The Daily Fungo | A Detroit Tigers Blogazine

Remembering the Les Moss Era

Mike McClary — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:03:01 +0000

When you search for “raw deal” on Google the first entry is for the 1986 film by the same name starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kathryn Harrold and Darren McGavin.

Twenty-nine years ago Les Moss got a raw deal in his second big-league managing job.

Yes, second. He managed the 1968 Cubs for just 36 games, going 12-24 for the eighth-place Cubbies.

In 1979, John Lester Moss took over for the retired Ralph Houk as Tigers manager. Moss had been in the Tigers farm system managing the Triple-A Evansville (Ind.) Triplets in the American Association and it was, I guess, his turn.

Moss managed the Tigers for just 53 games in ‘79. Detroit sat at a 27-26, on the morning of June 14. Before Moss could order lunch, he was out of a job and Sparky Anderson was the Tigers’ new manager. (Officially, first base coach Dick Tracewski was the interim manager. Trixie led the Tigers to a 2-0 record before Sparky took over.)

So the Moss Era was over before it even began. The managing era, that is.

Did you know that Les Moss had a 13-year career as a catcher in the majors? He debuted in 1946 as a 21-year-old with the St. Louis Browns. He played in just a dozen games that year but finished a .371 average.

A review of his year-by-year stats show one thing: he was ridiculously inconsistent. For example:

1947: 96 games, .157 avg.

1948: 107/.257

1949: 97/.291

1950: 84/.266

1951: 87/.193

…and so on. What else?

He never hit more than 14 homers in a season
His career average was .247; career OBP: .333

Though he didn’t hang around Detroit for very long, Les Moss is another player in the Tigers’ rich history.

Today the Tulsa native turns 83.

Game 39: An E for the Day*

Mike McClary — Wed, 14 May 2008 04:08:03 +0000

The Gist: Nate Robertson finally showed up but the offense took the night off (do I hear an echo?) and Edgar Renteria, well, Edgar thought it was a good idea. Let’s put it this way: if it worked, a definite top-five Web Gem. If it didn’t, Esteban German would come around from second to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth — and the Tigers would lose 3-2. You know the rest. Matt Joyce hit his second career homer. If only he’d hit his third.

The Quote: “Jose Guillen has had a lot of success against Nate Robertson in his career.” — Royals’ TV announcer Ryan Lefebvre mere seconds before Guillen unloaded a game-tying, two-run double in the third.

The Stat: 4. The number of errors by Renteria in 2008. How many did he have in all of 2007? How about 11?

*Yes, I’ve used this headline before. Not only is it appropriate but it’s also a nod to a goofy sociology teacher fellow Fungo scribe John Milton and I had in ninth grade.

Where Were You…?

Mike McClary — Tue, 13 May 2008 17:43:53 +0000

…on this date in 1911 when Ty Cobb hit his first grand slam?

After six innings, Detroit led the Red Sox, 10-1. Boston came back to win the game 13-11 in 10 innings.

(Thanks, Baseball Reference.com)

Happy Birthday, Sweetness

Mike McClary — Tue, 13 May 2008 04:04:13 +0000

How in the world did Lou Whitaker turn 50 — forget about 51, which he is today? Lest we’ve forgotten, let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane on his 19-year career with the Tigers:

2,390 games
.276 average
2,369 hits
244 home runs

If you’re keeping score at home, Whitaker averaged a hit a game over his career. (Actually he averaged .991 hits a game, but when it’s your birthday, you benefit from rounding up.)

And how is he not in the Hall of Fame? Jeez!

Notable Hardware

1978 Rookie of the Year
Five-time All Star
Four-time Silver Slugger
World Series Champion

Here’s hoping that Sweet Lou enjoyed his birthday at home in Lakeland, Fla., or a local theme park.

Game 37: Rogers Rolls, Homers Hibernate, Jones Nearly Ruins It All

Mike McClary — Sat, 10 May 2008 04:04:32 +0000

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: Game #37 featured a terrific outing from #37 Kenny Rogers, three hits from Pudge Rodriguez and ridiculous ninth inning from Todd Jones. Luckily, and most importantly, it all added up to a Tigers’ 6-5 win over the Yankees. Rogers gave the Tigers a quality start — 6 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 3 K — and, in the second inning, picked off the 92nd runner of his career, Wilson Betemit. Ryan Raburn, getting the start in center, went 2 for 2 with a pair of runs scored.

