Tigers lose 9th Sraight vs. Disappointing Angels

I can't stand the Angels.ever since that guy bunted on JV's perfect game I have hated them. Well before that I guess. I hate Jared Weaver. Hamilton is a gigantic bust so far, and even Pujols seems less likable since showing up there. Not to mention I'm so tired of hearing about Trout and how defense is so cool. IF Hamilton doesn't shape up he might be better at working with carpet cleaners huntersville nc than playing in the MLB. This dude is such a bust on my fantasy team I can't give him away.

Tigers Are in Serious Trouble

All the things the Tigers do wrong are the things that are costing them games. Not to mention the Giants basically getting every break from the baseball gods you can imagine and the umpires messing about with a horrid strike zone in game 2. (see charts below).

The Giants being an NL team with little power have an array of slap hitters and guys they can use to play small ball. Detroit on the other hand is a team that lives on extra base hits and can't do any of the little things right. They are terrible bunters, they can't steal bases, they play mediocre defense, they don't take enough pitches, strike out too much, and just plain make too many mistakes. Mistakes, that teams like the Giants live off of. The Giants play a more fundamental game and make use of what they have. They move runners over, make pitchers throw and throw and throw with an excess of foul offs. Guys like Verlander and MAx aren't exactly the greatest match ups for teams like this. They can't overpower most of these guys and K 15 like they could with teams that have more free swingers.

Coming home they go to Sanchez, who actually has faced the Giants twice already this season when he was pitching for the Marlins still. 7 IP with 1 ER @SF and 5.1 IP with 5 ER at home back in May. Tonight he's already down 2-0 in the second.

The Tigers bats are bad to put it mildly. Prince just GIDP to end a 1 out rally with men on 1st and 2nd. They got shut out in Game 2. They scored 3 meaningless runs in the 8-3 Game 1 loss. Their bats are cold. Have been for a month.

IF they Tigers win this series it will be a Motor City Miracle. Actually, it would be in San Fran. The crowd sounded dead even to open this game. You weren't going to break any bone anchored hearing aid siting in the stands to start this series at home that's for sure.

Play Ball! Pitchers and Catchers Report

Other than Football, and basketball, and, no that's it, baseball is something I anticipate quite a bit. I consider baseball to be my favorite sport overall. While I do enjoy watching football, and the NFL in particular a tad more than baseball most of the time, I enjoy everything about baseball overall more.

Baseball just has so many little stories going on in the games, and in the stats. If you aren't a big baseball fan you might argue other sports have just as much strategy like say football, but you don't get it. Nobody says there isn't strategy in these games, but there are just so many little things in baseball that are interesting. The slight movements int he field based on the hitter at the plate, or the situation in the game. With a man on first, or a runner in scoring position with 1 out and it is a 1 run game. The way the pitcher does things on the mounds. Stealing signs. It is endless.

So...when pitchers and catchers report I start getting excited again. Even moreso than finding a quick weight loss solution :D. I can't wait.

Inge Gets Embarrassed in HR Derby, Granderson Scores Winning Run in All-star Game

While I didn't expect Brandon Inge to have much of a showing in his first Home Run Derby appearance, I expected him to hit at least ONE homer. HE did not. Brandon Inge had ZERO HRs in the HR Derby. He was the only one to accomplish this task so I guess that puts him in some elite company with guys like Mike Piazza who I believe did it twice.

On the brighter side, Curtis Granderson made his imprint on the All-star game itself. The speedy fat burner rifled a triple off the bottom of the left-field wall in the 8th inning to set himself up to score the game winning run on an Adam Jones sacrifice fly.

The AL won for the 1th year in a row. That's right. 12 straight years the American LEague has beaten the NL in the mid-summer classic.

Great news for us Tigers fans as the AL winning the AS game gives the AL home field advantage in the World Series. With the Tigers leading their division at the break there is a chance that it could come into play for us.

Justin Verlander did not pitch in the game, but Edwin Jackson became part of the run for the AL that retired 18 straight pitching one scoreless frame.

A-Rod to Join Barry Bonds as Cheater

Unless you have half a brain I suppose you could probably just assume that every player in Major League Baseball has used some sort of steroid at some point in their careers. At least all of the ones that are great. Apparently there must have been a steroid dispenser in every locker room before a couple years ago because Alex Rodriguez has been busted as well according to reports of his failed drug tests a few years ago.

Let' snot focus on the guys that do use them though. Let's try and think of the only 2-3 players in the league that DON'T use them. I believe that at least 2 of them play for the Tigers, although one of them I wouldn't be surprised to learn they did.

