Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:23 am

It was the haircut!! Big Smile

_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:28 pm

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:49 pm

Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Galarraga puts it all together
Right-hander says he 'was so comfortable' as he carries perfect game into the seventh inning.
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Armando Galarraga smiles easily and often. He speaks impressive English for a Venezuelan native who knew only Spanish until he signed with the Montreal Expos, in 1998, as a 16-year-old right-handed pitcher.

Wednesday, he grinned and spoke in his second language with uncommon zest as media from Kansas City and Detroit formed a broad semi-circle around his locker in the clubhouse.

Galarraga had come within sniffing distance of a perfect game in Detroit's 7-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. He had gone into the seventh inning having faced 18 batters. All of them were put away by a pitcher who even before Wednesday had become the single most surprising success story on manager Jim Leyland's 2008 roster.

Galarraga's perfect game blew away when David DeJesus smoked a leadoff single to right field to start the seventh. Three batters later, his shutout was gone. It didn't matter. Galarraga had helped the Tigers to their fourth consecutive victory and a series sweep of the Royals as he pushed his record to 8-4 and dropped his earned-run average to 3.27.

"Best I've seen him," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, who was dazzled by Galarraga's command.

"All three pitches," Leyland said. "All downhill (vertical flight paths for his pitches). Really good movement on his fastball. Good slider and change-up.

"He's really good."

The Tigers are only 13 months removed from Justin Verlander's no-hitter that was the first by a Tigers pitcher since 1984. Wednesday, as batters one by one disappeared against a devilish mix of sinking fastballs and careening sliders, Galarraga moved to within nine outs of throwing the first perfect game in Tigers history.

"After six innings, still a lot of outs to make," Galarraga said with a shrug as he downplayed any deep disappointment over his near-miss with history. "I don't try to think so much (about flirting with the record book)."

In fact, Galarraga was not paying any particular attention to the zeros on Kauffman's scoreboard until he returned to the Tigers dugout during the middle innings.

"I know, because fans were yelling at me, 'Perfect game,' " Galarraga said.

He conceded that the effort was, for him, extraordinary. It was one of those rare days in a big league pitcher's career. It was one of those games, a handful of which might occur during a long pitching career, when a pitcher had it all going.

"Third inning, I feel so comfortable on the mound," Galarraga said. "The ball was moving a lot. The hitters never see something straight, which is what worked for me.

"Sinker-slider," he said of the two big pitches that held the Royals to three hits, all of them singles, and all in the seventh when Kansas City scored its lone run. He struck out seven.

"He was mixing it up all day," said catcher Brandon Inge. "He's a guy who's got pretty good control. Today, he was really spotting his fastball."

"It wasn't pressure," Inge said of his role in calling pitches. "It was just more excitement. I love it."

So did Galarraga, who isn't worrying about expectations that, with each game he pitches, continue to build for a pitcher who wasn't close to consideration as a 25-man roster player during spring camp.

"I don't want to get comfortable," he said. "I want to feel pressure."

You can reach Lynn Henning at (313) 222-2472 lynn.henning@detnews.com

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:50 pm

VIVA ARMANDO!!!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:54 pm

If Justin does not watch it, Gala may be the Tigers future star pitcher! No problem there, we can use many stars!

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sat Jul 26, 2008 7:22 am

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Leyland defers on trade questions
Manager says he isn't aware of any deals in the offing, and likes roster as it currently is.
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- It's the week before the trade deadline and no one knows what the Tigers will do. So questions are bound to be asked.

But when even the possibility of a trade is mentioned, manager Jim Leyland knows how to field the question, but not let it bother him.

"I don't get into any of that stuff," he said. "I've got my team. I'm happy with my team, I'm not worried about anything. If Dave (Dombrowski, general manager) makes a trade, he makes a trade and if he does, it'll be because he thinks it will help the team.

"If there's a trade out there that makes sense, and it's a makeable putt, I'm sure he'll do it. He keeps me informed, but I don't get into that too much. To my knowledge, there's absolutely nothing going on. Nothing."

Leyland doesn't mind the questions leading up to the deadline, though,

"It's like anything else," he said. "It's like Justin Verlander going through what he went through earlier in the season. It's all part of the process for a manager. You have to live with the fact that someone might write something disruptive to your team, but that there's no truth to it whatsoever.

