[ The Daily Fungo: Detroit Tigers Baseball ] » The Monday Report http://www.dailyfungo.com Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:24:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 The Monday Report http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/26/the-monday-report-3/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/26/the-monday-report-3/#comments Mon, 26 Sep 2011 07:01:00 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=6789 Welcome to the final week-like segment of the 2011 regular season. Remember, oh, four weeks ago when the final three games of the year against Indians looked meaningful?

Leading Off: The Tigers earned a split against the mosquito-ish Orioles by brute force: homers by Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Don Kelly and Jhonny Peralta. Brad Penny was just … decent enough to earn the win and even his season record at 11-11.

ALDS Maneuverings: The Rangers swept the feedble Mariners and have a one-game lead over the Tigers in the race for the second-best record in the American League. Texas heads to Anaheim to face Dan Haren, Jered Weaver and Ervin Santana. Perhaps it’s time to bury the hatchet with Weaver, however temporarily.

The Monday Rundown

The Tigers are in first place, 12 games ahead of the Indians.

Today’s game: Tigers vs. Indians – Doug Fister (10-13) vs. Ubaldo Jimenez (10-12) | 7:05 p.m. FSD/1270 & 97.1

Fister’s 7-1 with a 2.02 ERA since coming over from Seattle on July 30, and 5-0 with a 0.81 mark in his last six starts.

Jimenez is 4-3 with a 4.62 ERA since his trade to the Indians. He’s 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts against the Tigers with Cleveland.

On this date in 1926, in his final day in a Tigers uniform, Ty Cobb watched his replacement in centerfield get six hits in a doubleheader against the Red Sox to become the new batting champion as Heinie Manush edging Babe Ruth .378 to .372.

The Diamondbacks Friday-night clincher came before a less-than-capacity crowd at Chase Field, so it will be interesting to see how the club draws in the NLDS. I’m liking my chances to secure a walk-up ticket whenever the D-backs’ series opens. There’s a nice piece on Kirk Gibson in Sunday’s Arizona Republic – but the really interesting story is this one. When he retired, Gibby coached a youth hockey team in Grosse Pointe and got advice from Steve Yzerman.

“My philosophy on it was you want the puck, but I’d always watch them fight for it, get it and then dump it into the zone and fight for it again,” Gibson said. “It didn’t make much sense to me. I’d like to keep the puck.”

With the season ending on Wednesday, the Tigers won’t have an opportunity to even their record on Thursdays and Saturdays. These will end up being the only two days of the week they didn’t at least finish .500 (Thursdays, 9-10; Saturdays. 12-13).

Finally, on this date in 1969 the album “Abbey Road” by the Beatles was released. Have a great week.

]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/26/the-monday-report-3/feed/ 2 The Monday Report: Power Rankings, Masao Kida and Johnny Cash http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/12/the-monday-report-power-rankings-masao-kida-and-johnny-cash/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/12/the-monday-report-power-rankings-masao-kida-and-johnny-cash/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:13:15 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=6690 The Tigers embark on their final roadtrip of the season and Detroit fans can gleefully bid adieu to Ozzie Guillen and his band of jolly outlaws.

Leading Off: The Tigers beat the Twins 2-1 yesterday for the club’s ninth straight win — their first of that length since May 1984. Doug Fister shutout the Twins over seven innings for the win, while Jose Valverde posted his club-record 43rd save of the season. Delmon Young led the Tigers with two hits and an RBI.

The Monday Rundown

The Tigers are in first place, 10.5 games ahead of the White Sox.

The magic number is 7.

Today’s Game: Rick Porcello (13-8, 4.87) vs. John Danks (6-11, 4.09 ERA) | 8:10 p.m. – FSD/1270 AM and 97.1 FM

Notes on Porcello

With a win tonight, Porcello would match his career high established during his rookie season with the Tigers in 2009.

He’s compiled a 2-0 record and 2.75 ERA over his last three starts. And, he’s issued two-or-fewer walks in 23 of his 27 outings for the Tigers this season.

Notes on Danks

In his last start, last Tuesday in Minnesota, Danks suffered the third loss in his last 13 starts.allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits over six innings.

He became just the third pitcher since 1961 to go 0-8 before June 1. The 0-8 start was the first by a pitcher who won 15 games or more the previous season since Montreal’s Dale Murray in 1976 (also 0-8).

