MLB Season 2006 thread

[Lou_Siffer 1]

hope its a good game today:)

and batting 5th...Alexis Gomez.

Now ive seen everything

[UnderPressure 0]

Has anyone else heard the White Sox announcers?  And if you have, do you agree with me that they're about the worst announcers in history?  Biggest homers you've ever heard - you expect a little home-team perspective no matter what, but with these guys it's worse than anything you'll hear out of a Divealanche homer.  They never call their players by their names, always nicknames that nobody else has for them.  And they have no clue how to call a game - they'll sit there in total stone silence while three pitches go by, then one will go out on a limb with "Y'know, a home run would be really nice right about here."  "Sure would."  Then three more pitches of silence.

Worst part is I know I've heard them before - about ten years ago.  Or at least, I know that ten years ago, I heard the White Sox TV announcers continally refer to the Sox as the good guys and say things like "and we go to the top of the 7th, score is 5-2, bad guys."  So either these clowns have been allowed to stay on the air for an obscenely long time, or the White Sox have a policy mandated complete on-air idiocy.

Yup. Harrelson is the worst announcer in baseball history, if not in ALL of sports.

Here's a website dedicated to him:

http://heavethehawk.com/

Edited April 18, 2006 by UnderPressure

[Lou_Siffer 1]

6 straight televised Tigers games?? I cant believe it, how can this be true? Is this the twilight zone?

[betterREDthandead 58]

For once the Tigers put runs on the board without Chris Shelton's help! Excellent.

Big Red is too boring a nickname for Shelton. It's been done. He needs to be called Red Pop. So very Detroit. Much better than Big Red, which sounds like it should always be said with a strong Texas drawl.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

I like Red Bull...or even Red Dog. But yeah Red Pop is also much better than Big Red...that is soooooo damn played out. Everyone with red hair is nicknamed Big Red at some point..male or female, including people i know. I mean come on, lets get a little creative.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Bonderman throws (almost) nothing but fastballs to Oakland hitters and they tag him for three runs in the first. Stops throwing so many fastballs and he starts mowing them down. Imagine that.

Now they just need to be PATIENT DAMMIT. Zito's throwing pretty wildly today. Lay off the junk already and wait for one.

[BlakChamber 8]

I read something, can't remember who or where, that suggested Bonderman isn't going to be an ace because he's basically a 2 pitch pitcher, his fastball and his slider. Because he was rushed to the bigs so early, he never really had a chance to develop his change up.

Obviously, he can still develop a change, but its going to be tougher to develop a pitch when you're throwing it to big-league hitters.

You can certainly be a success in the bullpen with two pitches, but you're not going to be an ace with only two.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Funny that all the nicknames for Shelton (the non-Big Red ones) are drinks.

Nice to see the Tigs get a comeback win today. Even though Rodney sure made it interesting. Ken Macha is going to be second-guessed for a week on his decision to try and close it out with Duchscherer instead of Street. Made them pay for that one

[dallas27 7]

FIFTEEN (15) PITCHES!!! That was so crazy, seemed like Inge was up there for 15 minutes haha. Good come back though, they finally got some strikes thrown to them and took advantage.

I was so waiting for Rodney to just blow it by him on the last pitch. You knnneeeewwwww it was coming.

[betterREDthandead 58]

FIFTEEN (15) PITCHES!!! That was so crazy, seemed like Inge was up there for 15 minutes haha. Good come back though, they finally got some strikes thrown to them and took advantage.

I was so waiting for Rodney to just blow it by him on the last pitch. You knnneeeewwwww it was coming.

That at-bat really showed a lot about Inge. What a professional hitter. Knows he doesn't have to get the BIG HIT to be the hero and drive in runs. He just fouled off the crap he didn't like instead of swinging at just any offering and striking out or grounding into a double play. One of those situations where a walk is as good as a hit, and it loaded the bases to set up the winning run. GREAT at-bat.

(he got bailed out a little by the first base ump though. but still.)

[betterREDthandead 58]

Todd Jones is back and the Tigers sent Spurling to Toledo. That sorta surprises me. I really do think Tata ought to be in Toledo starting every fifth day. But Spurling hasn't been all there so far, and Tata's better than held his own, despite never playing higher than, what, Lakeland?