"Every once in a while you see a player get a little nervous in the clubhouse, but that's another thing you learn to live with because it's only natural for reporters to do their job. I understand that. You have to cope with that.

"But I don't get too excited," Leyland said, "because I know what's going on. Besides, I've always told my players, if your name is involved in a trade, and you ask me, I'll tell you."

Next step

Dontrelle Willis will pitch tonight for Class A Lakeland, the next step in overhauling his mechanics.

When asked if he still hoped to see Willis back in a Tigers uniform by the end of the season, however, Leyland said, "That's on the back burner for me right now. He has a lot of work to do and we just have to let that run its course.

"Dontrelle (by how he progresses) will tell us when he's ready to come back. Hopefully that will be soon, but I can't predict it will be. I'd love to have him back. It would help a lot, but I want the Dontrelle we've known before, not the Dontrelle we sent out."

Around the horn

Freddy Dolsi's fatigued arm has improved. He played catch on Thursday, when the Tigers were off, and threw a bullpen session on Friday after which he said he was feeling fine.

Leyland said of the rookie right-hander: "I've been very impressed with him. He'll come to spring training next year and hopefully improve his breaking ball, but he's a good project."

You can reach Tom Gage at tom.gage@detnews.com

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:09 pm

Im still weeping over Jonesy's blown save Sad

_________________
"We only work three hours a day, so the least we can do is give 100 percent."

Todd Jones

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:09 pm

Turn the page, garrett! Next game is ready to start!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:17 pm

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Leyland: Zumaya must go off-speed more often
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- It's an impressive pitch, but not enough by itself to guarantee success. Even the hardest thrower in the majors, or close to it if he isn't, can't live on heat alone.

It was after Friday night's stunning 6-5 loss to the White Sox that manager Jim Leyland said Joel Zumaya needs to mix his pitches better "because everybody's just charging his fastball.

"He has to get command of his breaking ball better," Leyland said. "If he does that, he'll be fine."

Leyland wasn't speaking specifically about first-pitch fastballs, either. Orlando Cabrera picked on a 99 mile-an-hour offering from Zumaya, the first pitch he threw in relief of Nate Robertson in the seventh, and drilled it past first base for a hit.

Zumaya later ended the inning by freezing Paul Konerko with a third-strike breaking ball, so it's not as if the pitch has gone flat. It's just that Leyland feels it should be thrown more often.

"He's throwing the ball well, but has to keep hitters honest more often, that's all," Leyland said. "Hitters can hit a bullet out there. Ninety-eight miles an hour doesn't intimidate anyone anymore. That's nothing to these guys.

"Is it hard? Yes. Is it impressive? Yes. Does it intimidate the better hitters? No. So you have to have another pitch in the back of their mind to keep them honest.

"Joel has to have to two pitches going for him, and he showed that by getting (Paul) Konerko with a nasty hook. That's just a matter of getting back in sync after not pitching very much for a year."

Not moving

Leyland often says something isn't etched in stone. On Saturday, he said something is. After batting eighth three times, and ninth four times this year, Curtis Granderson won't hit anywhere but leadoff anymore.

"I'm going to etch that in stone," Leyland said before Saturday's 7-6 loss. "I've thought about it some more. He's our catalyst. He creates stuff for us, plus he's better against lefties now than he was.

"I think it was good to keep him down there (eighth and ninth against left-handers) until he got more used to it. But he's staying in against lefties and taking the ball the other way (to left) better."

Granderson went into the game against lefty John Danks hitting .306 this season against left-handers and .291 against right-handers, but was 0-for-3 with a strikeout against Danks. He did, however, have had a single off left-handed reliever Boone Logan in the seventh inning.

His career batting average against southpaws, even with his success this season, is just .221.

Keeping score

Todd Jones is 14th on the all-time list of saves with 319.

Friday night's blown save was the 75th of his career. He's 17th on that list. In first and second respectively on that list, by the way, are Rich "Goose" Gossage with 112 and Rollie Fingers with 109.

The former will be inducted to the Hall of Fame on Sunday, and the latter already is in.

Around the horn

He's playing the position well, but don't expect any long stretches for throws at first base from Miguel Cabrera.

"Because his hip has been bothering him," Leyland said. "He's been playing kind of stiff legged. Starting next season, though, he'll be one heck of a first baseman.

