Rogers to start Wednesday, Durbin Thursday

He might like it but I'm not in agreement with it.

I don't like taking Curtis (Hot Wheels) Granderson out agains tthe lefty.

I think Inge should sit another game and play Hessman there. Guillen (again at first) Guillen is a very crucial ingredient to our success and we do need his RBI bat to start singing.

I'm surprised that Rabelo is playing. Not unhappy about it but surprised--especially with the lefty throwing.

My guess is JL is hoping the lefty is going to be mental floss for Thames and Inge. Might be a good idea as even though Inge is alnost pitiful right now a renewed version would be very helpful.

Lots of strength 4-5-6 today.

Before anybody jumps all over Hessman for striking out twice tonight, keep in mind that the guy he may end up replacing for awhile is leading the league in whiffs.

Hey Rich--Durbin is IN!!!

Leyland must have a laptop in his locker--he's listening to us!

I'd thought about Maybin leading off and in Center with the lefty but I just couldn't make myself do it. Curtis had such a great game yesterday. Rabelo is fine at catcher. I like it (somewhat similar to what I posted) but the top of the line up will have to produce.

Former LHB First-basemen Watch:
Stairs: .302 18 HR 50 RBI

Young: .334 13 HR 72 RBI

Pena: .273 33 HR 93 RBI

Casey: .283 3 HR 47 RBI

Yes Dan, all very good news even as the debate was coming to a head. (Sensed our collective frustration) Is someone actually listening?....Naw, just my imagination.
Yeah, I too would feel better with Curtis starting in CF.

Wow! on post number 3.

Wow, it actually IS Durbin? Uh oh, now we're responsible........ :-) It's a good move that gives us our best chance of stringing wins together.

Interesting lineup today. There will never be one that makes everybody happy but at least it will be interesting to watch. JL is doing that two day off thing again.

I'd thought of that firstbaseman comparison but had never stacked up the numbers that way. That's a sock in the kisser, isn't it? The strange thing is, the Tigers made probably the correct move each time. I suppose that could be debated, but I don't recall any uproar when those guys left.

I only miss Pena, Rich. Hated to see him go. The only thing is, along came Shelton who made us forget for a while.

Pena is playing for us still.

You can add another HR and 3 more RBIs.

He just pooped one against the yankees off the LHP Petite to extend the lead to 5-1. Good Man Carlos!

Little bit envious--34 HR and 96 RBIs!

Sorry Nate. I was telling my wife that there may something special gon on here and mentioned the myth (and the word) "no-hitter". Johnson immediately responded with the hit.
Nate is sure having his trouble with LHB this year.

Hanahan looks like we may have made a mistake.

I actually didn't understand that trade unless it is felt they wanted a LHB outfielder in the system.
Hanahan can play third, second and I believe, short. All while being a precious commodity--LHB.

Good thing the offense finally supported nate and got him some runs. A 2-2 game right now would be pretty demoralizing.

Leyland looks like a genius today. Hopefully Maybin and Hessman emphasize that too.

Thames and Santiago have been outstanding and Rabelo is hitting the sonot out of the ball with only 1 hit to show for it.

Response runs this inning would be nice.

You're right Marty. Young really had to go and it is extremely questionable if he could have had this type of season in Detroit. Almost certainly not. Defensive liability as well.
Stairs is relatively versatile but not an exceptional glove man.

Pena is the guy I wish we had been just a bit more patient with.

Johnson could be Nate's last batter. This may seem odd to say but our bullpen needs some work!

After the Maybin drop---UH- OH!
Rodney can't seem to find th plate.

Maybin looks a little shaky out there doesn't he?

Kinda surprised that JL took out Nate after only 90 pitches. He did get Johsnon out after all!

We lose this one, especially after all that has transpired in today's earlier games, we will not recover.

Byrdak in and let's just hope that the excellence we have seen from the second tier in the bullpen lately continues.

Oh man-Zumaya vs. Piazza. Law of averages afer the disaster that hurt so badly on Friday, is for Zoom to get theguy.

Nice job by Byrdak. He had to beat Cust and Poncino!

Whew! I thought that we were gonna pay the price after Hessman couldn't come up with the pop foul.