First is Adam Everett. There is NO WAY this guy has used roids. He can't hit a lick, and you would need a 100 MPH wind behind one of his fly balls to see it sail out of the park. Maybe a few weight loss pills here and there, but roids? I sure hope not. It is like Alex Sanchez getting busted.

The other guy has to be Brandon Inge. This guy I have doubts about though. As little as he makes contact with the ball he still hits a fair number of HRs. He even hit 27 back in 2006 so he might just be on the juice. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say he doesn't use them.

Anyone else? Off the top of my head I'd say no.

2009 MLB Free Agent List

With the Tigers basically out of it I figured I'd put up the list of the free agents to be for next year. The Tigers have needs that don't involve getting suspended for steroiids or some stupid rule that makes diet pills that work some sort of banned substance. Big ones To me they need a revamp of almost the entire pitching staff. Other than Justin Verlander, and maybe Armando Glaraga, who has had an outstanding rookie season filling in for injured, and busted pitchers we have a lot of needs.

Not to mention we could probably say goodbye to Renteria at SS, although I doubt it happens. Left Field can be improved as well, but the pitching staff should be top priority.

Many major pitching names are out there. Francisco Rodriguez, the closer for the Angels, who will probably break the single season saves record this year. CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, and a few other stud starting pitchers are also going to be free agents.

Catchers

Rod Barajas (33)- $2.5MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Michael Barrett (32)
Johnny Estrada (33)
Jason Kendall (35) - club option for '09; vests with 110 games played in '08
Paul Lo Duca (37)
Miguel Olivo (30) - $2.7MM club option for '09 with a $0.1MM buyout
Ivan Rodriguez (37)
David Ross (32)
Jason Varitek (37)
Gregg Zaun (38)

First basemen

Sean Casey (34)
Tony Clark (37)
Carlos Delgado (37) - $16MM mutual option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with a $5MM buyout
Eric Hinske (31)
Doug Mientkiewicz (35)
Kevin Millar (37)
Richie Sexson (34)
Mark Teixeira (29)

Second basemen

Ray Durham (37)
Mark Ellis (32)
Mark Grudzielanek (39)
Orlando Hudson (31)
Tadahito Iguchi (34)
Jeff Kent (41)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Mark Loretta (37)
Aaron Miles (32)
Jose Valentin (39)


Shortstops
Orlando Cabrera (34)
David Eckstein (34)
Adam Everett (32)
Rafael Furcal (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Cesar Izturis (29)
Felipe Lopez (29)
Edgar Renteria (33) - $12MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Juan Uribe (30)
Omar Vizquel (42) - $5.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout

Third basemen

Casey Blake (35)
Hank Blalock (28) - $6.2MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Joe Crede (31)
Nomar Garciaparra (35)
Wes Helms (33) - $3.75MM club option for '09
Chipper Jones (37) - $8-11MM vesting option for '09
Dallas McPherson (27)

Outfielders

Moises Alou (42)
Garret Anderson (37) - $14MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Milton Bradley (31)
Emil Brown (34)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Luis Gonzalez (41)
Raul Ibanez (37)
Kevin Mench (31)
Jason Michaels (33) - $2.6MM club option for '09
Craig Monroe (32)
Jay Payton (36)
Wily Mo Pena (27) - $5MM club option or $2MM player option for '09
Manny Ramirez (37) - $20MM club option for '09
Juan Rivera (30)
Rocco Baldelli (27)
Mike Cameron (36) - $10MM club option for '09 with a $750K buyout
Jim Edmonds (39)
Mark Kotsay (33)
Corey Patterson (29)
Bobby Abreu (35)
Casey Blake (35)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Brian Giles (38) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Ken Griffey Jr. (39) - $16.5MM club option for '09 with a $4MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Bobby Kielty (32)
Brad Wilkerson (32)

DHs

Milton Bradley (31)
Pat Burrell (32)
Adam Dunn (29)
Cliff Floyd (36) - $2.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Jason Giambi (38) - $22MM club option for '09 with $5MM buyout
Vladimir Guerrero (33) - $15MM club option for '09 with a $3MM buyout
Raul Ibanez (37)
Manny Ramirez (37)
Juan Rivera (30)
Mike Sweeney (35)
Frank Thomas (41)
Jim Thome (38) - $13MM club option for '09 with $3MM buyout; vests with 564 PAs in '08
Jose Vidro (34) - vesting option for '09

