Guillen back in lineup

Shows the importance of this series doesn't it? I am a bit ambivalent about Guillen coming in if he is not 100%.
I'm sure they know what they're doing and I think if Carlos hits a gapper tonight to drive in a couple we won't complain if he has to pull up at first.

Now let's hope we don't get any surprises at 2nd base tonight.

Infante is really kicking into gear and I'm not sure exactly what it is but his strikeout ratio has improved dramatically in conjunction with his batting average. He has been a breath of fresh air.

Ledezma looks like he has worked himself into the rotation and "Ledz" hope he keeps himself locked in.

Makes me nervous too, because I know he'd have a hard time not going full out. Sure is great to have him back, though. I sure hope it's Infante, and not only because of his bat. He and Guillen have tons more experience playing together.

I have to confess, when they brought Ledezma back, I called him the poster child of the 2003 Tigers. That was wrong of me, and he's also proven me wrong himself. My biggest fear when he pitches is his fielding. He can be pretty shaky in that regard. I've seen several guys try to bunt on him but so far Pudge and Inge have gobbled them up, so the jury is still out on that. Tonight we've got carpet ball. I'm sure he'll be tested.

Almost forgot. I'm not surprised Spurling got claimed quickly. He is/was a good pitcher on a team full of them. He should do well. Best of luck to him.

It was only one night but it sure was sweet. This is Michael in New York and 24 hours later Granderson's homer is still making me smile. Boy, Verlander was something last night, fiery, determined and downright crafty when he has to be -- ask poor Rondell White who got 3 breaking pitches in a row. Locating the 2 and 4 seamers much better and saving off speed stuuff for the out pitch. Would still like to see him vary his speed a little more but what do I know? Yes, a "cranky cuss" (love the phrase) he certainly seems to be, he couldn't wait for Hernandez to shut up and return to the dugout so he could go back to work.

I thought Rodriguez did an excellant job of pacing him; going out to the mound to slow things down or just staying out of Verlanders way when he was rolling. I don't know if Rodriguez has got him listening to salsa or what but the 2 of them were locked into the clave last night, the rhythm rock solid.

I share your trepidation about Guillen coming back too soon, hamstrings can just linger forever if they don't heal properly. But can you really blame Guillen, I'm sure after yesterdays four installments of the Neifi Perez show at the plate, he just couldn't take it anymore. You're right Dan, theres no question Santiago gobbles up Tyners single in the 6th. Perez actually seems to possess no lateral movement of anykind. He didn't so much dive for that ball as just simply fall down. I think the ball was already in center field anyway. I'm commented before on Perez's odd footwork but it is uncanny, he seems to be running underwater. It is a little disconcerting. There does seem to be something amphibian about the man in general.

Jason, a couple of awfully good stories yesterday, after reading them I really felt like I was in the clubhouse. You asked Thames some very interesting questions and I thought his answers revealing.

I've noticed the friendship between Monroe and Thames and always guessed that he was trying to keep Thames patient and focused so he'd be ready to go when he got the chance to contribute. Well he had a brilliant night -- he just smoked the ball 3 times; I was so happy for him, huge game, first one after the other DH's departure and he came up so big against right handed pitching (also terrific point Jason about seeing only lefthanders means you stuck with the Santanas, Fossoms and Randy Johnsons of the world. I hadn't thought of that). But I was very concerned with THames last at-bat. I couldn't believe someone else brought it up but Marty, you and I are on the same page. In a game that seems to be already decided for or against I will root for an extra at-bat for a struggling or young player so they can work some stuff out. After 3 sparkling times up Thames looked pretty awful in the 8th. He needs to simply ignore those worm killer breaking pitches -- like Manny Ramirez does with that great look on his face "is that really all you're going to throw me chico?" -- and stay within himself; hes got a great team-plyer attitude and a beautiful swing and were going to need both down the stretch. The Twins were watching that at-bat too, and he better get ready for a weekend of breaking pitches. At least until he hits one of those out too.

Brandons play on Puntos bunt -- huge. Same for Verlanders pickoff -- seems to me like Castillo is always on. Have to keep those first 2 in the dugout cause the next 4 guys are just no fun at all.

