May 19, 2008

The Non Sequiturs: Triple-Digit Heat Edition

Like Nuke LaLoosh, summer is announcing its presence with authority.
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 [...]

May 13, 2008

Game 39: An E for the Day*

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 [...]

May 7, 2008

Game 34: Knuckled Under

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 [...]

May 1, 2008

Game 29: Bronx Cheers

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 [...]

May 1, 2008

Sweep…Sweep…Sweep

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 [...]

May 1, 2008

A Look Back at April

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: [...]

April 26, 2008

Game 24: Best Game of the Year?

The Gist: The Tigers lost 4-3 to the Angels in one of the best baseball games the Tigers have played this year — i.e., both teams played well. Nate Robertson gave up four runs in the Angels fourth and the Tigers chipped away but couldn’t overcome Ervin Santana. Curtis Granderson went yard for the second [...]

April 21, 2008

Game 19: The Hex-stein Lives On

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: The Tigers lost 5-3 to the Toronto Blue Jays Sunday at Rogers Centre. Nate Robertson showed no sign of turning the corner for the Tigers and allowed five runs on eight hits in five innings of work to take the loss. Clete Thomas led the Tigers offense with three [...]

April 16, 2008

Game 14: Tigers Borrow Rally Monkey Again

ESPN highlights available here.
The Gist: Powered by four home runs — solo shots from Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez and a two-run dinger from Miguel Cabrera — the Tigers defeated the Twins 6-5 and swept the mini-series. Nate Robertson appears to be working his way back into form with 6.1 innings pitched, four [...]

April 10, 2008

Game 9: Exasperation Express Chugs Along

ESPN highlights available here.
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. [...]