyce. Jackson has been a 
stud in the Tigers' rotation while Joyce is currently a 
Durham Bull (Rays' AAA affiliate). It's still too early 
to judge who got the better of the deal, but the early 
returns favor the Tigers. 

Not sure if I can continue to take these mood swings. 
So far this year no two consecutive series have had 
the same outcome (i.e. the Tigers haven't won, lost, 
or tied consecutive series all year). Gotta string some 
wins together to create some space in the division! 
Enjoy the week.
 
I'm out.






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Play Ball!

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