I don't know or care if Leyland reads the blog but Dan you keep making out thoses line-ups. Even if its only sending positive energy out in to the universe, i mean Rodriguez hitting second and he homers? Infantes tremendous night? It can't all be an accident. Write it and he will come.

Marty, please just keep faxing those stick figures in, they looked awfully good last night and, who knows, they might just get this thing done yet.

I think some of the fielding problems for Ledezma are more mental than physical. He seems to be enamored with his pitch and forgets to cover the bag on stuff hit to the right side.
I see the lineup has Inge eleavated to #8 at the expense of Infante. While it is good to see Brandon get a wee bit of move up in the order I do hope Infante handles this gracefully. No reason to think he won't as he has been very humble and very prepared for any role all season.

Thames down in the order a bit but you can see that Leyland wanted to be able to get a left handed bat in there somewhere among all the RHB.

I think one of the keys tonight is Pudge.

You can bet I will be watching Ordonez!

Go get 'em Tigers.

Rube---You're killin' me man with your "Nefarious" humour!

Ledezma forgot to position himself on the Castillo bunt that went foul. Good thing--He learned, because he was all over Punto's. Nice play and a lesson learned. If that goes for an infield hit they could have had a very big inning.

Casey should be layin' it down!

I agree they need to get Casey bunting. I just checked out of curiousity and the mighty Casey has no career sacrifice bunts. This year would be a good time to change that.

I'll post this then shut up--
Ordonez looks like he is playing with intelligence tonight. Good plays defensively too. Real good at bats.

Ledezma isn't gonna last tonight---way too high in the strike zone for this kind of team.

Triva question Ron LeFlore maybe??

I like the way Cuddyer hits-pretty good numbers too.

Morneau--would look real good in a Tigers' uni wouldn't he?

Looks like we're going to play polite again. Bad timing for that. No way you let Garza off the hook-take him down.

We got new paper and you guys are filling it up pretty quickly. Nice catch Curtis. Yeah Casey is making good contact but can't buy a hit. Good inning. Ledezma is working hard but overall doing a decent job. Some nice technical comments rube. were you a pitcher or something? Nice hit Craig!

Well, Ledezma has lasted longer than Garza anyway. Very good sign.

Yeah-but he has been getting away with a lot tonight. Some of the outs have been hit hard as well. you can't live high in the strike zone with his stuff.
I have been very critical of Ordonez this year and let me go on record for saying he is playing ball tonight. He has been selective at the plate and rewarded for it.

Casey is snake bit. Can't seem to do anything right. Even luck seems to be against him.

Wouldn't mind seeing Guillen at first tomorrow if they won't play Shelton against a righty.

I hope Ledezma can get thru one more inning. And anything after that is a bonus.

Well that's what I was afraid of. Ledezma got shelled.

Somebody needed to step on the Twin's throat and it didn't happen.

Let's see if we can come back after double disappointment.

Holy ****. Not a good sign. Looks like self destruction mode is being entered into now.

Inge looked pretty bad on that.

Leyland looked even worse. Ledezma should have been gone earlier--it was clear he had nothing. An then he had no business putting Miller in a game like this when you're only 1 run down.

This is the problem with the team right now--they can't put two good games back to back anymore.

Good night all.

I agree with all you're points Dan. Don't leave yet. I yhink Guillen's mobility is showing. You guys called it, and I can't remember who, he may not have been the right pick for SS.. This Twins team nows how to go for the jugular when they sniff blood.

If Maroth comes in at least there'll be SOMETHING interesting to watch.

Nothing surprising about tonight's game other than Ordonez suddenly looking like a professional hitter again.

This puts Ledezma back into the "will he or won't he" category. I'll bet the White Sox are praying at their Hawk Harrelson alters that Wilfredo will start against them.

I don't think Garza could have thrown three strikes before delivering four balls. Ordonez and Guillen start the inning with walks, then it's like "okay, there are the baserunners, let's start hacking."

It doesn't appear to me that Sean Casey can hit this tough American League pitching. Let's get Shelton back in there; he's seen most of these guys. We'd also be back to the team that won all those games.

Going back to last night, why didn't anyone help Casey when he was leaning over the dugout trying to catch that foul pop?