The Quote: “Todd had the [leadoff] guy 0-2, and if he gets him, the game probably ends without any excitement.” — Jim Leyland on the Yankees’ half of the ninth inning.

The Stat: 5. The number of consecutive games the Tigers have played without hitting a home run.

My Two Cents: Watching Kerry Wood smoke the Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth inning this afternoon at Wrigley Field made me long for the return of Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. You know, guys who can hit 95+ on the gun. I’ll admit that railing on Todd Jones seems so 2006, yet I can’t help but wish aloud that Tigers had a flamethrower at the back end of the bullpen.

Three Value-Added Items to Close Out Your Week

Mike McClary — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:58:26 +0000

For your consideration…

50 years ago today the Tigers acquired RHP Herm Wehmeier from the Cardinals for cash. How much cash? Not sure. In seven games in 1958 (three starts), Wehmeir finished with a 1-0 record and a 2.38 ERA. The Tigers released him 368 days later.
On this date in 1994, Tigers legend Neifi Perez, then with Central Valley Rockies (California League), pulls an unassisted triple play on a line drive.
Who knew? The Tigers are 17-16 all-time against the Yankees at Comerica Park. On the other hand, the Tigers are 150 games under .500 all-time at Yankee Stadium.

Enjoy the weekend.

Tigers Feeling Buyer’s Remorse?

Mike McClary — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:37:33 +0000

The other day I sent an instant message to Ian Casselberry asking if, perchance, the Tigers may be feeling some buyer’s remorse regarding the Miguel Cabrera trade.

I admitted to Ian that it’s way early but that doesn’t mean that panic is not setting in everywhere around Comerica Park — but never at Fungo HQ!

So, I’m lobbing it out there: Are the Tigers wondering what they signed themselves up for over the next seven years?

Maybe.

Fast-forward to this afternoon and the latest installment of Jayson Stark’s Rumblings and Grumblings on ESPN.com. This time he reviews the off-season trades and the Tigers’ deals are getting anything but passing grades.

6. Braves-Tigers (RHP Jair Jurrjens and OF Gorkys Hernandez for Edgar Renteria): “At this point, Atlanta has won that deal,” said one scout. “Jurrjens [4-2, 2.84] has been their most consistent starter.”

Ouch.

And if you think that’s a harsh assessment, get a load of this:

9. Tigers-Marlins (Miguel Cabrera and LHP Dontrelle Willis for LHP Andrew Miller, OF Cameron Maybin, C Mike Rabelo, RHP Burke Badenhop, RHP Eulogia De La Cruz and RHP Dallas Trahern): We won’t be able to judge Florida’s half of this deal until about 2010. And Willis has been a mess. But the surprise is that Cabrera has been: (a) an offensive disappointment, (b) such a defensive disaster at third base that he had to be shifted to first within three weeks, and (c) so lackadaisical that players on other teams are privately questioning whether he flicked on his cruise-control switch after signing an eight-year, $153.3-million contract this spring. “I expected him to come in there and be superman,” said one scout. “He’s been anything but that.”

Ugly stuff.

Ready for more? Each week Stark touches base with big-league scouts on what they are seeing and hearing. It sure looks like no one likes what they see from Cabrera.

“For $150 million, you’d like to at least see him run a ball out. I watched him for a week, and I think there was one ball all week where he tried to extend himself. That was a double-play ball, and he was still like 4.8 [seconds] getting down the line. On a routine ground ball, he’s 5.2, maybe 5.1. It’s ridiculous to even pull the clock out.”

So, is it too soon to call this trade a blunder? Of course it is. And it would be a lot worse if, say, Cameron Maybin were tearing up the National League.

But you have to wonder if the Tigers brass is wishing they could take a mulligan…if not on the mega-deal with the Marlins, then at least on the month of April.

What do you think?

A Tigers Birthday Roundup

Mike McClary — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:35:46 +0000

It’s been quite a week for birthdays in the Tigers’ galaxy, starting with May 2. Let us review.

Remember these guys?

