Scouting Expedition.

by Allen Chace on Aug 6, 2007 7:44 PM EDT

So, boys and girls, I'll be gone for the next several days. Where am I going?

A tropical paradise. A land of peace and tranquility. The place where dreams go to become real.

I speak, of course, of Detroit, Michigan.

All right. I made this trip last year and it was a blast. Comerica Park is beautiful and there are many excellent purveyors of aqueous material near the hotel. Don't think I'll be ignoring my duties, however.

This is, at the non-heart, a scouting trip, not a vacation to baseball and drunken exploits as you might've assumed. And, convincing Randy of this, he has agreed to pay for the whole thing.

Anyway, I'll try to make some notes as I can, because we may see the Tigers in the playoffs. From afar, it's easy to see that Verlander, Bonderman, Sheffield, and Ordonez have been the key cogs. But I'll try to get a little more in-depth look at how things are going without the help of Neifi Perez.

How is Omar Infante as their backup CF? How on earth does Craig Monroe still have a job? Just how bad could this bullpen be in the playoffs? How far have they fallen, and how much further can they go? Make no mistake about it, they're in trouble, and I'll watch them attempt to rebound against the Rays all week this week.

So, aside from possibly rare appearances in game threads, I'll "see" you all again next Sunday. Go Sox.

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Re: Scouting Expedition.

Another question: when is Zumaya coming back, and is he likely to be effective this year?

by RSNexile on Aug 6, 2007 7:57 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Scouting Expedition.

I can answer this one now, I think, at least the second part.

No. For all the press he gets about his 100 MPH+ FBs, his real weapon is his curve. I forget who pointed this out to me when his injury hit, but it's the same injury Adam Eaton once had on his middle finger. Eaton lost almost all of the bite on his curve, and I'm not sure he ever got it back. Zumaya never seemed to me to have a lot of movement on his FB when I watched him, so it's all about timing. And if he can't use the curve, then hitters can be more comfortable guessing on his FB.

The Tigers should have been lambasted in the press for not making a move for a RP, and they weren't. I obviously don't have faith in Zumaya coming back and being effective, and Rodney seemed as uninterested in pitching (I realize I have no idea as to the mentality of Fernando Rodney, but before he went on the DL, it seemed like he wanted to be anywhere but the pitching mound) as he seemed injured. In reality, the back of their pen is Todd Jones (1.46 WHIP) and a Fernando Rodney who may or may not want to be out there.

Of course, the issue for the Tigers (tradewise, anyway) is that their system is top-heavy. Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller are two of the very best prospects (if Miller can still be called that) in all of baseball regardless of position. After that, it's Jair Jurrjens and a lot of guys who don't project well at all.

by Allen Chace on Aug 6, 2007 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Scouting Expedition.

Ahh, yeah ... if you produce something meaningful, maybe I'll give you enough money to have a shot after the Tigers get swept :)

OverTheMonster.com

by Randy Booth on Aug 6, 2007 7:58 PM EDT reply actions

Sheesh

Verlander has already given up 4 runs on 8 hits, through 5, against Tampa. The Tigers are a mess right now.

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 6, 2007 8:42 PM EDT reply actions

Spoke too soon ...

The Tigers are beating up on the always potent Tampa pen ...

I gotta go 'cause I'm probably definitely gonna nod out again.

by Drugs Delaney on Aug 6, 2007 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Verlander

Verlander looked good to me overall.

3 of that 4 runs came by an Upton HR after two weak 1B. ChangeUp low and in, good pitch.
Upton looked like he was waiting for exact that pitch and killed it.

He outguessed Verlander on that one, the pitch was not so bad.

Verlander had a brutal curve today.

by OilCanBoyd on Aug 7, 2007 5:15 AM EDT up reply actions