About a month ago, he and his father, Gene, reviewed some videotape from earlier in his career and compared that to video taken this winter in Washington, where Bonderman throws at the facility once owned by Mel Stottlemyre. Right away, father and son could see how different he looked, as compared to those days when he used his legs.

Since then, Bonderman has focused on dropping lower in his delivery, drawing his front arm higher — “instead of a lazy front side,” he said — and driving off the mound more. He has endeavored to get back to the way his delivery was before, and he can see a difference in his fastball. “Instantly,” he said.

Can you imagine how tough the Tigers’ rotation will be on the American League if Bonderman and Max Scherzer live up to their potential?

The Score: Twins 8 – Tigers 3

The Gist: Wasted opportunities. Sure, the usual ones — stranded runners, untimely hitting — but also new and exciting storylines. Like, four errors by the Twins, a bizarrely mediocre Joe Nathan and…oh, what’s the difference? Nate Robertson pitched well enough to not lose but not much better. Home plate umpire Angel Hernandez overreacted again, issued warnings, ejected Jim Leyland, Jeremy Bonderman and Gerald Laird, watched benches clear. You know, the usual playoff atmosphere.

The Quote: “Really, what is there to say?” — Yours truly.

The Stat: 0 – As in 0 for 5 for Ramon Santiago on the day, suggesting that perhaps Leyland chose the wrong day to give Placido Polanco a breather. Santiago was 0 for 2 with runners in scoring position, including a bases-loaded chance in the fourth when he popped out to the catcher. The catcher.

Magic/Tragic Number: 2 – Still two.

Up Next: White Sox @ Tigers

Edwin Jackson (13-8, 3.36 ERA) vs. Jake Peavy (8-6, 3.75; 2-0 with the Sox)

Follow The Daily Fungo on Twitter: @DailyFungo

Can’t decide.

• Given the Tigers’ suddenly porous rotation, don’t they at least have to consider throwing Jeremy Bonderman out there to start? Even if he goes only four innings or so, at least he’s capable and experienced. I’d take him over the current version of Armando Galarraga.

• And why not start Zach Miner? Jim Leyland says he’s “too valuable” in the bullpen but I just don’t buy that one.

• Rob Neyer digs a little deeper into Curtis Granderson’s woes and asks an important question:
  

  With the Tigers likely to face both CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte in a Division Series next month, I wonder if Jim Leyland will have the guts to bench Granderson in two of the first three games.

  What do you think? Will he?

• Kurt tweeted about this late last night and it doesn’t sound good for Jarrod Washburn, does it? As the Fungo’s Doug Hill noted shortly after Washburn’s arrival, Dave Dombrowski’s record for acquiring veteran pitchers via trade has been questionable at best.

• I get more bummed about the Ernie Harwell situation everyday.

• Repeating myself: Good for Magglio.

Finally, here’s a heaping helping of Tigers birthdays for today: Chris Pittaro (48), Scott Medvin (48), Mickey Tettleton (49) and Vito Valentinetti (81)

• Jeremy Bonderman to the bullpen, eh? Whatever works.

• I’ve decided to go old school today and listen to the Tigers on MLB.com rather than watch on DirecTV. Call it The Guillen Factor. I can’t stand to see Ozzie again and can’t bear to watch Carlos’s return without wincing on every cut.

• In case you hadn’t heard, From noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the Tigers will host a “Going, Going, GREEN!” Trade Show outside Comerica Park. According to the Tigers’ press release, the event:
  

  “…is designed for Tigers fans and the public to learn more about green initiatives while viewing products and services related to environmental causes and practices of green businesses.”

  Yes, I’m a skeptic, but isn’t the industrial Midwest the least green-thinking region in the U.S.? Okay, maybe Houston then the Midwest…

• On this date in 2001, five-tool phenom/bust Juan Encarnacion, hit a home run off Ramiro Mendoza, that landed in the second row of the empty blue bleacher seats in left centerfield at Yankee Stadium. According to Baseball-Reference.com, it’s believed to be the first ball hit into that area since The Stadium was remodeled in 1976.