These are games that the club needs to be able to stomp their foot on the the other teams' Adam's Apple. We seem to miss the boat so often in these situations,

Nice work behind the plate by Rabelo.

Befor I go off an a deep end. Joel pitched really well against Piazza and to Johnson. Gettin that pop out after just missing getting him and all with a 3-2 count. Excellent.

As much as I want to see Hessman pound the ball. I think he should be pinch hit for unless he happens to be facing a lefty.

As much as I want to see Hessman pound the ball. I think he should be pinch hit for unless he happens to be facing a lefty. Should get Casey in there for defense.

It's offical---Magglio does not think much of DHing as an occupation.

He has been struggling a bit (compared to the standards he has set). We have kind of taken his hitting for granted so let's hope he does not ever see a slump in 2007.

Smart move by Geren to bring in the southpaw.

Gotta hand it to Granderson. He is now a .300 hitter again.
C'mon boys--let's give Curtis a seat on the bench this inning.

Casey or Guillen?

I hope these are my final comments/observations.
Rabelo should play more.

Inge should play less.

Let's see what Jones is made of.

In game consistency is not there for the offense yet.

Can't help myself. Why wod Jones throw 4 straigtht fastballs after fooling him with 2 change-ups?

I will NEVER be a Todd Jones fan.

Well now you know why!

Jones, I said this last year, will break your heart.

Jones should work on his career as a media critic.

The sad part is that the Tigers had some great relief pitching in games they were losing when the relief pitchers pitched.

This is most certainly Jones' last year as a closer. He is simply too old to be a consistent closer.

Stubborn Old coot will leave him in too.

At this point neither one of these guys is on my Christmas Card list.

This is ridiculous and I hate to say I told you so but this is what you get when you rely on a closer who either lucks out with players hitting gorund balls or self-destructs when it really gets tough. Can't wait to see his next "column".

Season over folks. Today.

It's hard to believe and yet we should have believed it all along. I don't know how on earth management could ever have gone this far with this guy. Hopes and dreams managing at it's worst.

Bring in BOBBY SEAY!

We just caught a break.

GET MAYBIN OUT OF THIS GAME!!!!

Just when you started to believe in the bullpen, they
Freaking blow it. I cannot believe it between Rodney and Jones they blow another game for poor Robertson. Pitches his heart out and the two of them blow it. Unbelievable. I was a little ticked when he took Nate out in the first place, and I was right. Todd doesn't give up Homeruns pretty much, but that was certianly a big one to a guy who had was hitting 260 and only had 6 hr's all year.

Unbelievable. The mojo is just not on the side of the Tigers this year.

Unbelievable.

And again they stopped hitting in the after the 5th and it has come back to haunt them.

One of the reasons I didn't like the Sheffield trade was the fact that the Tigers traded away relief pitchers Whelan and Claggett.

Maybin is an adventure out there. I am pretty logically critical of players and some maya thingk illogically when it comes to Jones.
The Tigers will not be a dominat team with Jones as the closer.

Gkgruden1, I did not understand the removal of Nate. It's not like Nate has an innings buildup and Leyland needed to give his arm some rest. Nate should have been allowed to go further.

Maybin is an adventure out there. I am pretty logically critical of players and some maya thingk illogically when it comes to Jones.
The Tigers will not be a dominant or a successful team with Jones as the closer.

Trade him and get something for him because there are a lot of other misguided teams out ther that believe closers are a t a premium and might give us something worthwhile.

BTW--Allen is right--Swisher is a darn good center fielder.

Not sure how much our luck can hold out (we should have lost this game last inning and lucked out). This is very troubling late inning performances we have shown in Oakland. Again a sub-.500 team.

I think the Maybin experiment will continue as a pinch-running specialist for the remainder of the year.

Yorman (not my man) Bazard in in the 10th inning!

After what we have seen from Seay, Grilli and Miner lately?

Great start to the bottom of the tenth.

I'm sorry I meant Bizzaro--or is that the way Lelyand is managing?

Dan, you are right. This is the year to trade Jones. Maybe they can get something decent for him.

This is just a stupid and desperate decision.

Probably the worst loss of the year.

I have lost faith in JL completely.