"He's doing a good job now, but he can be even better. There aren't a lot of guys who think you can't just put anybody over there. I love a good first baseman. I think he'll be a great first baseman by the end of next year."

... The Tigers don't mind at all that Casey Blake has been traded by the Indians to the Dodgers.

"He's been tough on us," Leyland said.

Indeed. Blake's 22 career home runs against the Tigers are eight more than he's hit against any other team.

You can reach Tom Gage at tom.gage@detnews.com

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:19 pm

Monday, July 28, 2008
Notebook
Latest setback upsets Tigers' Zumaya
Tightness in triceps is just day-to-day, but another injury leaves reliever frustrated.
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Tightness in his right triceps. Probably not a serious injury.

But it was the same feeling all over again of not being able to pitch, of having to come out of Sunday's 6-4 victory in the eighth that bothered Joel Zumaya so much.

Enough already with these injuries. While tightness isn't anything close to the serious finger or shoulder problems he has experienced the past two years, it would have been fine with him if nothing, not even a hangnail, had ever physically gone wrong with him again.

"It's very upsetting," Zumaya said. "Getting set back again ticks me off. I'm not saying this is going to be a setback, but I've been on the shelf, it gets old being on the shelf. Being in the training room, you get pretty sick and tired of it, man."

Zumaya is listed as day-to-day. But if he's going to miss more than a couple of days, the Tigers might have to call up a pitcher, manager Jim Leyland said.

Frankly, if it's going to be more than a couple of days, Zumaya might not be able to stand it.

"I wanted to finish the inning, I think I could have, so I said some words I probably shouldn't have," he said. "I got upset out there. But they're trying to take care of me.

"Like I said, it's mind-blowing to have to come off the mound when the team needs me."

On the bright side

Zach Miner pitched well again, allowing two runs in six innings. It was a quick jolt, however, when A.J. Pierzynski , the second batter he faced, hit a home run.

On a change-up, Miner was asked?

"Just a slow fastball," he said. "I was trying to throw strikes and be efficient."

And for most of the time he has been.

Around the horn

With his fourth four-hit game of the season, Pudge Rodriguez is hitting .390 in his last 30 games.

... More from Leyland about Curtis Granderson not hitting anywhere but leadoff from now on and also not getting pinch-hit for when he's facing a left-handed pitcher: "If he's going to be the player we know he will be, and is, it's time.

"I watched him real close the first year or two, and now this is one of the premier players. There comes a time when you have to turn the page and go forward with it. That's what I am doing."

Granderson, by the way, is hitting .361 in his last 32 games.

... Word is the Tigers have had a successful month of signing Latin players although none of the nine they've signed came close to the bonus of more than $4 million given 16-year-old pitcher Michael Inoa by the A's.

...Of how his players are handling the upcoming trade deadline: "You always have a core of nervous nellies, a core of guys who couldn't care less, and a core who can't be bothered," Leyland said.

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Mon Jul 28, 2008 7:08 am

merged, sorry old columns are at the end.

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Fri Aug 01, 2008 7:26 pm

Friday, August 1, 2008
Notebook
No more Tigers trades as deadline reached
Dombrowski can't pick up more bullpen help; critics warm to Pudge-Farnsworth transaction.
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

CLEVELAND -- Hoping to add more bullpen help, Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski worked the phones as long as he could Thursday.

But the 4 p.m. trade deadline came and went without the Tigers making another deal. However, the industry reviews on their Pudge Rodriguez-Kyle Farnsworth trade have grown more favorable.

"Farnsworth is throwing the best I've seen in a long time," one scout said. "The Tigers did a good job addressing a need with that trade."

Farnsworth will report today for a three-game series at Tampa Bay.

"We had some discussions with clubs, mostly about bullpen," Dombrowski said, "but nothing materialized that made sense for us or for them."

Jones on the DL

Todd Jones knew something was wrong with his right shoulder.

As long as he was the Tigers' closer, though, and knew the range of the number of pitches he'd throw in any appearance, he could live with the discomfort.

But Jones lost that role, which created the possibility of throwing more pitches. And after giving up a homer to Kelly Shoppach -- the first batter he faced in Wednesday night's 14-12, 13-inning victory over Cleveland -- Jones knew the situation needed to be addressed.

"If I'm doing my job, I can deal with it," he said after going on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his shoulder. "When you're closing, it's only one inning, and you don't say anything if you're banged up a little bit, as long as you're doing your job.

