Tigers claim Stairs
The Tigers claimed outfielder/first baseman Matt Stairs off waivers from Texas today. Not sure yet if he’ll join the team tonight, since the Rangers are at home this weekend. No doubt, we’ll see what he can provide for the stretch run when he gets to Detroit.
Jason Beck
Why did we pick up Stairs, to apologize to Maroth for the other night? As it is we can’t get at-bats for Shelton. Jason, management is just not reading this blog with the kind of attention it deserves. On the bright side I heard that Rob Deer is also available.
Bonderman should set his locker on fire for all the damage he’s caused.
Funny, that’s the second time this season I’ve been watching a game and idly mused, “here’s a guy we could get.” The first one was Sean Casey. Strange.
Okay, I’ll be positive about it. Stairs can DH from the left side and give Marcus some help, and he can play both first and the outfield. I do wonder about Shelton, but it’s obvious this is just a late season fix and not long term. At least Matt can go deep on somebody. If you’re three runs down with two men on and two out, may as well have him up there. From what I understand, he’s a good team guy to have around. And he didn’t cost much.
Let’s keep in mind, at this late point, that one swing of a bat, anybody’s bat, can win the whole thing for you. If Stairs helps win even one game, he’ll have been worth it. That’s how valuable wins are now.
Rich–I believe that is pretty much the only way he will contribute. I doubt we will see him defensively much,(unless they have plans for Casey we haven’t heard about).
I think the guy is simply replacing Dmitri Young. LH DH–I seem to recall he has a pretty positive BB/K ratio.
All we can hope for is whoever they put out there does something helpful.
Matt Stairs??
Well, obviously management is answering the question: are they committed?? Yes, they are. Why else pay this guy for so short a time?
I would love to ask DD: If you had to do it all over again, would you pull the trigger on Soriano? I mean, 40-40 guys don’t grow on trees, and unless you figure Maybin is going to be a 50-50 guy………….well, you get the idea. PLENTY of “can’t misses” have, indeed, missed.
Looking at things empirically though…………we all have to agree. The Tigers have challenged for a playoff spot, while holding on to their future. Hardly easy to do, and we will all be glad they have accomplished it, I am sure.
Can’t miss guy you don’t mean Purnal Goldy by any chance?
Wouldn’t it be nice to bring Big Al back for one tater? He’s got 399 and I always wondered why they didn’t beg him to come back to hit one more out of old Tiger Stadium. That always bugged me and, apparently, still does.
So many rained out HRs and countless drives that twisted outside that LF foul pole 340 ft away.
Baseball guys–we just love numbers don’t we?
The next number is 3—
3 straight from Orioles and Bonderman back to his winning ways. We have a division championship to capture.
Maybe Matt Stairs hits the one that has us dancing in the streets.
Jason by placing Colon on the 60 day DL does that make Stairs available for the postseason?
Can’t believe how sanguine everyone else is. Maybe I’ve lost my mind but I think its ridiculous. You don’t add pieces in mid-September. Talk about destroying the chemistry. Now is not the time to wreak havoc with Thames’ confidence or take away his at-bats. Not to mention that Shelton is now completely buried. Clearly management has deep regrets about trade deadline arrogance but its too late to redress those mistakes. Lets play the guys we have now, tell them we believe in them. Dombroski in full panic mode. It’s flat out embarrassing.
Stairs is ineligible for postseason play.
Purnal Goldy? Dan, did you just mention Purnal Goldy?!? I haven’t heard that name in well over 40 years! Jason, you really need to interview us and write that book.
Goldy was the face of the future Tigers at a time when they were grooming Jim Northrup, Willie Horton, Bill Freehan, Mickey Stanley, Micky Lolich, and the inimitable Ray Oyler.
Rube, I don’t see the problem. Thames’ confidence is already at a season low, and the team chemistry is producing nothing these last few weeks. Maybe they’ll get that “shot in the arm” everyone thinks they need. Maybe Stairs will help us win that one game. I don’t think it can hurt at this point.
I have to admit that, like Dan, I’m now worried about the pitching (have to worry about something). I mean, wouldn’t it be just the thing to have the hitters bust out of this massive slump only to have the pitchers start to give up runs in bunches? Okay, I’m sorry, this paragraph had “Lions” written all over it.
Yeah Rich–Purnal Goldy. I won’t mention Orlando McFarlane or Coot Veal either.
Rube. I understand what you are saying about the chemistry. But We really do need a power LH hitter. The only reason I didn’t rag on DY was that even though he looked awful he still could pound one in the seats.