Guess that puts Rodney back in the setup role. Getting Jones back is a big boost to the 'pen. We've got a bullpen that can really slam the door on people.

[BlakChamber 8]

Guess that puts Rodney back in the setup role. Getting Jones back is a big boost to the 'pen. We've got a bullpen that can really slam the door on people.

Even though Rodney has done well so far, he still makes me nervous. At least German and Yan are gone. Those guys would give you a heart attack every time they threw the ball.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

I was all set to come on here and make a crack about Fernando GERMAN blowing it...but what do ya know he comes through! Great win. I still dont like Inge in clutch situations though, he always seems to strike out with long, deliberate swings....and well technically he did but got lucky. Outstanding at bat though, I was actually more impressed with Granderson though. Young guy, bases loaded, top of the 9th...to actually get a walk and not try to be the big power hero was impressive. Especially given that last pitch was so close.

Did not expect Spurling to get sent down, weird choice. I figured it would be Tata or Grilli, with Tata either starting in Toledo or taking over Grilli's long relief role.

Correct, Tata has never been above Lakeland.

Edited April 21, 2006 by Lou_Siffer

[betterREDthandead 58]

I used to have zero faith in Rodney as well....and I can't believe how long he's been around. Since 2002. I always think of him as this up-and-coming prospect sort, but he's 29. I don't think he'll ever lose his wildness, but hopefully that will work a little bit to his advantage. He can accidentally brush someone back with a 96 fastball and then freeze 'em with that real nice change. Would never work for a starter, but once through the lineup it's nearly unhittable.

[dallas27 7]

That at-bat really showed a lot about Inge. What a professional hitter. Knows he doesn't have to get the BIG HIT to be the hero and drive in runs. He just fouled off the crap he didn't like instead of swinging at just any offering and striking out or grounding into a double play. One of those situations where a walk is as good as a hit, and it loaded the bases to set up the winning run. GREAT at-bat.

(he got bailed out a little by the first base ump though. but still.)

No doubt, once you get to that point you are just trying to stay alive. Just keep fouling them off untill you get one that you can get good look at and crush or untill you make the pitcher make the mistake. He did a damn fine job. He did get bailed out but I didn't think he went around untill I saw the reply, good thing the umps don't have that advantage we do haha. It was either the 7th or the 8th, think it was the 8th, that he made a nice ass play to throw the guy out on the line as well.

I can't believe Pudge is 1 for 13 in the series so far

[betterREDthandead 58]

If Pudge can go 1 for 13 and the Tigers take two out of three from Oakland, that just shows how far the Tigers have come. I was just thinking as I watched the game yesterday, the Tigers have a better lineup, top to bottom, than the A's do, and that means they've come a long way. Even if they went with their strongest lineup with Kielty in LF and Swisher instead of Johnson at 1B, the Tigers are better up and down the batting order. Might even be better 1 through 5 in the rotation too. Who would you rather have, Nate Robertson (who I consider #5) or Joe Blanton? The A's are a perennial playoff team, so this is encouraging.

[timothy1997 0]

sorry..wrong quote..still trying to figure out these new boards.

A's are a playoff team only because they are in the worst divison in the American League, maybe worst in MLB next to the NL West. Yes, the tigers are a better team overall than the A's. The Tigers match up with a lot of teams. The Tigers have come along way.

Edited April 21, 2006 by timothy1997

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Its funny how when it comes to the game being on the line, all of a sudden a team with a so so lineup looks like the Yankees to you. With every A who came up i panicked, like "oh f**k not Milton Bradley!!! "Or "oh great its over...here comes Kendall... damn this lineup is good!" lol

Ive never really liked Fernando Rodney, and was glad we added Jones. But when you got a 96mph fastball and that great change, you should be killer for 1 inning.

