9th
April
2009
Bunt singles: Is bullpen help on the way?
posted in 2009 season, bunt singles |- While Jim Leyland tries to make hide or hair of his bullpen — especially the late innings portion of it — help may soon be on the way in the body of Joel Zumaya. Jason Beck reports Zumaya will not come off the disabled list when eligible, but may not be too far away. Zumaya needs to make two or three more outings while staying at the Tigers’ camp in Lakeland, then he’ll pitch in back-to-back minor league games against Double-A or Triple-A competition. No indication how Zumaya is pitching, but if he picks up where he left off in early March, he’ll be a welcome addition to the Tigers’ roster. Who is sent out of Detroit when he’s ready, I don’t know. But don’t hold your breath for Brandon Lyon, I think it’s a bit too soon to be barking up that tree. (MLB.com)
- Sounds like Jeremy Bonderman is a bit farther out.
- Speaking of Lyon, Mike McClary asks if Tigers fans will boo the newcomer in the Tigers’ home opener Friday. I kind of think they will, but I hope they don’t. Remember: “We’re all behind our baseball team. Go get ‘em, Tigers!” What do you think? (Daily Fungo)
- Lynn Henning is not worried about Justin Verlander. I’m not either. It’s way too early to be worrying about Verlander. The stuff he was showing in spring training, I think we should all take another look at him and see if he doesn’t get better results. (Detroit News)
- Great story by Mitch Albom on Sunday that you’ve probably heard. But just in case you haven’t: Tigers owner Mike Ilitch will be giving away prime advertising real estate behind center field this year, because General Motors cannot afford to pay for it. Rather than selling the spot to some other advertising partner, Ilitch decided what has been the home of one of Detroit’s big three automakers should be the home for all three, and he’s not charging a cent. He’s taking the stance, We’re all in this together, Detroit. So while some people are writing about the Tigers having a firesale due to financial worries, the owner is passing up income for the good of his city. Great move by Ilitch. Hope the Big 3 can make the most of it and all bounce back healthy. (Free Press)
- According to Elias Sports Bureau and the Canadian Press, when Tigers’ rookie phenom Rick Porcello and Blue Jays rookie Ricky Romero meet today, it will be the first time a pair of first-round picks make their major league debut against each other. I hope that takes the pressure off Porcello a bit. Of course it also takes the pressure of Romero a bit, I guess. (MLive)
- But is it too early for Porcello to make his debut? Minor League Ball’s John Sickels thinks so. Ian has the full recap at Bless You Boys. My opinion has obviously been oft repeated. I wouldn’t mind it if Porcello spent more time in the minors, but pitching as solidly as he has this spring, it’s really, really hard for the Tigers to send him down. He earned his chance. The stats Sickels uses are a bit misleading, to me, because he really only had one bad showing, and that accounted for three of the five walks. And it’s not like they have to keep him in the majors all year. (Minor League Ball, Bless You Boys)
- Billfer looks at the decisions made by Leyland in the blown save and subsequent blown game on Tuesday. I don’t really disagree with him on any of his conclusions. I think the fifth question is the most debatable, but I don’t disagree. I wondered why Lyon was out there in the 9th inning with no help, too. It turns out Lyon made a lot more pitches than he’s used to, though now I can’t remember where I saw the stat. If he came out in the ninth, he should have been replaced. (Detroit Tigers Weblog)
