To the readers and commenters who have frequented the blog this season and made it their place to vent this season. I knew there were a lot of you, a lot more than in years past, but now there's some proof. According to the folks that track these things, you guys made this blog sixth out of all MLBlogs in terms of page views over the past seven days.

UN-believable. And this was a week in which we didn't have much news over the All-Star break, the link to the blog was mistakenly pushed out of the headlines on the team site one day, and I was off for the past few days while the Tigers dismantled the Royals (maybe I should've worked after all).

As someone who remembers when this blog barely drew flies two years ago, all I can say is that you all have made this blog what it is, not me. I've tried to live up to what I said heading into the season, that I would blog more often, but for many of you, coming back day after day is what makes this thing work. Otherwise, let's be honest, that old Catholic guilt to post more often might not kick in as often as it does. In any case, thanks for letting me be a part of this.

The overall top 10 blog list is at the bottom of the link above. The top 25 list at the top is for fan blogs. Congratulations, folks.

The Tigers made the Zach Miner roster move after the game. Jeff Larish was optioned to Triple-A Toledo to make room for Miner.

I'm not on the series at Kansas City, so probably no game blogs. I'll try to chime in with an update or two over the next few days before I'm back on for the White Sox series next weekend.

He arrived the ballpark straight from the airport just before noon or so. His wife is still in the hospital, he said, but she's stable, and they're hoping she'll be able to go home tonight.

Inge gets the start at third in what is a different-looking infield for the getaway day. Ryan Raburn gives Placido Polanco a game off at second base, and Ramon Santiago does the same for a hobbled Edgar Renteria at short. Ivan Rodriguez moves up to the second spot.

TIGERS (48-49)

1. Granderson, CF
2. Rodriguez, C (6-for-17 in the two hole this year)
   
3. Sheffield, DH
4. Ordonez, RF
5. Cabrera, 1B
6. Thames, LF
7. Inge, 3B
8. Raburn, 2B
9. Santiago, SS

ORIOLES (47-49)

1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Nick Markakis, RF
3. Melvin Mora, 3B
4. Aubrey Huff, 1B
5. Kevin Millar, DH
6. Luke Scott, LF
7. Jay Payton, CF
8. Guillermo Quiroz, C
9. Juan Castro, SS
   

To quote manager Jim Leyland today, "Larish is at third. And that's the end of that conversation."

Larish played in three games at third at Triple-A Toledo after the Tigers sent him down last month. He's playing tonight in place of Carlos Guillen, whose wife remains hospitalized in Detroit. However, this also might be Leyland's one chance to get Larish a start before the Tigers have to make room on the roster for Zach Miner on Monday -- likely at Larish's expense.

TIGERS (48-48)

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Sheffield, DH
4. Ordonez, RF
5. Cabrera, 1B
6. Joyce, LF
7. Larish, 3B
8. Renteria, SS
9. Inge, C

ORIOLES (46-49)

1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Nick Markakis, RF
3. Melvin Mora, 3B
4. Aubrey Huff, DH
5. Kevin Millar, 1B
6. Luke Scott, LF
7. Adam Jones, CF
8. Ramon Hernandez, C
9. Brandon Fahey, SS

For anyone thinking Freddy Garcia can be a key addition for a late-season charge for the Tigers -- or any other team, for that matter -- the recent lack of news as well as comments from his former manager and current close friend, Ozzie Guillen, are dampening that idea. Guillen supposedly visited with Garcia in Florida over the All-Star break. Asked if he thinks Garcia can be ready for an August or September return after undergoing labrum surgery last year, he said (from Scott Merkin's article on MLB.com):

"I doubt it. I hope he is. He's my friend," Guillen said. "But when I see him and where he's at right now, I don't see that happening. I don't think by August, maybe September. Freddy hasn't even thrown off the mound yet.

"He's throwing flat and he's throwing good and he said his velocity is coming around. Everything is fine, but people think because you play catch, you are pitching. That's not the same. You don't have people on the mound or hitting. I hope he do it, but it's going to be a little bit difficult for him to do it."

Guillen added how he hopes Garcia doesn't rush himself back.