Finally, if you need more proof that we’re not getting younger: 26 years ago today was the George Brett Pine Tar Game at Yankee Stadium. Awesome.

• Height: 6′ 2″ | Weight: 220
• 2008 Stats: 3-4, 4.29 ERA

It seems that every season baseball experts predict that it will be the year that Jeremy Bonderman finally emerges as an ace, discovers an effective third pitch, and challenges for the Cy Young Award. The 2008 season was no different but the lofty expectations quickly evaporated. Bonderman didn’t pitch after June 1 and had surgery in July to correct a pinched vein that returns blood from the arm to the heart. The good news is that Bonderman’s surgery was successful and he’s on track to return in 2009.

So, while the 26-year-old grapples with the nuances of an off-speed pitch, expect him to focus on what works: a nasty slider as his primary out pitch. In his 12 starts last season, Bonderman went to the slider more than half the time with two strikes – in contrast, he threw the changeup just 1% of the time in similar situations.

Coming off an arm injury, Bonderman may see expectations lowered for a change. But perhaps that’s just what he’ll need to flourish at last.

Whether it was Dontrelle Willis‘ sudden inability to throw strikes or Justin Verlander’s season of wild inconsistency or merely the bullpen’s tendency to do just about everything wrong, the pitching was Public Enemy No. 1 at Comerica Park and 13 other American League parks (not to mention parks across the N.L. West).

One final look at the Tigers pitching woes:

• Team ERA: 4.91 — 12th in A.L.; 27th in MLB
• Strikeouts: 991 — 11th / 25th
• Walks: 644 — 13th / 27th
• Blown Saves: 26

Oh, what the hay, let’s take a quick look at how the rotation fared:

• Verlander: 11-17, 4.84 ERA, one (and the Tigers’ only) complete game
• Armando Galarraga: 13-7, 3.73
• Kenny Rogers: 9-13, 5.70
• Nate Robertson: 7-11, 6.35
• Jeremy Bonderman: 3-4, 4.29
• Willis: 0-2, 9.38

Yep. Ugly.

But thankfully the 2008 season — and soon this list — is over and done with.

Take Jeremy Bonderman for example.

On June 1 in Seattle, he pitched seven innings, allowed 12 hits and three earned runs, walked none and struck out five. The Tigers scored four runs in the ninth and beat the Mariners 7-5. Bonderman didn’t figure in the decision that game and he wouldn’t for the rest of the year.

Bonderman complained to team trainers of a heavy arm on June 6. He underwent a thrombylosis that night at Detroit Medical Center to dissolve a blood clot in the vein and an angioplasty the next day to clear it.

Four weeks later, Bonderman had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. Thoracic outlet syndrome stems from a pinching of the vein responsible for returning blood from the arm to the heart.

The injury was a serious one — life-threatening, in fact, if not treated immediately. Bonderman’s surgery was successful and he’s on track to return in 2009. (His line for ‘08: 3-4 in 12 starts, 4.29 ERA, 40 strikeouts in 71.1 IP.)

In most any season, without a healthy Bonderman, the Tigers are going nowhere. His value to the team certainly was magnified in 2008.

If you’re looking for a positive outlook to end your week, look elsewhere. Here’s a taste:

Aside from a younger, more athletic band of glove men, the Tigers need about a half-dozen new pitchers. Verlander and Galarraga figure to anchor a rotation that’s woefully shorthanded, with lefties Dontrelle Willis, Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson turning into pumpkins and Jeremy Bonderman now more of a perennial injury risk than a future frontline starter. The bullpen is no better, with Todd Jones retired, Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney fighting to regain their lost command, and journeyman Aquilino Lopez the best of the 2008 bunch.

Now that hurts.

