Beck's Blog

Stolen base off Rogers

2008-05-15T19:26:34Z

~~Gathright's~~ Pena's stolen base in the third was not only the first steal off of Rogers since 2006, but the first stolen base attempt against him in two years. Coco Crisp stole second off of Rogers with Vance Wilson behind the plate on June 2, 2006. Jason Phillips and Gregg Zaun were the last to try to steal on Rogers on Sept. 28 of that season, both trying for third on two separate double-steal plays.

Players hold pregame meeting

2008-05-15T17:15:58Z

It's very odd for players to meet prior to a day game after a night game (at least around the Tigers clubhouse, it is), but apparently it was a spur of the moment decision on the players' part to bring everybody together as soon as the players on the later bus arrived at the park. There weren't many details afterwards, but one player said the focus was to get guys to relax a little and do what they're capable of instead of trying to be a superhero out there. It did not appear to be a tense meeting by any stretch, because the players were very loose and in a pretty good mood when the clubhouse opened up afterwards. But these guys have done a pretty good job of not carrying the previous day's frustrations into the next day.

A couple lineup switches for the day game after the night game, but Leyland said those were more about getting Ramon Santiago and Brandon Inge a day in the lineup than giving Ivan Rodriguez and Edgar Renteria a day off. After all, they had back-to-back days off Sunday and Monday.

Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Sheffield, DH
Joyce, LF
Inge, C
Santiago, SS

The Royals give Alex Gordon, David DeJesus, Mark Grudzielanek and John Buck the day off, but Jose Guillen is still in there. Keep an eye on Alberto Callaspo, who made his name as a very exciting player on Miguel Cabrera's winter ball team and in the Caribbean Series:

Joey Gathright, CF
Esteban German,3B
Billy Butler, 1B
Jose Guillen, DH
Miguel Olivo, C
Mark Teahen, RF
Alberto Callaspo, 2B
Ross Gload, LF
T.J. Pena, SS

As a footnote, Jacque Jones passed through waivers and was released this afternoon. He's now a free agent who can sign with any team he chooses who wants him, including the Florida Marlins.

Sheff's out of the outfield

2008-05-14T22:33:53Z

Gary Sheffield's outfield work isn't over, but it's going to be drastically cut back. Manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday he's worried about Sheff's shoulder, as well as his throwing arm, and he doesn't think playing him in the field a lot is going to help.

"The one thing I do know," Leyland said, "is that with the physical conditions and trying to get the bat going, the longer I think about it, it doesn't make sense [to play him in the field all the time]. ... He DH'ed fine last year when he was healthy."

Matt Joyce, Marcus Thames and Ryan Raburn will be mixed into the outfield now, but Leyland said he'll play Sheffield out there once this weekend at Arizona.

Joyce is starting in left tonight. Here's the rest of the lineup:

Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Joyce, LF
Thames, DH
Renteria, SS
Rodriguez, C

For the Royals:

David DeJesus, LF
Mark Grudzielanek, 2B
Alex Gordon, 3B
Jose Guillen, DH
Billy Butler, 1B
Mark Teahen, RF
John Buck, C
T.J. Pena, SS
Joey Gathright, CF

Eat it or throw it?

2008-05-14T14:13:14Z

Didn't really have time to get into the debate on here after the game, but I spent a good portion of the game story last night getting into the question of whether Edgar Renteria should've tried for the out at second on that Mark Teahen ground ball or eaten it and let Francisco Cruceta take his chances with John Buck at the plate and the bases loaded.

Everyone who was asked about it (including Ross Gload, who was running to second on the play) last night seemed to say that you take a chance to try for the out, but of course, that's in hindsight. On the other hand, Renteria and Jim Leyland point out, nobody's asking about it if Renteria gets the ball there for the out -- or even if he gets the ball close enough that Polanco can stop it without Esteban German scoring.

The question already seems to be floating in the comments from the last post, so I figured I'd break it out and give it a headline.

