On to the National League
If there's any bright side for the Tigers in Craig Monroe's five-strikeout game -- only the third in franchise history, the first since Danny Bautista in 1995 -- it's that his 2-for-12, eight-strikeout series made manager Jim Leyland's decision easier on how to fit four outfielders into three spots without the DH for this weekend's series at Philadelphia.
Leyland said Monroe will sit Friday's series opener and possibly a day after that, allowing Gary Sheffield to start in left field. At some point, Leyland will rotate his outfielders and put Monroe in there. And at some point against a left-handed starter, Monroe will have a start in center field. Whether Saturday's matchup with Jamie Moyer is that time remains to be seen with Monroe struggling. As for pinch-hitting for Monroe on Thursday, Leyland said that wasn't a consideration, as it wouldn't be for his other everyday starters.
Maybe I'm missing something here, but why didn't Leyland at least pinch hit for Robello in the ninth? Was he in the clubhouse smoking? I understand wanting to show confidence in your players but Leyland basically gave the game away today. Chalk this game up to poor managing, at least in the ninth.
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JL has a fierce sense of loyalty and when you combine that with stubborness you are going to have outcomes like we saw today. He had a .340 hitter on the bench who almost ALWAYS puts his bat on the ball and the TYING runner on third with 1 out.
Given Monroes's day it would have been a difficult thing for a manager to do but in the end it is about winning a ball game not good form.
I also agree that Rabelo should have been PH for.
Every game counts in the standings.
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JL does have a fierce sense of loyalty, sometimes (maybe today) to a fault. Yes last year Craig came through in the clutch, really this year so far it has not been the same. Then to not pinch hit Rabelo, was weird, but Rabelo has been getting a few pesky little hits, heck he doubled today.
Anyway what I really logged into say was I was having some discussions about the Tigers and we were discussing about whether the Tigers really are good team or not. And frankly, I say no. Last year they found ways to win games a sign of a good team. This year they are finding ways to lose games. To me finding ways to win games, that is a sign of a good team. Let me restate, I think they are a good team playing like a very average team these days. Yes they have injuries, but how long can we use this for an excuse?? Someday the bullpen is going to have to figure out how to do their job. The job they are paid a lot of money for and a job that we know they can do because for the most part they did it last year. With the exception of a few they are completely underachieving. You can blame it all you want on Zumaya's injury, but when it comes right down to it, that doesn't explain it all. This team is in trouble if they don't start achieving soon. Am I over reacting (maybe and frankly I hope so) but until they prove me wrong I will stand by my comment.
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Speaking of loyalty...............where's the "loyalty" in allowing some poor fellow to strike out FIVE times in a game, the last with the tieing run on third in the 9th with one out? I wouldn't allow a kid on a Little League team to suffer that indignity. Monroe obviously didn't have "it"........why would JL put him in the position to fail so miserably? Just to protect him, I woulda sent up a pitcher at that point, for gawd sakes.......lol. I don't know if the game would have been won in extra innings or not, but to have it end in nine was just plain silly, IMHO.
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Just some idle thought on 2006...Geez It should have been the year the Tigers won the whole thing. I mean look who they faced, Weaver, Reyes, Carpenter and Suppan.
Suppan is 7-7 this year and the other 3 starters our guys couldn't hit are a collective 0-15.
On top of this our guys really held their big banana Pujols in check and what more could you ask for.
Hopefully the experieince helps them this year.
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Welcome from the city of brotherly love (I hope). It's cloudy and cool, and there is a slight chance of rain.
I just finished reading the details of yesterday's....game. Welcome back, Scratch, and you returned with a pretty good thought. Perhaps standing behind your player at this point would have been to prevent further disaster, that is to say, pinch hit for him. Tough call there. At any rate, I'm very glad I'll get to see Sheffield tonight. I've never seen the guy live anywhere.
Regarding pitching, I mentioned Nate as a closer the other day just for discussion. My real thought is to put him in the pen and bring him in, if needed, along about the sixth inning and LEAVE HIM IN. Don't go to a setup man and all that modern day garbage, just let him finish the game if he's pitching well. You can use your setup and closer tomorrow. There has got to be more original thinking in baseball. JL might be a stubborn old coot, but he's no different than any other manager in this regard. Rodney is still his setup man and Rodney is still, and always will be, Rodney. So you can just keep throwing games away or change things up.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing the guys tonight, and maybe I can bring them some luck for a change. I'll be somewhere just beyond thirdbase in the lower deck.
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