I have a question for you guys. What Tigers hitter do you have the most confindence in when he comes up to the plate??? For me it would be either Polanco or Guillen,...but i'd pick Guillen since he's got more power.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Its funny how when it comes to the game being on the line, all of a sudden a team with a so so lineup looks like the Yankees to you. With every A who came up i panicked, like "oh f**k not Milton Bradley!!! "Or "oh great its over...here comes Kendall... damn this lineup is good!" lol

Ive never really liked Fernando Rodney, and was glad we added Jones. But when you got a 96mph fastball and that great change, you should be killer for 1 inning.

I have a question for you guys. What Tigers hitter do you have the most confindence in when he comes up to the plate??? For me it would be either Polanco or Guillen,...but i'd pick Guillen since he's got more power.

That's a toughy. Nobody in the lineup really makes me expect a hit. Then again, nobody makes me expect a weak grounder to second, either, which is a vast improvement over teams of the past.

I'll have to go with Polanco. He's the one guy I don't really worry about him striking out. Polanco's the guy I want up there with a runner on third, because he'll get that run across, whether by slapping a base hit through the infield or hitting a sac fly. He'll make contact.

[timothy1997 0]

Its funny how when it comes to the game being on the line, all of a sudden a team with a so so lineup looks like the Yankees to you. With every A who came up i panicked, like "oh f**k not Milton Bradley!!! "Or "oh great its over...here comes Kendall... damn this lineup is good!" lol

Ive never really liked Fernando Rodney, and was glad we added Jones. But when you got a 96mph fastball and that great change, you should be killer for 1 inning.

I have a question for you guys. What Tigers hitter do you have the most confindence in when he comes up to the plate??? For me it would be either Polanco or Guillen,...but i'd pick Guillen since he's got more power.

See, i will agree with you based on more power from Guillen. But this lineup is not lined up with sure hitters. The Tigers are a team where one person can be hot and the rest of the team warm and still be good. Lot of different guys 1-9 that can step in and lead the team. Hell with 2 outs and a man on at third...i might pick inge to bring him home. thats how deep the tigers are.

[BlakChamber 8]

I'll have to go with Polanco. He's the one guy I don't really worry about him striking out. Polanco's the guy I want up there with a runner on third, because he'll get that run across, whether by slapping a base hit through the infield or hitting a sac fly. He'll make contact.

I have to go with Polanco as well. If Guillen returns to his 2004 form, I might change my mind. But right now I'll take Polanco.

I think we need to set a cut off date to be a "true" Tigers fan this season. Seperate us from the bandwagoners

[timothy1997 0]

I have to go with Polanco as well. If Guillen returns to his 2004 form, I might change my mind. But right now I'll take Polanco.

I think we need to set a cut off date to be a "true" Tigers fan this season. Seperate us from the bandwagoners

that date is rapidly approaching.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Hell my cutoff date for bandwagoners was about 2 years ago!

I dont know, everytime Guillen comes up i just feel good about his chances. Even yesterday when he was down 0-2 in the count, I still wasnt worried.

What theyre doing with that 5th spot in the order is seriously starting to irritate me! Thames, Gomez, Inge...come on!

[betterREDthandead 58]

Hell my cutoff date for bandwagoners was about 2 years ago!

I dont know, everytime Guillen comes up i just feel good about his chances. Even yesterday when he was down 0-2 in the count, I still wasnt worried.

What theyre doing with that 5th spot in the order is seriously starting to irritate me! Thames, Gomez, Inge...come on!

Thames has batted cleanup for a couple games too Jim Leyland has some weird ideas about the middle of the order. Inge, I don't mind in that 5th spot, but I still think Guillen needs to be there. Inge is great as a 9th hitter to set the table for the top of the lineup. Thames, Gomez, and yes, Monroe have 7th and 8th written all over them. Infante, too.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

I like Inge, but its like i said earlier...when taken out of the 9th spot he just doesnt seem to do anything. Leyland is so hell bent on leaving Shelton at 6th!

Yeah Ive seen Thames at cleanup, ugh..thats just one of those moves that really frustrates me. Ok so he has power, big deal. You still need to have your best hitters in that 3-4-5 heart of the order...and Thames sure as hell aint one of them. If anything put Monroe up there over Thames, at least he's shown power at the BIG LEAGUE level over a full season.