It's simple, really...
Talk about a heartbreaking, soul-crushing defeat. A game that was all but over, until the Tigers' bullpen blew up in a most spectacular, and painful to watch, fashion. Was today's loss in Tampa the nail in Detroit's coffin? I'm not sure, but with a bullpen doing its best imitation of the Titanic, it may well have been.
In part 2 of of TWFE's Tigers mid-term, I grade the relief pitchers.
For much of the season, the pen had a revolving door, with the Tigers desperately trying to find the right combinations, while attempting to replace the injured Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya. Though some relievers gave us more grief, than relief, and are no longer in Detroit (Zach Miner went from 8th inning setup man, to long relief, and finally to Toledo) the lineup has recently stabilized, mostly for the better.
Freddy Dolsi: B
Dolsi came out of nowhere, otherwise known a Single A ball. He has pitched better than anyone thought possible from such an inexperienced kid. Dolsi's been a nice addition to the pen, surprisingly effective in a late innings setup role while Zoom and Rodney were laid up. Effective enough to be considered a possible closer after the Todd Jones era mercifully ends after this season.
Dolsi has the stuff to pitch in the late innings, a potential closer, but does he have the mental makeup? That's yet to be determined.
Casey Fossum: B-
The lefty middle reliever got off to the rockiest start possible (2 games, 1/3 of an inning, 5 hits, 5 earned runs, literally throwing batting practice), leaving Fossum with an ERA of 135.00 after his 2rd appearance. Since that low point, he has improved immensely. Fossum's 3.1 inning, 6K performance in a come from behind win over the Tribe last week, may have been the Tigers' best relief appearance of the season. Call me crazy, but I bumped Fossum up from a C+ grade just for that appearance, a game the Tigers needed to win, as he was that good.
There has been some talk of Fossum moving into the rotation as the 5th starter, but it appears the Tigers will stay with Eddie Bonine, whom will be on a very short leash.
Bobby Seay: C-
Seay was damn near lights out in 2007 as the Tigers' LOOGY, but has not been near as effective this season, as his 1.40 WHIP and .260 BAA attests. For a pitcher who is asked in 90% of his appearances to just get 1 or 2 outs, and LH bats at that, Seay needs to perform much better in the season's 2nd half.
Aquilino Lopez: B+
After pitching himself onto the opening day roster in spring training, all Lopez has done this season is pitch often, and pitch well. Yet he was sent down as the odd reliever out when Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya were activated. He was quickly brought back from Toledo after Zach Miner stopped throwing strikes, blowing up in a loss to those God damn Twins.
If there is one thing Lopez does, and does well, it's throw strikes, which is kind of a prerequisite for a reliever. (As was learned by the likes of Francisco Cruceta, Francis Beltran, Yorman Bazardo and Miner, all sent down for the committing the reliever's Cardinal sin: The base on balls.)
Fernando Rodney: F
If anyone has been the Fernando Rodney of 2006, please let the Tigers know where to find him, OK?
The once lights out Rodney seems intent on pitching himself into Jim Leyland's doghouse, and possibly out of favor in Detroit. He's given up 2 home runs since coming off the DL, which doesn't sound all that bad. But both were soul-crushing, hope killing, 8th inning blasts that turned what should have been Tiger victories into bitter defeats.
Rodney has been unable to throw his normally knee-buckling change up for stikes, which makes his fastball seem like fresh meat to hitters, and every outing an adventure. I no longer trust Rodney as a setup man, I don't believe other fans trust Rodney in the 7th-8th innings, and I have to wonder how much longer the Tigers will. He's been a huge disappointment.
Joel Zumaya: B-
Zoom missed much of 2007, and the first couple months of 2008, with the oddest injuries imaginable. The shoulder injury suiffered this past off season could have been career ending. Amazingly, Zumaya has returned, along with his velocity and attitude. His control? Still a work in progress.
Zumaya is far from sharp, 12 walks in 11.1 innings is not what you want to see from your setup man. But his triple digit fastball, more often than not, has gotten Zumaya out of trouble. Trouble mostly of his own making.
Zumaya reverting back to his 2006 form is vital to the Tigers 2nd half chances. He's part of the way there, but not all the way.
Todd Jones: B
What is there to say about The Rollercoaster that hasn't already been said? I have the Pepto Bismol at the ready whenever Jones enters the game He's a fan heart attack waiting to happen. Jones gets by on smoke, mirrors, grit and prayer. His fastball couldn't break...well, anything. . He's incapable of handling any other role in the pen other than closer. But...there's always a but with The Rollercoaster...Jones is 17-19 in save opprtunities. No, I can't explain it either.
When it comes to grading Jones, overrated they may be, as flawed a stat as it is, it's all about the saves. No matter how he gets them, they all look the same in the box score. And much more often than not, you see "Jones SV" in his stat line.
As for the aforementioned Miner, Cruceta, Bazardo, Beltran and Danny Bautista (Though the Tigers' handling of Bautista, ending up with his being picked up by the Pirates, where he's been fairly effective, is more than a bit of a head scratcher), let's give them a D as a group. There's a reason (Walks, walks, and more walks) they are no longer in Detroit.