Starting pitchers

Tony Armas Jr. (31)
Kris Benson (33)
A.J. Burnett (32) - can opt out after '08 season
Paul Byrd (38)
Roger Clemens (46)
Matt Clement (33)
Ryan Dempster (32)
Josh Fogg (32)
Jon Garland (29)
Tom Glavine (43)
Mike Hampton (36)
Mark Hendrickson (35)
Livan Hernandez (34)
Orlando Hernandez (43)
Jason Jennings (30)
Randy Johnson (45)
John Lackey (30) - $9MM club option for '09 with a $0.5MM buyout
Jon Lieber (39)
Esteban Loaiza (37)
Braden Looper (34)
Derek Lowe (36)
Greg Maddux (43)
Pedro Martinez (37)
Jamie Moyer (46)
Mark Mulder (31) - $11MM club option for '09 with a $1.5MM buyout
Mike Mussina (40)
Carl Pavano (33) - $13MM club option for '09 with a $1.95MM buyout
Brad Penny (31) - $8.75MM club option for '09 with a $2MM buyout
Odalis Perez (32)
Oliver Perez (27)
Andy Pettitte (37)
Mark Prior (27)
Kenny Rogers (44)
C.C. Sabathia (28)
Curt Schilling (42)
Ben Sheets (30)
John Smoltz (42) - $12MM club option for '09
Brett Tomko (36)
Tim Wakefield (42) - perpetual $4MM club option
Kip Wells (32)
Randy Wolf (32)


Closers
Joe Borowski (38)
Brian Fuentes (33)
Eric Gagne (33)
Trevor Hoffman (41)
Jason Isringhausen (36)
Todd Jones (41)
Brandon Lyon (29)
Francisco Rodriguez (27)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
Kerry Wood (32)

Middle relievers

Jeremy Affeldt (30)
Doug Brocail (42) - club option for '09
Shawn Chacon (31)
Juan Cruz (28)
Chad Durbin (31)
Alan Embree (39) - $3MM club option for '09
Scott Eyre (37)
Kyle Farnsworth (33)
Keith Foulke (35)
Aaron Fultz (35)
Tom Gordon (41) - $4.5MM club option for '09 with a $1MM buyout
Eddie Guardado (38)
LaTroy Hawkins (36)
Matt Herges (39) - club option for '09
Bob Howry (35)
Steve Kline (36)
Jon Lieber (39)
Damaso Marte (34) - $6MM club option for '09 with a $0.25MM buyout
Trever Miller (36) - $2MM club option for '09 with a $0.4MM buyout
Guillermo Mota (35)
Will Ohman (31)
Darren Oliver (38)
Al Reyes (38)
Dennys Reyes (32)
Juan Rincon (30)
Russ Springer (40)
Mike Timlin (43)
Salomon Torres (37) - $3.75MM club option for '09 with a $0.3MM buyout
David Weathers (39)
Kip Wells (32)
Dan Wheeler (31)
Matt Wise (33)

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/12/2009-mlb-free-a.html

Barry Bonds Perjury Case Update

Yup...Barry Bonds is supposedly going to have to stand trial for perjury for one of the many tax wasting trials the congress has forced on us because they happen to want face time.

The case against Barry Bonds just got a little fuzzier: The prosecution virtually conceded in a Valentine’s Day response to a defense motion to dismiss the indictment that it asked the slugger confusing and often ambiguous either/or questions in the grand jury.

Prosecutors also inadvertently touched off a minor media firestorm by botching the date of an alleged previously reported positive drug test for Bonds. In earlier filings – and even in part of this latest filing – the government referred to a November 2000 date.

Like alarm system monitoring, we need some sort of damned tax system monitoring for these douchebags that work in government. Pay Fox to do these trials. At least they are more capable of handling reality TV than these morons asking the questions in Congress.

A-Rod Expects Questions on Drug Use

Nobody is clean in Major League Baseball. You can sport all the religious jewelry you want and it still doesn't mean you are clean. OK...we have that clear.

So...Alex Rodriquez talks out today and says that he expects to be approached about drug use as he breaks every record in the MLB record books.

“Right now, the game is in a very not-trusting situation with our public, with our fans,” A-Rod said Wednesday in his first remarks after arriving at spring training. “Some of the things that I’ve accomplished and potentially some of the things that people think I can accomplish, my name has come up and will probably come up again in the future.”

It comes up because the league won't let it die! IF it wasn't for steroids there wouldn't be anything in baseball to talk about apparently. Stats are meaningless now. You could hit 1000 home runs and people would still say you were juicing.

“Last year, I got tested 9-to-10 times,” Rodriguez said. “We have a very, very strict policy, and I think the game is making tremendous strides.”

