Detroit Tigers

By billfer Some minor league news and notes: Not sure if Drucker would look to recoup the $25K if he were returned to the Tigers. A look at some minor league notes including Scot Drucker's modest proposal, Ronnie Bourquin's suspension, and the AFL championship game.

By Kurt Mensching Sizemore -- OK, that goes without saying. He's already written in as the Tigers' second baseman in 2010.Ryan Strieby -- The left fielder / first baseman slugger is definitely the kind of player teams would want to steal away from Detroit. Possibly:

If they make trades for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson, the Tigers will get pitching in the exchange. And, you can bet, a shortstop. And maybe a prospect at third base.

Baseball's hot-stove stewards figure it's a matter of time before a supposedly cost-cutting franchise announces the trades of Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson.

By Kurt Mensching Bean Stringfellow, Wagner's agent, said Monday that eight clubs have called to express interest in Wagner, a Type A free agent. The best way to put it," Stringfellow said, "is that the teams that called are aware that he's a Type A free agent, and they're calling anyway." snip*

By billfer Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski douses talk of fire sale | detnews.com | The Detroit News Lynn Henning spoke Dombrowski who further reiterated that the Tigers aren't in salary dumping mode. I think we knew this, but it hasn't stopped the dozens of articles that include "and the Tigers who are bein...

By Kurt Mensching Kansas City's Zack Greinke was awarded for his stellar season with the American League Cy Young Award from the Baseball Writers Association of America on Tuesday. Seattle's Felix Hernandez, who had a nice year as well, finished as runner-up.

Tigers pitcher Edwin Jackson returned to the Fort Benning Military Base in Columbus, Ga., earlier this month. Jackson lived at Fort Benning as a youth.

Kansas City's Zack Greinke earned 25 of 28 first-place votes to outdistance Seattle's Felix Hernandez, who finished second. New York's CC Sabathia and Toronto's Roy Halladay were fourth and fifth, respectively.

By billfer Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and starting pitcher Justin Verlander were voted the Tigers’ top positional player and top pitcher of 2009, in a vote conducted by the Detroit Independent Baseball Scribes. Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and starting pitcher J...

I understand the economics around here, and I understand the nature of baseball. The Tigers have some tough decisions this offseason. If they're really thinking about trading All-Stars Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson, I think they're nuts.

Tom Brookens kept showing up at third base for the Tigers, year after year during the 1980s, no matter how many times he was supposed to be replaced.

Three visits to Lakeland, Fla., by the World Series champion New York Yankees highlight the Tigers' 2010 exhibition schedule, which was released Tuesday.

By Kurt Mensching So the Yankees won the World Series last night, officially closing the curtains on the 2009 Major League Baseball season. Minnesota and Chicago should still be a challenge. Chicago should be considered the favorites. Cleveland is young, but not there yet, and I never expect anything out of...

By Ian Casselberry In today's Detroit Free Press, Rochelle Riley writes about a grass-roots campaign to add Ernie Harwell's name to Comerica Park.  The effort was started online (via Facebook) by a Michigan firefighter.   When should the "Kid Rick" nickname for Rick Porcello be retired?

By Ian Casselberry Tigers Tracks responds to Steve Kornacki's report that the Tigers have three candidates to take over Andy Van Slyke's vacancy on the coaching staff.  The three finalists are minor league coordinators Gene Roof and Mike Rojas, and Double-A Erie manager Tom Brookens.

Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson has been named Marvin Miller Man of the Year by the MLB Players Association.

By Ian Casselberry The Detroit Tigers Weblog talked to Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus, the industry's resident injury expert, about Scott Sizemore's ankle injury.  Carroll said Sizemore should be ready for Spring Training.  However, he's never seen a second baseman with the sort of tendon injury th...

If it's World Series time, it's generally time for Tigers owner Mike Ilitch and general manager Dave Dombrowski to talk money. One can surmise there isn't a lot of wiggle room heading into 2010.