What would I like to do with the Detroit Tigers bullpen?
1. Just like the freaky little kid on The Twilight Zone episode, "It's a Good Life." I'd like to wish them away into the cornfield.
"You're a bad bullpen! A VERY BAD BULLPEN!"That seems to be the standard refrain regarding the Detroit Tigers this week, as noted by both Lynn Henning in his Detroit News "blog," and Tom Verducci at SI.com.
Henning: Can the Tigers bullpen be trusted?
Verducci: Keeping up with Jones - Aside from their closer, Tigers 'pen is a big concern
Both articles state the same thing, no one is sure what to expect from the Detroit bullpen when the season starts. Not the Tigers front office, the Marlboro Man, the media, the fans or even the players themselves
I've been pondering the bullpen "situation" myself, and have come up with several possible solutions. Some are a tad far-fetched, but this is a "throw shit against the wall and see what sticks" brainstorming exercise. You know what tends to spew out of my cranium, namely half-assed opinions and half-baked ideas, so bear with me...
1. The simplest answer is the right answer, the Occam's Razor solution. So the answer is simple. Score more than the other guys. Lots more. If Mike Ilitch plans on offering Miguel Cabrera $20 million a season, the least he can in return do is help the Tigers score 1000+ runs. The Tigers do that, the pen issues become moot.
2. I've come up with a take on the Milwaukee Braves old "Spahn and Sain and two days of rain" saying.
Hire a medicine man, a rainmaker so to speak, to open up the skies with torrential downpours anytime the Tigers have a lead from the 5th inning on. If that strategy worked for the Braves 60 years ago, why couldn't it work for the Tigers today?
3. Have Justin Verlander pitch in relief between starts. Even at 50%, he's better than most of the current characters populating the bullpen. On second thought, even I think that's a bit much. Only use him out of the pen on one of his off days...
4. INGE! Of course, I should have thought of him before! Send Brandon Inge to the bullpen. If he can capably play the other 8 positions on the field, there's no reason he couldn't pitch as well, right?
5. Use a time machine to go back in time, and put out the San Diego wildfires before they blew up out of control. Thus, Joel Zumaya remains healthy. If need be, go back even further in time, and take out the creator of Guitar Hero. I suggest contacting these guys. I hear their wayback machine works quite well...
See Sherman and Mr. Peabody for all your time travel needs!
Mickey could even pinch hit!Rodney missing the opener? Cruceta still AWOL? Jones with a 24 something spring ERA, and having "arm strength" issues? Zumaya still weeks away from throwing in anger? Grilli feels the need to be the "voice of reason?" Miner being considered as a late game set up man?
Even though it's 2 weeks plus till opening day, you can now consider me OFFICIALLY CONCERNED about the Tigers' bullpen.
I know the Tigers have a powerful lineup capable of scoring 1000 runs. That's great, yet the bullpen, as it now stands, has me thinking it'll give up a 1001 runs. I know my thinking isn't rational, and many of the bullpen issues will suitably sort themselves out as the season progresses. But I have a sinking feeling in my beer filled gut we'll be spending way too many 9th innings cursing out the bullpen for it's inability to protect big leads.
I can imagine it now:
Hey, it's 7-3 going into the 8th inning? I need to make trip to the fridge and get myself a cold one to get through the 9th. //grab beer and pork rinds, sit back down// HUH? It's 7-7? What the? CURSES! //shakes fist at no one in particular// Damn you (name any Tigers reliever), DAMN YOU TO HELL!
Or something like that...
When it comes to the Tigers' pen, I'm fighting a battle within, a battle between the rational and irrational parts of myself.
The rational me says: Al, don't be a ninny. Jones will be fine, and will have a typical Jones season, 35+ saves with a half dozen blown ones.
The irrational me says: Todd Jones is the anti-Christ, and this is the season major league batters finally figure his 85 MPH throwing, 39 year old ass out! AHHHHH!
Rational: Zach Miner is a very capable pitcher, who has shown he can start, pitch in long or short relief, and do so capably.
Irrational: Miner pitching in the 8th inning of a must win 3-2 game against the Tribe? We're DOOOOOMED!
Rational: After carefully rehabbing his shoulder, Joel Zumaya will come back in July, and still be an effective late game reliever.
Irrational: Come on, we all know Zoom has a million dollar arm, and a 10 cent head. In June, Zumaya will be be riding a dirt bike, while playing Guitar Hero, in midst of moving his family, hear his elbow pop, and undergo Tommy John surgery in July. He's another Fydrich! FYDRICH, I TELL YOU!
Rational: Jason Grilli is just fine when used in long relief, or as a mop up man. He was misused last season due to all the injuries on the pitching staff.
Irrational: GRILLI SUCKS! BLOWS GOATS! CUT HIS WALK THE BASES LOADED IN THE PLAYOFFS ASS! RIGHT NOW! NOW! NOW! NOW!
Rational: Denny Bautista has been a pleasant spring surprise, and is living up to the faith the Tigers showed in trading for him in the first place. I expect him to make the regular season roster.
Irrational: It's SPRING TRAINING! Even I could get some of these clowns out! Bautista is facing never-gonna-be's and used-to-be's. His career major league ERA is almost 7! He's gonna get lit up in April! LIT UP!
