Coming from 30,000 feet on a flight from DTW to PHX. Over Manhattan, Kan., to be precise: It looked like the Tigers were going to make day-one mini-splash when rumors swirled of a two-year deal with free agent outfielder Scott Hairston.But not so fast said Twitter. And not so fast said Dave Dombrowski. [No] multi-year contracts had been offered to any free-agent outfielder. Disappointing? I don’t think so. Hairston’s a nice complementary player but isn’t worth a two-year deal. With Avisail Garcia and Nick Castellanos apparently on the fast-track to Comerica Park, I think the Tigers can afford to wait it out. And, guys like Hairston, if a team needs them, seem to be readily available in June and July. Gene Lamont is moving…
The Wednesday Rundown The Tigers are in first place for good, 12.5 games ahead of the Indians. Today’s Game: Tigers @ Royals Max Scherzer (14-9, 4.39 ERA) vs. Felipe Paulino (3-6, 4.12 ERA) | 8:10 p.m. – FSD/1270 AM and 97.1 FM Notes on Scherzer Lifetime against the Royals Scherzer’s 4-4 with a 3.93 ERA. This season: 2-2, 5.66 ERA … The Tigers have a 19-12 record in the 31 games he’s started in 2011 … He’s struck out 20 batters in his three starts during September. He’s 1-1 with a 3.32 ERA in the three starts … Scherzer’s making his 13th start following the All Star break. In his previous 12 outings, he is 4-5 with a 3.95 ERA and 66 strikeouts. Notes on Paulino Tonight is…
Dave Schoenfield, the new voice of ESPN.com’s SweetSpot Network today listed some of the worst Opening Day starters from 2001 to 2010. Of particular note: 5. Mike Maroth, Tigers, 2003 As a rookie in 2002, Maroth had posted a 4.48 ERA in 21 starts and struck out an uninspiring 58 hitters in 128.2 innings. Among pitchers with at least 75 innings, that was the second-lowest strikeout rate in the American League. However, considering the ’02 Tigers had lost 106 games, that was good enough to draw the opener. The Tigers lost that game 3-1 on their way to a 1-17 start and 119 losses — 21 of them by Maroth. I don’t know, on Opening Day 1996 Tigers fans were treated to the stylings…
I would have posted these items sooner today but I’ve been consumed by the game Word with Friends on my iPad and iPhone. Who knew a Scrabblesque game could be so darn addictive? I was going to write about how Michael Young‘s contract with the Rangers spurred the Tigers to sign Carlos Guillen — and fast — during the 2007 season. As often happens, Ian beat me to it and no doubt did a better job. Who would you rather have in the bullpen: Enrique Gonzalez or Chad Durbin? Me too. The good news? Durbin’s available. Bad news, the Tigers won’t go after him. Wait, you chose Gonzalez? Never mind. Staying with the former Tigers pitchers theme for a moment, Mark Simon at ESPN’s…
This abbreviated edition of the Walewanders comes to you from Oceanside, California, where the marine layer is burning off and another weather-perfect day is under way: When I saw that Casey Coleman was pitching for the Cubs, my first instinct was to see if he was related to former Tigers righty Joe Coleman. Of course, I forgot to check but Big League Stew was all over it. Indeed, Casey is the son of Joe and the grandson of Joe Sr. — both elder Colemans pitched for the Tigers at one point in their careers. ESPN.com began its Dog Days of Summer series today and it begins with the Tigers. Take a look at what yours truly had to say about it and weigh in…