Well, that's it for tonight's Biggest Game of the Year. Next up, tomorrow's Biggest Game of the Year.

Wonderful to see Maroth out there again, he looked good. Ordonez was patient, intelligent and sharp. He looked fantastic at the plate, easily the best game I've seen him play for the Tigers. Continuing to impress even his defenders and admirers, Infante was terrific. The rest of it was an interminable nightmare.

Hopefully Brandon and Marcus can forget tonight ever happened.

Ledezma was getting the ball up Dan, its true. I felt that like the clock was ticking on him and then the bomb went off. But the ump was really squeezing him on the outside corners (both of them) and some stuff at the knees that Maroth got later. Gave away both leads in the very next 1/2 inning. That will kill you. We have a huge well-rested bullpen I don't know why he didn't get a quicker hook.

Don't have a problem with Miller pitching tonight but you do need 2 guys warming up, just like in the playoffs. After he walks Mauer with 2 out hes gone no? Not because he's a rookie but we can't afford any 4 pitch 2 out walks. Sends a very important message to the whole pen. After the second walk (on 5 pitches) I know he's gone. Walker or Maroth are available it is sheer insanity to leave Miller in to pitch to Mourneau when, great pitcher that he will be, he didn't have it tonight. I know in Leylands mind it is character building to let a guy get himself out of trouble (you've all noticed how he'll leave a struggling starter in through the 7th no matter what) but such a philosophy, which I admire in limited doses, has its limits. It was a 1-run game and all that nonsense was so unnecessary. Whats Leyland thinking about???

Ugly, ugly, ugly

Carlito doesn't look ready to me. His swing and his arm showed me he is another week away. He's got guts and smarts but he's not doing himself or the team any favors. Let him heal. Let Santiago take care of things till Guillen is better. I said Santiago. Perez should not be allowed to play until a medical professional can verify the existence of 10 toes per foot.

Y'all can call it bad luck if you want but I'm starting to lean to Richs notion of "The Curse of Sean Casey". At any rate I think its clear that he needs 2 days off. Give Shelton some at=bats, don't just throw him in there against Santana. Letland is on record as saying that Shelton is in the bigs as the third string catcher but I don't believe he means it. He can't mean it because thats just plain stupid. And Leyland is many things; he's old-school, wily, crafty, crusty, and he may even be, as Dan pointed out, an old coot, but he ain't stupid. No sir, not by a long shot.

But I am -- I passed on dinner with some beautiful Dominican girls to watch this game.

Rube, I think we all need two days off. I think Dan took himself out of the game last night somewhere around the 6th inning, even though Leyland would have left him in till at least the 9th.
Rich and Rube you've both wrapped it up tightly as usual. But Rube you're brutal on poor Perez.

Miller should have been out ater first 4 pitch walk. I guess he needed to really PROOVE that he had lost the plate for good. Sparky would have yanked him pronto. Yeah Rich, 2 Tigers walk, and the next 2 (can't wait) to strand them! Unbelievable!! Carlos isn't ready... Santiago might have made one of those crucial plays. Shelton and Santiago NEED to be in the lineup tonight even if they do bat 8th and 9th, which is probably where they'll be if they even get a chance. Inge is a gamer, and you have to love him, but he has a night like this every once in a while. Despite the timely hitting by the Twins, this one should have at least been closer. The inability to make key plays in crucial situations killed the Tigers.

We probably all realize that the Tigers are not going to beat anyone in a slugfest, which is why they weren't going win last night. Pitching and DEFENSE will get them to the playoffs (they'll never outhit the Twins or the Yankees), so set the lineup accordingly, however that shakes out. I can't remember, how is Shelton defensively? Is it a wash between he and Casey? I'm asking because I wouldn't want to lose too much substituting him for Casey. There is obviously a connection between Casey and Leyland going back to Pittsburgh. Casey mentioned growing up and following Leyland's Pirates and his total admiration. It seems there is a mutual almost family like bond between the two. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but Leyland is giving Casey generous opportunities to get out of his funk. I like Casey too, his attitude alone makes him an asset to the team, but man, at some point you got to try something else.