Rational: Byrdak and Seay were excellent as the LOOGY's in 2007. I see no reason why they won't continue to be extremely effective against left handed hitters in 2008.
Irrational: 2007 was a MIRAGE! They are career minor leaguers who found lightening in a bottle for 1 season! Won't happen again! No way, no how!
I'm quite aware it's much too early to get worked up over scenarios that probably won't happen. Even if a couple of those scenarios do actually happen, it wouldn't be enough to derail the Tigers. Still, the bad thoughts remain. They're tucked away by my rational self, but they're in there, percolating.
Admit it. You can tell me. I bet you all are having the same internal battles too. Am I right?
I apologize for the dearth of posts today. The monsoon like weather here in SE Michigan is wreaking havoc on my arthritic joints. As you might guess, I haven't felt much like writing. So my thoughts will be short and sweet tonight.
Big win for the Tigers tonight. Huge win. But to win with with Jair Jurrjens throwing a 1 hitter? Then a 7 consecutive out bullpen performance, straight out of 2006, from Zumaya, Rodney, and Jones? I did not see any of that coming...
It's the sort of victory a team can build on. Then again, I've thought the same thing after a few other victories over the past month. It remains to be seen if the Tigers can parlay a nice win into a much needed winning streak.
Let's hope the Tigers can follow up by actually winning a series. And let's hope I'm feeling a little more like my old self tomorrow...
Sad to say, my comparing the Tigers' pitching problems to iconic rock bands has become a recurring feature on TWFE. With another ugly weekend is in the books, and the Tigers getting their asses handed to them in losing 3 out of 4 to the Yankees, I felt it was time to add another chapter.
The bullpen is still a large thorn in the Tigers' side. Unfortunately, the starting rotation is now competing with the bullpen in the race to see who can give away a game first. So in this edition, the starters have been added to set list.
Considering the Tiger pitching came out of nowhere last season to dominate the AL, and just as quickly, only 1 season later, has come crashing back to earth, I wanted to find a comparable band. Riffing through my large collection of MP3's, one came quickly to mind.
Everyone owned the album, "Sports." Even your grandmother.Here's the situation, you make the call.
1 on, 2 outs for the Devil Rays in the top of the 8th, and Tigers were leading Tampa 6-2. Nate Robertson was literally cruising along, with only 96 pitches thrown. Then, out of nowhere, for some ungodly reason, Jim Leyland felt the need to suddenly channel his inner Tony LaRussa, and "Manage."
So what would you do if you were in the Marlboro Man's spikeless cleats?
A: Do nothing.
B: Grab a smoke.
C: Go out to the mound, say a few encouraging words to Robertson, and trot back to the dugout.
D: Tell Robertson to call it a night, and bring in anyone but Jason Grilli.
E: Tell Robertson to call it a night, and bring in Jason Grilli.
Jim Leyland decided on -- E. Yes, Tigers fans, he thought it was a good managerial decision to bring in their worst reliever, the gas can named Jason Grilli. Any of the other moves could have been argued as the correct one, EXCEPT for that one.
4 hits, 1 grand slam, and 10 pitches later, the games was tied 6-6. Grilli was mercilessly, furiously, and deservedly booed off the mound. Leyland had no choice but to get his pitcher out of there, or there would have been a riot at Comerica. They wanted Grilli's head on a pike. The crowd was THAT incensed.
Leyland and Grilli are a very, very, very lucky men tonight, as the offense bailed them out with a huge 3 run rally in the bottom of the 8th, along with Todd Jones and Curtis Granderson doing their thing in the 9th to finally finish the Devil Rays.
What could have been a horrific, season changing, gut punch of a loss, was miraculously avoided.
The Tigers somehow end up winning 9-6. And to show you that if there is a God, he's a merciful one, as Grilli avoids the loss. The Tigers have consecutive wins for the first time in 3 weeks, and all is somewhat well in the world.
Baseball's a funny damn game...
Once again, it's the time on TWFE when we answer Detroit News columnist Lynn Henning's "Burning questions." Let's start the deconstruction!
Q: Did the Tigers toss away a World Series invitation when they failed to trade for a big time reliever ahead of Tuesday's deadline?
Henning: First things first: What good does it do to have a lights-out bullpen if your starting pitching can't get you to a point where the bullpen makes a difference? The Tigers' problem is no longer a bullpen that figures to be a lot better when Fernando Rodney, to say nothing of Joel Zumaya, returns late this week. It's a starting rotation that suddenly can't stay on track.
Big Al: I'll say, "Maybe." All teams slump, and the Tigers are in midst of a team wide one currently. I'm not near as uptight (Yet) about the starting pitching as Henning seems to be. I'm confident that Verlander, Bonderman, and Miller will be fine, regardless of their recent struggles.
The question marks are Robertson, and more importantly, Rogers. Their aches and pains bear close scrutiny. I'm fairly confident that the starters will get back on track. But the bullpen has been a season long issue, and by not picking up a reliever at the deadline, it will remain an issue.
I'm not near as confident as the Tigers, and Henning, that Rodney and Zumaya will be the bullpen saviors. They'll have to show me, so to speak, that they are the pitchers they were 12 months ago.
