• 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
Magglio Ordonez
Placido Polanco
Ivan Rodriguez
Justin Verlander

2009 (86-77)
Curtis Granderson
Brandon Inge
Edwin Jackson
Justin Verlander

Clearly, the better the Tigers were, the more players they sent to the All-Star Game. For a long time though, the Tigers were a team that had little to offer the American League manager. From 1996 through 2003, Detroit sent a single player to the game. In some cases the pickings were particularly slim (see 2002).

1996 (53-109)
Travis Fryman

1997 (79-83)
Justin Thompson

1998 (65-97)
Damion Easley

1999 (69-92)
Brad Ausmus

2000 (79-83)
Todd Jones

2001 (66-96)
Tony Clark

2002 (55-106)
Robert Fick

2003 (43-119)
Dmitri Young

Ugly, no?

• I still think it’s remarkable that Alex Avila is the starting catcher in tonight’s game. Whoda thunk it, especially after a dreadful Opening Day series against the Yankees when Avila looked about as lost as a player can look. I guess that’s why, as Rod Allen says, you play the games. Jason Beck has a nice piece recapping the Tigers’ All Stars’ respective experiences in Phoenix.

• The water is so far past being under the bridge, but isn’t it still a bit weird to see Curtis Granderson starting in the All-Star Game … as a Yankee?

• Six years ago today in the Home Run Derby at Comerica Park, Bobby Abreu destroyed the records for a single round, the championship round and the grand total for all three rounds of the derby by hitting 41 homers into every part of yard. The Phillies outfielder went deep 24 times in the first round, tacks on six more in the second round and finishes with 11 more in the championship round.

• Looking ahead to the pitching matchups for this weekend’s series against the White Sox:

Friday | 7:05 p.m. FSD/1270 & 97.1
Justin Verlander (12-4, 2.15 ERA) vs. Gavin Floyd (6-9, 4.59 ERA)

Saturday | 4:10 p.m. FOX/1270 & 97.1
Max Scherzer (10-4, 4.69 ERA) vs. Edwin Jackson (5-7, 4.30 ERA)

Sunday | 1:05 p.m. FSD/1270 & 97.1
Brad Penny (6-6, 4.50 ERA) vs. Jake Peavy (4-2, 4.83 ERA)

• Hey, look who’s available: The Dodgers designated Marcus Thames for assignment today.

• Happy Birthday to Mike Schwabe (47) and Mike Munoz (46).

Finally, on this date in 1979 the White Sox were forced to forfeit the second game of twi-night doubleheader against the Tigers when more tha5,000 fans refuse to leave the field during Disco Demolition Night. I wrote about it on the 30th anniversary.

So I’ll spare them the details and provide new readers with the gist: I attended the Rockies’ first-ever home game at Mile High Stadium against the Expos in April 1993 (thanks to a grueling roadtrip with Fungo contributor Doug Hill). I attended the first-ever game at Coors Field in April 1995 – Rockies versus Mets. And, I was there for the Rockies’ first-ever postseason game in 1995 against the Braves.

What’s more, I’ve always considered Coors Field to be my favorite big-league park, though last summer the San Diego’s Petco Park might – might – have caught up to it.

With that background, please understand this: I never root for the Rockies over the Tigers.

And now this:

• The Tigers’ All-Time Record against the Rockies is 7-11. All-time at Comerica Park: 5-4; at Coors Field: 2-7.
• On this date in 1958 Ozzie Virgil, who became the first black man to play for the Tigers 11 days earlier, went 5 for 5 in his first home game at Briggs Stadium.
• According to this story over at MLB Trade Rumors, there’s a lot of interest in former Tigers number-one pick and current Red Sox reclamation project Andrew Miller. How much interest? Enough, apparently, that the word “tampering” was used to describe it. Would it surprise you that according to Peter Gammons the Yankees were involved?
• Remember this? Three years ago today Marcus Thames homered for the fifth game in a row. His last eight hits had all been home runs.

Finally, Happy 48th Birthday to Matt Kinzer, who pitched 1.2 innings for the 1990 Tigers. He gave up three walks, three hits, three earned runs in that outing – but he didn’t take the loss.

Have a great weekend.

Marcus who?

According to Dodgers’ propaganda, this no-name thumper hits a home run every 15.58 at-bats — ranking him 27th in baseball history. Yowza!