So, as I wait out this Tigers/White Sox rain delay from bright, sunny Phoenix, it’s time to weigh in on:

• Todd Jones’s Retirement. The decades-old joke in Detroit is that the most popular person in the city is the Lions’ backup QB and/or the Red Wings’ backup netminder. I think we can now add the Tigers’ setup man to that punch line. Detroit is unusually cruel to its closers. Less than a year after Willie Hernandez won the 1984 Cy Young and MVP awards, he started getting booed and it’s never stopped. Mike Henneman did too, but to a much smaller degree. The Tigers were so unwatchable during Todd Jones’s first tour of duty in Detroit, that often he was the only bright spot. Come to think of it, he was a welcome sight then because it mean the Tigers were in line for a rare win.

  But what was it about Jones in his second stint as a Tiger? What made it so infuriating? Sure, he got 93 saves in just under three seasons but his ERA was always around four and … ah, what’s the use? Jones is a good guy and I’m sure he’ll be missed by his teammates. I guess. For me, though, I’ll never be able to forgive him for not being Joe Nathan.

• Inge Returns to Third. This move makes the Tigers’ infield defense significantly better next season. With the range he covers, Inge is essentially a third baseman and a half. So even if they decide to bring back Edgar Renteria, Inge makes the left side if not a plus than definitely not a minus. Now, about that average…
• Guillen to Left. As I wrote here, I think it’s more likely that we see Carlos Guillen back at short than in left field. Why? If they put Guillen in left and a light-hitting guy at short, the Tigers lose the potential production of Matt Joyce. And, if you put Guillen in the cavern that is Comerica Park’s left field, what are the odds on him pulling a hamstring before May 1? Not good.
• Chuck Hernandez Firing. I know that Doug and others have been calling for Hernandez to lose his job as a result of the pitching staff’s tank job. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a wuss when it comes to firing coaches or managers. The rhetorical question I always ponder is: How much impact does a coach have — or can a coach expect to have — at this level? Was Hernandez, the genius of 2006, suddenly a lousy coach? I don’t think so. He was nothing more than a vessel caught in the perfect storm of Jeremy Bonderman’s injury, Dontrelle Willis’s loss of … everything, Kenny Rogers‘ age, Justin Verlander’s growing pains, and Nate Robertson’s wrought-iron physiology.

  I suppose the decision was also based on the bullpen’s lackluster year. Where do you start there? In fact, I think Hernandez should get a raise for having to deal with Fernando Rodney, Joel Zumaya, Aquilino Lopez and the rest. According to an article in the Free Press, Jim Leyland wants to go with a pitching coach and bullpen coach from the within the organization. I’m sure Joe Coleman, A. J. Sager and Ray Burris are good coaches, but if the Tigers want to show their serious, go after rockin’ Leo Mazzone or Rick Peterson.

• Jeff Jones’s Firing. I remember when Lloyd McClendon was named the Tigers’ bullpen coach for 2006. My reaction was “What does he know about a bullpen?” The answer, it would seem, was nuttin’. And if you read into this comment from Leyland, that’s precisely what the skipper wanted:
  

  “It was a weird situation, and I won’t say for sure, but I doubt that I’m going to have a pitching coach as my bullpen coach. It’s worked very well in some places, but I think it makes people uncomfortable from time to time.”

  Hmm. I would’ve thought being a pitching coach would help in guiding the bullpen. But now that I think about it, it probably makes about as much sense as having two hitting coaches – one for day games, one for night. Well, maybe not that example but perhaps there was some yin-and-yang between Hernandez’s approach and that of Jones which made Bobby Seay incapable of retiring a left-handed hitter?

• Sheff’s 500th Homer. The most entertaining parts of the weekend series against the Rays was watching Gary Sheffield’s family — including Uncle Dwight Gooden — stand up and wave homemade signs for every at bat. My favorite: “Gramma Says 500″. I sure hope Sheff gets number 500 today in Chicago. There’s been no player in my years of following the Tigers on which I’ve turned 180° like Gary Sheffield. (By the by, I loved Leyland slotting Sheff in the two spot in the order on Sunday.)