It wasn't that Bazarda was all bad but what is he doing in a situation like that?

Combine that with his taking Robertson out after 90 well thrown pitches, obstinancy with Jones. Maybin in CF and another o'fer from our third baseman.

Just bad managing. you're overated Leyland.

This loss could be the one that does it. It has to be a very demoralizing loss that to some degree lessens the confidence of this team.

Zumaya will be the closer next year.

Can anybody give me ONE good reason that yorman Bazardo is pitching in the 10th inning of a crucial game for a pennant chasing team? Isn't it hard enough to be a rookie without that unnecessary expectation?

I can't believe major league mangager can make a completely ridiculous pitching choice.

Leyland has been as much a reason for the club's lack of success this year as the players. It's easy to say it's the players who go out there between the lines and all such cliche.

But it is JL who puts them there. I don't think Leyland could manage the Yankees to the playoffs.

Left handed pitcher pitching and the best Center Fielder in the league gets to ride the pine. Oh yes, JL brings him in for defensive reasons. To LEFT Field to replace a guy who has 3 hits instead of a inexperienced cF with no hits and struggling mightily with every facet of the game.

BTW. JL Did you notice that Granderson got a double off the side wheeling southpaw?

This team needs Curtis Granderson a lot more than it needs Jim Leyland.

I wonder who JL will lash out at during the media scrum?

I am going to give another big unbelievable?? I am in complete shock. Unlike a lot of people I pretty much have faith in Todd Jones when it comes to crunch time.

What I don't understand is why they hate Nate Robertson so much. When he pitches the Hitter don't or in this case stopped hitting, and the relief crew screw him over. Seriously what is it about Nate Robertson that brings out the worst in this team. He has gotten a lot of no decisions or losses because of his fellow teammates that he did not deserve. They all just don't seem to show up for his games?? I don't understand. He could easily have 5 more wins this year. Three in last two or three weeks or so and there were a few in the beginning of the year.

What I really am mad at is myself, that I sit here day in and day out and watch every freaking pitch of every stinking game, try to keep positive. I was thrilled about picking up a game on the wild card and on Cleveland and they screw it up. I am ranting now I will sign off.

Closers blow games, it's part of the job, so I won't get into the Jones discussion right now.

The problem here is our manager has lost his mind. We are playing minor leaguers when we're supposed to be in a pennant race. If we're not in a pennant race, Leyland, just tell us and we'll quit worrying about your sorry decisions.

Granderson is your centerfielder.

Santiago is your shortstop.

Guillen is your firstbaseman.

Bazardo is for mop up duty only.

When a game goes into extra innings and you've used your big gun pitchers, you return to the front end of the bullpen, i.e. Miner, Grilli and anyone else who hasn't pitched today. So what if they pitched yesterday. This is a pennant race. Or is it?

Why am I telling this guy how to manage his own ballclub?

Maybin's gaffe in the seventh is what probably cost the game. Hessman's failure to catch the popup could have cost us the game. Maybin's collision with Raburn could have cost us the game. Maybin is hitting what, .150? Hessman is hitting what, .170. If you "like" these guys, invite 'em to dinner but don't stick us with 'em.

I hope Leyland retires again, and I won't be changing my mind about that. We put up with this for two months last season and now again.

Do Lamont, Hernandez, McClendon and the others actually go along with this stuff?

There was no postgame show that I could see, so I'll have to assume that Mr. Leyland blew it all off with some of his usual bullroar.

I think the guy who needs a stint on the DL is the manager.

If the fans stop filling the stands the rest of the year, maybe Leyland willl get the message.
What am I saying. Leyland's answering service does not take messages nor would he admit he sees one if it were standing naked in front of him. He should run for President.

Ironic that when you click on Gameday, you see a picture of Jack Hanahan wearing a Tigers hat.

The thing is, these guys like Leyland think that none of us know the slightest thing about baseball. They talk down to the media, or snap at them when cornered. They assume that the fans are just a bunch of fools who just started watching this baseball stuff last year. I just took a quick scan of some message boards and saw more baseball sense being talked there than I've seen on the field this entire season. The word out there is that Detroit has "good baseball fans." Does that mean intelligent people with a sharp eye for the game or a bunch of cheerleaders blindly following their team into oblivion?