Sure you did. Probably about 9-10 times in the same week after a 6 month warning to when you were going to be tested.

Johan Santana Sweepstakes?

Looks like the Twins are going to be too cheap to pay the guy and he is going to be traded. The best pitcher of the last decade is no longer going to be in the Tiger's division. Well...I suppose the Tigers could get him, but that is highly unlikely.

Of course he will end up in either New York, Boston, or LA most likely. The guy is going to make about $134415443 per year when he gets re-signed since guys like Barry Zito who suck actually get close to $20 Mil a year already along with a healthcare cart to ride around in.

Way to Blow it Indians

The Cleveland Indians are trying to give away their World Series chance now it appears. After going up 3-1 in the 7 game ALCS series against the Red Sox they have somehow figured out how to let them tie it up and likely lose as Pedroia just hit a 2 run homer and go up 5-2 late in Game 7. The wives are looking for progesterone so they don't go nuts on their husbands after they are sent home packing in a couple of hours. Looks like Boston is going to pull the impossible again in the playoffs and come back from the dead to get to the world Series. Not as dramatic as being down 0-3 to the Yankees in 2004 when they eventually went on to win the World series for the first time in 600 years, but impressive still.

Colorado Rockies May Never Lose Again

This team is unbelievable. Sweeping their way into the World Series last night they have won 21 out of their last 22 games! In baseball this is unheard of. It's all about momentum and these guys have it. Hopefully the Indians can finish off the Red Sox tonight and they don't lose it all by waiting for a week to play again. Definitely not something I want to see happen. Hopefully they are relaxing with some Wicked tickets and enjoying a concert and getting themselves ready for the big show. This World Series definitely has some intrigue to it with the way this team has played.

The Series Nobody Cares About

Arizona vs. Colorado. These two teams are the MLB's nightmare. Just like the Tigers and Cardinals were last year in the World Series. They fear people will be more into their RC cars than a series with teams such as this.

The Rockies have won about 212398947 games in a row. Matt Holliday is becoming a household name. Waht else could you ask for? Looks like they tore Webb up a little bit tonight too as it is 5-1 in the 7th already.

Indians-Rockies in the World Series. Indians in 5.

Wait...the Indians won right?

So I'm watching Sportscenter today and trying to see some news on the upcoming series and how the rotations are going to work out. See if Peter Gammons is going to have a Red Sox orgasm on air and all that. Apparently the Yankees are still playing? Not sure really. Every story in the rundown on Sportscenter is about the freakin' Yankees! Go away! You lost to the Indians. The Yankees should be out buying seagull lighting for their vacations down south now that their season is over. I don't care if Torre gets fired. The guy is a Mascot Manager. Sucked before he came to New York and will suck if he goes elsewhere. Any idiot could manage that Yankees team. Hmmm...should I play A-Rod today? Should I ask for them to spend $90 million on some overrated players? Can we trade away all of your prospects for late 30-year old sluggers who are on the decline? Yes. Yes we should. Then we will lose again because our pitchers are older than NY itself.

How about Roger Clemens faking another injury in the playoffs? Gotta love that guy and how he gets paid. Two years in a row he took himself out of a playoff game because of an "injury". Hang it up old man.

Are the Indians Winning?

It is hard to say when you listen to news coverage of the MLB playoffs. Even when the Indians do win the series over the Yankees you aren't going to hear anything about them or their upcoming series. It's all about the Yankees no matter what. Yankees coverage in these playoffs has about as much relevance as golf apparel ladies at an NFL game. If it wasn't for an actual box score I would assume that the Yankees have been winning everyday. Boston will get the coverage in the next round against the Indians, but even then all we are going to hear about is A-Rod, and Joe Torre. Unless A-Rod is going to sign with the Tigers I don't want to hear about it. Thanks.

Everyone has gone crazy

Seems like some pretty odd things have happened over the weekend in the world of sports. D'Angelo Hall of the Atlanta Falcons decided to lose it and put up 67 yards in penalties on one drive to help the Falcons lose the game. Apparently all he was worried about was beating the great Steve Smith in their one-on-one match up. He got a 37-yard pass interference call, and then got TWO more unsportsmanlike penalties on the drive. The last was on 4th down and cost the Falcons the ball back.

Then there is Milton Bradley. HE got ejected from a game after he was prodded a bit by an umpire. Yes, an umpire is supposedly being said to have heckled the guy and he went off. Tried to get to the umpire and beat him down, but his manager was able to restrain him. The oddest part was that Bradley injured his knee during the skirmish and is now out for the season. A huge blow for the team and their playoff aspirations. This guy needs some sort of colon cleanse or something.