It’s tough to make the right call somethimes but I too would like to see more of Shelton. He has a nice stroke when it’s going and it is clear he can hit in the bigs. He did get a raw deal as has Infante. No question.
Do we put him in instead of Casey? I think we absolutely do against LHP and if he starts to hit with some regularity I think they should play him against some RHP.
Stairs coming might bother Thames but my guess is he will be able to handle it as professionally as he can. The fact is we are probably going to be seeing a lot of RHP from here on out as they have a better record against us than LHP do.
If Stairs doesn’t do the job then we know Thames can. I’m not wild about this but at this stage we can either be optimistic or pessimistic about it.
I don’t think there is a way around the post season play eligibility rules but unless Stairs were to hit .500 with 6 or 7 HRs the Tiger fans would lynch management if he were to be added ahead of Shelton.
Who do you think the pitchers will be? I wouldn’t be surprised to see them go with 11 or possibly even 10 pitchers. That would leave spots for 6 subs. Infante has to be one–he can play in and out. Need Shelton in there, (he gets Giaratanno’s spot), Wilson leaving Santiago, Gomez and Clevlen. Not sure what the status is of the last two.
My understanding of the playoff eligibility roster if you have a guy on the 60 day DL you can replace him with a player of the same position, P for P; C for C, IF for IF OF for OF) provided that they were in the organization on August 31…
I think this leaves Nefarious and Stairs out.
Well, in the greater scheme of things it means nothing but I didn’t have any bad feeling when Bonderman got in trouble in the first. He has not had a good record over the O’s over the years but he looked pretty good in the first.
I was a bit envious to see their leadoff man get on and steal 2nd and 3rd. Man wouldn’t it be nice?
BTW he was out 3rd but the guy was aggressive enough to try to steal 3rd on a fastball count (2-0). That takes guts.
Granderson looked bad–what are we gonna do about this problem? I think you have to take him out of the leadoff spot to relieve some pressure. Make him ONE of the guys not THE guy.
Pudge just missed-Monroe didn’t. Gotta get this guy with the 35.00 ERA
I know a lot of people don’t like when I harp on things but Granderson should not be leading off. Shake things up.
People would say “well, who would you use?” For as atypical of a leadoff hitter as Granderson has been we could put Casey in there and accomplish the same results. (Tongue firmly in cheek)
Grandy has not exactly been getting on and tearing up the base paths.
My guy to lead-off is Guillen not perfect but creative and knows how to get on and what to do when he does. Inge could lead-off as well as Infante. The main thing for me is to get Granderson out of there and maybe it will help HIM.
I am going to say this and shut up. I do tend to bark too much at the beginning of a game.
Mr Jim Leyland:
GRANDERSON IS NOT A LEADOFF HITTER. IT IS NOT FAIR TO HIM AT THIS STAGE OF HIS CAREER TO MAKE HIM ONE. ESPECIALLY ON A TEAM THAT IS IN CONTENTION FOR A DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIP.
HE IS YOUNG AND IMPRESSIONABLE AND IS NOT FINDING SUCCESS AS A LEADOFF HITTER THIS STUBBORN ATTEMPT IS HURTING HIM AND MAKING HIM THINK THAT IF HE IS NOT DOING HIS JOB AS A LEADOFF HITTER MEANS HE IS NOT A GOOD HITTER PERIOD.
FOR CRYING OUT LOUD LEYLAND SMARTEN UP! THE EXPERIMENT IS JEOPARDIZING THE SEASON AND GRANDERSON’S PSYCHE. BE A MAN, ADMIT YOU’RE MISTAKE AND CHANGE THINGS UP.
Oh, and Casey needs to take his ****-chat to the bench with Perez. He is not functioning on the field and is hurting the ball club at this point. Bring Big Red back and I guarantee you he hits better than .075 or whatever Casey is doing right now. It is your job to make this club WIN.
I lied.
Nice to see the bats wake up.
bottom of 5 now.
I hope Leyland has the good sense to take Guilen out and put in Santiago.
Looks like miller time to me –he actually could be made to be eligible for the post-season roster I think (with Colon on the 60 day DL)
Now is the time to throw this guy and tell im to go there and stamp his ID card. Let Bonderman throw another inning (or two if his pitch count is down).
Leyland could take out Pudge and Ordonez too if he feels so inclined. Get the bench a little work.
Anyone who would be glad that someone’s hurt so he won’t be a threat to their team winning should go back to the remote island they were on. Everyone’s happy when the team’s winning, and crying that they’re no good if they lose. If you think you’re better, put your uniform on and get to the stadium. Yes, we all want our team to win, but that’s what being a fan is all about. You go up and down with the team and are there to support them. You watch the games and wish you could be as good. Stop the whining and the Monday morning quarterbacks – Get A Life!!!!!I work in an office where there’s a Yankee fan. If that’s not tortuous, give me something better.