"But if I'm hurting the team, that's not good. It's just gotten progressively worse. This is the first time I've actually felt anything on the mound. Everything else I felt was after or before."

Even so, manager Jim Leyland suspected for a couple of weeks something was wrong.

"But he's a gamer," Leyland said of Jones, 40. "I think he said he thought age was catching up on him a little bit."

Jones did, and maybe it is.

"There are certain things you go through when your body gets older, and I thought this ache and pain was just part of it," he said. "It looks like it's structural, though."

When asked he was fearful the injury might put his season in jeopardy, Jones said, "I'm fearful my outings put my season in jeopardy."

Quick wit

Leyland hadn't heard about the time Farnsworth, his new relief pitcher, pile-drove Kansas City's Jeremy Affeldt . It happened in 2005, Farnsworth's first stint as a Tiger, during a fracas stemming from a beaning incident involving Carlos Guillen and Runelvys Hernandez .

When Affeldt starting yapping, Farnsworth simply picked him up and threw him down near the visitor's dugout at Comerica Park.

Leyland had one thing to say:

"I hope he likes managers."

Around the horn

It's not on the original schedule, but because of a rainout the Tigers and Yankees play a makeup game at Comerica Park on Sept. 1. It will be Rodriguez's return to Detroit.

... Curtis Granderson had an outstanding series, going 10-for-18 in the four games. Leyland said that Wednesday night's game, in which Granderson had five hits, was "the best two-strike hitting I've ever seen from him."

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:48 am

Saturday, August 2, 2008
Notebook
Jones says he still can help Tigers
After getting an MRI, reliever believes his tendinitis will be OK after getting some rest.
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla . -- Todd Jones saw the MRI image of his right shoulder. He recognized the white area in the back of his shoulder.

It was tendinitis. It was inflammation that Thursday placed him on the 15-day disabled list.

It was visible five days after he had turned over his closer's role to Fernando Rodney after Jones had spent the past month struggling to put away hitters and to close out ninth innings.

"I've got to let it completely calm down," Jones said of his aching right shoulder, which he acknowledged has not felt good for much of the past six weeks. "I'll do some exercises, probably get a shot (cortisone).

"I still think I can help the team in a big way."

Jones conceded during a conversation before Friday's Tigers-Tampa Bay game at Tropicana Field that pain can be a difficult thing for a pitcher to assess. Pitchers routinely experience discomfort, sometimes acutely, and often are able to pitch effectively.

When do they consider the pain extreme enough to stop pitching?

When do they suck it up and keep throwing?

"If I was unable to help the club get outs," Jones said, drawing his personal line. "Otherwise, you don't say anything. You try and be effective.

"There were days I had no business being out there, but I was still getting people out.

"But now my role has changed. I've got to be a couple-inning guy. If I'm not doing that, I'm not helping the club. You've got to look at the big picture sometimes.

"I've got to be professional."

Jones has been hit hard since he began to falter heading into July.

He and his dry wit were at full strength Friday.

Discussing the cortisone shot he believes is inevitable, he nodded and said, deadpan: "Yeah, I'm a big fan of those."

As for remedies that a 40-year-old right-handed reliever with 319 career saves might adopt to prevent the kind of ache that has put him on the DL for two weeks, Jones said, drolly:

"If I could recommend one thing: Don't get old."

Friday's game
Zach Miner was respectable in his third start since joining the rotation, pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits and four runs, three of them earned.

His record dropped to 5-4, his earned-run average rose to 3.77.

Joel Zumaya relieved Miner in the sixth and was about what Zumaya has been since he rejoined the team in June: slightly erratic.

Zumaya threw 1 1/3 innings, struck out two, walked one, and allowed one hit -- a booming home run by rookie third baseman Evan Longoria , his 20th of the season.

"He needs to pitch," Leyland said of Zumaya, who has a 2.61 ERA in 17 games spanning 20 2/3 innings since he returned from last autumn's shoulder surgery

"It's been quite a while. He's rusty, and he needs to pitch."

Seay's streak
Bobby Seay finished up for the Tigers, pitching the final 1 1/3 innings. He allowed no hits and struck out two.

In his last six outings, Seay has a 0.93 ERA with 14 strikeouts and one run allowed in 9 2/3 innings.