Lastly, Maroth did look good. A little shakey in the 8th, but strong 9th inning. Yeah it was in a mop up role, no pressure, but he looked confident and serious, like he's fighting for something. And he is. I see him winning a starting role back here soon., and while he may not be strong enough yet to go more than 5 or 6 that's still gold. Anyone agree?

Tonight is important to assure at least a split, cause tomorrow is Santana. We'll only win that one on pitching and defense.

So Dan, this is the best I can come up with:

Granderson CF

Rodriguez C

Monroe LF

Ordonez RF (he looks good)

Thames DH

Infante 2B

Shelton 1B

Inge 3B

Santiago SS

Passed on dinner with beautiful Dominican girls to watch the game? I am nominating you, Rube, for "Tiger Fan of the Year." All in favor? All opposed? The yays have it, you win. Congratulations, sir!

I want to make sure no one gets the wrong impression on this Curse of Sean Casey thing. I'm in no way blaming him for what has transpired, as he is no more or no less responsible than anyone else with the team. I'd hate to have the poor guy become Detroit's version of Bill Buckner. I just think that, sometimes in sports, a unit really is greater than the sum of it's parts and you don't want to tinker with it. We could just as easily call it the "Curse of the Trade Deadline." And just think what it's like for Casey himself. He came over from Pittsburgh to the best team in baseball. He wasn't only on cloud 9, he was on cloud 27. Then to have all this go down.

It's my opinion that Shelton can hold his own at first, because he's obviously worked hard at it. Casey has the better, and probably deserved, reputation as the better fielder. Let's also keep in mind that Sean only had two weeks with that infield before Polanco went down, and now he's had to work with both Infante and Perez. You do need a comfortable relationship with your secondbaseman. But at this point, I've got to see what Shelton can do. All I hear is that he wasn't hitting like he used to. Well, did we expect him to hit .330 for the season with 46 homers?

Hey guys. Boy was the couch ever uncomfortable last night.
My wife asked me what time the game was today--I suspect that is to schedule a shopping trip and not to watch it with me!

Rube cut it out--you're gonna end up getting sued by a "nefarious" agent for slander.

I like the lineup Marty. Like Rich I am inclined to hand the mitt back to Big Red. IMO, Casey has the reputation for being a slick fielder and thus better than Shelton out ther, but from what I have seen I think it is not a dramatic difference. I remember being pretty impressed with some of the picks and digs Chris had early in the season. Maybe getting him back in there restores the early season dynamic that we enjoyed so much in April and May.

I said this before. I think Casey needs a breather. I would rather see Shelto swinging and missing than Casey up with men on 1st and 2nd and 1 out.

I think Guillen needs to be brought back a little more carefully--some DH, some 1B maybe.

Inge needs a big game and a big play at 3rd to get him going in the right direction again.

Granderson--no way he plays tomorrow against Santana. Casey either.

BIG game tonight Rich!!!

Pray no one hits the ball at Brandon with the game on the line tonight..........I'm afraid the poor kid will soil himself. I love his effort and his 'tude..........but fear that he is in over his head. 'Tis painful to watch, not unlike your nephew making errors on his little league team.

All here..............are we so spoiled by the Tigers this year, that every loss feels as though it was a "win" given away by bad decisions?? Another words, our Tigers never get outplayed, they only beat themselves??

Of course, over a 162 game schedule, a team is going to get outplayed...........a LOT. But lately, it seems we only beat ourselves, or is it just my imagination? Probably just spoiled.

Scratch-I think a good team has to be "in" 90% of their games.
Out of those 145 games they need to win about 2/3 of them to be a division champion.

It's not an easy thing to do.

Right now being outplayed is not acceptable- but even WHEN they are outplayed they still have to find a way to win at least some of those games--somehow. That's what great teams do. This is not a great team but they can aspire to be and I believe they have the talent to be. The question is do THEY believe it?

I was planning to pass the time today watching Michigan and Central Michigan, but found out that I don't get the PPV games since I moved here. So here I am....again.

I would like to see Shelton tonight so he can get ramped up to face Santana tomorrow. Like Rube said, don't just throw him in there and expect him to do the job for you.

