Detroit Tigers

By Ian Casselberry Topics of discussion include the position changes for Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen, what moves Dave Dombrowski might make this off-season, and some quick thoughts on several Tigers.  Oh, and if you're interested, we talk a bit about my background, my approach to blogging, and favori...

By Ian Casselberry So what exactly will the Detroit Tigers be shopping for this off-season?  I'm sure we'll each have several ideas to toss around in the weeks to come, and this week's poll question covers that very topic.  But Jon Paul Morosi got started on the speculation in yesterday's Freep, with his thou...

By Ian Casselberry Hey, everybody - how's it going?  Are you enjoying postseason baseball, or are you taking kind of a break (brought on by Tigers fatigue)? Thanks for stopping by even though the Tigers aren't playing right now, and enjoy your weekend!

By Ian Casselberry Kurt takes his place on the medal stand with fellow journalists Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press and Jim Carty of the Ann Arbor News.  In my opinion, Rosenberg and Carty are the two best columnists currently writing in metro Detroit, so that's some seriously esteemed company to...

By Ian Casselberry Taking contract negotiations to the public never seems like a good idea.  Yet that's essentially what Jim Leyland did yesterday while talking to Mitch Albom on his radio show. “I’m not afraid of anything.  I want to manage the Tigers.  I have every intention of managing the Tigers.  I’m disapp...

By Ian Casselberry We thought at the time that Renteria would be a difference maker for us at shortstop — the player that could put us over the hump," Dombrowski said. "There’s no question — that was a miscalculation. I wish I had Jurrjens back, but we knew we were giving up a good player."

By Ian Casselberry Also, one day after pitching coach Chuck Hernandez and bullpen coach Jeff Jones were fired, Dombrowski said the other four coaches on manager Jim Leyland's staff have been asked to return for next season.  He said three of the four had accepted; he didn't say which one hadn't.

By Ian Casselberry Another off-season question was answered for the Detroit Tigers before the team packed up and turned out the lights yesterday.  General manager Dave Dombrowski announced before the Tigers' make-up game with the White Sox that they won't pick up Edgar Renteria's $11 million option for n...

By Ian Casselberry If the 18 games Minnesota played against Detroit this season didn't already clue you in to how miserable this season has been for the Tigers, Twins fans, today you joined us in the singular hell that we've had to endure from April through September.

By Ian Casselberry Sorry, Twins fans.  We know you're rooting for Detroit today.  Maybe the Tigers will want to make sure they don't finish in last place all by themselves. South Side Sox has your SB Nation opposing view for the one game being played in Major League Baseball today.  Hello, everybody!

By Ian Casselberry Okay, so the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox are making up a game that was rained out two weekends ago, in order to decide the AL Central.  That's cool.  We're excited.  With no other teams playing today, it's almost like playoff baseball.  Except, well, the Tigers only have 74 wins, so...

By Ian Casselberry Another lucky souvenir for a fan today could be Gary Sheffield's 500th home run ball.  Sheff will be batting second in the lineup today, as Jim Leyland tries to get him a few extra at-bats to get his 500th home run.  (Placido Polanco remains out with his sprained ankle.) 

By Ian Casselberry The mysteries of which positions Brandon Inge and Carlos Guillen will be playing next season have already been solved.  Jim Leyland is getting a head start on the 2009 edition of the Detroit Tigers, announcing a couple of position changes before last night's game.

By Ian Casselberry Having said all that, three straight wins over a playoff team isn't a bad way to go.  And though it certainly doesn't wash out the taste of a disappointing season, showing some pride for the final homestand of the season is at least respectful to the fans attending these games. Miguel Cabrera...

By Ian Casselberry Get to the ballpark a bit early tonight, as the Tigers will honor Todd Jones with a pre-game ceremony.  That's scheduled to take place at 6:50 p.m., 15 minutes before the first pitch.  Send Jonesy off into retirement the classy way, Detroit.

By Ian Casselberry The Detroit Tigers may have won the baseball game last night, salvaging a bit of pride from a lost season.  Yet the Tampa Bay Rays still managed to come out a winner, as the Red Sox's 19-8 (ouch!) loss to the Yankees yielded the AL East. One other Tiger got two RBIs last night, and with those, Magg...

