2009 Tigers Challenge

[Katdaddy]

Wow, that sounds just like the Verlander I traded for and put into my Milwaukee rotation...

[84Hammy]

Originally Posted by Katdaddy

Wow, that sounds just like the Verlander I traded for and put into my Milwaukee rotation...

Boy I wish I could trade him at this point...I would send him down to the minors, but there isn't much there either.

[84Hammy]

Series 29 Vs. CLE

Ben Sheet was on the free agent list. I think he’s been there all season. He is injured for 5 more weeks, but I was able to sign him to a minor league deal. Definitely worth the risk.

Game 86: L 10-5: A bit of a blow out; Robertson gave up 6 ER in 5 IP. He didn’t look sharp at all, walking 4. Miner followed, going 3 innings and giving up 4 runs. Verlander pitched a perfect 9th to lower his ERA to 7.85.

Game 87: L 9-4: In the 4th inning, Jackson gave up 5 straight hits. The score was 4-1 Indians. So to be proactive, I take Jackson out with nobody out and the bases loaded. Bobby Seay comes in. First pitch? Grand Slam Grady Sizemore! That will teach me. BTW, Verlander pitched a scoreless 9th. ERA: 7. 76.

The All-Star teams were announced today: I’m not surprised to find out that no Tiger is selected. Porcello has a 3.66 ERA, but is only 6-5. Cabrerra has 14 HR and 72 RBI(which is the most by any 1B), but the AI only picks Swisher (18 HR, 66 RBI) to play 1B.There are 4 2B on the AL All Star roster. Yikes.

Game 88: L 3-2 (10): This was a definite heartbreaker. Galarraga went 9 innings, scattering 11 hits and only giving up 2 runs. Blazek comes in to face Sizemore, and Grady did it again. A 4 game losing streak is not how we wanted to head into the all-star break.

Record: 40-48

[84Hammy]

Series 30 @ NYY (The Yanks are 54-37, but Jeter, Texiera, A-Rod, and Posada are on the DL! And Chamberlain, who has won 10 games this season, has a minor injury. I should win at least one game here!)

Game 89: W 8-1: A great outing for Porcello. I made him the #1 starter after the all star break. He proved he’s worthy with this start against a battered Yankee team. Guillen went 3 for 5 and drove in 2. Ordonez hit a 2 run bomb in the 8th to seal the deal. I let Verlander pitch the ninth, which he did without issue. His ERA: 7.67.

Game 90: L 10-5: This one was 6-5 going into the 8th, but Bobby Seay fell apart, giving up 4 runs. I had to bring Verlander in to finish the Yanks off, which he did...his ERA is now 7.61.

Game 91: L 4-0: Not a bad outing for Robertson, giving up 4 in 6 and 2/3. The offence just couldn’t get that hit with runners in scoring position.

Record: 41-50 (We seem to be sliding a bit...)

[Picky]

Go Verlander!

[84Hammy]

Series 31 VS SEA: (the Ms are 50-42!)

Game 92: L 5-4: The bottom of my lineup is killing me: they went 1-11 in this game where we had 10 hits and 3 walks. Galarraga takes his 8th loss, giving up 4 earned runs in 7 innings.

Game 93: W 6-4: A good start by Bonderman, and the bullpen was able to hold. Inge hit a 3-run homer, and Larish, who has been pretty stellar coming off the bench, drove in the winning running. Zumaya gets his 13th save.

Game 94: W 6-3: Great start for Porcello, going 7 innings and giving up the 3 runs. Cabrerra hit a 3 run shot, running his RBI total to 80 to lead the majors. Thames also hit one out. Zumaya gets save number 14.

I am trying to make a trade for a 2B better than Santiago or Sizemore (Scott) They are just not producing while Polanco is out (he’s gone for 2 more weeks). Santiago is hitting .198, and Sizemore is 0 for 15, still looking for his first major league hit.

Record: 43-51 The climb to .500 continues.

[84Hammy]

Series 32 VS CHA

In my attempt to find a decent 2B while Polanco is out, I have come up empty handed. Trading is impossible it seems. None of my current 25 roster guys drum up any interest whatsoever. And when I try to trade for a 1 star player, it takes 6 prospects for the other team to agree. I’ll keep trying, but am not very hopeful. BTW, trading is set at hard and neutral.