Joyce DHs again

2008-05-13T22:26:51Z

Checking in from Kauffman Stadium, where the ballpark improvements are already started to get noticed, none moreso than the huge -- I mean, massively huge -- new video board in center field. It doesn't have the crown on it like the old one did, but given how big it is, maybe they couldn't build a crown large enough to put on top of it. Hopefully the sight of it on the broadcast does it justice, because looking out at it beyond center field from the press box behind home plate, I get that feeling like I'm sitting too close to the TV at home.

With Sheff in left and Magglio in right, the task of DH falls again upon young Matt Joyce, who will bat seventh.

Here's the lineup the Tigers throw out against Zack Greinke:

Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Sheffield, LF
Joyce, DH
Renteria, SS
Rodriguez, C

And for the Royals, who will throw four left-handed hitters into the lineup against Nate Robertson:

David DeJesus, CF
Mark Grudzielanek, 2B
Alex Gordon, 3B
Jose Guillen, DH
Billy Butler, 1B
Mark Teahen, RF
John Buck, C
Tony Pena, SS
Joey Gathright, CF

5.2 innings, five runs for Dontrelle

2008-05-13T04:01:20Z

I was traveling to Kansas City tonight and didn't have a chance to follow Willis' rehab start except to look at the boxscore. The numbers weren't good -- five runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings at Charlotte. Three of those runs and four hits came in the sixth, suggesting he might have run out of gas. He walked three, but one was intentional. He gave up a pair of solo homers in the second inning before Charlotte rallied with singles and doubles in the sixth. On the positive side, he was efficient, falling one out shy of six innings with 79 pitches thrown, though just 46 went for strikes.

How much does it mean? Dunno. He has at least one more start for the Hens coming, of course, so a solid outing Saturday will make this one moot.

Why skip Galarraga?

2008-05-10T04:15:23Z

According to Leyland, it came down to having off days the next two Mondays. Because of that, Justin Verlander was scheduled to start Wednesday at Kansas City with an extra day of rest, then would've had another extra day of rest before his next start. The decision was that it's best to keep Verlander on his normal routine.

"We need to get Verlander going," said Leyland, who added that Verlander feels fine.

This decision seemingly backs up the idea of Verlander's shoulder being fine. If he was hurting, or even a little more sore, it would be hard to imagine him turning down an extra day of rest for two turns.

Galarraga to be skipped in rotation

2008-05-09T22:34:45Z

Instead of Galarraga starting Tuesday's series opener at Kansas City, he won't pitch again until next Saturday at Arizona. Everyone else will move up a day to take advantage of the off-day. Thus, it'll be Verlander, Rogers and Bonderman at Kansas City, then Robertson, Galarraga and Verlander at Arizona.

Dontrelle to rehab with Toledo

2008-05-09T20:45:37Z

He threw a successful bullpen session today and is now set to resume his rehab assignment for the Mud Hens with a start Tuesday at Columbus. He'll then rejoin the Tigers in Kansas City to work with pitching coach Chuck Hernandez before starting again for the Hens the following Sunday at Columbus. Where it goes from there isn't clear yet, but take notice that Willis is starting on the same days as Armando Galarraga and you can figure out where he might slot in.

As for the lineup today, it's all right-handers as expected against lefty Kei Igawa. Pudge returns to the leadoff spot, while Ryan Raburn bats ninth and plays center field. Here's the full lineup:

Rodriguez, C
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Sheffield, LF
Renteria, SS
Thames, DH
Raburn, CF

For the Yankees:

Melky Cabrera, CF
Derek Jeter, SS
Bobby Abreu, RF
Hideki Matsui, LF
Shelley Duncan, 1B
Jason Giambi, DH
Wilson Betemit, 3B
Robinson Cano, 2B
Chad Moeller, C

Day off for Renteria

2008-05-08T21:32:22Z

He gets a much-needed rest tonight with Ramon Santiago starting in his place. It's something Jim Leyland says he might a little more often now to keep Renteria fresh. Gary Sheffield is off as scheduled, with Matt Joyce back in the field in left. Marcus Thames gets the first of what should be at least two straight games.