Jim Walewander, 46 — A fan favorite in 1987 and ‘88, Walewander captivated the media with tales of his aluminum-foil window treatments and affinity for the Dead Milkmen, described in Wikipedia as a “satirical punk band.” The prototypical good-glove-no-stick guy, Walewander played exactly 162 games in his career — 141 with the Tigers, nine with the Yankees in ‘90 and 12 with the Angels in ‘93 — with a .215 average, one homer and 14 RBI. He actually had one more steal than RBI. He wore number 32 with Detroit.
Keith Moreland, 54 — This short-timer had a brief Tigers career (90 games, wearing number 30) in the awful 1989 season. The Tigers traded Walt Terrell to the Padres for Moreland and Chris Brown. He was traded to the Orioles near the trade deadline for Brian Dubois.
Steve Grilli, 59 — Jason’s dad pitched in 69 games for the Tigers (wearing the same number 49 that Jason would wear 30 years later) over the 1975-77 seasons with a 4-3 record, 4.51 ERA. He also pitched in one game for the Blue Jays in 1979.
Gates Brown, 69 — Who doesn’t love the Gator? Left-handed hitting, number-26-wearing William James Brown played 13 seasons with the Tigers as a pinch-hitter extraordinaire. His two best seasons were 1968 (.370) and ‘71 (.338). For his career (1963-75) he finished with a .257 average, 84 homers and 322 RBI. He later served as hitting coach, leaving after the 1984 season because the Tigers wouldn’t give him a raise into the obscene $70,000 range. I may be off on the dollar amount. If I am, my brother will remember it precisely.

And some others…

May 4

Brian Maxcy, 37
Rick Leach, 51

May 5

Dave Gumpert, 50

May 6

Phil Clark, 40
Tom Bolton, 46

May 9

Ron “Action” Jackson, 55

Game 34: Knuckled Under

Mike McClary — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:00:21 +0000

The Gist: The Tigers couldn’t hit Tim Wakefield, though it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The lack of plate discipline arrived just in time to send the Tigers to a 5-0 loss to the Red Sox. That’s five in a row, if you’re counting. And my man, Tigers starter Nate Robertson? Oof.

The Quote: “I think the main thing is to not lose sight of how good we are.” — Jim Leyland

The Stat: 2. The pathetic number of hits the Tigers mustered against Wakefield.

Up Next: Red Sox at Tigers

Armando Galarraga (2-1, 1.88) vs. Clay Buchholz (2-2, 3.71)

Game 33: Walking Away from a W

Mike McClary — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:22:58 +0000

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: Jeremy Bonderman spotted the Red Sox four runs, leaving the Tigers to figure out Daisuke Matsuzaka on a night that he was totally figure-outable. Matsuzaka walked eight and gave the Tigers plenty of opportunities to blow the game open. Alas, Detroit dropped its fourth straight, losing 6-3. We’ll all have to wait at least another day to see — or at least get a glimpse of — how the new lineup configuration works.

The Quote: “I think I threw the ball really well.” — Bonderman.

The Stat: 2. The number of errors by Tigers shortstop Edgar Renteria.

My Two Cents: Patience. Patience. Patience. That’s what I keep telling myself.

The Detroit Tigers Podcast #46.25: Mea Culpa

Mike McClary — Tue, 06 May 2008 05:33:54 +0000

Hi, folks. If you downloaded episode #46 on Monday, you received a partially edited show. Some of the edits didn’t “take” in the file I uploaded for your enjoyment.

A freshly edited version of episode #46 is now available. Please delete Monday’s episode from your iPod or iTunes and re-download it at your convenience.

My apologies!

The Detroit Tigers Podcast is not affiliated in any way with the Detroit Tigers Baseball Club or Major League Baseball.

Games 30-32: Drastic Times…

Mike McClary — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:05:35 +0000

ESPN recaps — but no highlights?! — available here, here and here.

The Gist: The Tigers lost virtually every way possible in the Twin Cities this past weekend. They wouldn’t hit on Friday, couldn’t hit on Saturday, and hit for only a few innings on Sunday. Of course, Detroit couldn’t escape the Metrodome without a few turf-aided hits that sting like a hot poker in the eye.