Now you would think anyone ranked 27th in baseball history in anything would be a household name, but in his own clubhouse no one seems quite sure how to pronounce his name.

The Dodgers, while gushing about his stats, instructed everyone in their propaganda to call him “Tims,” while Tims tells everyone else his name is pronounced “Tems.”

I just know this: It’s hard to believe such a monster with the bat would be available as a free agent and so cheaply the Dodgers could afford to sign him.

And that’s about the nicest part. It’s not often you see something as vicious as this in a mainstream paper.

Dodgers camp must certainly be boring if Simers has to resort to trashing a guy.

Yankees

• Curtis Granderson
• Marcus Thames

Rays

• Carlos Pena
• Matt Joyce
• Gabe Kapler

Rangers

• Matt Treanor
• Colby Lewis

Giants

• Aubrey Huff
• Edgar Renteria
• Cody Ross
• Andres Torres

Braves

• Kyle Farnsworth
• Jair Jurrjens
• Omar Infante

Phillies

• Placido Polanco
• Chad Durbin

Tigers’ Record:

36-29, 2nd place; 1.5 GB Minnesota

Tomorrow’s Game

Tigers vs. Diamondbacks | 7:05 p.m. ET – Comerica Park | On the air: FSD/AM 1270 and 97.1 FM

Pitching Matchup

Armando Galarraga (2-1, 2.67 ERA) vs. Dontrelle Willis (1-0, 1.80 ERA)

Tigers History Lesson

Today’s Birthdays

• Matt Kinzer, 43

On this Date in Tigers History

• 2008 — Marcus Thames homers for the fifth game in a row for the Tigers in the club’s 5-1 victory over the Giants at AT&T Park. His last eight hits have all been home runs.

• 1998 — Tony Clark hits homers from both sides of the plate in the Tigers’ 6-2 win over the Twins at Tiger Stadium.

• 1993 — The Tigers hit five home runs, including a pair each by Travis Fryman and Dan Gladden, in a 9-5 win over the Indians. Carlos Baerga hit three for the Tribe. Baerga, Fryman and Gladden also tie an American League record for three players with two or more home runs in a nine-inning game.

• 1967 — A nine-hour and five-minute doubleheader between the Tigers and Kansas City Athletics sets a major-league record for the longest ever. The first game includes a rain delay, and the second goes 19 innings before a Dave Duncan home run gives the Athletics a 6-5 victory. The Tigers win the opener, 7-6.

• 1958 — Ozzie Virgil, who became the first Africa-American man to play for the Tigers 11 days earlier, goes 5-for-5 in his first home game at Briggs Stadium. The Dominican’s performance helps Detroit beat the Washington Senators, 9-2.

1. Happy Birthday, Nate. Today’s starter is 32. Other notable Tigers birthdays today: Luis Gonzalez (42) and Steve Boros (73). (It’s also the birthday of my little boy!)

2. Catching up on Tigers Playoff Odds from Baseball Prospectus: We’re now looking at 68.86481 percent for a playoff spot. Inching up.

3. Here’s a piece I enjoyed. Titled “What The World Needs Now is Rob Deer”, Clayton Trutor at American Polymath.com explains why the good old-fashioned slugger needs a comeback. Here’s a hilarious nugget:
   

   In 1992, Deer put together the most outlandish home run to RBI ratio ever: 32 home runs, 64 runs batted in. Even on a bad team, like the ’92 Tigers, this shouldn’t be possible.

   He might not have Deer’s bulk, but perhaps Marcus Thames is this generation’s all-or-nothing guy?

Celebrate Nate! I might be the only person in the Tigers Fan Universe looking forward to Robertson’s return to the rotation. Ian?

Today’s Walewanders are fueled by Almighty Blend coffee from Ann Arbor’s Mighty Good Coffee Roasting Co., sent along by the aforementioned Mr. Casselberry.