Another sad note in this chapter of Tiger history: it's safe to say that everyone has been looking forward to the day when Cameron Maybin will join the Tigers. That small hope for the future has been snuffed out because they brought him up too early. Criminally early. I'm certain Cameron will come along and become a good ballplayer, but it will never be what it could have been in Detroit.

Any organization that deemed this youngster ready for the major leagues is very suspect in their overall knowledge, and I'll never again assume that they know what they're doing.

Just the way the Tigers' luck has been going for Jack Hannahan (misspelled his last name in earlier post) to get three RBI's.

I think I have calmed down a little bit. Not sure how objective I can or should be but one of the things that sacred me today was the look on EVERYBODY's face mimicked Rodney's. They were flustered and beaten and frightened. This kind of behaviour happend lst year too. As soon as the dike broke they couldn't find someone with clear enough vision to stick their finger in it.
That is the big problem with this team. They can't seem to overcome. Win a big game and win it the way you needed to win it and then follow it up with an incomprehensible loss. This has haappened time and time again. The character of Jack Morris, Kirk Gibson and Alan Trammel is not there. The self confidence of Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Mickey Lolich is not there.

They are missing a very key ingredient - Heart. The players seem to think it exists for them in their manager. It needs to be on the field. There are a few guys around the league that personify this like Johnny Damon, John Smoltz, Jake Peavy etc. We could use a strong yet proficient personality on the Tigers.

We need to get a character guy over the off-season as much as some left handed bat strength.

Some of you guys have liked Jones and I agree that he has had periods, even extended periods, of getting saves racked up. But the fact that he has blown crucial games, and then later pooh-poohs it is the signal to me that he does not have the composure we need as a closer.

Nice career and interesting commentary from the man but baseball is serious business.

These are two 10th inning crushes we have lost to an inferior team (on days where we would have gained a lot of ground), sandwiched around a much needed power start from Verlander.

It's almost like the team is not aware of how to take this to the next level. The winning attitude is not firm inour clubhouse- and somebody has to be held accountable for that.

I can't see how this team will be able to recover from this latest setback. It may only be one game but we have had too many "one games" like this to hold out too much hope.

The day off will be good, probabaly more for the fans than the players.

My lineup for Tuesday:

Granderson CF

Polanco 2B

Raburn RF

Ordonez DH

Guillen SS

Thames LF

Rabelo C

Hessman 3B

Larish 1B

I think the league would consider the club so pathetic right now and in order to keep fans interested will dispense with the fact that Larish is not presently on the 40 man roster.

I'd like to pencil Hanahan in at 3B as a LHB alternative but apparently he has been traded.

We may ned a pitcher to start sometime this coming week so maybe they will call up Jose Mesa.

I am so frustrated with this team. Why are 6 of the 13 position players in the box score players from Toledo or Erie? Why are 5 of the 9 starters among them? Aren't we still in the playoff race? Why has this club given up on the year? We could have picked up a game today had we had a little more effort and regulars in the lineup. Why do we have to pitch a AA kid in the tenth? Why do we bring in a "closer" who NEVER closes a game that we were well ahead in earlier? (Oh, yes, sorry, I know he tells us often how he is the guy they pay the bucks to for finishing a game)Why is a kid playing centerfield that barely has played pro ball when we have a future All-Star on the bench? Hello? Hello? Hello? So, DD, am I suppose to forget the season now? Am I suppose to start thinking football now? Is this just another typical year of Tiger baseball? Are we relegated to thinking about "next year" on the first of September when we are three games out of the wild card? What kind of BS is going on? I have lived in New York my entire life and been hounded by Yankee fans. I have stuck by these guys for 50 years. Today, after this total bunch of ****, I have thrown my hat from Tiger Stadium in '75 to the back of the closet. I am freaking done with this mentality. I don't give a you know what if the "team" wins 20 straight playing their Erie Seawolves as starters and they make the playoffs. Before I die, I want to root at least one more time for a winner, and , DD/JL, you are not trying to field a winner in any sense of the word. I am ready to move on. Best of luck to the rest of you that can still stomach "Tiger Baseball."