Scratch, I actually thought we lost because it was just one of those Metrodome innings. I didn't feel that bad decisions had much to do with it. Miller vs Morneau, well, this Morneau is the most dangerous hitter they've got, more so than Mauer even. There's no guarantee that anybody could have gotten him out in that situation. Would I have pulled Miller? Yes. Would that have saved the game? Who knows? I'm not upset with last night's result because the Tigers are hitting the ball. Ordonez did a 100% turnaround in his approach. If they get the offense going, they're going to run away with this thing.

But you really don't like Inge down there at third? Man, I think he's one of the best in all of baseball. Like I say, Metrodome inning.

I guess I've come to the realization that I'm more of a fan tha an expert.Marcus Thames, in my humble opinion is not an everyday hitter. He is too much of a pull hitter, and very susceptible to good right handed breaking stuff. i think he hits average pitching very well, and better than average just okay. As for Inge, he grew up 50 miles from here, and ihe is a favorite. He is an amazing athlete, but too undisciplined. My fear is that this continued lack of discipline at the plate will force us to wait until next year. Minnesota has just scored on an Infanre error. It all began when Polanco went down. He did too many little things well. The Twins just scored again. Someone please convince me.

Just checking in--missed the first 2 innings. Was therea 3 base error from Infante? What happened.
Is this one of Rpbertson's bad innings? He has 2 bad innings every game.

Please guys don't make some guy named Bonser a star tonight.

Monroe fly ball to center---What's the point on having speed if you don't use it? First pitch hitting too---c'mon boys get ******* selective up there

Ordonez is starting to impress me--and the opposition. Amazing what employing a little discipline does.

You gotta love Nate for plays like that. Hope he's OK. Let's see, Carlos has seen 2 pitches and made 2 outs. By his 4th up he will have seen all of Bonser's pitches.

Wev'e had 2nd. and third with one out the last two inning. One run for that. Plate discipline/ Pitch selection amazes me. Help!

Marty--it's terribly frustrating. I mean guys like Guillen, and Casey are good 2-strike hitters--they don't need to jump on one.
Anyway, my concern apart from aenemic and undiscicplined hitting right now is pitching. I know we have all the experts raving about our staff and the arms and all that but you start having problems in your rotation and your middle relievers and you have real problems.

Robertson has been unlucky and at times very hittable. Bonderman has forgotten what it is like to win a ball game.

Rogers has been good and pretty dependable.

Verlander has been up and down and although he has good numbers you never get the feeling that everything is under control.

Maroth is a question mark, Miner the same and Ledezma has had his time in the sun. I don't think we should expect much more than we have seen.

The long relievers:

Grilli--you don't know what is going to happen.

Miller--unfair to expect anything.

Situational lefty:

Walker---he has not got the lefty out as many times as he has though his numbers are good.

Short inning guys:

Rodney--too wild and unpredictable

Zumaya--fun to watch but wild and too predictable

Jones--sometime you gotta be lucky to be good. Numbers are poor, he is very hittable and you have to have your very best defence in the infield and outfield to make him get the save.

So I am actually as concerned about the pitching than I am about the hitters. I think the hitters will pick things up.

I think the pitching is a bit overrated and when does that come back to bite us?

Sean Casey just struck out on a ball 3 feet in front of the plate. I guess .277 and 16 homeruns on August 1 just doesn't cut it.

Jumbo Jim---You NEED to take Casey out. Anybody that wwings at a pitch 2 ti in front of home plate has decided he is going to swing at the next pitch--period. And is HOPING it hits his bat.
That's it for Casey he's done--get him out. We want Cris back. You have been more than fair with him and he is stinking up the lineup and hurting the team.

Why do we torture ourselves watching this...

It is now obvious that regardless of record, the Tigers are probably the fifth best team in baseball; I am ready to celebrate the improvements, and hope we find a forty homer bopper man for next year. Nienty percent of the time when you give up two runs, you should win. I have lost count of the last time this team has won two games in a row. Just two.

You can't make it any clearer Dan. When he first came over they were praising his plate discipline and expecting him to make an example. That was the poster swing for the club.

Nate, Nice job. Your team is letting you down. If they can't hit Boof how are they going to hit the sidearmer.

All we have to do is score off Joe Nathan in the top of the ninth inning. Piece of cake.