ESPN’s Steve Berthiaume says that if there were a catchers draft, Alex Avila should be the easy number-one selection:

Avila has been the best catcher in baseball this season. Among the game’s everyday catchers — let’s say those who have started more than 100 games behind the plate — Avila leads the majors with a .300 batting average, .391 on-base percentage, .522 slugging percentage and .913 OPS. He’s No. 1 across the board. Remember, this hypothetical applies to catching actual games, not your fantasy league team, so forget about Victor Martinez or Mike Napoli — the guy you draft has to actually crouch down and catch for you every day. Avila has done exactly that for the Tigers.

Austin Jackson enters tonight’s game having hit safely in each of his last 15 games against the White Sox. He is hitting .403 with four doubles, three triples, three home runs and nine RBI during the 15-game stretch.

Looking for some autographed Tigers memorabilia? You’re in luck. MGOAuction.com, an auction site of primarily University of Michigan sports memorabilia, has several Tigers items up for bid. The items include autographed baseballs signed by Justin Verlander, Jose Valverde, Victor Martinez, Andy Dirks, Brandon Inge and other items signed by Alex Avila, Al Kaline and Todd Jones. Proceeds benefit a series of undergraduate scholarships at UM including the Bernard “Pat” Maloy Cancer Scholarship, the Shelly Kovacs Scholarship. Check out MGoAuction.com.

The Tigers have finally leap-frogged the Diamondbacks in ESPN.com’s Power Rankings this week and earned a spot a number four. (Though they couldn’t crack John Kruk’s rankings.) And, the Tigers are this week’s U.S. Army Team of the Week.

Eighty years ago today at Fenway Park, Eddie Durham and the Tigers Arthur “Red” Herring faced off in a 13-inning pitching duel. Durham won, 1-0.

The funny thing about this nine-game winning streak and 10-1/2-game lead? The anti-Jim Leyland crowd sure has been quiet.

Birthdays! Happy 71st to Mickey Lolich, Happy 55th to Mark Thurmond, Happy 52nd to Scotti Madison, and Happy 43rd to Masao Kida.

Finally, music legend Johnny Cash died on this date in 2003 at the age of 71. Let’s remember him with one of his classic songs, “A Boy Named Sue.”

]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/09/12/the-monday-report-power-rankings-masao-kida-and-johnny-cash/feed/ 0 The Monday Report: Bad Penny, Power Rankings and Elliot Gould http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/08/29/the-monday-report-2/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/08/29/the-monday-report-2/#comments Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:05:17 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=6589 Welcome to the end of August, in which the Tigers have amassed a 16-9 record so far. The boys returned home after a 5-2 road trip for four against the Royals.

The Monday Rundown

The Tigers are in first place, 6 games ahead of the White Sox, 6.5 ahead of the Indians.

Today’s Game: Tigers vs. Royals – Max Scherzer (13-7, 4.21 ERA) vs. Luke Hochevar (8-10, 4.91 ERA) | 7:05 p.m. – FSD/1270 AM and 97.1 FM

Notes on Scherzer:

Scherzer enters his start this evening versus Kansas City with a 4-3 record and 2.97 ERA over his last nine starts dating back to July 7.

He’s making his 15th start of the season at Comerica Park this evening against the Royals. He is 6-3 with a 3.44 ERA in his first 14 starts at home in 2011.

Lifetime, Scherzer is 4-3, 2.85 ERA against Kansas City.

Notes on Hochevar:

Hochevar will make his fourth start against the Tigers in tonight’s series opener, his third at Comerica Park. He’s 1-1 with a no decision, sporting a 6.48 ERA … both of his decisions have come in Detroit: a 9-5 victory during the Royals first trip of the season on April 10 and then a 3-1 loss on May 13 … he’s allowed 6 earned runs on 12 hits in 13 innings here in Detroit this season, with 5 home runs, all solo shots.

Lifetime, Hochevar is 3-4 against the Tigers with a 5.10 ERA in 10 games, including 9 starts, and is 2-2 at Comerica Park with a 6.04 ERA in 5 games.

Miguel Cabrera is hitting .480 off Hochevar.

Leading Off: Brad Penny proved to be a stopper after all: a momentum stopper. Maybe it was too much to ask for, a sweep of the Twins in the last trip to Target Field this season, but the Tigers lost with a flourish, 11-4. Ramon Santiago collected four hits but other than that, it was a stinker. And what about poor David Pauley? The forgotten man of the bullpen might have showed once and for all why he is the forgotten man of the bullpen: 2 IP, 4 hits, 4 runs (all earned), a walk and homer. Meanwhile, Wilson Betemit is hitting 110 points higher than Brandon Inge … Carlos Guillen is slated to begin an injury rehabilitation assignment with Triple A Toledo tonight and soon thereafter will throw second base into disarray.