By Ian Casselberry For those wondering why the Tigers didn't fire Lloyd McClendon as hitting coach after the season, perhaps the team reached many of the same conclusions as Bill Ferris did at The Detroit Tigers Weblog.  Did Tigers batters perform below expectations, compared to preseason projections? ...

By Ian Casselberry After last season, an issue that was quickly identified on the Detroit Tigers' pitching staff was the failure to throw strikes.  The Tigers moved quickly to remedy that problem by hiring Rick Knapp as pitching coach, hoping he would take the philosophy that he instilled in the Minnesota T...

By john.kmiecik 2009 Notes Inge played in his 1000th career game on April 13th in a 10-6 loss against the Chicago White Sox. Following his strong first half with 21 home runs, he was nominated to the All-Star Game in the Final Vote for the AL. Unfortunately he must have emptied the power tank on his way to the Hom...

By billfer Jim Leyland claimed ignorance on what happened to Cabrera’s face. Trainer Kevin Rand issued a statement through the team denying any knowledge. That Dombrowski and Leyland both knew about the situation and chose to let him take the field in a pennant race absolutely sends the wrong messag...

Wednesday night's Tigers victory over the Twins set a ratings record for the team on Fox Sports Detroit. Detroit's 7-2 win earned a 15.6 rating

The second game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Comerica Park earned a 13.6 rating -- the highest Tigers rating on Fox Sports Detroit in 12 seasons.

Making his second start since coming back from an ankle injury that sidelined him much of the season, Peavy blanked the Tigers for seven innings on Friday night.

One chance per customer. Not two, seldom three. One. If you're going to beat Verlander, you better make the most of what's often one good opportunity per game.

On a night when Ernie Harwell's broadcast art and humanity were saluted at Comerica Park, it was no surprise the Tigers showed some of the same spirit.

While he continues to search for his power stroke -- Ordonez had 268 home runs in his first 12 major league seasons -- he has raised his average considerably batting .376 (47-for-125) in his last 39 games, good enough for $18 million next season.

By Kurt Maybe it's just one or two average months that keep Miguel Cabrera out of the discussion for the American League Most Valuable Player award each year. This column also available at Bleacher Report, where I am a Featured Columnist for the Tigers.

By Ian Casselberry One of the most intriguing (and vexing) aspects of this 2009 Detroit Tigers team is how quickly its fortunes seem to turn.  On Sunday, after losing two of three in Oakland, the prospects for success - whether for the rest of this road trip, or further down the lie - didn't look that promising. ...

By Kurt In McClendon's first season as batting instructor, Magglio Ordonez had a career year. Curtis Granderson, in just his full major league season, hit 20 doubles, 20 triples and 20 home runs. That may turn out to be Granderson's best season in his career. The same year, Placido Polanco had a care...

By Ian Casselberry That's not quite what Dave Dombrowski told Jason Beck, however.  And FOXSports.com says the Tigers' GM has "remained aggressive" in pursuing a hitter. Baseball Digest Daily takes a look at the best defenders in each league this season, using Fangraphs' UZR/150 metric.  Check out who's the...

By Mike McClary Welcome to The Detroit Tigers Podcast. This is Episode #97, a four-minute podcast about the Detroit Tigers recorded live from Scottsdale, Ariz. This marks the final episode of the Detroit Tigers Podcast. I’m shifting my focus back to The Daily Fungo where you may find occasional podcasts,...

By Ian Casselberry Would the corner of Michigan and Trumbull be a good spot for a new hockey arena for the Red Wings?  Terry Foster addresses the question in the Detroit News.  I wonder if Corktown residents would really want another sports venue there.

By Kurt This is an interesting thought experiment that I saw posted on MLB Trade Rumors last night and thought I’d borrow. (It originated from Joel Sherman of the New York Post). Let’s pretend Major League Baseball wants to give a break to each of its 30 teams because the economy is so bad. The NBA did so...