Q: So why give up on trading for Eric Gagne or Octavio Dotel? Why not repair one aspect of Detroit's pitching when the starters are likely to settle down?
Henning: For two reasons: If you think Gagne, whom the Red Sox got Tuesday in a shrewd trade with Texas, is the same Gagne he was with the Dodgers, think again. He can help -- for the time being -- but he wasn't worth trading the kind of talent the Tigers were obliged to send to the Rangers.
Dotel is a somewhat different case. The Royals weren't interested in trading him to another team in the Central Division. The Tigers would have been required to pay a premium there, and the policy here is that you don't cripple your future on a longshot gamble that one pitcher is going to put you into the World Series.
Big Al: Huh? Wait a sec. Did Henning first call the Gagne trade "Shrewd," then say he "Wasn't worth" what the BoSox gave up? Well, which is it? It can't be both.
Gagne went to the Sox for one thing. Lots and lots and lots of money. That's why Boston can trade for a Gagne without too much worry, even though his elbow is held together with bailing wire and zip ties, as they can throw a shitload of money at their mistakes. If Gagne gets hurt, they'll buy another reliever. Just like the team they despise, yet emulate, the Yankees...
Gagne wasn't going to come to here, anyway. It's one thing to waive his no-trade to go to Boston, it's altogether another to go somewhere else. Gagne wasn't going to do so for Detroit. So debating why the Tigers didn't go after him is moot.
You can say the same for Dotel. He wasn't going to be a Tiger, so it's moot. I agree that the Royals weren't going to trade him within the division, unless Detroit paid a big premium. I do wish the Tigers had gotten a decent bullpen arm, but a trade for Gagne or Dotel wasn't going to happen.
Q: So the Tigers are supposed to win a playoff spot with a wobbly bullpen and a suddenly implosive starting rotation?
Henning: They're still a pretty good bet to win the division, although there are serious and assorted concerns that might sabotage this team's opportunity there. The Tigers' youth is really showing up with the starters. You can't make Jeremy Bonderman (24), Justin Verlander (24), and Andrew Miller (22) the top three horses in your rotation and expect them to regularly pitch craftily or with great finesse.
You're going to pay the price for their inexperience, and, for all their talent, this trio proves it all the time.
Big Al: The starting rotation had had a rough, say, 2 weeks? Give or take... I do agree that there will be some ups and downs when you depend upon such young pitchers. But you cannot deny they are talented as Hell, and that anyone with a half a brain would hitch themselves to those 3 young arms.
When you have 3 dominant pitchers, relatively inexperienced, or not, I'm more than willing to live with the occasional mistakes brought on by youth. To say that their youth may "Sabotage" their chances is silly beyond belief. I'd bet Jim Leyland would agree.
Q: Isn't that balanced by the presence of Nate Robertson and a healthy Kenny Rogers?
Henning: Here, of course, are the most recent causes for concern. Robertson didn't seem to throw a pitch above 89 mph in last Friday's start against the Angels. That was frightening for a left-hander who must have a 91-92 fastball and a sharp slider to be effective. I'm beginning to wonder if this season he can get back to being a power pitcher.
Rogers seems to be coming along fine following his tender elbow. But, again, at some point a man three months shy of his 43rd birthday is bound to show his age. As marvelous of an athlete as Rogers is, he might remain durable for the next two or three seasons. But he isn't bionic, either.
Big Al: As I said above, I agree that the health of Robertson and The Gambler is cause for concern, and should be watched closely. But as shown by the recent performances of Virgil Vasquez and Jordan Tata, that for at least the short term, the Tigers do have capable replacements.
Young replacements or not, I do hope that the 2 veteran starters are healthy for the stretch run. The Tigers are inexperienced enough in the rotation, God forbid that Vasquez or Tata have to be thrown into the playoff stretch fire if Rogers is unable to pitch. That's not a scenario conducive to winning a playoff spot.
The health of Kenny Rogers is damn important to the Tigers chances, as he's the leader of the pitching staff. Let alone The Gambler still has wicked good stuff when he's healthy...
Q: So this team is supposed to stand pat and let a playoff opportunity pass? How silly is that?
Henning: Here's what's silly: Enduring 12 consecutive seasons without a winning record. Trading John Smoltz for Doyle Alexander, which brought the Tigers a five-day trip to the playoffs that only happened because the Toronto Blue Jays faltered in the final week of the 1987 season. Trading a batch of good young players for Juan Gonzalez, a foolish deal that only became less foolish because Justin Thompson never healed up and Gabe Kapler never put things together fully.
Dumb trades will undo all the smart things a front office has fought to achieve in a half-dozen years. And that's what the Tigers stood to make Tuesday -- a stupid trade -- if they outbid the Red Sox or Braves.
Big Al: Bear with me, as I'm going to go off here... Good God damn Lord, will this city ever forget the Doyle Alexander - John Smoltz trade? It was 20 years ago, for chrissake! But it still comes up EVERY season at the trade deadline. Enough is enough! It's well past time we LET IT GO.
You'll hear the same old refrain from fans and media alike, "Oh no, we can't risk trading prospects, remember the John Smoltz trade?!"