By Ian Casselberry You can't have a winning streak without getting started with that first win, so maybe the Detroit Tigers can actually string something together going into this final weekend of the 2008 season.  However, unless the Tampa Bay Rays want to back into the playoffs and settle for the Wild Card (...

By Ian Casselberry The Tigers won’t have any interest in bringing Edgar Renteria back and will instead acquire Wilson, a target of the Tigers for a while now.  The Tigers will acquire a gifted defender who will become a free agent after the season, but has the added bonus of a team option.  It is a situation the Ti...

By Ian Casselberry Detroit Tigers pitching coach Chuck Hernandez didn't have to wait very long to find out his job status for next season.  According to Tom Gage, Hernandez was told before this afternoon's game that he had been fired.  He was still in uniform for today's home finale, however, and will presuma...

By Ian Casselberry Oh, so now they win a game.  Maybe the Detroit Tigers rise to the level of their competition.  And apparently, the solution was... batting Ramon Santiago leadoff?  Following Santiago's lead, Mike Hessman, Dusty Ryan, and Curtis Granderson also hit home runs for Detroit.  Man, once that Tiger...

By Ian Casselberry From the Detroit Free Press: Unless they move ahead of fourth-place Kansas City in the coming days, they will become the first team in the majors to finish last despite a player payroll of more than $130 million." Tigers' flop one for books by Jon Paul Morosi

By Ian Casselberry And thus begins the final homestand of this failed 2008 season.  Four games mercifully remain (though with only a 1/2 game currently separating the White Sox and Twins at the top of the AL Central, it sure looks like the Tigers will have to play that make-up game in Chicago on Monday), four mo...

By Ian Casselberry Last place in the AL Central now belongs solely to your Detroit Tigers. It's revolting to see this team just lay down and die as they play out the schedule.  The Tigers' effort in this series with the Royals was obscene.  The combined score of the three games was Kansas City 21, Detroit 6.

By Ian Casselberry Two teams enter fourth place tonight at Comerica Park, one team will leave in last place.  The city of Detroit is still reveling in the Lions' long overdue firing of Matt Millen this morning.  It would be nice if the Tigers didn't harsh that mellow with yet another loss that would make them the...

By Ian Casselberry Just in case Matt Millen's dismissal by the Detroit Lions has piqued the bloodlust of Tigers fans looking for another head on a pike, general manager Dave Dombrowski told the Detroit News' Lynn Henning this afternoon that Jim Leyland will return as manager next season.

By Ian Casselberry With all due respect to Todd Jones for a 16-year major league career, he picked the wrong day to announce his retirement.  Jones retires as the Detroit Tigers' all-time saves leader with 235, 81 ahead of the next closest reliever on the list.

By Ian Casselberry We began the season by interviewing the Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger (the intro to which contained a quote that shall never again be uttered, one that Zappatista rightfully called me out on immediately, so with the Tigers and Royals facing each other for the final time this season, it...

By Ian Casselberry AL Central Standings WLPCTGBSTRKChicago8670.5510Lost 1Minnesota8572.5411.5Won 2Cleveland7978.5037.5Lost 1Kansas City7286.45515Won 2Detroit7185.45515Lost 5 Welcome to last place, Detroit.  Your baseball team has most certainly earned it.

By Ian Casselberry Cabrera is the Tigers' DH tonight, but that move was planned even before he tweaked his back last night.   Gary Sheffield's absence is just giving Jim Leyland an opportunity to "rest" a couple of guys from the field. Kansas City Royals @ Detroit Tigers

By Ian Casselberry Would Dontrelle Willis be better off continuing to rebuild himself against actual competition this off-season, or working on the side with Tigers coaches?  That has yet to be decided, with Willis scheduled for one more start for the Tigers on Saturday.  But Jim Leyland prefers his pitch...

By Ian Casselberry Losing 10 out of your last 11 games will do that to a team.  And to kick you while you're down, Tiger Town, the only best reason to watch this baseball club these days hurt himself.  Miguel Cabrera left the game in the third inning with "upper back tightness," and is listed as day-to-day. 