The Quote: “We’re tough to watch sometimes.” — Jim Leyland

The Stat: 7. The number of games Gary Sheffield played in left in 2007.

My Two Cents: Long-time readers of this space well-know my animus toward third-person referencing, free-swinging, rally-killing Craig Monroe. So, it should come as no surprise to you, then, that my weekend took a dramatic turn for the worse when he homered off of Justin Verlander on Saturday night.

At that point, how could I argue with my son that watching “Oswald” wasn’t a better idea? If things don’t turn around quickly for this team, I have a feeling I’ll be watching more Noggin programming than is allowed by law.

The Detroit Tigers Podcast #46: Talking Baseball with The Shyster

Mike McClary — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:32:32 +0000

Welcome to The Detroit Tigers Podcast, the podcast for Tigers fans, by Tigers fans. This is Episode #46, a 30-minute podcast recorded live from Scottsdale, Ariz. and Columbus, Ohio.

In this episode our guest is Craig Calcaterra — a.k.a., the Shyster behind ShysterBall.com, one of the best baseball blogs around.

Download the audio file or grab the RSS feed here.

Listen to the podcast in our nifty sidebar player –>

•••

Comments? Leave a message on the new listener line: (602) 903-5174.

Theme music for the podcast produced by Paul Minshall.

The Detroit Tigers Podcast is not affiliated in any way with the Detroit Tigers Baseball Club or Major League Baseball.

One Of Those Nights

John Milton — Sat, 03 May 2008 15:19:11 +0000

Livan Hernandez had command of his pitches and the Tigers on this night. Magglio Ordonez hit a long home run in the second, and the team loaded the based with nobody out in the same inning, but then Ivan Rodriguez hit a short fly ball to right on which Miguel Cabrera did not attempt to score from third base. Jacque Jones then hit into an inning ending double play. Hernandez was able to hold off all Tiger threats for the rest of his seven-inning stint.

The Twins were able to get to Armando Galarraga for four runs on six hits which was enough to hand him his first loss of the season. Galarraga also gave up a bases loaded walk with nobody out and a RBI double play ground out which accounted for two of those runs. Aquilino Lopez came on in the seventh and got the first out of the inning, but then surrendered four runs on six hits before giving way to Denny Bautista who got the Tigers out of the inning.

I thought the tough night was over, but in the eighth, the Twins were able to get three more runs off Bautista. He allowed a walk, a wild pitch, and a single to score one run which was followed by a passed ball by Brandon Inge. The Twins then got the other two runs in the inning on a double to deep right field and an infield single to first. This was followed by another infield single to first before Francisco Cruceta came on to strike out Mike Lamb to end the inning.

A lot of the Twins 16 hits in this game were legitimate, but they also got a few strategically placed balls that the Tigers just could not field. This was just a game that happens to even the very best teams on occasion.

We’ll just chalk this one up as one of those.

Game 29: Bronx Cheers

Mike McClary — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:08:55 +0000

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Yankees in New York Thursday night — the first since yours truly was a negative two years old — with an 8-4 win. Ramon Santiago, in his first start at shortstop this year, hit a key triple in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie. Miguel Cabrera had a monster night: triple, homer, three RBI. Magglio Ordonez had a three hits. Nate Robertson allowed four runs and seven hits in 5.2 innings for his first win in five career outings in Yankee Stadium.

The Quote: “It is kind of neat to think that the last series you’ll possibly play in this stadium, you swept them.” Jim Leyland

The Stat: 1. The number of games the Tigers sit below .500 — the closest they’ve been since Opening Day.

Sweep…Sweep…Sweep

John Milton — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:36:48 +0000

The Tigers swept the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium for the first time since the beginning of the 1966 season when they won the opener on April 12 and swept a doubleheader on April 14. The Yankees returned the favor in the Bronx from August 26 - 28 of that year. The Tigers will never be swept again — or lose for that matter — in the regular season in this edition of Yankee Stadium.

Nate Robertson had a rough first inning by giving up three runs on a home run by Bobby Abreu. He did settle down and gave up a total of four runs on seven hits, struck out three and walked two to get his first win of the year.

The Tiger bats did the rest as Magglio Ordonez hit a double and a single to drive in three runs. Miguel Cabrera added a couple of RBI with a triple and a home run, and Ramon Santiago hit a double and had a two-run triple.