Around the Central: The Royals did their part to help the Tigers to no avail, beating the Indians 2-1, and the White Sox finished off a sweep of the Mariners, 9-3.

The Tigers moved up two spots in ESPN’s Power Rankings this week to number 7, seven spots ahead of the Indians and nine ahead of the White Sox.

Alex Avila extended his current hitting streak to 12 games yesterday at Minnesota. He compiled a 10-game hitting streak earlier in the month, doing so August 2-13. Avila is the first Tigers player to have two hitting streaks of 10 games-or-better in a single month since Roger Cedeno(!) did so in May of 2001. Cedeno posted two 10-game hitting streaks that month for the Tigers, doing so May 1-11 and May 15-25.

Paul Sporer wrote that Justin Verlander’s20th win was nothing but a symptom of greatness.

Joe Janish looks at waiver wire deals of the pastand finds two Tigers deals worth mentioning, if not remembering.

On this date in 1925, the city of Detroit hosted a dinner for Ty Cobb honoring his 20 years in a Tiger uniform. He was given a trophy by the city and $10,000 by the club.

On Aug. 29, 1959, Hamtramck won the Little League World Series at Williamsport, Pa.

Finally, Happy 73rd Birthday to actor Elliot Gould who is known for many roles, but my favorite will always be that of Reuben Tishkoff in “Ocean’s 11” and 12 and 13.

]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/08/29/the-monday-report-2/feed/ 2 The Monday Report: A-Jax’s Throw, Ron LeFlore’s Record and Mats Wilander’s Birthday http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/08/22/the-monday-report-a-jax-ron-leflore-and-mats-wilander/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/08/22/the-monday-report-a-jax-ron-leflore-and-mats-wilander/#comments Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:19:52 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=6552 Welcome to the last full week of August. The Tigers enjoy a 4.5-game lead on the Indians today. The last time they led the A.L. Central by that many games was Sept. 16, 2009.

Leading Off: I’ve watched a lot of Tigers baseball in my time but I can’t recall a more exciting final out sequence as the one we saw on Sunday to preserve a 8-7 Tigers win. Austin Jackson’s flawless throw to Alex Avila. Rick Porcello seemed hell bent to surrender a seven-run cushion but thankfully the bullpen did enough to blow it entirely … The Tigers head to Tampa Bay for a four-game set … They also are looking for their first winning streak of more than three games since June 7 when they had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Around the Central: The White Sox crushed the Rangers 10-0 at U.S. Cellular Field; the Red Sox downed the Royals, 6-1, and the Yankees blanked the Twins, 3-0.

The Rundown

The Tigers are in first place, 4.5 games ahead of the Indians.

Today’s Game: Tigers @ Rays — Justin Verlander (18-5, 2.31 ERA) vs. Jeff Nieman (8-4, 3.29 ERA) | 7:05 p.m. – FSD/1270 AM and 97.1 FM

Verlander has won each of his last six starts for the Tigers dating back to July 21, compiling a 2.36 ERA and 51 strikeouts during that stretch.

In nine career starts against the Rays, Verlander’s 5-1 with a 3.88 ERA.

With a win tonight, he would equal his career high in victories set in 2009. It would mark the fastest a Tigers pitcher won his 19th game of the season since Mickey Lolich did so in the club’s 114th game of the 1972 season.

On this date, Ron LeFlore swiped his 27th consecutive base as the Tigers beat the Twins, 7-3. He began the streak on July 16.

On this date in 1981, the Tigers acquired first baseman Ron Jackson from the Twins for outfielder Tim Corcoran.

On Aug. 22, 1997, The Tigers pounded the Brewers, 16-1, with the aid of 23 hits and an 11- run seventh inning. Bobby Higginson got five hits, while Travis Fryman and Tony Clark drive in four runs apiece.

Happy 35th Birthday to Jeff Weaver. Also celebrating today is Doug Bair; he’s 62.

  • The Tigers are #10 in ESPN’s Power Rankings, up from nine last week. They trail the D-backs (who have one more win) and this week’s opponent, the Rays (#7).
  • Somehow I missed out on Dave Schoenfield’s reminiscing about Chet Lemon last week:

    If you’re too young to remember Chet Lemon, he was a superb ballplayer. He could them run down in center field — in fact, his 512 putouts with the White Sox in 1977 remains the American League record, not bad for a guy who had converted from third base as a rookie the year before. He hit .300 three times, had some power, drew some walks, got hit by 10 to 20 pitches a season. He did a lot to help his teams win.