In his last 14 appearances, Seay has a 0.57 ERA with 20 strikeouts and one earned run.

Short hop

Miguel Cabrera 's third-inning triple was good for his 80th RBI of the season.

Finding the fire

Right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth returned Friday to the team for which he pitched three years ago.

"Hugs, handshakes, high-fives," said Farnsworth, who rejoined the Tigers following Wednesday's trade with the Yankees that sent Pudge Rodriguez to New York.

"It's not gonna be as tough as if I came to a new situation."

You can reach Lynn Henning at lynn.henning@detnews.com

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:34 am

The guys should play an exhibition game at Lakeland!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:08 am

Saturday, August 2, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Rogers' outing short in innings, but not pitches
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tigers' night was so awful Saturday during a 9-3 loss to the Rays that:

* Starting pitcher Kenny Rogers faced six batters in the first inning, worth 29 pitches, and never was a ball put into play. Rogers struck out three, walked two and hit a batter.

* Rogers, who could have benefited from a tidy follow-up, instead used 36 pitches in the second for a two-inning total of 65. The Tigers threw 200 pitches for the game.

* Rogers' 100th pitch of the evening came with one out in the fourth inning on a strike to Carl Crawford.

* The game was so slow it should have been ticketed for loitering. It took 2 hours, 10 minutes to play the first four innings. Mercifully, it ended after 3 hours and 29 minutes.

"Yes, it's disappointing," said Rogers, whose record dropped to 8-8. "I have to get 'em out earlier. I would have loved to stay out there that last inning (the fourth, when he departed and was replaced by reliever Freddy Dolsi as the Rays jumped to a 7-2 lead).

"But that last inning was crucial and developed into a big inning."

Almost there

Miguel Cabrera is looking as if he found his old Marlins uniform.

He is hitting the way he did for the Marlins during his first four big seasons in the majors, and hitting the way the Tigers had expected him to bash the ball after they traded for him last December.

With two singles and a double that nearly was a grand slam, Cabrera is batting .299 on the season.

He is batting .335 in his last 46 games with 11 home runs, 12 doubles and 45 RBIs. Cabrera has 81 RBIs on the season.

Just like old times

Steadily, Magglio Ordonez is looking more like the Ordonez of 2007 when he was American League batting champion. Ordonez entered Saturday batting .383 since the All-Star break and .319 on the season.

He won last year's batting title with a .363 average that, obviously, is beyond reach unless Ordonez has something supernatural planned for the season's final two months.

He was 1-for-3 Saturday and now sits at .320.

Grand finale

Here were Curtis Granderson's dizzying batting numbers since June 20, a stretch of 37 games through Friday: .381 average, which is second in the American League during that span, and a .455 on-base percentage, which is first in the league.

Granderson was 1-for-5 Saturday. On the season, he is batting .307.

You can reach Lynn Henning at lynn.henning@detnews.com

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:01 am

Monday, August 4, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Tigers' costly slide gets started as Farnsworth stumbles
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla . -- Jim Leyland was so furious, so beyond words, he could only spit a statement at media who shuffled into his morgue of an office following the Tigers' 6-5 loss to the Rays on Sunday at Tropicana Field.

"You guys saw it," he said acidly, jabbing his fork at a plate of food. "Write what you want."

Kyle Farnsworth's second appearance as a Tigers pitcher since he arrived from the Yankees in Wednesday's trade for Pudge Rodriguez was a nightmare.

Farnsworth inherited a 3-1 lead in the eighth inning that, two home runs later, had Tampa Bay on top 4-3.

"I was trying to be aggressive, and they hit the ball like they're supposed to," said Farnsworth, who allowed a leadoff home run to Eric Hinske, a one-out single, and a two-run bomb by B.J. Upton.

"I fell behind Upton, 3-1," Farnsworth said. "I mean, you can't fall behind hitters like that. The 1-2 (pitch) to Hinske was right down the middle."

The more heinous stuff was yet to come. After the Tigers tied the game 4-4 in the ninth on Curtis Granderson's home run, they took a 5-4 lead in the 10th on a home run by Miguel Cabrera.

Fernando Rodney helped Tampa Bay to its winning two-run rally in the 10th, thanks to a ghastly lack of control that saw him walk three batters, hit one (and nearly hit two others), and allow a bases-loaded single.