I don't know--We are getting BOOFED tonight by a sub .500 pitcher with an ERA just below 5.00

It's ridiuclous. Granderson NEEDS to be BENCHED tomorrow.

As I said earlier--Casey and Granderson should not be playing against Santana tomorrow.

Granderson is an enigma. When he starts scissoring his stride look out--he will be walking back to the dugout.

Do we have a batting coach on this team?

Time to parachute Al Kaline in to straighten these guys out!

This is looking very bad Marty. Even if we win this --and it doesn't look like the that attitude of possibility is present tonight, it is very disturbing to see the the way these games are developing. There is never any sense of dominance. You know like--"don't matter what you guys do---We're the Tigers and we're gonna kick your ***"

In the 9th somebody's got to center one mistake.

Tiger at bats are so predictable. This team cannot hit good right hand pitching. On second thought this team can't hit any pitching. I'm getting too old for this

Yeah David. This team is not the 1968 or even the 1984 Tigers. None of us have ever experienced anything like this. We've watched winners from beginning to end and losers from beginning to end. The 2003 Tigers were nowhere near as hard to watch. You knew what you were getting and celebrated every win they got with great satisfaction. I liked Trammel as manager. We knew he was starting from scratch. So you had to rejoice in the little steps. This is awfull. 40 games over 500 and a 10 game lead and to be reduced to this? I call it the curse of Alan Trammell and Earnie Harwell. Got a poem for us Lou? Make it melancholy but sweet.

C'mon CG--2-0 and you're not taking?

Casey strikes out on a pitch to close to take.

Lot's of bad signs this game. Some of them subtle.

i.e. That call at second base on the Infante flip to CG. The Yankees and the White Sox

GET that call. We don't. Why? Because the baseball community doesn't believe in us (probably because we don't believe in ourselves). We are the Rodney Dangerfield of MLB. We don't command the respect so we don't get it.

This club is in dire straights, we can't seem to string a couple of well played games together, we have injury problems, our pitching has over achieved, our hitting is a contradiction in terms, we have lost confidence in ourselves, our mangeer is flailing. Need I say more. Oh, yeah. we're still 3 games ahead. That's what all the wide eyed, "don't criticize my Tigers", crowd were saying when we were 10 games ahead and the warning shots came flying over the bow of the ship.

Someone needs to come in and stop the bleeding. Who is that? Well the answer is no ONE. This is a team effort and these guys need to spend some time TOGETHER on their off day on Monday, especially if they get embarrassed by Santana tomorrow. Or 2006 is gonna be a memory.

Repeat--Granderson and Casey are out tomorrow, If they are not then we have another factor that may be bigger than all the others I mentioned. And that is the stubborness of the one guy that may be able to provoke these players. Leyland. The buck stops there.

The writing on the wall is clear for tomorrow. Casey struck out twice tonight. This is a guy that has gone weeks without striking out in the past.

Granderson is feeling the pressure. He does not match up with Santana.

My lineup for tomorrow:

Guillen SS

Rodriguez C

Monroe LF

Ordonez RF

Thames DH

Shelton 1B

Inge 3B

Infante 2B

Clevlen CF

Management knows that the club need a shakeup--DY being banished to obscurity was evidence of but not effective enough. The shakeup needs to be in the lineup. That is what carries you through 9 innings of baseball.

My wife says I won't be sleeping on the couch tonight. I have been moved to the garage.

Well at least your'e in the garage Dan. When I renewed MLB.com, I knew I was trading on thin ice. I mean, when you've been when the same lady 31 years, and your'e all of a sudden nuts over the baseball team, I have to beg each night. Guillen nor Rodriquez will probably play Sunday. I see 2 singles by the Nef Man

I'll second that lineup Dan. The only objection I might have is Guillen leading off. But then looking down the list, who else is there?
Robertson pitched well and deserved better. Yeah, he had one bad inning - but Boof had three anyway. But the Tigers politely excused him.

One really bright spot. Zumaya rearing back and getting two outs after that little league umpire call. Can the Tiger's rally around any of this? Actually they have scored on Santana in the past. Weird stuff can happen. They are due for some kind of flukey break

Bonser is not a bad pitcher, he should be in the big leagues for a while. Decent stuff, seems to be a real competitor. But Bob Gibson he ain't.