Davesmith850, you sound like a great fan. Try to hang in there.

I agree with all the points you made.

Dave--you made some very good points and you also have the right to blame management. It is shameful the way leyland has handled the club.

Fans are understandably irate, and I hope JL does not show a lack of grace by in turn criticizing the fans.

I like a lot of these minor leaguers already and look forward to wathcing them. The key word is "forward", as in not now but later. Fine to throw a guy in from time to time if yu have the rest of the lineup balanced or you actually need to do it.

I have been disappointed and critical of Pudge. Does that mean I think Rabelo should be in every game? If Pudge is struggling, against a pitcher he can't hit, or tired the Rabelo is an alternative.

I must admit I would play Raburn or Hessman ahead of Inge right at the immediate time.

Maybin was someone that DD said would not be called up. Well "to be honest" said would not be called up in September. At that time I said if they call him up then that means they have given up on the season and are trying to build fan base. A week later he was called up but to protect DDs, integrtiy---it wan't in September, it was August. Guess that makes it OK. He should not be starting for a pennant contender.

But the worst move was Bazardo--even if it worked out it was a move with zero logic. It was patently unfair to put him out there in that type of situation.

I think the pressure of the season got to JL. Al those losses and he seemed to think he needed to assert his god-like will on the team through brilliant but unorthodox decision making.

Well the pressure is off now.

May as well play the kids cause the vets can only play for contracts at this stage and that ain't gonna be fun to watch.

It's been a tough haul for Tiger fans, the good ones and the bad ones. And you are dead right on your analysis about these guys not fielding a winner. If I didn't know better it almost seems like they threw in the towel. Yorman Bazardo?

I turned it off as soon as the HR cleared the fence in the 9th. When have you EVER seen a team blow it so bad and win in extras.
JL you make a **** of a spring training manager. However, were you aware you are supposed to try and win once the season starts. You know I was very excited about Miller and Maybin. All year the message was, give them time. I supported that logic. Well now what have we got? Two great prospects with no confidence. I'd really like to hear why it made sense to put Grandy in LF and pull Thames who was knocking the sh_t out of the ball. Maybin is the one who should have come out. JL, I respect loyalty but if you bring Jones out to close one more time, than you don't care about this year.

And another thing JL. why in **** didn't you come out yourself to talk to Rodney and tell him "look Roddy, the ump isn't calling your fastball three inches outside the black a strike, try the change up."You always come out yourself, why not that Time. By the way, if Grandy is in center, he catches that "sunball" and we are one out with guys on 1st-2nd instead of the bases juiced!

Lots of good ideas coming from this blog. Why can't our paid coaching staff see this stuff?

Let's see if I can now deliver a less emotional post, not too high, not too low, the Tiger way.

I was okay with Hessman being in there, but in place of Inge. Inexplicably, they both played.

Rodney was due for one of his implosions, and it never should have gotten to Jones, who may have mentally checked out with the earlier 7-0 lead.

Inserting a 20-year old with extremely limited professional experience into his first start in centerfield for an important game was foolish.

Nearly all of the offense today came from the regular major leaguers in the lineup, not the Mud Hens. I count Santiago as a major leaguer because here's a guy who played in the World Series last year and should have been with the big club this year. But we used Neifi Perez instead.

Players were rested today, I guess, although most of them ended up playing anyway. On October 1st, we're going to have a group of well rested guys with no more games to play.

Leyland on the game's outcome:

"The outcome was in our hands," manager Jim Leyland said, "and we just let it get away. It had all the makings of a fun day for us."

WE let it get away, he says.

Leyland on the Maybin lost flyball:

"It could've happened to anybody," Leyland said. "But that had nothing to do with us losing the game, not one thing."

Clearly a man in denial here.

Leyland in general:

"They're my guys," Leyland said. "They'll continue to be my guys. And today, we just didn't close it out. Case closed."

WE didn't close it out, he says. And that "case closed" is a nice way of telling us all to shut up about it.

I think we need a new manager, but while he's here, I suggest he put his horses out there, let them play the game, and stop overmanaging the darned thing.