By Ian Casselberry It certainly looked like Willis was going to unravel (he was obviously upset by the altercation with Pierzynski), as he served up a game-tying two-run homer to noted slugger Brian Anderson (one homer coming into the game) and walked the bases loaded in the fifth inning.  But despite the in...

By Ian Casselberry Take 75 North takes a quick look through the Tigers minor league system, highlighting one player at each level that stands out for good reasons, and another whose numbers are cause for concern.  This was written before yesterday's game, but it still applies: Hazaa wishes Jim Leyland wou...

By Ian Casselberry lt;p><img src="http://www.blessyouboys.com/images/admin/stripes_box.jpg" />&nbsp; Did <b><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/players/312/Jeremy_Bonderman" class="sbn-auto-link">Jeremy Bonderman</a></b>'s shoulder sur...

By Kurt I don’t typically do a series preview for Tigers’ opponents, but I’m making an exception this weekend, because the Oakland A’s are in town. First a little background. I’m a fan of the A’s — and not afraid to admit it!  Because I have a good friend in Oakland, I used to think of them as a secondary t...

By Mike McClary Welcome to The Detroit Tigers Podcast, the podcast for Tigers fans, by Tigers fans. This is Episode #68, a 5-minute podcast about the Detroit Tigers recorded live from Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.A. In this episode we debut our daily format for the podcast. Each day during the 2009 season we’ll c...

By Kurt No longer do the Tigers start a putrid-hitting Gary Sheffield and bat him third because he’s Gary Sheffield and he used to be good. They ate his salary for one reason: he’s not good now. No longer does Leyland look down at his bench for a pinch runner and realize his fastest player not in the game...

By Mike McClary Welcome to The Detroit Tigers Podcast, the podcast for Tigers fans, by Tigers fans. This is Episode #66, a 44-minute podcast about the Detroit Tigers recorded live from Scottsdale, Ariz., and Portland, Ore. In this episode we’re joined by Rob Neyer of ESPN.com, and the author of six books, in...

By Mike McClary Welcome to The Detroit Tigers Podcast, the podcast for Tigers fans, by Tigers fans. This is Episode #65, a 26-minute podcast Detroit Tigers recorded in March 2007 from Swifton, Arkansas, and Scottsdale, Arizona U.S.A. This episode was originally broadcast on March 14, 2009. In it we talk wit...

By Kurt Porcello is obviously the interesting one, and has the better chance of the two for going north to Detroit rather than to Double-A Erie. He cruised through his test in Lakeland — his first year in pro ball — with a 2.66 ERA. He only pitched 125 innings, but Verlander only threw 129 in his only year...

By Ian Casselberry Leaving Skelton unprotected is a decision the Tigers could end up sorely regretting if he's drafted by another major league team and ends up as their starting catcher down the line.  For an organization in need of young catching talent, it's a curious, almost baffling maneuver.

By Ian Casselberry With the Arizona Fall League entering the final couple weeks of its season, Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press has traveled to the southwest to get a look at the seven Tigers prospects playing out there.  (You can read his latest Freep.com blog post here.)  That puts him in Mr. McClary's n...

By Ian Casselberry First, we close the book on the miserable 2008 season (Mike has some thoughts on the lack of a contract extension for Jim Leyland), before shelving it in favor of 2009.  Among the topics of discussion are the hiring of new pitching coach Rick Knapp, what sorts of moves the Tigers could make th...

By Ian Casselberry In the past, Dombrowski has said he wants Leyland to be the Tigers' manager for "an extended period."  At this time last year, however, Leyland preferred to go on a year-by-year basis.  Is he trying to have it both ways?  Perhaps.  But maybe Leyland also didn't realize until late in this seaso...

By Samara Pearlstein Sheff now needs only one more homer to hit the arbitrary but still vaunted 500 mark. WILL HE MANAGE IT THIS SEASON??!?!? WILL HE DO IT IN A TIGERS UNIFORM?!!??? DO WE ACTUALLY CARE???!@? Jonesy: “I enjoyed the fight in Cleveland… I didn’t realize the second baseman, Cabrera, I get messed up w...