Finally, I relied heavily on DirecTV’s Extra Bases Game Mix channel over the weekend to track the playoff races. It’s one screen with eight games shown at once. I kept going back to the Mets and Marlins game, hoping to see the Mets force a playoff with the Brewers. That didn’t happen, of course, but what I did see was Cameron Maybin catch the final out at Shea Stadium.

Here we are, approaching the third weekend of August, and the Tigers are mired in third place, nine-and-a-half games out of first place. And, as I’m always reminding myself, only five games out of last place. This was supposed to be like 1984, 1968 or even 1945. It was not supposed to be like – gulp – 2005.

The Tigers record coming into this weekend series against the Orioles is 59-62. Entering play on Aug. 14, 2005, the Tigers were 53-61, 21-and-a-half-games out of first.

While the 2005 club was further back in the standings mathematically on Aug. 14, the current team feels about that far behind the White Sox and Twins. Doesn’t it?

Three years ago, Tigers fans seemed more interested in whether or not Alan Trammell would return as manager, who they’d acquire in the offseason, and what on God’s green earth to do with Carlos Pena?

Today, well, the team has probably more questions than the 2005 team did. One thing we can be assured of is Jim Leyland returning as manager. And that’s a good thing. Of course, some may disagree with that, but I believe there are very few buttons he could’ve pushed this year that would make up almost 10 games in the standings.

Here are 17 questions about the 2009 season rattling around in my head:

1. Who’s the closer in 2009?
2. Does Chuck Hernandez return as pitching coach?
3. Is Nate Robertson a Tiger next season?
4. Can Dontrelle Willis bounce back?
5. Can the Tigers deal Carlos Guillen?
6. If the Tigers can get a catcher, do they — and do they move Brandon Inge back to third?
7. Does Vance Wilson return at long last?
8. Who’s the shortstop?
9. Would they deal Magglio Ordonez as some suggest?
10. How does Jeremy Bonderman recover?
11. Is Clete Thomas on the big club to stay?
12. Who is 2009’s Matt Joyce?
13. Are the Tigers counting on Freddy Garcia?
14. Will Brent Clevlen finally break through?
15. What can the Tigers expect out of Joel Zumaya?
16. Do they sign Placido Polanco to an extension before the season?
17. What’s Gary Sheffield’s role — if any?

Ultimately, the 2005 Tigers finished 20 games under .500. Will this year’s team finish that far off the pace? Some days (i.e., against Tampa Bay) it certainly feels as if they could, but I doubt it.

I’m tending to believe that Doug’s right — 81 and 81 for this year’s club. But the fate of the 2009 team lies in how they address the pressing issues hovering over the organization.

The Gist: Hey now! Jeremy Bonderman earns a quality start — and a win — after a six-inning, eight-hit outing against the Mariners. And what do you know? The Tigers beat the Mariners 9-2 to sweep the series. Freddy Dolsi was lights-out over three innings of no-hit relief. The Tigers banged out 13 hits (43 for the series), including three from Gary Sheffield (to raise his average to .202), two from Matt Joyce and a three-run jack from Brandon Inge.

The Quote: “They want me to run on and off the mound. I smoke three packs a day.” — Jim Leyland on MLB’s efforts to accelerate games.

The Stat: .281 – Placido Polanco’s average, despite an 0 for 4 day on Thursday. Talk about flying under the radar.

Up Next: Twins @ Tigers

• Friday: Armando Galarraga (3-1, 3.06) vs. Kevin Slowey (0-4, 5.49)
• Saturday: Nate Robertson (1-5, 6.08) vs. Boof Bonser (2-5, 5.25)
• Sunday: Justin Verlander (2-7, 5.61) vs. Glen Perkins (1-1, 3.44)

Triple digits returned to the desert on Sunday — a mere 104. Today the temps approached 110.