I sent poor Scott Sizemore back down to Toledo and recalled Raburn.

Game 95: L 7-6: It was a 4-2 game for Chicago going into the 9th. I put Freddy Dolsi in to face the bottom of the order, but he could not get the last out to save his life. The last batter he faced, he walked and then had to be taken out of the game with a back injury. (He is now on the DL. I called up Eddie Bonine, the best pitcher in Toledo (at least playing for the Mud Hens!))I Verlander came in to get that last out, but the score was now 7-2. In the bottom of the 9th, I pinch hit my steady left-handed bats, Larish and Thomas, and they did they job, driving in runs to make it 7-6 with nobody out. Then I made my next mistake, leaving Raburn in to hit with a man on 1st. He struck out. I had the left handed hitting Josh Anderson on the bench, but chose to leave Raburn in. Granderson and Guillen soon made easy outs, but I feel responsible for this one two different ways. Poor Edwin Jackson is now 5-12. BTW: Verlander’s ERA Watch: 7.58.

Game 96: W 1-0: (Nate pitched this game; interestingly enough, Jim Thome bat lead off for Chicago...that crazy AI!) Yep, that’s right, Nate pitched a complete game shutout, giving up just 5 hits. His ERA is now 3.68. Weird, I tell you! Actually the Tigers scored their run on an error, and only had 3 hits against Contreras.

Game 97: L 5-4: Galarraga went 8 innings, giving up 7 hits and all 5 Chicago runs. We had 10 hits, but couldn’t make them count. That was a tough series, which we could have swept, but instead squeak out only one win.

Record: 44-53

[84Hammy]

Series 33: @ TEX (Man can these guys hit bombs! 6 guys with double digits. Of course the Texas manager has Nelson Cruz batting 8th with 25 HR!)

Game 98: L 11-6: Bondo just didn’t have it today, giving up 3 HR, the last a 3-run shot. We scored all our runs in the last three innings to make it almost interesting. Verlander pitched 3 and 1/3, giving up 3 ER, which moved his ERA up to 7.60.

I just made my last major roster move, claiming another reliever, named Ross Wolf. It was so frustrating trying to make a trade; my players salaries are so high and their value so low, the best I was ever able to do was trade 6 3+ star prospects for a 1.5 star backup infielder. It just wasn’t in the nature of this challenge, so I gave up trying. Wolf is a 1.5 star reliever, with 3.5 star potential. He is in Toledo.

Game 99: W 9-8: What else could you expect against Texas but a slugfest. Porcello couldn’t get them out and only lasted 4 innings giving up all 8 runs, though only 6 of them were earned. Guillen drove in the winning run in the 8th.

Game 100: L 4-3: Well it wasn’t a slugfest, but it sure was a disappointing loss. With the score tied 3-3 in the 9th, we put our first two batters on, but the bottom of the order failed again (Laird, Raburn, Santiago). Then, with 2 left-handed batters to start the 9th for Texas, I had Bobby Seay out there. He gave up a double, the runner moved to third on a grounder. I then put Zumaya in, and he promptly gave up a single to lose the game.

Record: 45-55. This late in the season, it doesn’t seem like .500 is a possible task. It would mean going 36-26 to finish the season. I’m not so sure it can happen.

[84Hammy]

Series 34 @ CLE

Game 101: L 3-1: Another solid outing for Nate, going 7 1/3 and giving up just the 3 runs, 2 of which were homers by Ben Francisco. The offense needs to pick it up...

Game 102: W 9-6 (10): This one was a see-saw battle that included a marquee performance by Magglio and an absurd amount of walks by Tiger pitchers. Magglio drove in three runs, including the game winner and an earlier HR. Inge also hit one out, and Raburn sealed the deal with a 2 run single with the bases loaded in the 10th. Tigers pitchers, who entered the game with fewest walks, walked 12 Indians! Yikes!

Game 103: L 5-4: After a great performance by Porcello, Zumaya blows this one in the bottom of the ninth with a 4-3 lead, giving up a walk and 3 consecutive hits. It’s his 5th blown save. It’s too bad because this was a well fought game.