• Confession: When the Tigers lose, I don’t read the game stories, I don’t listen to The Baseball Today podcast, I don’t seek out game highlights. Frees up a lot of time and I recommend it.
• Today’s game marks the last time the Tigers face the Angels in the regular season. That means you’ll have to wait until next year to hear Rod Allen gush over Torii Hunter.
• While we wait for Aubrey Huff‘s bat to arrive from Baltimore, let’s review the performance of Tigers players that have worn #19 this decade:
  • 2009: Huff, .083, one RBI
  • 2008-09: Jeff Larish, .242, 6 HR, 23 RBI
  • 2005: Exavier Prente Nook Logan, .264, 31 stolen bases
  • 2003-04: Alex Sanchez .304, 63 stolen bases
  • 2002: Worn by hitting coach (and Flint native) Merv Rettenmund
  • 2001: Roger Cedeno, .293, 11 triples, 55 stolen bases
  • 2000: Juan Gonzalez, .289, 22 HR, 67 RBI.
• Brandon Inge‘s tattoos. Methinks he’ll regret that decision when he’s 65. If not sooner.
• I don’t care that Ramon Santiago and Adam Everett are hitting a combined .247. Give me their defense and occasional base hit (or homer, as Everett showed today) over Edgar Renteria.
• Two homers in Oakland or not, I don’t want to see Ryan Raburn batting third ever again. Ever.
• Enough of the Magglio Ordonez bashing already. The Tigers had to overpay players to come to Detroit in 2004 and ’05 and this is the (steep) cost of doing business. Live and learn. Though, the overpaying of Dontrelle Willis makes one believe the “learn” part of the equation needs more attention.
• Speaking of The Baseball Today, on this morning’s episode, host Eric Karabell says he can’t see the Tigers beating the Yankees or Angels in first-round series. It’s beginning to sound a lot like 2006…
• Marcus Thames isn’t on the 2010 Tigers, is he?
• As for the postseason, I’m dreaming of a Tigers/Rockies World Series – my two favorite teams, baby. Well, Tigers/Dodgers would be sweet, too. In fact, even sweeter. Never mind.
• The Porcello/Youkilis Summit seems like a distant memory and for that we should all be thankful. Here are the results of our recent Fungo Pulse Check poll in which readers ranked the brawls. The question: Tale of the Tape: Which Tigers Brawl Ranks as Your Most Memorable?
  • 1982: Dave Rozema’s Kung-Foolery (37%, 10 Votes)
  • 2000: Sixteen Ejected at Comiskey (37%, 10 Votes)
  • 1980: Al Cowens’ Payback to Ed Farmer (19%, 5 Votes)
  • 2009: Porcello v. Youkilis (7%, 2 Votes)

  Reader Ed reminded me in the comments here about the fight in Kansas City (was it 2001?) in which Jeff Weaver plunked Mike Sweeney. That’s when we all realized how much Weav’s teammates loved him…very little.

Finally, Happy 45th Birthday to Chad Kreuter — who also wore #19 (and hit .263 for Detroit from 1992 through ’94).

The dad, possibly sauced, assuredly angry, took every opportunity to rip the Tigers’ DH that night, Gary Sheffield. His major beef was the wasted talent sitting on the bench in the person of Marcus Thames. His poor teenage son looked weary and sat mute as dad ripped Sheff — who, by the by, went 2 for 4 that night. In other words, at least four times he tore into Sheffield and twice he had to pull back a bit.

Until the bottom of the ninth.

That’s when Thames appeared from the dugout as a pinch hitter for Clete Thomas — and promptly shot a single to left. Even before Thames got to the plate the duo jumped — jumped! — into the cool evening air, missing each other with high-fives and spilling dad’s fifth beer. They became even more giddy with Thames’s single and, man, did pops lob a rapid-fire series of I-told-you-so‘s toward Jim Leyland. Two hitters later, Cabrera went yard and the father and son went home vindicated.

With the news of Sheffield being jettisoned this morning, Marcus Thames is now the Tigers’ more-or-less regular DH and we’ll see if he really can hit 30-plus homers if given the chance. (Actually, I thought we learned last year that the Thames-as-Hank-Greenberg theory carried no weight, but I guess we’ll see…again.)

If you stayed with me through that circuitous tale, I owe you one.

Now, what to make of this roster move. I’ll admit it falls into that category of surprised but not surprised for me. I wanted Sheff to succeed in Detroit and thought he would. Even in 2009. The basis of my reasoning, at least in the past six weeks, were reports from Lakeland that he was scalding the ball again.

Or, as we learned today, not.

