loltrain

The problem with Detroit's offense is that due to the low OBP of most of our hitters, we rely solely on stringing hits together to score runs, now when you have a couple injuries and a couple guys slumping at the same time, suddenly you have a very, very hard time strining hits together... Fortunately our pitching has been insane all season, despite the predictions it would collapse. Still, if we don't get hitting better I would expect to finish in 2nd place. (I think Minnesota is about done or I'd say 3rd...)

Also to answer some questions, the reason noone 'found' Zumaya before us is that he threw a good 5-8 mph less than he does now when we drafted him, we just got a break that he added velocity as he filled out and has (so far) avoided any injuries.

Guillen is expected back for the series with the Twins, Polanco perhaps by next week. If you look at any sort of Runs Saved/Range Factor/Zone Rating/Defensive Efficiency the Tigers are easily among the best in the majors, or in some categories far and away better than everyone else, merely look at our pitchers incredible statistics this year and it backs it up. Guillen and Ordonez have been our only bad fielders all season, while Inge/Rodriguez/Polanco/Shelton(Casey)/Granderson have all ben above average. Even Guillen has good range, he just commits too many throwing errors.

Neifi Perez has been a great help to the Tigers, and by great help I mean he's managed to be even worse than his career numbers and has thankfully been benched. Edit: As for Neifi's defense, he cost us at least 2 runs in the final game of the Yankees series (a game we lost by 2 runs) by managing to flail around aimlessly and let an A-Rod pop up fall in, and then cutting off a laser throw from left field that would have had A-Rod by a mile at 2nd on another play. (Maybe he just really likes A-Rod...)

I think you overrate the Tigers farm system massively, we have excellent pitching prospects (I might rate Jair Jurjjens ahead of Sanchez due to Sanchez massive injury history) but position player wise the cupboard is pretty bare, Maybin and...err...well Maybin. Imo the Twins are pretty similar with great pitching but not much position wise, I would definitely trade the Tigers position prospects for Fields, Sweeney etc

Look at Logans' numbers this season in AA (Yes he got demoted to AA) that's why he was DFAed (and traded to Washington today). Maroth pitched very well in AAA but his elbow was always a little tender/sore after every start, so it seems he will be pitching out of the bullpen.

The Yankees guys are actually pretty good and unbiased, it's hilarious that ESPN was more pro-yankees than the YES Network. So I would assume he merely does it to look even more unbiased.

San Diego for Kottaras is the rumor I have heard, which would be quite a good deal for Boston in my opinion.

Honestly, even if the Twins make it instead I think I would still take Dye over Morneau/Mauer

Unless the Red Sox randomly win 30 in a row and make the playoffs Dye has to be the MVP.

Detroit's defense has been the best in the majors this year, anyone who disagrees probably thinks fielding percentage is the most important statistic.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Aug 29, 2006 -> 12:18 PM) The Indians have won 15 of 19. Pulling a 2005

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 16, 2006 -> 02:44 PM) Its amazing to me how many people are still stupid and/or bitter enough to think a team that was in first place for all 162 games and went 11-1 in the playoffs won the championship because they were "lucky". These BP guys, who are all about stats, choose to ignore that overwhelming statistical fact. You guys won last year because your pitchers pretty much all had career years at the same time. (Of course something like this is generally the cause for most great teams) So of course if someone looks at it statistically they will say "how did this happen?!"

It depends on who makes the playoffs. If Chicago makes it (and I think they will) then Dye has a great shot, if Boston somehow makes it (they won't) it will be Manny or Ortiz. Minnesota makes it...it should be Morneau but it will probably be Jeter.

If he stayed in the minors he would either: Pitch in relief and completely dominate A ball (he's already doing that) or Be shutdown for the season He's not losing any development time, and it is generally believed that he can get big league left handers out right now. Edit: Seriously, "getting alot more innings down in the minors" is about the worst thing I can imagine, we really don't need another Kenny Baugh.

They don't get attention because their are other offensive categories than batting average. AFAIK Tyner and Punto both still have crappy OPS mostly due to non-existant sluggin, Bartlett is having a very nice year, but it's in pretty limited at bats.

I love that quote because he references the Yankees, a team that is always full of guys with great OBP.

It wasn't so much the contract, as Abreu basically saying he wanted to play for New York and wouldn't waive his no trade to leave the east coast.

I would say it's about 80% love and 20% dislike. I personally like them, but I can see how Rod's assorted catch phrases and whatnot might annoy some people

QUOTE(joeynach @ Aug 23, 2006 -> 06:14 PM) My friend watches the sox on directv baseball package in Colorado and said the detroit feed said thome out 4-6 weeks with hamstring strain!! This is huge we need for info pronto!!! I didn't hear that...

Well, the Tigers do love giving tons of money to Boras represented overrated guys

QUOTE(whitesoxin @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:14 PM) He got a GREAT jump on Pablo's gapper in the 1st inning. Pablo would have been on third and then the next two guys got on. We would have scored at least 2 that inning if he didn't catch it. Last inning with a different CFer like Granderson, Pauly might have scored keeping in mind how awful Granderson's are is, especially in the games against us. Guys don't need to be big prospects to be Sox killers. Ok, I was not going to post anymore, but this is something that drives me nuts. GRANDERSON HAS A GOOD ARM!!! It's no Clevlen yes, but it is strong, his problem is accuracy not strength. I don't know how many White Sox fans I've seen say "Granderson has no arm haha he couldn't throw out Konerko on a shallow sac fly" I've seen Granderson throw from the warning track and overshoot the cutoff man into the infield, he definitely does not have an awful arm.

Rogers has been good his last several starts, despite the "OMG HE SUX IN 2ND HALF!!11" stuff. We played like crap and you swept us, you played like crap and we won two in a row...stuff happens. You guys could come back and win the next two, I wouldn't be freaking out.

Hitting wise I think he has just worn down, he hasn't played a full season in quite awhile. (And he has commented himself that he needs to get stronger and work out harder) His baserunning and defensive gaffes are hilariously bad, but that's acceptable back when he was on fire offensively in the first half.

None of the AL Central teams have been playing very well in August. :/ Edit: Despite the "OMG THE TWINS ARE ON FIRE" stuff, they are only 11-8 in August, if they were really so unstoppable they would most likely be ahead of Chicago and only be a game or two behind Detroit with the way we've been struggling..