Big whoop. If you can’t handle the heat, don’t dish out The Non Sequiturs.

Or something like that.

• Charley Steiner spoke with national baseball writer Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune this morning on XM and Rogers’ parting shot regarding the Tigers was stinging at best, dripping in reality at worst:
  

  “The Tigers have a better chance of finishing last than finishing first.”

  Yowza. (Check out Rogers’ power poll here.)

• Happy 31st Birthday to Brandon Inge. I’ve come around to the Inge-at-Third line of thinking and believe it’ll happen at the All Star Break. How all the pieces fall into — or out of — is anyone’s guess.

• I’m overdue for a game recap of the Tigers game from Sunday but will offer a short one here. Randy Johnson was totally beatable — they hit the ball hard off the gimpy southpaw all game long. But when you walk the number-eight hitter to face Johnson at the plate and proceed to walk him as Nate Robertson did, you’re not going to beat anyone.

• Speaking of the Diamondbacks, I finally got to see why they’re beating ever team in sight these days. However, if the Tigers had had Joel Zumaya or Fernando Rodney to come in and blaze some heat when Jeremy Bonderman and Robertson faltered, maybe… Oh, what’s the use?

• It would seem pretty obvious for Freddy Dolsi to be sent back to Erie when Dontrelle Willis is activated soonly, but what happens when or if Zumaya and Rodney return? Methinks that if Zach Miner’s ERA is still over eight, he’ll be sent out. One thing would seem fairly certain: Armando Galarraga stays.

Finally, Happy Birthday also to one-season Tiger Luis Salazar. He played 130 games in 1988 and hit .270 with 12 homers. (And wore number 12.) Salazar turns 52 today.

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.

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

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)

The Gist: Magglio Ordonez goes deep twice, Jeremy Bonderman continues to frustrate and Jacque Jones is added to the injury list, yet the Tigers finally reach double digits in wins, defeating the Rangers 8-2. What else?

• Curtis Granderson led off the Tigers half of the first with a home run
• Zach Miner continues his Jekyll and Hyde act with a solid 3.1 hitless innings pitched, one walk and three strikeouts
• Ryan Raburn sort of slammed his first homer of the year (replays show that it could very well have been touched by a fan in right)
• Placido Polanco returns but still struggles at the plate, going 0 for 3 with a walk. He’s hitting .140 on the year.

The Quote: “I felt like I owed the starters at least one game like that.” — Zach Miner

The Stat: 111. The number of pitches thrown by Bonderman in a mere 4.1 innings pitched.

Up Next: Angels at Tigers

Nate Robertson (0-2, 7.48) vs. Ervin Santana (3-0, 2.67)

The Gist: Jeremy Bonderman gave up just enough runs and the Tigers couldn’t capitalize on the few opportunities they had against Dustin McGowan and lost Saturday afternoon 3-2. In five innings of work, Bonderman allowed five hits, six walks (two intentional) and three runs (two earned). Pudge Rodriguez had a three-for-three day with an RBI, and Carlos Guillen continued his torrid pace: three for four to raise his average to .379 — good for second in the American League behind Baltimore’s Luke Scott (.386).

The Quote: “I’m not going to lie. I didn’t have much.” — Bonderman, after the game.

The Stat: 191. The number of times the Tigers have lost to the Blue Jays since Toronto entered the American League in 1977. The Tigers have won 161 times.

Up Next: Tigers at Blue Jays

Nate Robertson (0-1, 7.02) vs. A.J. Burnett (1-1, 7.27)

The Gist: After squandering more than a few chances early in the game, Tigers hitters teed off in the sixth and seventh innings for six runs on their way to an 8-4 win over the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Kenny Rogers pitched 6.2 innings allowing only three hits and four earned runs for his first win since July of last season. Edgar Renteria went yard in the seventh with a three-run homer. Gary Sheffield’s woes continue: he left five men on base.