Jesus H. Christ! "Remember the Smoltz trade!" has become the Detroit version of "Remember the Alamo!" As if the Smoltz trade was the sole reason for 12 consecutive losing seasons. We all know why the Tigers were lousy for so long, and that trade had little to do with it. To bring that up in this column is outright asinine.
Smoltz was a long shot A ball prospect in 1987. No one, I repeat, absolutely no one, would have foreseen that Smoltz would have a hall of fame career. It was a good trade at the time, and it's still a good trade today. Alexander was the final piece of the puzzle, and he won Detroit the division damn near single-handedly.
Alexander went 9-0, with a 1.53 ERA, and finished 4th in the AL Cy Young voting. Don't forget, Alexander had an All-Star season in 1988 as well. He was basically done after '88, but it wasn't as if Detroit got some stiff for John Smoltz.
Are we going to have the same discussion 20 years from now if Humberto Sanchez or Kevin Whelan, whom the Tigers traded for Gary Sheffield, has a Smoltz-like career? Even though it's evident that the presence of Sheff was a huge part in raising the Tigers offense from good, to elite? That if the Tigers win the AL pennant, the Sheffield trade will be a huge reason why? God, I hope not.
Sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind, play for the present, future be damned. Especially in regard to a 1987 Tigers team that was on the verge of their championship window closing. So that's why you'll never, ever convince me that the Smoltz trade was a bad one. To call the Smoltz trade "Silly?" Please, that's revisionist history. It's also stupid.
Now comparing the Juan Gonzalez deal to the Alexander trade is apples and oranges. It's a straw man argument, and has nothing to do with the Tigers current situation, or the one they found themselves in 1987.
The awful Juan Gone trade was driven by a desperate owner, with a dunderhead for a GM, wanting a marquee name in the first year of a new stadium. The team wasn't close to contending, and never would have, with or without the prospects that were traded.
Juan Gone, Justin Thompson, John Smoltz, Doyle Alexander, none of them have a damn thing to do with how the Tigers found themselves in their current situation. More importantly, how those trades turned out should have absolutely no effect on any move they may make from here on out.
I'm not one to say that the Tigers should be afraid of making a risky trade. But I am afraid that the Tigers will not make the playoffs because they sat on their hands at the deadline. I'm also afraid that we'll be having second thoughts about much more than just the God damn John Smoltz trade if the Tigers come up short this season.
Q: Isn't the objective to do whatever it takes to win in a single season?
Henning: To the degree you can assure such an outcome, absolutely. But the greater mission -- and responsibility -- for a franchise is to put together a solid, year-to-year product that can put you in contention on a regular basis. If you send too many prospects down the road on a low-percentage chance one guy will make the difference in a particular season, you can look forward to a return to the Dark Ages.
And the Detroit baseball community should remember all too painfully how those earlier, dispiriting times came about.
Big Al: Remember the dispiriting times? How can I forget?
The Tigers are trying to walk that very fine line of trying to win now, while not kissing off the future. The one problem with that is they aren't all that young of a team.
Who's going to be here in 5 years? Going by the current roster, if they stay healthy, there are a handful sure things. Verlander, Bonderman, Zumaya, Miller and Granderson. Let's throw in Ordonez, as he'll be at the tail end of his monstrous deal by that time. Other than that, who knows?
The vast majority of the important players on the Tigers are on the sweet side of 30. So in many ways, the future is now. I continue to say that there are no guarantees that the Tigers will remain contenders. To write off winning this season for the possibility of competing in the years to come is folly.
Isn't the point to win championships? Not be "Competitive," but to win the World Series? Sometimes you need to take the risk, within reason of course. But I don't think that there should be many, if any, untouchables when you are trying to win it all.
There are limits, of course. Even I wouldn't trade Cameron Maybin for a middle reliever. But as part of a deal for Mark Teixeira? (Or another youngish, big time player) I'd seriously think about it...
There's one thing we need to remember. Dave Dombrowski, one of the best GM's in baseball, now runs the team. The Tigers no longer have an idiot named Randy Smith making the decisions, as he did during those "Dispiriting times."
That's the biggest reason the Tigers were awful for so many years. It wasn't because of the trades that were made, it was thanks to the dipshit who was making them.
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is rolling the dice, trying to draw into a royal flush, hitting on 16, and betting the over on the Pistons, by not making any deadline moves to improve the his bullpen.
"It takes brass balls to Saturday afternoon, the Tigers bullpen pitched batting practice to the California/Orange County/Anaheim/Los Angeles/Disneyland Angels (Or whatever the Hell their name is for this season). Helping the Angels with BP was nice and all, but there was one problem. It was during the 8th inning...
The 8th inning started with the Tigers and Angels tied 3-3. 6 hits, 1 walk, 2 home runs, 1 stolen base, 7 runs, and 3 Tiger relievers later, the Angels were up 10-3, and for all intents and purposes, the game was over.
After a few uneventful weeks that had fans almost convinced that the Detroit bullpen had turned a corner, they reverted to their self-destructive ways after the All-Star break. Tigers fans have recently suffered through several bad losses, all thanks to the continuous, slow motion train wreck that is the Detroit Tigers bullpen.