By Ian Casselberry Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the battle to stay out of last place in the AL Central.  Has it really come to this?  Oh, yes.  Only two games separate the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals coming into this three-game series.  Let's bring on the pain.  Let's bring on the noise.

By Ian Casselberry The suspension presumably kills any chance Sheffield had at getting his 500th home run during this season.  Unless he hits at least one in each of the remaining three games he'll be allowed to play. You heard the man - it is on like Donkey Kong!  The first game between the Tigers and Indians nex...

By Ian Casselberry If Willis isn't a lost cause, he looks damn close to one.  Actually, he looks like a disaster.  And it's going to end up costing the Tigers $29 million, with probably the most ridiculous contract Dave Dombrowski has ever offered to a player in his career as a general manager.

By Ian Casselberry In an attempt to cut payroll, the Tigers may have to move Magglio Ordonez this offseason. Ordonez will make $18MM next year and has options for 2010 and 2011. Anyone else think the Reds should make a serious run at Maggs? A lineup filled with Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Edwin Enca...

By Ian Casselberry Jerry Green of the Detroit News actually one-ups Silverman, calling the 2008 Tigers "the most shameful failures" in franchise history. Your non-Tigers note for today: Apparently, the Kansas City Royals are interested in acquiring Jeff Francoeur from the Braves.  Is that a move that get...

By Ian Casselberry Going into today's play, Detroit are only two games ahead of the Royals for last place in the AL Central.  The playoffs were a lost cause months ago.  Third place now looks out of reach.  How about staying out of last?  Is that an attainable goal for the last week of the 2008 season?

By Ian Casselberry Yet another Detroit Tigers prospect will miss both Arizona Fall League play and at least some of next season due to an injury that requires offseason surgery. In 11 games (25 plate appearances) with the Tigers this season, Hollimon batted .261/.280/.565 with one home run and two RBIs.  Defens...

By Ian Casselberry Justin Verlander could use a win.  He's winless in his past four starts, and last time out, Verlander lost to the other AL Central team that keeps him down, giving up four runs and nine hits in 7 2/3 innings to the White Sox.  In five starts against the Indians this season, Verlander has a 1-4 rec...

By Ian Casselberry It's been almost four weeks since Carlos Guillen played in a game for the Detroit Tigers.  Due to back spasms, he's missed more than 20 games now, with only nine (perhaps 10) remaining on the 2008 schedule. Considering how long he's been out, Guillen would need time to get back into playing sh...

By Ian Casselberry You knew what was coming.  It may have been the most predictable play of the year.  (Well, other than Todd Jones serving up that home run to Jermaine Dye back in July.)  And it only took two pitches.  Long fly ball to right field.  Home run.  Game tied, but really, game over.

By Ian Casselberry Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Indians 09/19/08 7:05 PM EDT Detroit TigersCleveland IndiansCurtis Granderson - CFGrady Sizemore - CFPlacido Polanco - 2BDavid Dellucci - LFMagglio Ordonez - RFShin-Soo Choo - RFMiguel Cabrera - 1BJhonny Peralta - SSMatt Joyce - LFVictor Martinez - CGary...

By Ian Casselberry In a mailbag column at SI.com, Tom Verducci advocates the Tigers considering Ben Sheets, A.J. Burnett, and Ryan Dempster for free agent pitching help.  (via Cutoff Man) As part of its Offseason Outlook series, MLB Trade Rumors looks at the Detroit Tigers today.

By Ian Casselberry Monday night, he took issue with home plate umpire Eric Cooper changing his call on Max Ramirez getting hit by a pitch.  Cooper eventually ejected Leyland, compelling him to sprint out of the dugout like George Brett getting a home run taken away.  On Tuesday, Leyland was incensed with Ange...

By Ian Casselberry How do you make sure your bullpen can't blow yet another lead?  Put 17 runs on the scoreboard.  Even when the Detroit Tigers finished their half of the fifth inning with an 11-1 lead, however, I bet there were very few fans who felt completely comfortable. 

By Ian Casselberry Someone that could help next season be more successful than this one (if both sides agree on another contract, that is) is tonight's starting pitcher.  Freddy Garcia hasn't pitched in the majors for more than a year, as he's been recovering from surgery on a torn labrum.  How will he perform...