The Quote: “Taking a major plunge this week are the two AL Central favorites: Detroit (to No. 27) and Cleveland (to No. 23). But with only 16 games down and 146 left to play, who really cares, right?” — From ESPN.com’s Power Rankings for April 18.

The Stat: 7. The number of walks allowed by Toronto starter David Purcey — none of which turned into Detroit runs. (Purcey was sent down to Triple-A Syracuse after the game.) Another stat worth noting: 6.43. The average ERA of the Tigers’ five starters. Tops: Jeremy Bonderman, 4.58. Pits: Dontrelle Willis: 7.20. Yikes.

I’m Just Sayin’: When Denny Bautista struck out Frank Thomas looking for the last out in the seventh, I wondered when the last time he’d gotten a hit against the Tigers — his disappearing act in the 2006 ALCS still fresh in my mind. Reading the game preview on BlueJays.com I found this tidbit:

Including the American League Division Series against the Tigers in 2006, when Thomas was with the A’s, he’s hit just .165 (11-for-67) versus Detroit over the past two years.

And there you have it.

Up Next: Tigers at Blue Jays

Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 4.58) vs. Dustin McGowan (0-1, 3.71)

The Gist: The Tigers scratched back twice against the Twins bullpen — and twice ignited by the slumping Gary Sheffield — to win for the first time at Comerica Park in 2008, 11-9. (In a span of three at bats, Sheff went from being greeted with boos to hearing his name chanted. Nice.)

The star of the game, though, was Pudge Rodriguez. He went 2-for-4 with a triple and a home run and scored two runs, including the eventual game-winner.

Jeremy Bonderman continues to frustrate The Fungo with his lack of reliability. After the Tigers inched closer in the bottom of the sixth, he let the Twins extend the lead (with some help from Bobby Seay, of course). Nevertheless, a win is a win.

The Quote: From Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan writing about Jim Leyland:

“That’s what I love about my skip, man,” Tigers DH Gary Sheffield said before Sunday’s game. “He’ll tell you that you suck. That’s what I appreciate him for. I know I suck. We know we suck.”

The Stat: 6. The minimum number of runs given up by Detroit starters over the past three games. Justin Verlander gave up six (all earned) on Saturday, Kenny Rogers yielded seven (all earned) on Sunday, and Bonderman allowed seven (four earned) on Monday night.

I’m Just Sayin’: I’m listening to an audiobook titled “The 4-Hour Workweek.” Along the way, author Timothy Ferriss says that if you want to maximize your time, you’ve got to minimize the stuff you shouldn’t be doing. He calls it “permission to quit” or something: If the book is bad, stop reading. If the movie is bad, walk out. Bad meal? Quit eating. And so on.

Tonight I almost — almost — put that idea into practice in the top of the seventh inning. So frustrated was I about the Twins padding the lead (and the Wings letting theirs slip at the same time), I was ready to watch the end of the CMT Music Awards with my daughter.

Luckily, cooler heads prevailed.

A great win. And for the third time this year, Tigers fans wonder if a two-game winning streak is in the offing.

Up Next: Tuesday at Comerica Park: Nate Robertson (0-1, 7.84 ERA) vs. Scott Baker (2-0, 4.63 ERA)

The Gist: What do you know? The Tigers were shutout again and Kenny Rogers got lit-up for seven earned runs in five innings. The offense called in sick.

The Quote: “If I had wanted you guys to know what I said to the team, I would have invited you in.” — Jim Leyland, after a post-game tongue lashing that may or may not rouse this team’s slumbering offense.

The Stat: 2. Despite an 0-4 day on Sunday, the Tigers’ Clete Thomas is second among all American League rookies with a .370 batting average, while he is tied for second with three multi-hit games, third with 12 total bases and tied for third with 10 hits.

I’ve got nothing more to say than what’s in the most recent episode of the podcast. Thank heaven for a new week.

Up Next: Tigers and Twins from Comerica Park tonight. Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 3.97) vs. Nick Blackburn (0-1, 2.25)