Yes! Tou can take 2 more off the magic number.
Observations on a pennant race:
I switched over to the Indians-Twins game and was treated to some pretty exciting stuff. There was a lively crowd in the Jake to watch a scrappy home team get the win. The Indians aren’t lying down, and that’s just as it should be. This is one tough division, brother.
The Tigers were due to explode and explode they did. So strange how hitting is contagious like that. I have to wonder, was it just breaking out of a slump or was it feasting on subpar pitching? Looking back now, it appears to me that this was the first “weak” pitching they’ve seen in weeks. So was it poor hitting or was it a stretch of extremely tough pitchers? I’ll say about 30% for the former and 70% for the latter. Anyone agree or disagree?
Now a word on umpires. I think it’s a darn shame that name players get the calls and everyone else doesn’t. This works both ways, as some nights the Tigers are the name players, but I think it’s a poor way to officiate. I realize this happens in all sports (NBA anyone?) but I just wish it didn’t happen.
One more thought: there are people who don’t want Brandon Inge in the lineup. Those people should be made to watch a replay of that Brooks Robinson play he turned in tonight.
Press………….Inge can make as many “Brooks” plays as he wants, but the numbers are what the number are.
He is NOT a third baseman on a championship caliber team(even if the Tigers win the WS…….lol).
I hear what you are saying about the umps. It seems, no one gets squeezed more than Bonderman(he has pitched against a veritable all-star team this year). It was nice to see the pressure off him this evening.
Are we out of our slump? Only time will tell, but this was a fun victory, and showed that these Tigers are not dead.
Whoa! Scratch. I disagree totally. Inge can win you a game with his bat or glove. He can give the club a tough at bat when it is needed. He is one of the team’s better baserunners.
When the O’s went to the series the year after our ’68 Tigers did, Brooks robinson hit .234 with 23 HRs.
Both he and Mike Schmidt were career .267 hitters.
The ’68 and ’84 Tigers won it all with Don Wert and Brookens/Garbey.
Inge is one of the key players on this club and IMO has the tools and the potential to be a WS MVP.
No Third sacker in baseball has more assists than Brandon does this year—No One.
Would you consider A-Rod to be WS Calibre–he has more considerably more errors and less double plays started than Inge.
Lowell in Boston is fabulous as is Chavez.
Lowell ain’t gonna be in a world series. Chavez may end there with his .240 average and 19 Hrs.
The only 3B I would take over Inge (only when I remove myself emotionally) would be Joe Crede and Ramirez. I wouldn’t even take Rolen over Inge.
You wouldn’t take Chavez?(and his gold gloves), or Lowell(a LOT more production), or even A-ROD( the regning MVP of the league, for gawd sakes…….lol).
If you wouldn’t take A-Rod over Inge, then I’d say you have not removed yourself, emotionally.
Mentioning Schmidt and Robinson in the same sentnece as Inge makes one giggle, but since you did……….
Batting averages from different eras don’t mean anything, and you know it. Joe Crede is putting up numbers that are “good”for this era, they’d be HOF numbers if transplanted to the 70′s.
Inge is a cute little player, who makes some nice plays. However, he’s the last guy I want the ball hit to with the game on the line. He has made many errors on simple plays late in games, with men on base.
Also……..he not nearly productive enough for a player in a power position in this era(I noticed all of your examples of third basemen were from many moons ago, you may consider “turning the page”).
Third needs an upgrade for ’07, IMHO.
Brandon has better range thatn lowel or Chavez. They don’t touch the balls he gets to. Inge has some 70 assists more than Lowell.
Theres a lot more to “taking” a player over another.
I would not be prepard to deal with the salary of an A-Rod. If they had the same salary and we could trade them even up–Yes I would. Realistically you hurt the rest of your team going for an overpriced star like A-Rod because you have less to spen on a closer.
Obviously we differ over Inge. No point discussing it any further as I think he is a bargain.
Infante up–does Leyland bunt?
Bad at bats by Stairs, Infante, Granderson and Monroe.
On the bright side, Casey looks like he is coming out of it, Pudge looks serious and Robertson is throwin’ the ball really well.
It makes me sick to see the destruction of Curtis Granderson’s confidence. One of Leyland’s attributes is his concern for his players–it also his one of his flaws. In Curtis’ case I think he feels he would be showing criticism if he were to lower him in the batting order. I think it is evident that Curtis is not a leadoff hitter, he is not helping the team in that role, and that it is starting to infect his ability to hit at all.