These guys may have wrote "King of Pain," but the Tigers bullpen has made the song their own...It's the time on TWFE when we answer Detroit News columnist Lynn Henning's "Burning questions." Let's see how much we agree to disagree...
Q: Why would the Tigers have called up Virgil Vasquez to pitch Tuesday's second game of a doubleheader against the White Sox? Vasquez got rocked in an earlier outing in Minnesota, and they could have plugged in a reliever such as Chad Durbin or Zach Miner to have pitched the nightcap?
Henning: First: Vasquez had pitched deftly at Triple-A Toledo before the Tigers gave him a spot-start against the Twins in May. His problem at the Metrodome (six runs, nine hits in 2 2/3 innings) was that he pitched as if the strike zone was at a hitter's belt buckle. That foible neither existed before the Minnesota start, nor has it been a hang-up since Vasquez returned to the minors.
Coaches, managers, and minor league scouts know if a guy has the stuff to get big leaguers out. Vasquez has been viewed as the pitcher who is most ready for the big leagues, and he was much better this time out. He allowed two runs in five innings and left with the Tigers leading, 7-2.
Big Al: Vasquez was just fine, giving up 2 runs, in 5 innings, against the ChiSox. He deserved better than a no-decision. Last night proved that Vasquez will likely end up in the big leagues, even if it's not with Detroit. You don't write a kid off after 1 bad performance, even if that performance, against the Twins, in Minneapolis, at the Baggiedome, on national TV, (When combined, it's not exactly the easiest of circumstances to step into) was about as bad as it gets.
If anything, showcasing Vasquez may have been to help generate interest with the teams Dave Dombrowski been talking with in regard to his never ending quest to bolster the bullpen. Vasquez, though talented enough to pitch in the bigs, probably doesn't have a future in Detroit. His value is as trade bait.
Q: So why not use an established arm such as Durbin or Miner against the White Sox rather than risk another Vasquez meltdown?
Henning: Because manager Jim Leyland understood he would need to keep his bullpen fresh. Durbin and Miner have become so important to the re-stabilizing of Detroit's bullpen that to have removed them would have been inviting a recurrence of old problems.
Leyland also understands once a reliever has made the adjustment to shorter pitching stints, it's difficult to re-acclimate him to additional innings. The combination can lead to double trouble in stressing a bullpen.
Big Al: Hey, we agree! The Tigers are in midst of playing 5 games in 4 days in Chicago. The odds were good that Jim Leyland was going to need 3-4 innings from his bullpen with Vasquez on the mound. So keeping the bullpen as fresh as possible was a priority. The pen has been stressed enough as it is, so it would have been a huge risk, and not all that smart, to use one of your most important middle to late inning relievers (Durbin and Miner) in a spot start.
Leyland is known as one of the best handlers of pitchers in MLB, I trust him to use the relievers correctly. In his judgment, starting Vasquez was a better option than juggling the bullpen. He was proved right, even though the pen ended up blowing the game.
It's not the Marlboro Man's fault that Macay McBride and Durbin couldn't find the strike zone if you gave them Google maps, a compass and a Sherpa guide.
Q: Are the Tigers any more inclined today to make a trade ahead of next Tuesday's deadline?
Henning: Probably not.
It's not as though they wouldn't seek one more arm for their bullpen, or another hitter or catcher, but the asking price is going to be so steep that it doesn't make a lot of sense to spend heavily on additional players that might or might not help a well-constructed team make the playoffs.
The Tigers have to be careful. They've added significant pitching help to their bullpen and stand to add more in the coming weeks as Fernando Rodney and Joel Zumaya heal. Trading young talent they will need to compete in coming seasons is a price that should not be paid unless there is a serious need and reasonable guarantee that you'll get better.
Big Al: I hope Henning's wrong. Lord, I hope he's wrong...
First off, let's call Zumaya / Rodney "Zumdney" from here on out, as they are so intertwined together with the Tigers' playoff chances. That said, there's too much at stake to put all the Tigers' 7th and 8th inning eggs in the Zumdney basket. It's all about Dombrowski finding a set-up man in the next 6 days.
Call me a cynic, but I need to Zumdney pitch, and pitch well, for a couple of weeks, before determining that they are fit to work important innings in the stretch run and (Hopefully) playoffs. The problem with that is the deadline is next week, and we'll have no idea how healthy, or effective, Zumdney are till mid-late August.
Why a set-up man, and not a closer? Because it'll be easier to find, and less costly. It's also due to the fact that Todd Jones' value is as a closer. I'd have absolutely no trust in him working the higher leverage 6th through 8th innings. His "Pitching to contact" style of relief is not exactly conducive to putting out rallies. The Tigers need a reliever who can strike batters out, rather than depending almost entirely on his defense.
Dombrowski did pretty well in getting McBride, and Jose Capellan. But they aren't the solution to the bullpen issues. The solution is still out there...
Q: Are the Tigers nervous about Andrew Miller or Nate Robertson following a couple of shaky starts?
Henning: In Miller's case, absolutely not. He looked like a college pitcher Monday, but fans can't appreciate how sharp, and mature, this 22-year-old left-hander is. He handled the meltdown with as much aplomb as you could expect from a young man just 13 months out of his University of North Carolina uniform.
