There’s been some disabled list news to update recently.

First, Dontrelle Willis pitched in Toledo last night, allowing 5 runs in 5-2/3 innings. He walked two and a third intentionally.

“It looked like it was pretty good through about 70 pitches tonight,” Mud Hens’ manager Larry Parrish said. “I thought he threw the ball well. He just ran out of gas a little at the end.” (Quoted in Toledo Blade)

Here’s the MILB.com box score and play-by-play recap. Willis gave up back-to-back homers in the second inning after forcing three groundouts in the first. He then got the next five batters out, on two strikeouts, two flyout and a groundout before a walk and another groundout. He walked another n the fourth inning and gave up a single in the fifth. He also collected another strikeout and a pickoff. Then the sixth inning did in fact unravel on him as Parrish said.

So it seems to me, there were some good signs there for Willis. I definitely think there were positives in the outing if you look a bit closer. He’ll see at least another AAA start though.

Rodney, Zumaya getting closer

Scott McNeish of MLB.com reports Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney will start throwing to batters this week in Lakeland. There’s no date for when they might return, if–knock on wood, cross fingers, don’t walk under a ladder–they are able to continue their progress without any setbacks. The Tigers’ bullpen hasn’t been the big problem this year, as first thought it might be. But it’s important the Tigers have all hands on deck for when (if?) they do start to put the pieces together during the summer. Having the two healthy for a stretch run is a must.

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Some people may say the Tigers are better off without Jason Grilli — I don’t know, maybe they’re right, though I don’t think so. As quirks of baseball love to do, three days after the Tigers traded Jason Grilli, they placed setup reliever Denny Bautista on the disabled list. This resulted in the callup of right-handed minor league reliever Freddy Dolsi, who started the season in High-A Lakeland before moving north to Double-A Erie.

Jason Beck’s article added:

Dolsi … was the recommendation of player development director Glenn Ezell and pitching instructor Jon Matlack.

• Dolsi’s Baseball Cube entry
• Dolsi’s First Inning entry.
• Dolsi’s Baseball Minors Reference entry
  

After the 25-year-old gave up seven hits and 5 runs in 7.1 innings in Lakeland, along with 11 strikeouts and three walks, he moved up to Erie and made two appearances. There he had one strikeout, allowed one hit and one walk in three innings. So I’m thinking it’s quite a jump to the majors myself.

In Danny Knobler’s article, Jim Leyland said he will use Dolsi, fellow newcomer Francisco Cruceta, Bobby Seay, Clay Rapada, “whatever comes around.” So looks like the bullpen roles are still kinda up in the air.

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Francisco Cruceta tossed 3 flawless innings in Toledo today. “As good as advertised” the headline on the link tells you.

Cruceta struck out six of the 11 batters he faced. He showed great command, as 27 of his 39 pitches went for strikes. He did walk one and hit a batter in his last inning, but escaped the jam.

His two-seam fastball ranged from 91-95 mph with nice sinking movement, while he mixed in a slider and a devastating splitter, which he used as an out pitch.

Meanwhile, Booth Newspapers reports Granderson will play one more Whitecaps game. He should be on his way to Detroit after that.

With Placido Polanco day-to-day, the Tigers look to be getting closer to the 2008 team most people expected to take the field. So that’s definitely a good thing. Gary Sheffield is still a few days away, Jeff Beck reports in the previous link.

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Does spring training last too long? I say yes. The Tigers got a bit of final-week bad news for the thirds straight year: Curtis Granderson’s finger was broken when he took a pitch off it Saturday, Jason Beck reports. He’ll start on the disabled list. The splint can be removed in about two weeks, then he’ll start getting back into rhythm, Beck added. So he should miss about two weeks of the regular season, which is good news.

This obviously stinks. Unless you’re Ryan Raburn, who should now make the team for sure. Or Brandon Inge, who may end up as the starting center fielder. Of course, even then it still sucks, they don’t want to see a teammate injured.

So this is the third straight year that I can remember a starter being lost to the disabled list in the final week. Last year, Kenny Rogers needed surgery on his blood clot. The year before that, Todd Jones hurt his hamstring. Shorter spring training wouldn’t really guarantee future injuries — and maybe it would create more if players weren’t properly stretched out. But right about now, I’d just like to get to the regular season.

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Tigers media is reporting no structural damage in Jeremy Bonderman’s elbow, just pinched cartilage. That’s a good thing. It’s possible he could return, but he may be shut down for the season. Unless, of course, the season is still alive in October.

Probably a good idea not to bother, given I hold little hope for 2007 and a not-healthy Bonderman is most certainly one who can’t contribute positively to 2007 anyway. Best to get him ready for 08.

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Gary Sheffield, who I wrote about earlier today, went on the disabled list, effective Aug. 22. He’ll be eligible to come off Sept. 6.

Timo Perez was called up to take his place. I’m not sure exactly who I was thinking of when I said Sheff needed to give up his 25 man roster spot until he was healthy, but I’m pretty sure I wasn’t thinking of Timo Perez.