Record: 46-57

[Picky]

Oh man. C'mon winning streak!

[84Hammy]

Series 35 Vs. BAL (one of the few teams worse than the Tigers at 44-60)

Game 104: L 3-1: Good performance by Jackson, but he falls to 5-14! All the Tigers could muster was Miguel’s 17th HR..

Game 105: W 9-3: Good outing by Bonderman (if it wasn’t, I was going to put Verlander back in the rotation.) He went 6 and 2/3, giving up only 2 runs. Before the game I sent Raburn back to Toledo and called up one Santo De Leon to play 2B until Polanco returns in a week or so. He went 2-4 with 2 doubles, a run scored and an RBI. Of course, in the 6th inning, Magglio went down again, this time for 4 weeks. I’m going to call up another unknown in Toledo, one Ryan Strieby, who is a firstbasemen (he’ll DH for us) who has 39 HR for the Mud Hens in 101 games. My outfield has been performing pretty solidly, so I haven’t called him up sooner. His batting average is only .254.

Verlander Watch: Verlander pitched a scoreless 9th, lowering his ERA to 7.43.

Game 106: W 8-7: Marcus wins this one on a walk-off pinch hit HR. Robertson started, struggling through 6, giving up 5 runs. I had to bring Verlander in, considering how many of my relievers are tired, and he couldn’t hold the Orioles down in the 8th, giving up a 2 run double (one run was charged to Bobby Seay). He did, however, stay in the game and pitch a perfect 9th.
Verlander Watch: 7.37 ERA. (Actually, his ERA has dropped each successive month: April: 9.43; May:7.01; June: 6.87; July: 5.89, August: 2.25

Game 107: L 8-6 (13): I ran out of pitchers in this one. A tired Blazek gave up the win. I likely won’t have more than a couple of relievers available for the next game either.

Record: 48-59

[84Hammy]

Series 36 VS. MIN

Game 108: L 5-0: We could only manage 4 hits against Perkins. Galarraga gave a valiant effort considering our depleted bullpen.

Polanco came off the DL so I waived Santiago, keeping DeLeon up.

Game 109: L 2-1: Again, no offense, but Jackson gives up 2 runs striking out 8 for his 15th loss. Man, I’m feeling bad for him...

Game 110: W 5-4 (12): Guillen sent the fans home happy tonight with a bases loaded single in the 12th. A decent start by Bonderman, going 6 and giving up 2 runs. Verlander came in and held them down for 3 and 2/3, lowering his ERA to a minuscule 7.10.

Record: 49-61

[Picky]

Originally Posted by 84Hammy

Series 36 VS. MIN
Game 109: L 2-1: Again, no offense, but Jackson gives up 2 runs striking out 8 for his 15th loss. Man, I’m feeling bad for him...

I thought you weren't writing about the real Tigers.

Speaking of which, time to drown my sorrows about the real Tigers inability to score.

[84Hammy]

Yeah, Picky the real Tigers have been hurting offensively lately...I went to the game Wed. night; Josh Anderson left 5 men on base his first two at bats. I'm sure that's why he was sent down with the return of Guillen.

back to non-reality:

Series 37 @ BOS (a 4 game set)

Game 111: W 3-1: Another stellar performance for Nate Robertson. It’s incredible. His ERA is now 3.71. Zumaya had to bail him out in the 8th and pitched a rocky 9th (1 hit and a walk) for his 16th save. Granderson drove 2 in with a double in the 4th.

Game 112: W 11-2: Wow! What a 1st inning: 7 runs on 7 hits to knock Lester out of the game. The bottom of the lineup woke up for a change, going 7 for 13 and driving in 4 runs and scoring 5. They were lead by DeLeon, who went 3-5, 3 R, 1 RBI. Porcello goes 8 for his 9th win to tie Bobby Seay with the team lead.

Game 113: L 6-4: We lead this one 4-2 until the 8th, when the bullpen fell apart, starting with Blazek who was only in for one batter, whom he walked. A wasted effort from Galarraga.

Game 114: L 9-2: A bad start for Jackson, I pulled him in the 5th after 7 runs. Verlander finished the game and did okay until a 2 run homer by Nick Green? with 2 outs in the 8th.
Verlander Watch: 7.02 ERA. For August his ERA is 2.38 in 11.1 IP. If he keeps this up, I will put him back in the rotation. Though Ben Sheets, who I signed as a free agent, is only 1 day away from coming off the DL. I am going to give him a start in Toledo first though.