He knew he had been over-throwing his fastball and avoiding his breaking stuff. Lesson learned. It's the kind of lesson the Tigers understood Miller would be absorbing at this extraordinarily early stage of development.
Big Al: As Leyland like to say, "Give me talent." Andrew Miller is extremely talented, and he belongs in the rotation. No if's, and's, or but's.
Did he look out of sorts against the Sox? Sure did, those wild pitches in the 5th were closer to finding the upper deck than the plate were unquestionably ugly. I my opinion, Leyland left Miller in a batter or 2 too long, he was laboring.
But in the long run, Miller is going to win more games for the Tigers than the man he replaced, Mike Maroth. Who, if you haven't noticed, has been getting pounded pitching against the National League junior varsity.
Q: What about Robertson?
Henning: Fans have a tendency to focus on the perceived weak link in a team, which is natural. But remember: Robertson would be an upper-tier starter on a lot of big league teams. The Tigers need for Robertson's fastball to hang in the low 90s with a sharp slider. On most nights, that's going to keep him -- and the Tigers -- in the game. And on most nights, that should be Robertson's capability.
Big Al: Roberston is going nowhere, other than to the mound every 5 days. Put Robertson in the correct perspective, in that he's a 5th starter. The Tigers could do a lot worse than having a legit MLB pitcher, and Robertson is legitimate, in their rotation. Most teams in MLB don't have a 5th starter that is nearly as solid as Robertson.
Don't forget, Leyland trusted Robertson enough to start the 1st games of both the ALDS and ALCS last season. He's also shown stretches of dominance, just as recently as May. As Henning says, Robertson will keep the Tigers in most games. Can you really ask for more than that from your number 5 pitcher?
Q: It's apparent Rodney has recovered from his tendinitis and is close to rejoining the Tigers. Where, realistically, is Zumaya on the comeback schedule?
Henning: If you want to pencil in one man's guess on when Zumaya will make his first appearance since rupturing a tendon in his right middle finger in May, pencil Aug. 25 against the Yankees at Comerica Park.
It would seem doubtful Zumaya will be back much ahead of that date. And it might be closer to Labor Day before he returns. But based on his progress, and on the rapidity with which he has gotten stronger in only the last couple of weeks, one more month seems reasonable in estimating when Zumaya will next throw his one-of-a-kind fastball in a big league game.
Needless to say, a man named Leyland can't wait.
Big Al: As I'm just a lowly blogger with no access, I'm just going to have to take Henning's word that Zumaya will pitch sometime before the end of the regular season. He's not the only MSM'er to say that the Tigers will have Zumaya on the mound, sooner, than later.
But you also have to take the Tigers' word with a big grain of salt. They have no reason to be entirely honest with the MSM, or the rest of baseball, for that matter.
The Tigers need to pick up a relief pitcher. They don't want to be seen as dealing from a position of weakness, and making a trade out of desperation. You do that, you'll overpay. So Dombrowski will play his cards close to his vest, as always, and make the best deal possible.
We may not hear the exact truth about Zumaya's finger till the season's over. No matter what, Zoom's middle digit will be the most watched injury in Detroit since Rasheed Wallace's plantar fasciitis issues during the 2004 NBA playoffs.
Jim Leyland can't wait for Zumaya's return? Needless to say, the Tigers' fanbase can't wait either.
I know that the Tigers' bullpen is in dire need of fixing. That a honest to God, slam the door set up man, and a closer that actually K's batters more than once a week is needed.
Unfortunately, too many fans think they are good GM's. They believe they know more than Dave Dombrowski. Go to any message board, or listen to any local sports talk radio, and you'll see/hear some version of the following...
Let's trade Craig Monroe for Eric Gagne.
They should trade Marcus Thames for Akinori Otsuka.
Cameron Maybin should be traded for a relief pitcher. (Seriously, there was an actual thread on Motownsports.com proposing this exact thing)
Trading this man won't get you Eric Gagne. It won't even get you Eric CartmanI wax poetic about how good it is to be a fan of the Detroit Tigers earlier today, and they go off play an awful game tonight. That little voice I described in the back of my head must have been saying, "Not so fast, the bullpen still needs help."
Well, either that or, "Todd Jones blows."
I've been going to physical therapy for the last couple of months, and it's done my arthritis a world of good. But that same physical therapy just kicked my ass this afternoon, so I'm not feeling all that much like writing.
Even though there are a few things on my mind, odds are any ranting and raving won't be posted till tomorrow. I might have something after tonight's Tigers game, depending on how the denizens of the bullpen decide to pitch.
For my sake, I hope Jones and company aren't needed...
Thanks for reading!
I'm sure that you have heard that the new Michael Moore documentary "Sicko" is being released this month. Not having seen it as of yet, I'm guessing Moore blames much of what ails the American health system on the US government, and the big HMO's. I wouldn't be surprised of he also blames our not so healthy lifestyle.
But I'm thinking he forgot 1 BIG reason for our health system crisis.