The Tigers got their first look at Francisco Cruceta who came on the ninth and gave up a lead-off walk to Bobby Abreu, but really encountered no further trouble. He got a hard hit ball which Carlos Guillen stopped and threw to second to force Abreu, and he got a ground ball to first and a line out to left which Ryan Raburn caught to end the game.

This was a great series to watch, and the Tigers find themselves tied for second in the Central with Cleveland and Minnesota just 1-1/2 games back of the White Sox. Now we’ll see if they can do some damage to put some distance between themselves and the Twins.

Happy Birthday, Dan Gakeler

Mike McClary — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:35:31 +0000

You are one die-hard Tigers fan if you remember right hander Dan Gakeler.

It’s scary because I remember him.

A former number-one pick of the Red Sox in the 1984 draft (secondary phase), Gakeler appeared in 31 games for the 1991 Tigers, seven of them were starts.

Wearing the number 32, he assembled a record of 1-4 with two saves and a 5.74 ERA.

Happy 44th Birthday, Dan.

A Look Back at April

Mike McClary — Fri, 02 May 2008 00:21:29 +0000

Tigers April Record: 13-15

Individual Batting Leaders (minimum 20 games, my totally subjective criteria)

Average: Carlos Guillen, .321
Home Runs: Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, 5
RBI: Cabrera/Ordonez, 19
OBP: Guillen, .414
OPS: Guillen, .938
SLG: Guillen, .524
SB: Guillen, Pudge Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield, 3

Individual Pitching Leaders

Wins: Five pitchers tied with two each - Jeremy Bonderman, Armando Galarraga, Aquilino Lopez, Clay Rapada, Kenny Rogers
ERA
- Starter: Galarraga, 1.50
- Reliever: Rapada, 0.00
Saves: Todd Jones, 5
Strikeouts
- Starter: Nate Robertson, 24
- Reliever: Lopez, 14

Team Rankings

Team Batting: .267, fourth in American League (ninth in majors)
Team Pitching: 4.88 ERA, 13th in A.L. (28th in majors)
Team Fielding: .984, seventh in A.L. (tied for 13th in majors)

And now the random stuff: Tigers Day-by-Day Record

Monday: 2-1
Tuesday: 3-1
Wednesday: 4-1
Thursday: 1-3
Friday: 2-2
Saturday: 1-3
Sunday: 0-4

Game 28: Tigers End April in the D at 13-15

Mike McClary — Thu, 01 May 2008 04:31:35 +0000

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: Jeremy Bonderman avoided a serious first-inning problem by yielding “only” two runs. Then he was all business: 7.2 innings pitched, five hits, the aforementioned two runs (both earned) and, oddly enough, just one strikeout. Placido Polanco appears to have caught fire in New York, highlighted by two home runs on Wednesday. And don’t look now but here comes Gary Sheffield: two-for-four and now only 17 points (or 32 depending on your perspective) south of the Mendoza Line.

The Quote: “You don’t want to know what I told him, I’ll tell you that much.” — Jim Leyland on his first inning, ahem, heart-to-heart meeting with Bonderman on the mound.

The Stat: 54. The number of points Polanco has seen his average soar in the past two games. Six hits in 10 at bats will do that for you.

My Two Cents: Bonderman drives me nuts.

Up Next: Tigers at Yankees

Nate Robertson (0-3, 6.91) vs. RHP Ian Kennedy (0-2, 8.53)

Game 27: Roger, Rogers. We have clearance, Clarence.

Mike McClary — Thu, 01 May 2008 03:57:18 +0000

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: It had its dicey moments — not the least of which was Kenny Rogers walking the bases loaded in the third — but the Tigers showed some grit in a 6-4 win over the Yankees in the Bronx. Rogers earned his second straight win and limited the Yankees to two runs over six innings. Curtis Granderson doubled and homered and, perhaps showing signs of new life, Gary Sheffield belted a two-run home run, the 482nd of his career. Speaking of new life, Placido Polanco had with four hits and an RBI.

The Quote: “Feeling young is not in the equation anymore.” — Kenny Rogers.

The Stat: .276 - Jacque Jones‘ on-base percentage in his 20 games.