Garcia's agent, Peter Greenberg, said a few weeks ago that they planned on having him throw for interested teams (including the Tigers) somewhere around July 21-24. That would be next week, but no firm date has leaked out yet.

Bottom line, between the uncertain timetable on Garcia and a trade market that doesn't favor the Tigers whatsoever, I think Detroit needs some effective starts from Zach Miner and the guys they have now if they're going to make a race out of this.

Not only is it really hot here in Baltimore, it's really humid, and there's very little wind to speak of. Being close to the water doesn't help. The Tigers are sending their guys out for batting practice in groups. If it's not your group, you don't need to be outside.

As for the game, Edgar Renteria is back in the starting lineup. He isn't at full strength with his hamstring, but he's close enough to give it go. Leyland said he'll go back to Santiago as a defensive replacement for the later innings if he has to.

Carlos Guillen is not here today. His wife was still hospitalized as of today, but it sounded like she could be released today or tomorrow. Inge is back at third in his place.

All the relievers are available tonight, including Fernando Rodney, thought it might be hard to recognize him. Apparently he decided on the spur of the moment on this hot afternoon to get a haircut -- in fact, get all of it cut. Unofficial team barber Freddy Dolsi did the honors as teammates watched.

TIGERS (48-47)

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Joyce, LF
4. Ordonez, RF
5. Cabrera, 1B
6. Thames, DH
7. Rodriguez, C
8. Renteria, SS
9. Inge, 3B

ORIOLES (45-49)

1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Adam Jones, CF
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Aubrey Huff, DH
5. Kevin Millar, 1B
6. Melvin Mora, 3B
7. Luke Scott, LF
8. Ramon Hernandez, C
9. Brandon Fahey, SS

The good news for Dontrelle Willis was that he didn't walk anybody in his three innings of work for Class A Lakeland Thursday night. The real good news, in fact, was that he threw 26 of 32 pitches for strikes. The flip side is that he allowed a run on four hits.

The article on lakelandledger.com includes a quote from Flying Tigers pitching coach Joe Coleman that gives some insight on what they're trying to do with Dontrelle. From the story:

"Chuck Hernandez and I have been working with Dontrelle to get him to throw the ball to zones rather than trying to hit spots," Lakeland pitching coach Joe Coleman said, referring to his counterpart in Detroit.

"Tonight's outing was a very positive step toward Dontrelle's return to Detroit," said Coleman, who had more good things to say about Reinert.

If your next question is when will Dontrelle pitch again, I don't have an answer for you. The Tigers have been very secretive about Dontrelle's schedule and what they're doing with him, which is what makes Coleman's comments significant.

He left the game after aggravating his left hammy, the same injury that sidelined him before the break. You could see him struggling to get down the line on that double-play ball in the top of the eighth, even a little bit on that second-inning double. It wasn't any particular play that tweaked it, he said, but it simply got worse as the game went on. He hopes to be available tomorrow, but we'll see. If he's still feeling it after resting for a week, that isn't promising.

Quote of the night was Jones on his off-balance throw to first in the ninth: "That might be the luckiest, best play I ever made."

If the O's get the lead, they can go to George Sherrill, who pitched 2 1/3 innings in the All-Star Game Tuesday night but needed just 25 pitches to do it. Just figured it was worth a heads-up.

Bonine will be sent to Toledo to start there on Monday. As recently as this afternoon, Miner was scheduled to start for the Hens on Monday until the Tigers made the change. Leyland didn't want to go into details.

In other news, Carlos Guillen is not available tonight. He's back in Detroit, where his wife underwent surgery to take care of complications she was suffering after giving birth to their daughter a week and a half ago. Supposedly the surgery went well, thank goodness.

TIGERS (47-47)

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Thames, LF
4. Ordonez, RF
5. Cabrera, 1B
6. Sheffield, DH
7. Rodriguez, C
8. Renteria, SS
9. Inge, 3B

ORIOLES (45-48)

1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Adam Jones, CF
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Aubrey Huff, DH
5. Kevin Millar, 1B
6. Melvin Mora, 3B
7. Ramon Hernandez, C
8. Jay Payton, LF
9. Brandon Fahey, SS