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Indians 5, Tigers 2

You can be a bit upset that the Tigers lost, I guess. But honestly, they won Tuesday. The team is suffering from flu-like symptoms. The lineup was missing a few key figures, and present were some guys not feeling the best. Jair Jurrjens made his MLB debut. Fausto Carmona is both fun to say and spell, and a good pitcher. So I don’t know. I expected a loss. Can’t really feel too bad.

I thought Jurrjens pitched pretty well, given the circumstances and, well, that he’s 21. Given Andrew Miller’s poor outing in Toledo tonight (more later) I think he will get another start next week. Jurrjens (pronounced uhm, any way you like, from my observations of FSN, Jim Price and Dan Dickerson) threw 62 strikes in 104 pitches, walked 2, allowed 5 hits (a home run) and struck out three. He even lasted seven innings, something more starters should try. Given the Indians have several good lefties, I think the results were fine.

The bullpen? Meh. Bobby Seay walked too many. Including left-handed Travis Haffner with the bases loaded. What kinda LOOGY does that? Jason Grilli, of all people, bailed Seay out.

The offense just didn’t make much happen. The meat of the lineup, and Curtis Granderson, were present. But not much else.

Grandy, it should be noted, got his 19th triple.

Box

Bunt Singles:

• And in Toledo, Miller gave up five runs with two outs in the first inning. He had five walks and four strikeouts in three innings. So it doesn’t look like Miller is ready to come back to the MLB. To be honest, I think he shouldn’t continue as a starter this year because of putting so many innings on his arm. Maybe he can work as a reliever for the rest of the season.

• And then there’s Joel Zumaya. He was targeted to pitch 20. He only lasted seven. That’s because six pitches were for strikes and three were for outs in a perfect inning. No clue about velocity or anything else. I’ll be looking for stories, too. He’ll pitch Saturday, and then appears to be ready to return to Detroit and make us very, very happy fans.
• And finally, the deadline for signing 2007 draftees was reached. A complete list isn’t out yet, but the Tigers added Casey Crosby and Cole Iorg to the list that already included first rounder Rick Porcello.
• For more on the draft picks, see Take 75 North.
• Possibly the most interesting story on signing a draft pick didn’t come from a sports section or blog, but from a mother who happens to be the managing editor of a suburban Chicago newspaper: Denise Crosby. (hat-tip: many!)
• Finally, Kyle Sleeth and Kody Kirkland were removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Porcello, who is required to be there, and Jair Jurrjens, who needed a spot as well.
• Optimistically, the Tigers would like your postseason dollars, season ticket holders.

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Andrew Miller was assigned to the disabled list today with a strained hamstring, and Fernando Rodney was recalled from this Toledo rehab early, Jason Beck reports. Beck does not know the corresponding move in the rotation. Miller left the game after four innings yesterday with the injury.

The number of Tigers not on the DL this season is really dwindling, especially those on the  pitching staff. Far as my mind can recall, the only pitchers from last year not on the DL are Justin Verlander (who most people expected would see some lingering effects from his inning surge), Jason Grilli (who most people hoped would see the list) and Todd Jones.

Maybe there really is something to the notion a World Series run wears down the pitching staff of the two teams who play until the final day of the season. Most teams since the Yankees about 7-8 years ago do not make a return. I’m stiffing the notion the Tigers will not, either.

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Marcus Thames left the game after his catch, obviously in pain and clutching his leg. While the leg was massaged and stretched by the trainer, Rod Allen wondered if it was a cramp. Postgame, Jim Leyland said Thames was “not good” and second-guessed his decision to play him in left. (How could he know there was a chance Thames would run like the wind, catch the ball and hurt himself? Was there a pre injury?)

“Not good. I’m really not sure I hadn’t screwed that [move] up, to be honest with you. I could’ve left Raburn in the game and put Grandy in center field in Marcus’ spot, but I kept thinking about Marcus’ long ball. If they tied it up or something, Marcus would’ve been coming up. But who knows, Raburn might not have caught it. But the catch might be a little expensive, because he’s not good.” (Beck’s blog)

That shuffle would have worked fine, I’m sure, but at the time I didn’t see any reason for it and I don’t really see it now. Thames’ power stroke is exactly the reason to keep him, though Raburn played well.

Like Bilfer thought, if the Tigers send Thames to the disabled list, they’ll need a backup first baseman. And that could be our lil buddy, Chris Shelton.

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Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney played a short game of catch Thursday. (Strange term when you think about it. Who wins catch?)

Real quote (in Det News):

Zumaya: “I’m a little pumped. I can’t get too excited. But I’m actually really excited. I slept with my glove last night. I knew I was throwing. But I didn’t really sleep at all. The glove was with me all day in the plane and all last night in the bed.”

My imagination:
Zumaya: yay catch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! will you play catch with me, ‘Nando?
Fernando Rodney: I dunno kid, my arm kinda hurts
Zoomer: Pweeeeeeeeas Uncle ‘Nando?
Rodney: Well, OK, but only briefly.
Zoomer: YAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Zumaya, who has no clue when he’ll be back, now thinks mid-August. I still think late August. Just about a week to 10 days ago, he said September. Rodney will be back within weeks probably. Both will have rehab assignments, Danny Knobler reports.

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