You want to live? Then this man must be stopped.If you are of a certain age, probably over 35, you are (Or should be) a huge fan of one of the iconic bands of the 70's, Pink Floyd. So as I was listening to "Animals" for the umpteenth time, while also pondering the plight of the Tigers beleaguered bullpen, I couldn't keep myself from mashing together something so good, with something so bad...
Wil Ledezma: Money - Of which Ledezma should be returning to the Tigers considering his utter ineffectiveness.
Youman Bazardo: Hey You - Anyone know who this guy is? I'm not even sure the Tigers themselves do.
Tim Byrdak: Learning to Fly - Byrdak, bird, fly. Get it? Jesus, you're a hard bunch to please... OK, let's try this... A career minor league journeyman is finally learning to spread his wings, and become an effective pitcher. That analogy any better?
Fernando Rodney: Run Like Hell - Considering how many runs Rodney allows during his appearances, that's exactly what been happening on the basepaths.
Jason Grilli: Comfortably Numb - What I need to make myself whenever Grilli enters the game.
Bobby Seay: One of these Days - Bobby Seay will actually get someone out...One of these days.
Todd Jones: Pigs on a Wing - Pigs will fly before Todd Jones will convert a save with an easy 1-2-3 inning.
Joel Zumaya: Wish You Were Here - 'Nuff said...
Jim Leyland: Is There Anybody Out There - That has to be running through the Cigarette Smoking Man's mind whenever he has to go to the bullpen.
Big Al: Speak to Me/Breathe - What the GF is saying to me after another win is blown by the Tigers bullpen.
To: Dave Dombrowski
President & General Manager, Detroit Tigers
Comerica Park
Detroit, MI
From: Big Al
All around bon vivant, and blogger
The Wayne Fontes Experience
Monroe County, MI
RE: The bullpen
Dave,
Congrats on the Justin Verlander no-hitter, snookering the rest of MLB with the drafting of Rick Porcello, and having one of the best teams on all of baseball. You deserve all of the kudos you've been receiving. But that's not why I'm writing you.
There's a festering issue, one that is on the verge of becoming a full blown crisis if you continue to sit on your hands. I think you know what I'm talking about, Dave.
I'm talking about the bullpen.
Your Tigers just lost 2 of the 3 games in your series with the Milwaukee Brewers. All 3 games were very winnable, yet you lost 2. Why? Because of the bullpen.
You only split your recent series with the team that you are going to be fighting tooth and nail with for the Central division crown. Again, all the games were winnable. But you only won 2 of the 4. Why? THE BULLPEN!
The Tigers are 1 1/2 games behind the Indians. Why? Thanks to the bullpen finding some way to blow, at the very least, 5 games. And that number is sure to continue to grow at a pace neither of us want to see.
Today was the latest example of your bullpen's ineptitude. The Tigers stirring 9th inning rally came up 1 run short. It would have won the game if it hadn't been for your relief pitchers, and their comedy of errors. Balks. Wild pitches. Late in the game home runs. An inability to put together 1-2-3 innings.
It's getting to the point that I hate to watch the Tigers play past the 7th inning, as no lead has been safe. No lead at all.
When you feel that you need your starters to go a full 8 innings every game in order to win, something is very wrong.
Come on, Dave. Enough is enough. I'm not expecting you blow up the pen, but changes have to be made. It's time.
You only have so many chances at getting to a World Series, and you don't want to piss away a great chance this season thanks to the borderline MLB pitchers you currently employ as relievers.
You know, games you lose now are just as important as games in August and September. They do count. It's no longer April, when you could write off the bullpen problems as an anomaly. I thought it was just that as well. But it's now mid June, and those same problems are still there. It's no longer an anomaly, it's a trend. And it's trending down...
You do have options, Dave.
1. You make a trade. Soon. Don't wait till the deadline, as that may be too late. I'm not telling you who to target, or who goes on the block, you know better than I. But something needs to be shaken up. You may have to overpay, but it's worth it to insure a playoff spot.
2. You have a wealth of starting pitching, in both the minors and the major league level. Move a starter to set-up or middle relief duty, at least until you are sure that Joel Zumaya is healthy. Andrew Miller, Nate Robertson (When he comes back) and Chad Durbin are all viable bullpen options. You have a log jam in the rotation, and it'll get more convoluted when Kenny Rogers is activated. Put those arms to use in the bullpen.
3. You had no qualms about putting the untested Joel Zumaya and Justin Verlander in the big leagues last season. They weren't experienced, but they had the talent. so you can't tell me that you don't have at least 1 or 2 arms more talented than Jason Grilli in the minors. You'd be lying if you told me otherwise. Bring up a Trahern or a De La Cruz. It's time to see what those big time prospects can do at the major league level.
4. Do nothing, and waste the best offense in baseball while losing games 10-9.
The bullpen's knack for snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is just crushing the high hopes of your fanbase, Dave. It's killing us watching the Tigers lose games in 2007 that were won in 2006.
It's time, Dave. It's time to be bold, and make a move or 3.
Regards,
Big Al
The Wayne Fontes Experience
PS: If you could find a left hand hutting 1st baseman who could actually hit the occasional home run, that would be cool too. But the pen is the number 1 priority. It's priority 2 and 3 as well...
