18th
May
2007
Bunt Singles: May 18
posted in 2007 season, bunt singles |Tigers news, stats and opinions
confused about the ups and downs of the season so far? That’s baseball. Shake it off and take your base.
- The lead news of the day, full expected: Zach Miner returned to Toledo, while Andrew Miller was called up from Erie.
- Ian continues one of my favorite features at Bless You Boys: Blogging with the Enemy. He asked Viva El Birdos‘ author Iboros a few questions.
- Brian at Tigerblog found an interesting stat: Gary Sheffield had more runs than hits. Sheff makes a habit of taking a walk, so it doesn’t seem too surprising, it’s just not something you see every day. Today’s update: 33 runs, 33 hits.
- Curtis Granderson points out the Tigers will be collecting new and used baseball equipment for the Gloves for Kids program at Saturday’s game to distribute to disadvantaged children. This is a fantastic idea. I hope everyone who attends the game can help.
- John Lowe wrote about the strange, historical way in which the Tigers lost to Boston last night: The Tigers scored just two runs on 8 extra-base hits against Curt Schilling, becoming the first big league club (and Schilling, pitcher) to do such a thing.
- Schilling blogged about it at 38 Pitches.
- Maggs Ordonez is fifth in the AL in batting average. He’s second in RBI, two behind A-Rod. (Are they booing Arod in New York yet? Hmm.) In Joe Mauer’s stead, Yanks catcher Jorge Posada leads in average with .371.
- Going 5-for-23 in the past week, Polly Polanco’s average dropped to .329. His OBP was still a comfortable .357 during that span.
- Maggs base runs above average is more than 20, twice Polanco and way above all the other Tigers. At -13, Sean Casey nearly cancels Maggs out.
- Is it time to pull Casey from the lineup? At this point I have to say yes. Start Marcus Thames, replace him in late innings (if you must) with Casey’s glove. Not that Thames is having a real good season either, but it’s certainly better in comparison. First base is a hole.
- The Tigers bullpen has an ERA nearly5. Starters are just more than 4.
- The Tigers have no shutouts. On May 24 last year when I blogged about pitching, they had nine. I really hope this isn’t going to be the norm for the rest of the year, but it’s May, a lot can change.
- John Donovon calls the Tigers-Cards a must-see interleague series. Then makes an old, trite joke.
- SI’s Fungoes Blog, or blogs as there each division in baseball has one, are hit and miss. The AL Central blog misinterpreted Jim Leyland’s comment on Dice-K, or didn’t read the full quote, which also said “Obviously, he’s an outstanding pitcher. He’s a major league pitcher. And that’s who we’re facing.” You know why a lot of people don’t like the media? Because many media members try to shove reality into the storyline they want to use, then shave off the part that doesn’t fit. This is one of those cases. And it’s dishonest.
- Still, I like SI’s idea here but I wish they had their bloggers check in more than once a week.
And one on the Cards
- Get Up, Baby! writes about Cards pitcher Braden Looper, who the Tigers will be facing.