Bunt Singles June 18: DLC in DET
posted in 2007 season, bunt singles |Eulogio De La Cruz called up
Everyone’s favorite next-best-hope, Eulogio De La Cruz, got the callup, the Freep reported. After serving as a starter for Double-A Erie, he moved up to Triple-A Toledo and got shelled his first time coming out of the bullpen. In the 6+ innings since, DLC has not allowed a run. In his last appearance, he struck out three. An extreme groundball pitcher with a strikeout pitch, DLC was made for the bullpen. He showed neither for the Mud Hens in a brief stay, and I don’t exactly want to see him in a high-pressure situation to start his major league career. But DLC could very well be this year’s Zumaya minus the 103 MPH heat — no pressure or anything. But if his stuff is working, he is the ideal bullpen pitcher.
Now we cross our fingers.
Yorman Bazardo, who did fine in his time up, was sent back to Toledo. Ultimately, I think he should stay up, but Jim Leyland probably doesn’t want to get too young in the pen, even if the experienced members suck.
The Tigers’ pen has an ERA of 5.27, a full run above the AL average and 12th of 14 teams. It’s actually gotten worse since the awful 5.08 it had last I reported. The 12 blown saves (not all are the traditional 9th inning saves, those include games blown in hold situations… sorta like a pre-ninth inning save) is the most in the AL.
Rogers report
A friend of mine had a ground-level, behind-the-plate look at Kenny Rogers Friday in Rogers’ West Michigan rehab start. He offered this report.
(His stuff) was OK – for that night anyway. All of his pitches have some movement. His fastball (which only topped at 83mph) cuts, his sinker sinks (a lot!) and his curveball is knee-buckling. His only problem that night, was placing his pitches. He gave up one earned run – three runs through five – however a “taylor made” double play ball was booted.
He’s a source I trust. In other news, Rogers is scheduled to throw threw a bullpen session to day and may will start Friday, which would have been Andrew Miller’s slot. What will become of Miller? Most likely, this means he’ll go back to AA because Jim Leyland has said in the past to “take to the bank” that Miller won’t be in the bullpen.
Maggs: 80 doubles?
I’ve been all over this doubles watch for Magglio Ordonez. With a double Sunday, he’s at 33 now. His pace for 80 has been steady all season. I thought it might slow down, but it hasn’t. He may have realized he’s on pace for an MLB record. Sunday, he tried to stretch a single into a double and was out by a mile, according to Jim and Dan on the radio. But a second chance later, he recorded a two-sacker.
Bunt Singles:
- Bilfer’s thought process during yesterday’s game was nearly identical to mine. I was excited for the possibility of a double switch after Monroe batted. But I guess Leyland didn’t want to cut short Gary Sheffield’s day off, thus forcing a pitcher to come to bat rather than Sheff to take Monroe’s place in the outfield.
- Big Al at The Wayne Fontes Experience sets the bullpen to music using the bank Pink Floyd. Due to my RSS reader, I thought it said “Pink” and wondered if Big Al had a pop music thing he wasn’t telling us about. Fortunately, I am under his 35-year-old cutoff, so I am free to state I can’t stand Pink Floyd. Not that you asked.
- Lee of Tiger Tales enjoyed a day in New Hampshire for an Erie game.
- Daily Fungo Mike, Ian, and others are on the TDF podcast today.
- Speaking of Mike (and his dislike of Craiggers!), DTown Baseball put Monroe into perspective.
- BIG Daddy is the big manager of a South Coast League team.