Remember when Scott Sizemore was the answer to the Tigers’ second base question? After nearly five seasons of Placido Polanco’s wizardry at second, and in the number-two slot of the lineup, the Tigers tried to convince fans – and maybe themselves – that Sizemore could take over with gusto. After 65 games spread across two seasons, Sizemore was dealt to Oakland and suddenly second base became a giant black hole. Again. In 2010, Carlos Guillen and Will Rhymes both played more games at second than Sizemore, fully cementing the second-base-by-committee approach. Last season, Ryan Raburn made his play for the job, appearing in 56 games at second and committing 10 errors in 201 chances. Backed by his usual second-half surge, he convinced the Tigers…
Wednesday afternoon the Detroit Tigers announced a trade, the first in Major League Baseball since Francisco Rodriguez was sent to the Brewers on the night of the All-Star game. The Tigers kicked off what is sure to be a slew of near deadline deals in the next ten days by acquiring third basemen Wilson Betemit from the Royals in exchange for Single-A prospects LHP Antonio Cruz and catcher Julio Rodriguez. Betemit’s offensive production (.281/.341/.409 in 226 PAs this year) will surely be a welcome addition to Detroit’s lineup, which is ranked fifth in the American League in runs scored despite getting a pathetic .186/.251/.249 line from third base this season. Brandon Inge, the longest tenured Tigers player, is the one responsible for that horrific triple…
Good Sunday Morning. How are you enjoying the growing number of Tigers trade rumors? First Ubaldo Jimenez, now Derek Lowe. In this update on the ESPN.com Rumors blog, they float Magglio Ordonez or Casper Wells as pieces going to Atlanta in a potential deal. Leading Off: What’s the worst part of the Tigers two-game skid? A) It smells like last year when they were swept by the Indians to start the second half. B) They’ve lost six of their last eight series. C) It comes at the hands of the White Sox. D) A two-game losing streak is cause for concern? Yeah, it could be all the above. Let’s add another one: they were blanked by Edwin Jackson. Jeez … On the bright side, Carlos Guillen…
Sometimes I want to rail on Major League Baseball about the lameness of so many things it does — the vapid celebrity softball game, the interminable Home Run Derby, the “this-time-it-counts” angle on the All-Star Game — but then I realize it’s probably me just getting old. The Tigers’ collection of All Stars is the largest since 1985 when the club sent six players to the Metrodome for the game managed by Sparky Anderson. Here’s a look at the largest classes of Tigers All Stars since 1984 and the team’s record that season: 1984 (104-58) Willie Hernandez Chet Lemon Jack Morris Lance Parrish Alan Trammell Lou Whitaker 1985 (84-77) Willie Hernandez Jack Morris Lance Parrish Dan Petry Alan Trammell Lou Whitaker 2007 (88-74) Carlos Guillen…
A busy week at the office often translates into a slow week of posting on the Fungo. Thanks to Nick for picking up the slack. Here are some random tidbits I’ve collected the past few days: So Carlos Guillen is now a Mud Hen and will see more time at second base. If you’re Will Rhymes how are you feeling. He was selected to the International League’s mid-season all-star squad. I wonder why the Tigers don’t give him more of a chance given the woes at second From Buster Olney on Friday: How Verlander beat the Mets: A. He was tough in tough spots. Verlander wasn’t as dominant as he’s been the rest of the month, but the Mets couldn’t muster much in the…
