5th
April
2007
Thoughts after the first series
posted in 2007 season, Toronto Blue Jays |It’s only two games. Obviously, looking for any tendencies this early is a pretty risky endeavor. Much of what we see probably means nothing. But I’m going to toss a few things I noticed out in the first two games.
- Magglio Ordonez has four walk in 10 plate appearances. I find it pretty unlikely anyone is pitching about him to get to Carlos Guillen, so I’m going to credit Maggs for a good eye. That and the Blue Jays had some control struggles.
- As a team, the Tigers drew 12 walks, 8 in the second game. Sean Casey added 3 walks.
- Craig Monroe (5!), Brandon Inge (3) and Granderson (3), three of last year’s strikeout leaders, are again pacing the Tigers in whiffs. The team has an 8 per-game average. Grandy doesn’t seem like he’s struck out three times though. We’ll have to see if he really cuts down on the Ks. I have little faith for the other two, though Monroe really struggled in the home opener, making things a bit out of proportion this early.
- Despite this, Inge has actually scored three runs, tied for the team lead with Granderson …
- who is the only Tiger with any extra bases hits. He’s got 1 double, 1 triple, one homer.
- Anecdotally, there’s too many first-pitch swings still, especially in high leverage situations. (Bases loaded yesterday by Guillen, tying run on base in the opener in the 10th by Guillen).
- I’d have liked to see Curtis Granderson score from third yesterday. He had two opportunities, once on a fly ball, once on a passed ball. He didn’t tag up properly on the fly. But why not score on the PB? I honesty wonder if the Tigers thought the game was in hand with a 10-2 lead and didn’t want to run it up, but you just have to take advantage of all scoring opportunities, and they failed at that.
- The team has looked sloppy at times on defense. Brandon Inge had some bobbles. Craig Monroe made a mess in the first game. Ordonez struggled the second game. I wonder how much of this is weather related, yesterday having a confusing, powerful wind. Bilfer has more on defense.
- The first two starters — Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson — didn’t overwhelm, but they both kept the team in the game with three and two runs allowed, respectively, through regular-length starts. But …
- The bullpen makes me sick, though anecdotally, that defense probably hurt Jason Grilli some. But 9 earned runs, 6 walks and 3 strikeouts among four relievers? That isn’t pretty.
- I was surprised Fernando Rodney got the call in both of the opening games.
- Rodney Feels Out of Sync, Beck writes. You’re telling me!
- Toronto has a great offense, so I don’t doubt a large chunk of the pitching problems were their fault.
- 1-1? I’m happy with that considering the opponent.
- Happy (belated) fourth birthday, TigerBlog!
- On to Kansas City!
- P.S.: GO SPARTY! MSU beat Maine, 4-2, and will play for a hockey national championship Saturday.
Nice summary Kurt. The part of this series that stuck out the most to me was how clueless C-MO looked at the plate. I am sure that they will get that straightened out soon though. Despite the 3K’s (I actually don’t remember 3, just 2 of them), Granderson had an outstanding series. I’m glad to see that “my tiger” is hitting well. I have to agree with you that when Granderson didn’t score on the passed ball it felt like they held him up to not “run it up”. In pro sports you are paid to win, not make the other team feel good. If they did hold him for this reason it very nearly cost them a win. Mags had a tough day in right field (and can look very lost out there at times), but I chalk his struggles up to the strong wind and am not too concerned about that. I also thought (and Bilfer hit on it) that Guillen looked very good defensively at short in the 2 games played. Mario and Rod were talking about he lost 10 lbs in the off season, hopefully it will improve his range.