One thing we aren't talking about is how bad the other competitors for the wild card are. It's so frustrating to know that if we had an ounce of sack we could still take this thing. NY, Seattle and Minnesota don't want the damm thing either. **** I guess I missed the announcement that the AL Wildcard in 2007 has to move to the NL. These four teams are so bad they've brought Toronto into the mix.
HOW DISAPOINTING THIS ALL IS.

LINE UP
Polanco 2b SP Verlander

Guillen 1b SP Bonderman

Granderson CF SP Robertson

Ordonez RF SP Rogers

Thames DH SP Durbin/Minor

Raburn 3b CL Zumaya

Irod C SU Rodney

Maybin LF

Santiago SS

Well no one can say the bloggers on this site aren't passionate, and observant. How do we make it any clearer? Why does every one need so much rest? This is baseball for crying out loud! It's not an aerobic exercise. There is no more time for resting, it's the home stretch here. The proverbial table needs to be run. Play the regulars JL.

I pin today's loss on DD. He traded away Hannahan. Some of them really come back to bite you.

Hey NY, Seattle, Minnesota, and Cleveland, it's the teams with the MOST wins who make the playoffs. Sorry Tiger fans, in the spirit of fairness I thought I'd tip them off to the secret too.

Anyway,here's a lineup free of charge. Should be good for the rest of the season or until Shef comes back,... if he does. Shef and Rogers are the 2 wild cards that could make an impact. I STILL hold out hope.

Granderson CF

Polanco 2B

Raburn RF/LF

Ordonez RF/DH

Guillen 1B

Thames DH/LF

Santiago SS

Rodriguez/Rabelo C

Inge/Hessman 3B

At this point you have to go with Inge at 3rd over Hessman. What other combinations are there with Maybin on the bench and Monroe gone? With Inge at least you've got great defense.

It's hard to argue for or against anymore. I am really surprised at the quality of management. We kindo of new it was coming though and Rich hit the nail on the head about JL being in denial.

He started this mess himself afer the all star break with mishandling the starters then.

For a guy who professes "to be honest with you" he has used a heavy hand with his players, the media and the fans. Shipping guys out with "tired arms" and playing the offended paternal figure when questioned by media, instead of listening to some of the concerns and analyzing them. The media aren't the bad guys and the bluster projected at them at times of duress was misplaced. They are fans who wonder why things are happening the way they were as well as reporters looking for a story.

JL may have won manager of the year last year but he is in the running for mis-manager of the year in 2007.

I'm not sure who to play now. If I thought we had a chance and we weren't going to pussyfoot around, I would go with Guillen at first, Santiago at short, and Thames DH/LF. Rabu and Ordonez RF and DH if necessary. I'd play Raburn over Inge for now, I just can't stand to see him step up to plate Marty! Pudge catching. Obviously Polanco and Granderson.

If we simply aren't going to make the post season then you may as well play Hessman at 3rd, Rabelo behind the plate, Infante and Maybin. Give Vasquez and Jurrjens a couple more starts too.

I wonder if they will bring up the guy they got for Hanahan? Perez has done OK but he is not a permanent answer for anything.

If there is anything less than a 3-run save then give someone else a chance at closing. Otherwise let Jones get his damned 300th and let him go write for the Georgia Gazette.

The face of the Tigers is hopefully going to look much different in 2008.

It's only baseball, but the fans were right to expect more for the loyalty they have shown.

We need a little perspective this morning.

For starters when I saw the lineup for yesterdays game, I was ill. But to be perfectly honest 7 runs should of been enough with the game Nate pitched. The problem to me was that as what has happened before this season they don't get those tack on runs and they seem not to perform well behind Nate, and that I don't get.??

Nate gave up two runs, and I am still not sure why he was taken out after 90 pitches, especially since he left Verlander in for 128 (I think) the game before. But regardless with Rodney coming it I am sure we all thought that this one was in the bag. To me not a bad managerial decision. Rodney stunk, lets face it. Zumaya and Byrdak came in to clean up the mess. Okay. Well who in the heck thought that Jones would give up a homerun. Lets face it he gives up singles sometimes but he doesn't give up homeruns. Our relief core didn't have it today. I really don't think that it was necessarily bad decisions by Leyland. The only bone that I have to pick is taking out Thames instead of Maybin. I like the kid, I think that he is going to be good one of these days, but maybe not quite ready yet. He is putting too much pressure on himself and he is failing right now. He is just young and doesn't look comfortable at all. And I disagree that the sunball thing couldn't have happened to Curtis, does anyone remember about a month ago when he lost one in the lights at night.

