Bunt Singles: Aug. 15
posted in 2008 season |I think I’m going to stop doing daily recaps of the games, as they’ve become sorta meaningless in the grand scheme of the season. Strange feeling to have games where the results don’t matter. But I’ll try to blog on the issue of the day more consistently.
The Tigers made life hard for the contending teams that wanteds to add Mariners LF/DH Raul Ibanez for the stretch run. Being the worst team to make a claim, the Tigers won him. The Mariners demanded a nice prospect and Detroit, I suspect, laughed at slapped its knees. Whether the Tigers were trying to pull a fast one to take advantage of his free agency status or what, I don’t know, because it wouldn’t have made any sense to add him. In other interesting news from that same link, the Mariners are nuts and overplaying their hand like mad. Not only did they want a player off the Twins’ 25 man roster, they wanted the Twins to pay the remaining $13M on Jarrod Washburn’s contract. Seriously. HUH? Why’d the Mariners even put Ibanez on waivers? Do they think any team would actually agree to such insane terms?
Leyland says he will use it next year. But, you know, that’s a long way off and who knows what might change or what Leyland will dream up in the offseason, so I’m not ready to commit to the idea the Tigers have done something right by getting the two batters a couple more at-bats during the course of the season. ANYWAY he messes it up by claiming he might keep Gary (Black Hole (for) Runs) Sheffield in the five-hole. Of course batting orders don’t matter all that much. But I would still like a better batter at No. 5
- Joel Zumaya to the DL for the rest of the season
Yup. Joel wasn’t right. Well, that’s too bad. Not unexpected, since Ian has taken to calling him Glass Joel (Glass Joe seen at right) for a pretty good reason. I am seriously beginning to doubt whether we’ll ever see ZOOM-aya in 2006 form again. He just keeps hurting his shoulder over and over. To me, he is definitely NOT the closer of the future. This time is arm blew up.
Well, he thought so anyway. Every time Zumaya feels pain, he’s pretty sure his career is over. He’s got a lot of negative vibes for a guy from San Diego. But it was just scar tissue tearing loose. Maybe that will actually make him more effective when he recovers. I’m no doctor. But I remember that being said about Gary Sheffield having better range of motion. I don’t know if that’s true for pitchers as well. But if it was, maybe it’s a good thing.
And we learned, Zumaya, like every other player on this team, was playing hurt. (How’d that work for Jeremy, Gary and Todd?) What is it with this team playing hurt? Someone’s got to pound it in their heads they’re not helping their team or their careers. (Sheffield alleges wrongdoing, naturally).
- Freddy Dolsi sent down; Todd Jones called up.
I’m not unsurprised by Todd Jones coming back to Detroit. If he’s feeling better, great. Put him back as closer. We learned while he was gone no one in that bullpen can close out games as good as Todd Jones. Sure, he’s a rollercoaster. Sure, he blows a few games. Sure, you don’t want him to be your closer. But unfortunately, everyone else sucks. So Todd Jones it is!
I was a bit miffed that Freddy Dolsi got sent down to the minors. I assumed it would be Francis Beltran heading back after a short stay in Comerica Park. But it really doesn’t matter. As of right now, I’d say Dolsi should just concentrate on being the Tigers’ closer in 2009, as they really should not try to buy a closer. (How often does that work out? Maybe on occassion. How often does that blow up in teams’ faces? All the time!)
- “Ace” Armando Galarraga is sixth in the AL in ERA with 3.11.
- Miguel Cabrera is tied for second in the AL in RBIs with 92, 20 behind the leader.
- Magglio Ordonez is fifth in the AL in AVG with .320, .003 behind the leader.