I saw three balls hit well by the Tigers tonight 1) Inges double 2) Thames' groundout in the 6th 3) Rodriguezs' single in the first.

Bonser struck out Granderson 3 times. Not Halladay but Bonser. How could he be surprised at yet another curve ball? What would you throw him. Anybody remember C-mos at-bats tonight, I don't. Yeah, its not about left-handed, right-handed, and it's not about good teams or bad teams, home or road -- you either got it or you don't.

Can't even discuss Rodriguez vs. Neshek or Casey. Those at-bats are more than just outs, they are embarrasing, demoralizing for the entire team. Ugh...Casey...its not funny anymore. Not even Neifi Perez is funny anymore. Ok, maybe he's still a little funny.

Carlito looks half asleep. On that call at second (the second time in a month he's been the victum of that same bad call but he invites it with sloppy fundamentals) it could've easily been 2, but his footwork was bizarre. 5 men left, first pitch swinging, you guys covered all that.

As for tomorrow my Leyland intuition tells me that Casey rests but Rodriguez gets first, Wilson catches and Perez at shortstop. My line-up for the next most important game of the season

3b Inge

C Rodriguez

LF Monroe

DH Ordonez

RF Thames

1B Shelton

CF Clevlan

2B Infante

SS Santiago

Robertson and Zumaya were both messy but showed plenty of heart and determination, killer instinct if you will. They just had no assistance. Nada. Ohhh...to **** with baseball, I'm going dancing.

Another observation about 1st pitch swinging. It seems to me that the guys are way more discriminating with no on base as opposed to having runners in scoring positions.
My imagination?

Anyway---Rich--BIG game tomorrow.

I wonder how many more times we are ggoing to be able to say that?

Dan, If you're camping in the garage be sure to leave a window open. You've probably got all kinds of petrolium products out there. My wife has been good about all this. But no question about it, she pretty much thinks my maturity level has gone down a few floors. Remember the Twilight zone episode where the old people from that happy home turn back into kids playing kick the can (or was it hide and go seek)? That's me, and I,m out of control.

Sorry to hear about all the romantic difficulties out there to which I'm no stranger myself. It's not easy to explain to the fairer sex that with so little satisfaction coming from the baseball diamond were more than ever in need of consolation. I'm recommending flowers and a nice dinner out for all wifes and girlfriends on Monday. ****, its an off day anyway.

Fortified with a cocktail and a cigar I am no happier maybe but thinking more clearly. Maybe people have been talking about this statistic but it just occured to me. The Tigers haven't won a series since Polanco got hurt. Not one in a month. There may be all kinds of curses at work here.

Rube, I've never been a waffler, well maybe one time, no, yeah I have. But after agreeing with Dan's lineup, yours has three NEW faces, and while Inge might be a little shakey in the leadoff role, why not? I'd like to see Guillen sit. We all think he's still not ready. Anyway, after tonight's performance, he needs to review the game film and think on it a little. Your lineup has the defense the Tigers so badly need. If they are not going to be scoring many runs, they better be holding Minnesota to no more than 1. If Santana is as good as the record shows, and he is, the way I see it any Tiger in the duguout has an equal chance at making contact. Sadly, the lineup we see tomorrow will not be either of these two. Cleven might be in, Santiago and Shelton probably will not. Too many other options for Leyland like Guillen at 1st and Neferious at SS. Or Rodriguez at 1st and Wilson catching, or.......I'm done. Read and then to bed.

Oh man, you guys are clearing the funk out of the air with these posts! Dan is sleeping in the garage, Marty is in the twilight zone, and Rube is going dancing. Hoo boy! Thanks for bringing some fun back into this, fellas. Actually, my wife (bless her), hangs in there with me. At one point, I worried aloud that I was beginning to sound like one of those crotchety old men who can't be pleased by anything, and she didn't disagree. Didn't agree, but didn't disagree.

The question now is, when and where does this all bottom out? Is it when we've dropped two games out with seven to play? Was it tonight? At what point does it get so bad that this team just starts playing lights out again? I can't believe that's a happy, business as usual clubhouse tonight, and if it is, it shouldn't be. When Casey swung at that pitch that bounced five feet in front of the plate, I knew that what I had been suspecting was true: that this is the worst case of team hitting that I've ever had the misfortune to witness. And unless these guys suddenly start clobbering four homers a game, it won't get better.