Brandon Webb

I don't know what has gotten into this guy, but he is on an absolute pitching tear right now. He's a very good pitcher anyways, and is the Cy Young winner last year, but right now he is pitching out of his mind. Yesterday he pitched his second straight complete game shut out and had 10 Ks. He hasn't allowed an earned run in his past 4 starts. A span of more than 32 innings.

On the other hand the damn guy named Wang should be looking for a New York personal injury lawyer after his last start. The guys screwed me bad giving up 8 ERs in his start this week. I hate this guy so much. He strikes nobody out either, but hey...he has double digit wins.

BoSox Get Gagne

So...they basically only need to get 6 innings out of any starter now to end a game. With Okajima, Gagne, and Papelbon they are the best bullpen in the league with out a doubt. 2 closers and a guy like Okajima, who was the set up guy before Gagne arrived makes it almost impossible for teams to score any runs after the 6th inning.

Most importantly it kept Gagne out of a Yankee uniform and just makes the raod to catch the Sox all that much harder. With the line up the Yanks have you have to think that fans will be heading into drug rehabs by the end of the season due to the amount of money this team spent and still can't get the job done with possibly the best hitting line up ever assembled the last few year.

MLB Trade Deadline today

Another boring year. Mark Texiera getting traded to Atlanta for Salty and some minor league prospects is about as big as it will get. The Tigers is what I care about, but it looks like they are going to have a pretty quiet year as well. Not many players having to worry about finding that 6 month anniversary gift after the season I presume. The word is that teams are asking ridiculous prices for relief pitchers.

Only good rumors about there is that the Tigers could somehow end up with DaMaso Marte in a deal with Jack "Neifi Perez" Wilson. Wilson is worthless and probably more of a detriment than a help. Marte would be a great addition to a struggling BP though.

Ichiro wins All-Star MVP Award

Ichiro is probably one of the more amazing hitters in baseball in the last generation. This guy won the Rookie of the Year, a Gold Glove, and league MVP awards in his rookie season. 200 hits is a standard for him year after year. He is a guy that is said to be a HR machine in batting practice, but since he is blessed with exceptional speed, and hits at the top of the order he tends to utilize those skills to just get on base and beat out infield hits. As he slows I'm sure we can look forward to the guy hitting 30 HRs a year, and I am not just talking out of my ass. I really believe he will.

So the American League wins the AS game again 5-4 to give my Tigers home field advantage in the World Series again this year. Ichiro put together a solid game with 3 hits, but his biggest hit was a first in an All-Star game. An inside the park home run that scored 2 runs. Probably one of my favorite players of all-time, Ken Griffey, Jr. was unable to make a play on the ball and the speedy Ichiro rounded all the bases and made it home. A rare feat in baseball and the hit that basically won him the MVP.

Craig Biggio, Frank Thomas hit career milestones

Frank Thomas and Craig Biggio both hit career milestones at the plate tonight. An amazing day for Major League baseball that saw The Big Hurt mash his 500th career home run, and Craig Biggio hit is 3,000th career base hit.

Thomas, is the 21st major leaguer to reach the milestone. He didn't wast any time tonight in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins in their park. He sent Carlos Silva's 1-2 pitch an estimated 396 feet into the left-field stands for a 3-run HR.

Before the at-bat, Thomas looked at the scoreboard and saw that his average with runners in scoring position was .182. Not something you will want to put on promotional pens by any means.

"I said, 'Let's just get a hit right here.' That's when home runs happen, when you're really not trying to do too much. He hung a slider over the corner and I stayed with the pitch," he said.

Frank actually got ejected in this game after striking out in th 9th. He was arguing a called strike from the dug out and got tossed.

Craig Biggio JUST got his 3,000th hit. In the bottom of the 7th with a man on 2nd, Biggio drove a single into the outfield for his third hit of the night, and his 3000th in his career. Before getting the 3000th hi, Biggio told reporters that he wanted to get a double for #3,000 because that says what he is all about. Biggio tried for the double on the hit, but was gunned down at 2nd base on the play. That would have also been his 1,000th career extra base hit.

Other milestones this year: Sammy Sosa hit his 600th HR earlier and Ken Griffey, Jr. is well on his way as well sitting at 584 career dingers. Of course, Barry Bonds is still pursuing the ultimate HR mark in Henry "The Hammer" Aaron's at 755. Bonds sits at 749 career home runs.