Relax, folks
Leyland called reporters into his office following batting practice and cleared up his remarks from WXYT this afternoon. There's no change in the timetable for Joel Zumaya, who's still on track to return in August. What Leyland meant to say was that he has to take the outlook that Zumaya could be out for the year and that a return in August would be good. In other words, Leyland plans for the worst and hopes for the best, but that's not from a medical standpoint.
"I'm not a doctor," Leyland said. "I want to emphasize that. I'm not stepping on any trainer's toes. I'm not trying to get into any confrontation with medical people, because I don't know about it. But I do know over my career that when guys have had surgeries, everybody wants to be optimistic, and I understand that. And I'm not being pessimistic. I'm just being, in my opinion, realistic. I think there's a chance that he might not pitch this season. Now, if we get him back, what a bonus that would be, but I'm managing figuring on not having Joel Zumaya. Now, there might be a lot of people who disagree with that, but that's what I'm looking at from a manager's standpoint."
The Tigers might still have a healthy Zumaya sooner than that. They drafted Joel's younger brother, Richard, in the 43rd round of the draft today.
Geez--Durbin is masterful tonight. Hopefully the club gives him support. They have had the misfortune of not getting the breaks from the defense that they did with the Rangers. Superior ballclubs make life difficult for the hitters don't they.
Durbin has gone 6 innings and thrown only 60 pitches with only 15 of them off the plate!
He deserves this one.
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Well it doesn't "feel" like we're gonna get this one. It's a shame because it may end up being a just a single loss over the course of a long season but if the club were able to turn this over and win it it would be a very importan victory.
Right now they are impatient at the plate and probably could look at a few more pitches from Sosa. They really need to make him work more.
Who was it that said they wish they Tigers could save up some runs for times like these?
The Mets are gonna test us this weekend.
Maybe, (I know I might take some heat for this) Sheffield will come up with a BIG hit to make us all love the man unconditionally. He has been hitting but I honestly can't remember him coming through with a momentous game winner yet.
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Do you think there's any chance for the Tigers to sign Joel's brother?
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I am beginning to think that I am a major jinx. I go to all the home Friday night games, and yes they have lost all but one. In fact I looked at the record and they have lost 7 Friday games and won only three all season (home or away) So I guess that our boys don't like to play on Fridays. Or is it me???
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The Tigers have dropped the first game in each of the last six series. All of them since sweeping the Cardinals. Some of that may have to do with travel, and some may have to do with coincidence. GK, change from Friday nights. :-)
My take on tonight's game was a combination of good pitching and a very very large strike zone. It's no wonder both starters breezed into the later innings. It seemed the Mets wanted to swing at everything right from the start, while the Tigers attempts at working Sosa were thwarted by some questionable ball and strike calls. And I realize that sounds like a whining excuse, but it's the way I saw this one. I also think Jim Leyland has come charging after the umpires more this year than he did all of last season. That's worth noting.
After my earlier complaints about scheduling, it appears that all of the AL Central teams will lose tonight, not counting KC yet. Who can figure the Nats going up to the dome and winning?
Fox might just get itself a dandy ballgame tomorrow. Sunday will be the "father-son" game, Glavine against Miller.
And the pennant race grinds on..........
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Yikes--slip slidin' away. Bazardo justbought his ticket bakc to Toledo.
C'mon Wilfie!!
Got the dangerous Reyes on a pop-up. Let's see if he can finish off this inning..
Man I am already cringing with trepidation that we will need to rely on Jones--my guess is he is more nervous about than me.
Man the tying run is on base now after the Valentin double. This feels like Friday night in Cleveland.
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Rodney in the 8th?
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I'm afraid I was right!
It is really concerning that this kind of deconstruction can happen to us even with big leads. It is an ominous sign.
There are so many problems and question marks in the tiger bullpen right now.
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Wright's HR notwithstanding, Rodney and Jones did a very nice job. Rodney showed something after giving up the tater and Jones had a very big inning and kept his composure after the misplay in RF.
Maybe---just , maybe, this will turn them around.
Casey is leaving way to many gys stranded and yes he has picked up his BA but he is not producing.
Pudge had a huge clutch hit early in the game--impressive AB.
Anybody else wondering when C-Mo is going to start being a presence?
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Sorry Dan, I have got to disagree wtih you regarding Casey, he has produced quite a bit lately. The thing is that a lot of times when Casey comes up to bat, there is no one on base or there are already a few outs. I think the guy that is really struggling right now is Monroe, he to me is just killing rallies, to me he is almost an automatic out. He is swinging at some really sorry looking pitches. Some really sick swings. He is actually the one that is making me nervous. I think that he will come out of it but maybe he needs a day off and let Thames in. He is batting pretty well right now. I know that C-Mo will figure it out but maybe he needs to sit out a day.???
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Monroe really has been swinging at everything lately. Pitchers have figured him out. You just throw strike one over, then slider, slider, slider, slider, until he gets himself out. And whatever happened to late inning homeruns? He used to be automatic seventh inning or later..
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