Either way, I tend to agree with Lynn Henning that getting Sheff was a wise move at the time. The Tigers had just lost the World Series and wanted to add another weapon to a lineup that slept through that painful week against St. Louis.

I don’t know that I agree with Henning that the Tigers will regret it later this season. The move was made for versatility reasons and, if that’s the story, then not having Sheffield clogging the DH spot and freeing-up more at bats for Jeff Larish and others is a good thing. Probably a great thing.

Yet, it’ll be interesting to see where Sheff lands. (My hope is that it’s not with the Blue Jays where he could hit #500 off Justin Verlander on Opening Day. Oy.) And can you imagine if he goes to the Phillies and underachieves? Think the Philly fans would be forgiving? Woo-doggie. And if the White Sox sign him, look out.

As the Tigers’ DH, Marcus Thames will make about $12 million less than Sheffield this year. But ultimately, the move was about giving the job to a younger guy who can produce at a higher level. The Tigers believe it’s Thames.

And I know of at least two fans who agree.

Here’s how Baseball Prospectus 2009 summed up Josh Anderson:

Now 26, he’s still nothing more than a fifth outfielder.

Nice.

Atlanta gets pitching prospect Rudy Darrow.

More to come, but three things come to mind:

1. Does this mean it’s the end of the line for Marcus Thames?
2. Why would the Tigers give up pitching for a fifth outfielder?
3. Is he insurance for the recuperating Clete Thomas?

What do you think of this move?

• Rob Neyer yesterday linked to this list of The Worst Contracts in Baseball and, no, the entire Tigers roster does not appear. But there is some significant Detroit representation: five lousy contracts. Take a peek for yourself. What do you think? How bad is it?

• With the positive reaction to Edwin Jackson‘s Tigers debut last week I thought I’d check in on Matt Joyce‘s Spring Training so far. And based on this, it has not been a good one — at least not yet.

• Happy Birthday to former Tigers outfielder Hiram Bochachica, perhaps the best name ever. He’s 33 today. On July 25, 2002, the Dodgers traded Bocachica to the Tigers for a player to be named later and minor leaguer Tom Farmer. The Tigers sent Jason Frasor to the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete the trade on Sept. 18 of that year. Frasor’s still hanging around as reliever for the Blue Jays.

• The no-brainer continues.

• I’ll admit that I was watching the Manny Ramirez saga more closely than I typically would. Why? Because I was bracing myself for Ken Williams‘ and the White Sox’s stealth swoop-in-and-sign. You know they were thinking about it.

• Of course I like Marcus Thames. Who doesn’t? I’d just rather see Brent Clevlen make the team this year.

Finally, a public-service message wrapped in a question. Since launching The Daily Fungo in 2006, I’ve been trying to avoid running the ubiquitous Google ads for two reasons:

1. No one likes them.
2. No one clicks them.

Now the question: If I were to drop some ads into the site — very few and very unobtrusive — would it bother you as a reader? I’m not sure that I am going go to bring in ads, but I wanted your thoughts. (If I did decide to run ads, don’t be afraid to click them.)

The Score: Tigers 5 – Orioles 1

The Gist: Justin Verlander dominated — 8.2 IP, three hits, three walks, three strikeouts — and Magglio Ordonez and Marcus Thames went yard to lead the Tigers to a series split against the pesky Orioles. Brandon Inge made the play of the week, if not the year, for the final out of the game (to save Todd Jones‘s bacon).

The Quote: “One of the hottest days I can remember.” — Inge on the conditions at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, 96 at game time.

The Stat: 7. The number of points Gary Sheffield (.225) has over Inge’s batting average.

Up Next: Tigers @ Royals

Zach Miner (3-3, 4.23) vs. Luke Hochevar (6-7, 5.10)

The Score: Tigers 6 – Orioles 5

The Gist: Gary Sheffield went yard (almost twice), as did Marcus Thames and Brandon Inge, and Kenny Rogers pitched just good enough to win the opening game of the four-gamer against the Orioles. Magglio Ordonez went 1 for 5 in his return from the DL. In the eighth, Baltimore leftfielder Jay Payton robbed Sheffield of his second homer of the game. Todd Jones freaked everyone out for his 18th nearly blown save.

The Quote: “But like I say, `If you see something, say something.’” — Sheffield on his willingness to take hitting advice from, say, a former big-league star that Jim Leyland ran into in New York this week.