The fact of the matter is and I truly believe that it is just not in the cards this year. They can't seem to get all aspects of the game going all at the same time, at least for not more than a game at a time. To me yesterdays game was one of the worse losses of the season. I think that after the 5th they thought they had this one in the bag and just sat back on their collective heals. It is extroidinarily disappointing and frankly they broke me yesterday. They finally broke me.

I didn't watch the live action yesterday; trying to work on mending fences with the wife after a long season.
I started watching the archived broadcast last night, and was feeling really good in the third. I decided to take a sneak peak at the final score, and went into English D shock. After gathering my composure, it really made me see that it ain't meant to be. Fabulous starting pitching and what we thought as corrected relief pitching just do not appear in the same game for the Tigers. It ain't our year; what really bothers me is Sabathia not having the professional manners to keep his mouth shut and accept their success more humbly. I really think Hannahan is playing over his head, and will be an average major leaguer. Granderson needs to be in the lineup every atbat until he tells Leyland, "I nned a blow". His value to this team is really underappreciated. I respect all you Tiger fans, I'm one of six in Soutwest, VA, but I just don't see it happening. The only way is if we could pull off a 20-5 finish. Go Tigers!

I lived in Rochester Hills back in the late 60's and watched Lolich winn 3 games and the Series against the Cardinals at the old stadium. Outpitched DMcL Started watching again the past three years...I know everyone feels JL is a great mamager but this year some of his decisions have really been questionable. With 25 games left and the way he is using the players in substituion appears to me that he knows they can not make up 6 games behind ( Cleveland has been playing like Detroit did last year and closing out people or overcomming being behind in late innings) and appears to have given up no matter what he says. I HOPE I am wrong but his relief pitcher changes in games we are ahead or behind have been awful.

I spent a nice day in the mountains. I hope Leyland spent the day in a corner facing the wall and thinking about what he's done.

I can clarify my thoughts on yesterday somewhat. In JL's defense, I don't know if removing Nate with 90 pitches was right or wrong, since I don't know if he was used up. Every start is different in that regard. I'm not against Rodney coming in for the seventh. It's him and Zumaya, in one order or the other. Jones is still the closer until Zoom perfects that nasty curveball of his, so I'm okay with that. Whether Jones should be the closer I can address later.

No, my problem, obviously, is playing such a clutter of lineups and position players. I want to repeat what I said yesterday, that being that it was the regular starters who provided the offense. The Mud Hens did nothing offensively. If JL had started his regulars, we probably would have gotten 10 to 12 runs and we wouldn't be discussing this today. So any argument that "we got seven runs" is null and void in my book.

Seattle beat NY today. We certainly can't catch Cleveland, but the crazy thing is, the wild card is just begging to be taken. Does Tiger management need to shift their focus away from the division title? Absolutely. Have they done that? It appears not. It appears they've given up on the season. It's an incredible thing for team management to give up before the fans do. I don't know that I've ever heard of such a thing.

I didn't want to discuss the closer situation yesterday because a large number of the complaints I was reading on other sites zeroed in on that. That just makes it sound like the same old complaints and nobody of importance would even pay attention to that. At any rate, Todd Jones is the closer this season. We have no one who can step in at this late date. As I stated above, Zumaya needs to make the curveball work for him all or most of the time before he's ready. And believe it or not, Jones is better than that Borowski character Cleveland is using. Talk about a gas can. I don't think we can trade for a reliable closer (Gagne certainly didn't work out for Boston) so let's wait for Zoom. Next year, maybe, he can step in there. Just remember, when he does, we'll need another setup guy.

So a simple bottom line. Leyland, forget next year and play the guys that got you here. With Rogers and Sheffield returning, the wild card can still be taken, as amazing as that might seem. That's it. That's all. Simple. Doesn't require a genius, just a little faith in your guys.