    What Chet Lemon wasn’t very good at was stealing bases.

  • This is a topic that deserves more thought than I have time for today but am I the only one who thinks Miguel Cabrera has a profound lack of hustle on the bases, particularly out of the batter’s box?
  • SI‘s Joe Sheehan thinks the stars are aligning in the Tigers favor after sweeping the Indians:

    Jackson’s base-runner kill helped Jose Valverde escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam and convert his 37th consecutive save this season. The Tigers have fended off a series of challenges by the Indians, and after a trip to Tampa Bay get seven games against the Twins and Royals to stretch their lead before six more against the White Sox and Indians. That week may represent both teams’ last shot to keep the Tigers from making September a coronation.

  • Are the Tigers winning with other clubs’ talent?
  • Not a game goes by that I don’t wish the Tigers still had Placido Polanco batting second.
  • It doesn’t matter if the Twins send Jim Thome to the Indians before Aug. 31. The Tigers are set to face both clubs six more times this season so, they’re hosed either way.

Finally, Happy 47th Birthday to tennis hall of famer Mats Wilander who, in 1988, won the Australian Open, French Open and U.S. Open.

]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2011/08/22/the-monday-report-a-jax-ron-leflore-and-mats-wilander/feed/ 0 Monday Night Lite http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/06/22/monday-night-lite/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/06/22/monday-night-lite/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:18:14 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=2471 MondayReport.jpgMOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Checking in from the land of Google and Apple, on the border of Mountain View and Cupertino, Calif.:

  • It’s a shame that I read the USA Today only when I’m traveling, as I am today. There’s usually one or two outstanding pieces in each edition and this morning proved it: a feature on the Tigers by Bob Nightengale.

  • Juan Rincon, a victim of a roster numbers game last month — we’re looking at you, Nate Robertson, has been recalled by the Rockies from Triple-A Colorado Springs. Embrace the humidor, Senor. (Oh, and now that the Rox have run off a late-2007-like streak recently, do we all feel a tad better about them taking two of three from the Tigers? Didn’t think so.)

  • He might not chuck it as hard as Ryan Perry, but it’s close enough and I, for one, am glad Freddy Dolsi‘s back.

  • Did you happen to catch this nastygram from Ken Rosenthal about the Tigers benching Magglio Ordonez? The zingers about Gary Sheffield are amusing but I don’t think anyone in the Tigers front office regrets the decision to cut him loose. And for what it’s worth, I hope that Ordonez finds his stroke soon and that he doesn’t wind up on the Red Sox, poking homers over The Green Monster at Fenway.

  • Speaking of hitters, here are the results of our most recent Fungo Pulse Check poll. The question: Which of These Sluggers Should the Tigers Go After?

    • Matt Holliday: 35% (12 votes)
    • Brad Hawpe: 32% (11 votes)
    • Adam Dunn: 29% (10 votes)
    • Jeff Francouer: 3% (1 vote)
    • Carlos Lee: bupkis

    Be sure to vote in our new poll, available in the sidebar –>

  • Finally, I didn’t weigh in on the Jim Leyland extension when it happened: I believe it came a few weeks too late, but I’m delighted that he re-upped. I don’t want to see the Tigers become the Verizon Wireless of Major League Baseball, with a new manager every two years or so. (If anyone should’ve been shown the door as a result of this clunky roster, it should’ve been [should be?] Dave Dombrowski.)

Have a great week.

]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/06/22/monday-night-lite/feed/ 1 The Monday Report: Week 3 http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/27/the-monday-report-week-3/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/27/the-monday-report-week-3/#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:41:40 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=2361 MondayReport.jpg
The Skinny:

  • Standings: First Place in A.L. Central, 10-8, +1 game
  • Streak: W2
  • Home Record: 4-1
  • Road Record: 5-7

Streaks:

  • Last five games: 3-2
  • Last 10 games: 6-4
  • Last 15 games: 9-6
  • Last 20 games: 10-8

Who’s Hot from the Past Week:

  • Brandon Inge: .400 avg., .478 OBP, .850 SLG, 3 HR, 6 RBI
  • Josh Anderson: .375 avg., .375 OBP, .500 SLG, 4 SB
  • Adam Everett: .333 avg., .375 OBP, .467 SLG
  • Curtis Granderson: .333 avg., .407 OBP, .833 SLG, 4 HR