By Ian Casselberry Your Detroit Tigers will begin the year with a four-game set in Toronto, which provides local fans with an opportunity for a fun season-opening road trip.  Opening Day at Comerica Park will be April 10, with the Texas Rangers as the opponent.  The New York Yankees also visit Detroit early in...

By Ian Casselberry Instead of a hugely expensive free agent, maybe the Tigers should look to the far east for relief.  Both The Detroit Tigers Weblog and Detroit Tigers Thoughts think Detroit should explore getting into the Junichi Tazawa business.  The 22-year-old Tazawa throws in the low 90s and struck ou...

By Ian Casselberry Walking the leadoff hitter is never a good way to start the ninth inning.  But it sure looked like the Tigers got hosed on a check swing by Michael Young.  Is that the reason Detroit lost the game?  Rodney still gave up hits to the next two batters he faced, indicating that maybe he was rattled a b...

By Ian Casselberry The Tigers have given up 11 runs in two consecutive games.  If they can keep Kyle Farnsworth in the bullpen tonight, they might just be able to end that ignominious streak.  But Detroit will also need Zach Miner to pitch better than he has in his previous two starts.

By Ian Casselberry If Guillen has played his last game of the season for the Tigers (unlike Rogers, he'll be back - no pun intended - next year), he'll end 2008 with some of his lowest hitting totals since coming to Detroit.  His .286 batting average will be the lowest in his five seasons as a Tiger, with his .376 on-...

By Ian Casselberry Maybe it was appropriate for Kenny Rogers' start to be broadcast to a national ESPN audience on Sunday night, since it could very well be his last start as a Detroit Tiger, and maybe his major league career.  I'm not going to pitch Kenny," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said Monday. "I'm going to...

By Ian Casselberry For the second night in a row, Kyle Farnsworth played the role of gas can, taking a seemingly winnable game and setting it ablaze.  The first three batters he faced reached base, two of whom would have scored if not for a bad, "go, stop, go!" decision by future Tigers manager Rangers third bas...

By Ian Casselberry So much for that rally.  And so much for playing spoiler this weekend in Chicago.  (Detroit lost the first game of the doubleheader, 4-2.)  WIth any luck, however, either the White Sox or Twins will pull away in the AL Central race, negating the need for the Tigers to come back after the season t...

By Ian Casselberry Yeah, it's been that kind of season in Detroit.  One in which the Tigers lose a series at home to an A's team that is in total rebuild mode.  (The "A" in A's might as well stand for "Anonymous.")  Tap me on the shoulder when it's okay to take my face out of my palm.

By Ian Casselberry Part of the problem is that Rodney came in for the eighth because Kyle Farnsworth was unavailable with an injured groin.  But that doesn't change how Rodney pitched to Davis with an 0-2 count.  Instead of throwing something that Davis might chase out of the strike zone, Rodney served up a pit...

By Ian Casselberry It was Home Run Derby at Comerica Park last night, with five balls getting launched into the seats off Oakland Athletics pitching.  It might just be easier to list the Tigers that didn't hit a home run last night.  But that would mean not mentioning Gary Sheffield, who not only had a fantastic...

By Ian Casselberry This afternoon, before the Tigers open a three-game series with the Oakland A's, Dontrelle Willis will pitch in another simulated game (as will Freddy Garcia).  Jim Leyland was "very happy" with Willis showing in that simulation, especially in terms of velocity and delivery, so you'd h...

By Ian Casselberry Though Detroit hasn't played that well against the Twins this season, winning only six of 17 games, one thing Detroit has managed to do is expose that Minnesota bullpen.  In the games the Tigers have been able to win, they outlasted the Twins' starting pitcher and capitalized on the soft mi...

By Ian Casselberry After a disappointing homestand, the Tigers hit the road for their final three games this season against that team they just can't seem to beat, the Minnesota Twins.  Remember at the All-Star break, when Detroit was still presumably in the playoff race, and the mantra was "Thank Cobb, the...

By Ian Casselberry That's exactly how it shook out.  This afternoon, the Tigers sent Bautista down to Triple-A to open up a spot for Zumaya.  It's kind of a tough break for a player who seemed as if he might be indispensable earlier this season, but if Zumaya and Rodney end up taking most of the key set-up innings a...