Record: 51-63:

[84Hammy]

Series 38 Vs. KC

Game 115: W 6-3: Bonderman pitches as complete game victory. Granderson hit a pair of solo homers. KC is in the division lead, so that one felt good.

Ben Sheets is ready to come off the DL, now I have to decide who goes down. That’s hard because even though we haven’t been winning, our pitching has been okay. A have some time to decide, after he makes a AAA start.

Game 116: W 5-1: Another complete game for a Tiger pitcher, this time it’s Nate Robertson, who gives up only 4 hits and strikes out 6 without walking a batter. He’s evened his record at 6-6, and his ERA drops to 3.52. Cabrerra and Granderson hit solo homers, but each also scored and drove in 2 runs.

Sheets had a rough outing at Toledo, giving up 6 runs on 8 hits in 6 2/3 IP. He did strike out 6, though, so that’s hopeful. I’m going to give him one more start, just to be sure.

Game 117: W 5-1: It’s like deja vu all over again. Porcello completes the game giving up only 4 hits. That’s 3 complete games for the series sweep. It feels good to beat the first place team! Marcus Thames went 3-4 and Inge drove in 3.

Record: 54-63...hmmm... I’m thinking .500 again...We can go 27-18 to close out the season!

[84Hammy]

Series 39 Vs. Seattle

Game 118: W 6-5: This one featured a 70 minute rain delay after the 3rd, ruining our chance at another complete game. I brought Verlander in with the score 3-1, but he promptly gave up 4 runs. We won it in the 9th on a Guillen walk-off homer.
Verlander Watch: He pitched 4 innings, but gave up 4 ER...his ERA is now 7.09.

Game 119: L 4-2: Galarraga was cruising through seven, having only given up 5 hits and keeping the Mariners scoreless...then came the 8th innings. 5 hits and 4 runs later, the Ms had this one.

Game 120: W6-5: This was an ugly win, one we should have one a little easier, but a error by Santo De Leon and Brandon Inge leaving 8 runners on base made this one difficult. Robertson had another strong outing, going 6 2/3 giving up 2 ER. Cabrerra knocked in 2 runs to give him 99 for the season.

Ben Sheets second start in Toledo was much better, he went 8 innings, gave up 4 runs and struck out 7. I’m going to wait a couple days before I make my move.

The reliever I claimed off waivers from Baltimore, Ross Wolf, is pitching real well in Toledo. He’ll be a September callup, I think.

Also, Maggs comes back in a week.

I’ll post some stats from the 3/4 mark sometime today before I play out the next series.

Record: 56-64

[84Hammy]

Batting stats:

Name                  G  AB  R  H  2B 3BHR RBI TB BB K SB CS AVG OBP  SLG  OPS 

Miguel Cabrera 1B   120 459 68 141 26 2 19 99 228 59 78 4 4 .307 .384 .497 .880 
Brandon Inge 3B     112 413 50 110 23 2 10 56 167 36 91 3 7 .266 .341 .404 .746 
Adam Everett SS     117 410 50 105 21 1  2 41 134 17 63 1 3 .256 .283 .327 .610 
Placido Polanco 2B   86 372 48 103 27 0  2 31 136 15 29 4 1 .277 .308 .366 .674 
Carlos Guillen LF    87 342 49  99 20 4  9 43 154 39 43 5 0 .289 .363 .450 .813 
Curtis Granderson CF 87 339 58  94 24 8 10 55 164 35 73 3 8 .277 .345 .484 .828 
Gerald Laird C      103 326 28  77 19 1  6 40 116 22 73 0 1 .236 .291 .356 .647 
Clete Thomas CF      92 288 44  76 20 0  6 36 114 19 61 2 3 .264 .316 .396 .712 
Josh Anderson CF     72 249 41  74 18 3  1 15 101 11 41 6 6 .297 .326 .406 .731 
Magglio Ordonez RF   57 216 34  82 16 1 11 48 133 15 23 1 1 .380 .421 .616 1.036 
Marcus Thames LF     67 196 28  53 13 0  7 22  87 13 41 2 1 .270 .316 .444 .760 
Jeff Larish 1B       88 186 21  52  3 0  4 24  67 24 43 2 1 .280 .371 .360 .731 
Ramon Santiago SS    44 108 15  22  4 0  0  2  26  6 21 0 1 .204 .265 .241 .506 
Matt Treanor C       47  72  7  17  1 0  1  4  21  5 17 0 0 .236 .282 .292 .574 
Brent Clevlen LF     21  65  9  14  3 0  0  7  17  4 19 2 1 .215 .268 .262 .529 
Mike Hessman 3B      19  48  7  11  2 1  3  9  24  5  7 0 0 .229 .315 .500 .815 
Wilkin Ramirez LF    12  34  3   5  2 0  0  2   7  3 10 2 0 .147 .216 .206 .422 
Ryan Raburn 2B       13  32  3   7  3 0  2  6  16  1  5 0 0 .219 .242 .500 .742 
Santo De Leon 2B      8  29  5   8  2 1  1  4  15  0  4 0 0 .276 .267 .517 .784 
Ryan Strieby 1B       5  21  2   2  0 0  0  1   2  2  8 0 0 .095 .174 .095 .269 
Scott Sizemore 2B     6  15  2   0  0 0  0  1   0  2  7 0 0 .000 .118 .000 .118 
Casper Wells RF       8  14  3   3  1 0  0  0   4  1  3 0 0 .214 .267 .286 .552

[84Hammy]

Pitching Stats:

Name                   W  L SV   ERA G  GS   IP   HA R  ER HR BB K  WHIP OAVG BABIP 
Joel Zumaya CL         3  1 17  3.18 30  0  34.0  38 12 12  2 11 28 1.44 .275 .333 
Christopher Blazek MR  0  2  1  3.34 29  0  35.0  30 13 13  5 12 32 1.20 .236 .278 
Bobby Seay MR          9  6  0  3.40 45  0  55.2  56 27 21  7 21 41 1.38 .264 .299 
Nate Robertson SP      6  6  1  3.48 29 13 132.0 134 57 51 14 35 63 1.28 .262 .276 
Fernando Rodney MR     5  3  3  3.57 42  0  45.1  39 21 18  3 16 33 1.21 .239 .283 
Rick Porcello SP      10  5  0  3.62 25 25 161.2 172 77 65 14 31 78 1.26 .269 .289 
Edwin Jackson SP       5 16  0  4.83 27 27 160.1 193 97 86 24 50 71 1.52 .292 .299 
Armando Galarraga SP   3 11  0  5.06 24 24 156.2 179 95 88 25 42 87 1.41 .283 .296 
Zach Miner MR          2  2  0  5.29 18  4  49.1  49 30 29  9 23 24 1.46 .259 .256 
Jeremy Bonderman SP    4  3  0  5.52 10 10  60.1  76 39 37  9 14 40 1.49 .310 .342 
Brandon Lyon MR        0  1  0  6.83 16  0  29.0  45 28 22  6  6 18 1.76 .349 .371 
Juan Rincon MR         1  1  0  6.89 11  0  15.2  24 15 12  0  9  9 2.11 .358 .414 
Justin Verlander MR    6  6  1  7.09 31 13 105.1 121 84 83 16 40 76 1.53 .289 .321 
Casey Crosby SP        2  1  0  7.13  4  4  24.0  29 19 19  7  9 15 1.58 .293 .286 
Scott Williamson MR    0  0  0  9.00  4  0   6.0   8  7  6  3  4  6 2.00 .308 .294 
Freddy Dolsi MR        0  0  0 22.24  6  0   5.2  13 15 14  0  6  3 3.35 .464 .520

[84Hammy]

League Standings:

American League Standings  

Eastern Division  

Team                  W L   PCT GB     
New York (A) Yankees 74 49 .602 -    
Boston Red Sox       62 58 .517 10.5  
Toronto Blue Jays    55 65 .458 17.5 
Tampa Bay Rays       55 66 .455 18.0 
Baltimore Orioles    51 70 .421 22.0 