Who’s Not:

  • Miguel Cabrera: .143 avg., .280 OBP, .143 SLG
  • Magglio Ordoñez: .192 avg., .192 OBP, .308 SLG
  • Placido Polanco: .231 avg., .259 OBP, .308 SLG

Up Next: Yankees

  • Today: Justin Verlander (0-2, 9.00) vs. LHP CC Sabathia (1-1, 4.81)
  • Tuesday: Edwin Jackson (1-1, 2.77) vs RHP Phil Hughes (0-0, 0.00)
  • Wednesday: Rick Porcello (1-2, 4.50) vs. RHP Joba Chamberlain (0-0, 3.94)
  • Thursday: Off Day

Tigers vs. Yankees

  • All-Time Record: 918-1030-10
  • All-Time at New York: 412-562-4
  • All-Time at Detroit: 506-468-6
  • All-time at Comerica Park: 18-18
]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/27/the-monday-report-week-3/feed/ 0 The Monday Report: Week 2 http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/20/the-monday-report-week-2/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/20/the-monday-report-week-2/#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:13:15 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=2319 MondayReport.jpg
The Skinny:

  • 7-5, Tied for 1st Place in A.L. Central with Chicago and Kansas City
  • Streak: W2
  • Home Record: 4-1
  • Road Record: 3-4

Streaks:

  • Last 10 Games: 7-3
  • Last 5 Games: 3-2

Who’s Hot from the Past Week:

  • Josh Anderson: .545 avg., .615 OBP, .818 SLG, 4 RBI, 2 SB
  • Miguel Cabrera: .455 avg., .478 OBP, .591 SLG, 10 H, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Gerald Laird: .400 avg., .500 OBP, .400 SLG
  • Magglio Ordonez: .353 avg., .522 OBP, .353 SLG

Who’s Not:

  • Carlos Guillen: .190 avg., .261 OBP, .190 SLG
  • Placido Polanco: .182 avg., .250 OBP, .364 SLG
  • Curtis Granderson: .174 avg., .240 OBP, .174 SLG

Up Next: Angels

  • Today: Off Day
  • Tuesday: Armando Galarraga (2-0, 0.68) vs. RHP Jered Weaver (1-1, 3.09)
  • Wednesday: Justin Verlander (0-2, 7.88) vs. LHP Joe Saunders (2-1, 2.18)
  • Thursday: Edwin Jackson (1-0, 2.14) vs RHP Dustin Moseley (1-0, 4.30)

Tigers vs. Angels

  • All-Time Record: 297-275
  • All-Time at Los Angeles: 137-150
  • All-Time at Detroit: 160-125
  • All-time at Comerica Park: 14-23
]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/20/the-monday-report-week-2/feed/ 0 The Monday Report: Week 1 http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/13/the-monday-report-week-1/ http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/13/the-monday-report-week-1/#comments Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:07:17 +0000 Mike McClary http://www.dailyfungo.com/?p=2249 MondayReport.jpg
The Skinny:

  • 4-3, 1st Place in A.L. Central, .5 games ahead of Chicago
  • Streak: W3
  • Home Record: 3-0 / Road Record: 1-3

Who’s Hot:

  • Miguel Cabrera: .520 avg., .586 OBP, .960 SLG, 3 HR, 10 RBI
  • Placido Polanco: .346, .393 OBP, .462 SLG
  • Gerald Laird: .318, .400 OBP, .455 SLG
  • Brandon Inge: .304, .448 OBP, .870 SLG, 4 HR, 7 RBI

Who’s Not:

  • Carlos Guillen:.182, .345 OBP, .273 SLG
  • Adam Everett: .238*, .333 OBP, .286 SLG
  • Curtis Granderson: .241, .281 OBP, .483 SLG

*Though, wouldn’t we all be happy with .238 for the season from Everett?

Up Next: White Sox

  • Today: Zach Miner vs. Gavin Floyd
  • Tomorrow: Rick Porcello (0-1, 7.20) vs. John Danks (0-0, 0.00)
  • Wednesday: Armando Galarraga (1-0, 1.29) vs. Jose Contreras (0-1, 7.20)

Tigers vs. White Sox

  • All-Time Record: 990-979-15
  • All-Time at Home: 523-458-5
  • All-Time at Comerica Park: 32-49
  • All-Time at Chicago: 467-521-10
]]> http://www.dailyfungo.com/2009/04/13/the-monday-report-week-1/feed/ 0