"The guys came back and battled," Farnsworth said of the Tigers offense, which had three home runs as part of Detroit's 12 hits, three of which came from Placido Polanco.

"They did their part for us. We let 'em down, pitching-wise."

Seay's success

There was one winner in the Tigers bullpen Sunday. He has been their lone success story of late: left-hander Bobby Seay.

Seay came into the game in the ninth after Granderson's home run tied things up 4-4. And typical of Seay's ways of late, he put down the Rays 1-2-3 in the ninth.

Seay in his last 15 games (16 2/3 innings) has allowed one run and struck out 22. His ERA during that stretch: 0.54.

Leyland explained to Seay at the start of the 10th that if Tampa Bay pinch-hit for Gabe Gross , the scheduled batter and a left-hander, Leyland would go with Rodney against the switch-hitting Willy Aybar , who is less effective from the right side of the plate.

Seay was in the same mood as his teammates following Sunday's game.

The Tigers dressing room was quiet as a crypt. Seay all but whispered when he talked about a defeat that ruined so much, beginning with Armando Galarraga's superb start that should have earned Galarraga his 10th victory of the season.

"Armando gave us seven strong innings," Seay said. "He deserved a better outcome."

During one stretch, Galarraga retired 13 consecutive batters. He struck out four and walked none as his ERA dropped to 3.23.

The hitters

Miguel Cabrera 's 20th home run this season tied him with Marcus Thames for the team lead. He now has 84 RBIs on the season and was fourth in the American League in RBIs entering Sunday.

Gary Sheffield 's eighth-inning home run was career home run No. 488.

Placido Polanco was 3-for-5 with a double and is tied for the team lead in doubles with 26. Polanco entered Sunday 10th in the league in hits.

You can reach Lynn Henning at lynn.henning@detnews.com

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Fri Aug 08, 2008 5:35 pm

Friday, August 8, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Guillen to skip World Classic
Tigers infielder decries conditions Venezuela faced at 2006 event, says Ordonez agrees with him.
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

CHICAGO -- Two days before the Fiesta Tigres celebration, honoring the link between the Tigers and the Latin community, Carlos Guillen sent a message home that is sure to disappoint his Venezuelan countrymen.
Because of numerous grievances with the way the team was organized and the players were treated in 2006 by its own officials for the inaugural event, and also because he sees no improvement since in any of the matters that bothered him, Guillen does not plan to play for Venezuela next spring in the second World Baseball Classic.

"I am not a clown," said Guillen, who said that he's spoken with teammate Magglio Ordonez, and that Ordonez feels the same way.

Among Guillen's grievances were crowded housing, players not being treated like professionals, and the lack of respect for experienced players.

"On the opening day of the event, in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic," Guillen said, "we didn't have any jerseys until 15 minutes before the game."

There's time for Guillen, who doubled and tripled in the Tigers' 8-3 victory over the White Sox Thursday night, to change his mind, of course. But he said he won't unless he sees organizational improvement.

Looking better?

Gary Sheffield wasn't in the starting lineup, but if a .310 batting average in 29 at-bats on the Tigers' three-city trip is enough of a measuring stick, he's getting his swing back.

"Not that he's on fire because he's not," manager Jim Leyland said, "but he's doing better. He's still not the Sheffield that we know, but what he's done lately could be a good sign."

Getting close

He grew up a Tigers' fan in Grosse Pointe Farms, starring for Grosse Pointe South and the University of Michigan along the way, but it won't be the for Tigers that Chris Getz could soon play.

It's for the White Sox.

Drafted twice by the Sox, and signing the second time they chose him, Getz not only could be the heir apparent at second base for the Sox, but also a September call-up as well. Word is the trade of minor-league second baseman Danny Richar to Cincinnati in the Ken Griffey Jr . deal clears the way for Getz.

Around the horn

Richard and Kathy Verlander , Justin 's parents, were chosen Little League Parents of the Year. They'll be honored at the 62nd Little League Baseball World Series later this month in Williamsport, Pa.

... Oakland has changed its rotation for the weekend and will not use left-handed starters in all three games. The Tigers hit .288 against left-handers, compared to .272 against right-handers.

... Kenny Rogers is back on the mound tonight after what Leyland called "probably the weirdest start I've seen him have since he's been here. But he'll be ready. He's always ready."

Against the Rays, Rogers threw 109 pitches, striking out eight, in 3 1/3 innings of a 9-3 loss.