The Stat: 13. The number of baserunners Rogers allowed (11 hits, two walks) in six innings of work.

Up Next: Tigers @ Orioles

Armando Galarraga (7-3, 3.27) vs. Daniel Cabrera (6-5, 4.33)

The Score: Tigers 9 – Indians 2

The Gist: Justin Verlander was virtually unhittable — two hits, seven strikeouts over seven innings — and Miguel Cabrera showed serious muscle in going 4-for-4 with two homers as the Tigers rolled over the cratering Indians, 9-2. Marcus Thames hit a home run to right field — right field — on a swing that typically results in a homer only in backyard wiffle ball.

The Quote: “Last year, he weighed 25 or 30 pounds heavier and hit .400.” — Jim Leyland, dabbling in the art of exaggeration re: Cabrera.

The Stat: 8. The number of RBI from the Tigers’ top-four hitters on Tuesday night.

Up Next: Indians @ Tigers*

Eddie Bonine (2-1, 4.30) vs. Paul Byrd (3-10, 5.53)

*And I’ll be at Comerica Park to watch it.

The Score: Tigers 4 – Rockies 3

The Gist: Dane Sardinha tripled for his first big-league hit and drove in two runs to power the Tigers to a sweep of the Rockies. Kenny Rogers allowed three runs in six innings and raised his record to one above the .500 mark. Marcus Thames went 3 for 4 with an RBI.

The Quote: “Couldn’t hit the kid [Dolsi] and Jones, we got him last night, couldn’t get him today.” — Rockies manager Clint Hurdle

The Stat: 42. The number of hits for the Tigers in the three-game series.

Up Next: Tigers @ Twins

Armando Galarraga (7-2, 3.32) vs. Glen Perkins (4-2, 4.47)

*If you don’t get the headline reference, click here to read about another one-hit wonder. Well, sorta.

The Gist: Kenny Rogers pitched good enough to win — only if the offense provides nine runs, of course — and Marcus Thames hit a grand slam to lead the Tigers to a soggy on the outside, sunny on the inside, second-consectuive win over the Mariners, 9-4.

The Quote: “The political answer is I’m rooting for the guy who signs the checks.” — Pittsburgh-resident Jim Leyland on his rooting interest in the Stanley Cup Finals.

The Stat: 31. The number of hits the Tigers have collected in the past two games. They tallied 19 in the three-game weekend series against the Diamondbacks. Go figure.

My Two Cents: Yeah, yeah. The Tigers are thumping the Mariners. They also took the Rangers to the woodshed last month and that little roll didn’t last. If the offense continues to motor through the weekend series against the Twins, maybe I’ll be more optimistic.

Did you know…? The Tigers have yet to win on Sunday in the 2008 season? Yep, they’re 0 and 6. Counting tonight’s win, the Tigers are 6-2 on Wednesdays, by far their winningest day of the week.

The Gist: Tigers lose a slugfest, 12-6, to the Red Sox. Nate Robertson throws 107 pitches in 5.1 innings, gives up four earned runs — but strikes out 6. Go figure. Magglio Ordonez hit his first homer and drove in his first run of 2008.

The Quote: “Showing up every day isn’t enough. There are a lot of guys who show up who shouldn’t have showed up at all.” — James Caan, actor.

The Stats:

• 43: Robertson’s pitch count in the fourth inning alone.
• 22: The number of runners left on base by the Tigers.
• 12: Runners LOB by Detroit’s number-three through six hitters. (Marcus Thames had nearly half that many himself, 5.)

Up Next: Game 10 – Tigers at White Sox. Dontrelle Willis (0-0, 5.40) vs. Gavin Floyd (0-1, 4.50)

The Stat: 5. The number of men left on base by Gary Sheffield on Wednesday. Sheff must be channeling his inner Craig Monroe these days.

I’m Just Sayin’: This season has been so bizarre that it’s difficult to wrap the brain around it. Beyond the oh-fer start, the pitching has been sub-optimal and the hitting — oh, the hitting! But what in the world is happening when Placido Polanco starts, as Ian Casselberry said this evening, a new streak based on consecutive games with an error?

It’s been a while since Tigers fans hoped for a 2-7 record, but that’s the sitch tomorrow night.