Central Division  
Team                   W L   PCT GB 
Kansas City Royals    70 50 .583 - 
Cleveland Indians     65 55 .542 5.0 
Minnesota Twins       62 59 .512 8.5 
Detroit Tigers        56 64 .467 14.0 
Chicago (A) White Sox 48 74 .393 23.0 

Western Division  
Team                    W L PCT GB 
Oakland Athletics      70 51 .579 - 
Seattle Mariners       62 59 .512 8.0 
Los Angeles (A) Angels 57 64 .471 13.0  
Texas Rangers          57 64 .471 13.0 

AL Wild Card  
Team                    W L PCT GB  
Cleveland Indians      65 55 .542 - 
Boston Red Sox         62 58 .517 3.0 
Minnesota Twins        62 59 .512 3.5 
Seattle Mariners       62 59 .512 3.5 
Los Angeles (A) Angels 57 64 .471 8.5  
Texas Rangers          57 64 .471 8.5  
Detroit Tigers         56 64 .467 9.0  
Toronto Blue Jays      55 65 .458 10.0 
Tampa Bay Rays         55 66 .455 10.5 
Baltimore Orioles      51 70 .421 14.5 
Chicago (A) White Sox  48 74 .393 18.0 
 
National League Standings   

Eastern Division  
Team                    W L PCT GB 
Philadelphia Phillies  66 53 .555 - 
New York (N) Mets      65 57 .533 2.5 
Atlanta Braves         57 64 .471 10.0 
Washington Nationals   56 65 .463 11.0 
Florida Marlins        52 69 .430 15.0 

Central Division  
Team                    W L PCT GB 
Houston Astros         71 50 .587 - 
Chicago (N) Cubs       64 57 .529 7.0 
Pittsburgh Pirates     60 61 .496 11.0 
Milwaukee Brewers      59 61 .492 11.5 
St. Louis Cardinals    60 63 .488 12.0 
Cincinnati Reds        52 69 .430 19.0 

Western Division  
Team                     W L PCT GB 
Los Angeles (N) Dodgers 71 50 .587 -
San Diego Padres        65 57 .533 6.5 
Arizona Diamondbacks    60 62 .492 11.5  
Colorado Rockies        59 62 .488 12.0 
San Francisco Giants    54 67 .446 17.0 

NL Wild Card  
Team                   W L PCT GB 
New York (N) Mets     65 57 .533 - 
San Diego Padres      65 57 .533 - 
Chicago (N) Cubs      64 57 .529 .5 
Pittsburgh Pirates    60 61 .496 4.5 
Arizona Diamondbacks  60 62 .492 5.0 
Milwaukee Brewers     59 61 .492 5.0 
Colorado Rockies      59 62 .488 5.5 
St. Louis Cardinals   60 63 .488 5.5 
Atlanta Braves        57 64 .471 7.5 
Washington Nationals  56 65 .463 8.5 
San Francisco Giants  54 67 .446 10.5 
Cincinnati Reds       52 69 .430 12.5  
Florida Marlins       52 69 .430 12.5

[84Hammy]

Series 40 Vs. OAK

Game 121: L 4-2: This one cost us: Porcello started and had to be pulled in the 2nd and will be gone for the rest of the season. It looks like I’ll call Sheets up even sooner than I had planned. Verlander followed Porcello and kept it tied 2-2 until the 7th, when Bobby Seay entered and gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. Verlander went 5 innings and didn’t give up a run, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 7. He’s begging me to put him back in the rotation, but I can’t do it just yet. If Bonderman has another bad start, I’ll do it.
Verlander Watch: ERA 6.77

Game 122: W 10-4: The bats were in tune tonight. Inge and Guillen both hit homers; Guillen went 4-5 and Granderson drove in 3. Bonderman pitched well, going 8 and giving up 3 earned while striking out 8.

Game 123: W 3-2 (10): A great start by Jackson, and while he didn’t get the win, he also didn’t get his 17th loss. Jackson went 8, scattering 9 hits and allowing 2 runs. I then trucked out 4 relievers to grab the win. Looking at the box score, my bullpen looks pretty impressive: Blazek, 3.31 ERA, Rodney 3.52, Seay 3.51, and Zumaya 3.15. Guillen won this in the 10th with a 1 out double. He also went 3 for 3.

Record: 58-65