... Catching Leyland's eye was this stat: In 42 save situations this year, the Tigers have 20 blown saves. "That's not good," he said. "In 2006, we hardly blew any. That's one of the major differences."

... Tigers' first-round draft choice Ryan Perry suffered his first professional loss Wednesday night, allowing two ninth-inning runs in a 6-4 loss to Clearwater.

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:51 am

Saturday, August 9, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
The bullpen's only consistent performer of late, Seay shines again
David Goricki / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Bobby Seay continues to be one reliever the Tigers could count on.

While the rest of the Tigers' bullpen has struggled, preventing the Tigers from making a legitimate run at the Central Division title, Seay has done his part to keep his team in position to win.

On Saturday night, Seay replaced rookie starter Armando Galarraga with the bases loaded and two out in the top of the sixth with the Tigers holding a 3-2 lead. The left-hander quickly retired Daric Barton on a fly to left to get out of the jam and the Tigers went on to earn a 10-2 victory over the A's.

"He's been really good," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "Fans will look at the score and think it was a blowout, but it wasn't. It was a tough game for a long time. That was a huge out. If (Barton) gets a hit in the gap and scores two or three runs, we could have lost the game. That was the biggest out of the game."

Tigers catcher Brandon Inge agreed.

"It was absolutely huge," Inge said. "We were going to make the batter beat us with a quality pitch and (Seay) got him with a slider down and away."

Seay, whose ERA is 0.92 over his last 18 appearances (two earned runs in 19 2/3 innings), retired the side in order in the seventh, getting Ryan Sweeney and Mark Ellis -- the leadoff and No. 2 hitters in the A's order -- on called third strikes.

Joel Zumaya (eighth) and Kyle Farnsworth (ninth) worked scoreless innings to close the game out.

Miguel Cabrera then hit his second home run of the game, a three-run shot for a 6-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh. The Tigers scored four more in the eighth.

The Tigers, who received three hits from Placido Polanco (.314), now have scored 140 runs during the 22 games since the All-Star break. Still, they are sub-.500 (10-12), and the bullpen's failures deserve plenty of the blame.

Jones to throw Monday

Todd Jones, who lost his closer role last month, is expected to throw in the bullpen prior to Monday's game against the Blue Jays. He could be placed on the active list as early as Friday.

Jones (4-1, 18 saves, 5.05 ERA) gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Jermaine Dye in the ninth inning July 25 for the difference in a 6-5 loss to the White Sox.

He gave up another home run in his next game, a 14-12 victory over the Indians on July 30, and he was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day because of inflammation in his right shoulder.

What type of role will Jones play when he returns?

"We'll play it by ear and see what he looks like (Monday)," Leyland said.

Guillen sidelined

Tigers third baseman Carlos Guillen was forced to sit out because of a lower back injury. He was taken out of Friday's game, a 4-2 loss to the A's, after the seventh inning.

"He's still a little stiff," Leyland said. "He didn't pull anything, he just spasmed up."

Guillen, who was the Tigers' representative in the All-Star Game, is listed as day-to-day.

Ryan Raburn played third and was 1-for-4.

Fiesta Tigres!

The Tigers honored the contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to MLB with Fiesta Tigres! Night.

Ozzie Virgil, the first player from the Dominican Republic to play in MLB, threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Virgil made his MLB debut Sept. 23, 1956, as a member of the New York Giants. He later played for the Tigers.

"It was a big deal," Virgil said before the game. "I knew I'd be the first one and it would be there for history. For me, that was something special."

According to MLB, on Opening Day 2008, 28 percent of the 855 major league players were born outside of the United States, including 88 born in the Dominican Republic. Virgil became the Tigers' first Latin-American born player June 6, 1958, and in his home debut June 17 went 5-for-5.

"I was a free-swinging guy," Virgil said of his 5-for-5 day. "I was lucky enough to bloop a couple (hits). We had about 25,000 fans that day and they gave me a standing ovation. It made me feel good. I was the first non-white to play in Detroit, but I didn't feel I had any extra pressure on me because of that. I just felt I had to perform."

The current Tigers' roster has 11 players and coaches who were born in Latin-American countries: Edgar Renteria from Columbia; Rafael Belliard, Freddy Dolsi, Aquilino Lopez, Placido Polanco, Fernando Rodney and Ramon Santiago from the Dominican Republic and Miguel Cabrera, Armando Galarraga, Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordonez from Venezuela.