Yesterday, with no pressur on, he hit the ball a couple of times. Today, pressure on, he didn’t.
I’ve said this far too often , but this is not the time to stubbornly pursue a vision that will not work out.
You can’t afford an easy (if not automatic) out at the top of the order.
It would be nice to see Leyland be willing to eat a little crow and make an adjustment.
I don’t want to jinx him, but Infante looks smooth and comfortable at second, doesn’t he? Robertson is the toughest pitcher on the team. Ivan sacrifice bunts! Alright.
Hi Marty. Infante looked a little disinterested when he was told to bunt but he has played very well otherwise. Inge has not had a good game. Really stupid at bat with the bases full and nobody out.
Monroe looks like he is starting to think about going into a slump.
C’mon Jones. Let’s wrap this up
Has anyone noticed that Inge no longer catches the ball?? He seems to want to knock it down. Scary.
With the stuff that Benson had tonight, if we win, it’ll be very nice.
The Orioles didn’t even sniff a run. Robertson, well done.
Two in a row and an important victory. Not picture perfect after the bats awakened yesterday we were hoping that maybe the slumber was over. They did piece together a victory and that is huge at this time.
Very encouraging:
Starting pitchers Bonderman and Robertson rewarded
Jones did the job.
Pudge is showing how to lead–great bunt thought it doesn’t show on the scoreboard.
Infante getting very comfortable at 2nd.
Casey coming around.
Still concerned about:
Baserunning
Granderson
Team Hitting
Robertson has been amazing. He has had every reason to throw his arms up in despair and complain of non-support. He refuses to give in. He is beginning to remind me of a fellow named Mickey Lolich.
Anyone hear how far away is Polanco’s return?
Hey Dan! I’ve been kind of quiet lately. Had to think about the Stairs pickup for a while. I don’t know, I thought Infante was ready to do whatever he was told. He picked the wrong pitch to bunt and it was poorly placed. I think he was pretty disgusted with himself and I swear, when he kind of looks up and rolls his eyes just a bit I almost here him thinking, “Am I gonna’ get punished for this?”
I thought you and Scratch were going to drop the gloves earlier today. I agree Scratch, Inge makes a lot of plays where he knocks the ball down like tonight(and it’s scary), but his quick hands and gun arm are usually able to finish off the play. But there are times where he stops everything, and I agree with Dan, he has excellent range. He’s quick. Hows that for diplomacy?…we don’t want no trouble. Hey, the Tigers are on a roll(that would be 2 in a row)
You have to love Robertson for his youthful attitude and bulldog tenacity, he’s a fighter. But you really have to love him when he pitches the way he’s capable of like tonight.
Give credit to Bensen too. Man, Craig could not pull the string tonight! Those were decent pitches he was watching. Quoting Earnie, “He stood there like the house by the side of the road.”…twice
I’m afraid I started the Inge business, then left Scratch and Dan to duke it out. Sorry guys. My point was not about statistics, just that after seeing some 99% of Tiger games this year, I’m impressed with his overall play at third. I know for a fact that Brandon has been a lightning rod for debate this season. What I’d really like to do with him is tell him to forget about hitting homers. I think he’d be a better hitter for it.
Tonight was one of those rare games I couldn’t see. Although I’m some 100 miles from Baltimore, they blacked me out on both subscription TV and MLB.com. And the channel the game was on? I don’t receive that here. I could get last night’s game on MLB.com, though. Go figure.
Looks like I missed another dominating performance by Nate. He’s the best we’ve got at this point in time. I had anticipated that Benson would throw a good game and it looks like he did. Good win to get.
I’m looking for the Twins to cool off somewhat, but the next order of business is to get the White Sox out of this race. We can go a long way in doing that starting Monday night. I hate to again say getting one of the three games would be a positive, but it would be. Well, let’s just take the series and have done with it.
Marty, drop the gloves?? Nah, just a little spirited debate. I don’t dislike Inge. In fact, I like him very much. He would make a great sub, bench player, a valuable part of any team. I just don’t feel he has the skill set to occupy his current position daily.
Press, no apologies neccessary.
The coming series………really, only one win is all that’s needed. But, man oh man, wouldn’t two be nice??
Have been watching their series this weekend against the A’s, and their bullpen is a wreck. No one has any confidence, and Ozzie’s body language is telling. I hope we take a pitch or two against the Sox starters, run the pitch count up a little, so we can get to their ‘pen.
What a great couple of weeks of baseball coming!
Scratch, Now if only someone in that Tigers clubhouse listens to and applies what you just said.