Here's the Tigers lineup:

Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Joyce, LF
Thames, DH
Inge, C
Santiago, SS

For the Red Sox:

Jacoby Ellsbury, LF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
Mike Lowell, 3B
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Julio Lugo, SS

Raburn as pinch-runner

2008-05-08T04:00:21Z

So why pinch-run for somebody who just legged out an infield hit? Leyland said after the game that he had discussed it with Gene Lamont earlier. The thinking was that Raburn is a little faster, but also more experienced. He was less likely to be tentative, Leyland said, and Lamont knows him better and could feel more confident sending him around.

As for why Renteria wasn't bunting to get the runner over to second, Leyland said he didn't want to play for the tie, not with Boston's offense and with limited options remaining in the Tigers bullpen. Todd Jones would not have come out for the 10th had the game gone to extras.

Joyce at DH, Sheff back in left

2008-05-07T21:45:44Z

I know, on the surface, having Matt Joyce at DH while Gary Sheffield in left looks crazy. But Leyland wanted to give Sheffield three straight days in the field before a day off, and he wanted to put Magglio back in right. That left Joyce as the DH for tonight, assuming they play.

Right now, it looks like they'll wait it out. The radar looks like it should clear before too late in the evening. Since this is the only time the Red Sox are in town, and they travel to Minnesota after Thursday's game, they have plenty of motivation to try to get it in.

Here's the Tigers lineup:

Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Sheffield, LF
Joyce, DH
Renteria, SS
Rodriguez, C

And for the Red Sox:

Jacoby Ellsbury, CF
Jed Lowrie, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Kevin Youklilis, 1B
J.D. Drew, RF
Jason Varitek, C
Julio Lugo, SS

Marlins, Padres show interest in Jones

2008-05-07T00:01:56Z

That didn't take long. The Marlins and Padres have shown interest in ex-Tiger Jacque Jones, according to MLB.com's Joe Frisaro. It continues a long-running interest from the Marlins in Jones, whom they nearly traded for last summer. From the story:

Jones was designated for assignment on Monday. If the Marlins move in quickly on the outfielder, a deal could be worked out in the next day or two.
The Padres, according to a second source, also have inquired about Jones.

It's hard to envision anyone trading for Jones with his salary when they could wait a while and grab him as a free agent for the minimum, leaving the Tigers to pick up the rest.

Inge could catch a little more

2008-05-06T21:24:57Z

He won't be doing it today, but Brandon Inge is going to be going behind the plate a little more, according to Jim Leyland. He'd suggested that before, but Inge went to Leyland late last week and told him that he was happy catching and was willing to embrace the spot.

"I think he'll fall more into the catching mode here shortly," Leyland said today, "and may start getting more playing time."

Is it a balancing act with an eye towards 2009?

For today, Inge is at third for lefty Nate Robertson, with Carlos Guillen getting a day at DH. Here's the full lineup the Tigers will send up against knuckleballer Tim Wakefield:

Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, DH (~~he'll bat right-handed vs. Wakefield~~ oops ... never mind)
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Sheffield, LF
Renteria, SS
Rodriguez, C
Inge, 3B

For the Red Sox:

Coco Crisp, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
J.D. Drew, RF
Kevin Cash, C
Julio Lugo, SS

To go over the changes

2008-05-05T20:49:31Z

Jacque Jones designated for assignment.
Matt Joyce called up from Toledo and is in RF.
Sheffield is batting sixth and playing in LF, the latter per his request.
Carlos Guillen will hit third.
Magglio is still batting cleanup, but is DHing again today and will probably do that part-time while splitting time in RF.

Got all that? OK, here's the lineup:

Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, DH
Cabrera, 1B
Sheffield, LF
Joyce, RF
Renteria, SS
Rodriguez, C