This team is teetering on the edge and in serious danger of toppling over completely. They're young, they may not agree, but guys, we've seen thousands and thousands of ballgames. We've seen Toronto inexplicably lose their final seven games of the year to lose a pennant they had sewn up. We (most of us) saw the 1964 Phillies lose ten in a row the final two weeks to blow a sure pennant. Maybe they beat Santana and that starts them back on track. Or maybe they tough it out, play .500 ball and squeak through.

I will say this: if this team ends up out of the postseason, we'll never be able to fully enjoy another season again. If 76-36 has been proven not to be good enough, nothing will be.

Wow, talk about gloom and doom.........I think I'll take a TV out to the garage, turn on an episode of Twilight Zone, and dance to the theme music.

I'm gonna get up early tomorrow so I can go out and catch a chicken. We've posted some line-ups (Dan I'd quite happy with yours), done our analysis and discussion, and now on the verge of the crossroads of innumerable curses and assorted maladies there is nothing left except to do do that voovdoo that you do so well.

I think it was Dan who said that Bonderman has forgotten how to win and I think its true. Until the last 2 nights, the hardest game for me to watch this year was that Bonderman game at the Metrodome where everything just fell apart all at once.It was just horrible. So all Bonderman needs to do to right himself and his season and his team, and shatter the curses is to be victorious in an incredibly hostile and ugly environment against the very best pitcher in baseball with a line-up that may not give him more than 1 or two runs and will probably feature Nefarious Perez at or near the top of it. Thats all. I think I'm going to get up real early, them chickens move pretty fast.

This whole downward sprial seemed to start that night that Bondo gave that game away in the 8th. I am a novice at this but I'm gonna give it a try and post my lineup for tommorow. I will say I agree that Guillen doesn't seem ready but he says no pain and I believe him, but Leyland said he will NOT go tommorrow. I think my lineup is a little unconventional but hey why not.

1.CF-Clevlen- I think he could give the spark this team needs. And he's speedy.

2. C-Rodriguez

3. DH-Maggs Just a shake up move.

4. LF-Monroe

5. 1B-Shelton

6. 2B-Infante

7. RF-Thames

8. 3B-Inge

9. SS-Santiago

I mean we can joke about these games being big all we want, but in fact this is probably the most important we will have played all year.
IF, we can beat Santana that has to give us some confidence back that we can compete against the best the league has to offer.

IF, we win, we restore a lead to 4 games over the Twins rather than (don't gasp) 2 games.

We then get 2 days off out of the next 4 as we play Texas who are not playing all that well right now. Give us a chance to heal some nagging injuries (physical and mental).

One of the things I worry about though is premature congratulations from management. You know "we have had a good year, we've done more than we though we would,

We're still in first place, I am proud of all you guys" etc etc etc. I think it counter productive and provides an excuse system for quitters.

This team has a chance to win the 2006 World Series of Baseball.

We need someone to make them realize that and also that what they've done so far is to put us in a pennant race --now we have to go out and win it.

We need Leyland saying something like, "Forget the losing seasons, forget the clubhouse despair. That's history. BE the moment. Go out and be the athletes and the winners that you know you are".

This is a good team, Leyland is a good manager. They need to settle for no less than perfection in effort.

Leyland also has to rein in his stubborness somewhat. I don't care about next year--Miller is going to be awesome. GOING TO BE. He is not now. You want to throw him then make sure you have built a 5 run lead and 2 guys warm in the bullpen.

Now is not the time to prove you are the boss by making dubious player substitutions but by making these guys realize they have the power in their hearts to become a team of destiny----this year.

Dan, I wasn't joking when I started calling each game the biggest game of the year. Each one in this series was and still is, now even more so. And there will be more biggest games of the year ahead.

I agree about some of these decisions by JL. Now is not the time to enroll Andrew Miller in a character building course. Now is not the time to see if Ledezma can be a solid starter. I don't trust Ledezma, and won't until he makes about ten good starts in a row. We can work on that project next year. Put Maroth back in the rotation and you won't be sorry.