You can reach David Goricki at david.goricki@detnews.com

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Mon Aug 11, 2008 5:12 am

Monday, August 11, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Sore shoulder benches Thames
Leyland concerned the injury might linger; Sheffield again sounds off on dislike of DHing.
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Marcus Thames was scratched from Sunday's lineup with a sore right shoulder.

There's been no official word on the severity of the injury, but manager Jim Leyland doesn't like the early vibes about it.

"He felt it a little in Chicago, but thought it was getting better," Leyland said. "It's bothering him pretty good. I don't know exactly what it is, but it's in his shoulder, and could be a dangerous one as far as time is concerned.

"This time of year, I can't have guys sitting around. We can't fool around too many days. This is starting to be crunch time and we have to go out there with all the ammo we have."

With Thames scratched, Ryan Raburn started in left field and drove in a run with a double.

Also, with Carlos Guillen out because of lower back spasms, and with Raburn needed in the outfield, Brandon Inge started at third base for the first time since July 20 -- before becoming the Tigers starting catcher because of the Pudge Rodriguez trade.

Not his preference

When you ask him a question, Gary Sheffield gives you an honest answer. And to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, who was in Chicago last Thursday before the Red Sox-White Sox series, he again gave an honest opinion about being a designated hitter.

Of disliking his role as a DH is more like it.

"I don't want to DH," Sheffield told The Globe. "I can be in the outfield and play every day. I don't feel like a baseball player when I DH. I don't know how to be the leader that I am from the bench. I can't be a vocal leader.

"I can't talk to guys from the bench because I don't feel right about it. I'm in a role now where I don't know what to do, really. The guys are out there busting their butts for nine innings, they come in, and they hit and they grind. I just sit down and hit.

"That's all I do, so I can't be in a leadership role from that position."

Sheffield has five homers and 15 RBIs since the All-Star break, but to the crowd's vocal displeasure, he went 0-for-4 on Sunday, his average dropping to .222.

Around the horn

After missing two full games, Guillen should return from his back problem today. "He probably was ready (Sunday) if I pushed it," Leyland said.

... On a night Leyland didn't consider him sharp, Armando Galarraga made a good impression Saturday as he won for the 10th time.

"I thought he was sluggish, but I was proud of him," Leyland said. "I don't mean he was brutal. He just wasn't himself.

"He didn't take his best stuff or his best location out there with him but he still won the ball game. That's pretty impressive."

... The Blue Jays come to town for the start of a four-game series tonight farther out of first place than the Tigers and struggling to stay over .500. But Leyland said, "They have real good arms, there will be no breathers. We're going to see four guys with real good stuff.

"They're a very capable team. A lot of people consider (Roy ) Halladay the best pitcher in the American League."

Halladay will start the day game Thursday. He's slightly better on the road than at home this year (2.67-2.77 ERA) and slightly better in day games than at night (2.66-.2.74), but those stats mostly show he's just consistently good anywhere, any time.

... So impressed with Kyle Farnsworth's arm thus far, Leyland said, "it's puzzling sometimes how he gets hit at all."

Leyland brought Farnsworth into Saturday night's 10-2 blowout over the A's with the belief it was a perfect situation for him.

"Even if it had stayed a four-run lead (before the Tigers tacked on four more in the eighth), I would have brought him in because he hadn't pitched in three days.

"But it worked out perfectly because I thought it was a good time for him to get acclimated back to Detroit, not a lot of pressure, not a huge situation."

Farnsworth allowed a double and single, but got out of the first-and-third jam by retiring the next three batters, striking out two.

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Wed Aug 13, 2008 12:08 pm

Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tigers: Notebook
Tigers sign Garcia to can't-lose deal
Tom Gage / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Yes, it could lead to something. If his arm strength improves and he can stay healthy, it's conceivable he'll be a Tiger this year or next.

But right now, Freddy Garcia as a pitcher in the Tigers' organization is being viewed strictly as a can't-lose situation.

Because that's all it is.

The Tigers signed Garcia, a 33-year-old right-hander, to a minor league contract on Tuesday. They'll watch how he throws and progresses in Lakeland, then at Toledo -- and if they think he can be of some help next year, if not this season, a major league contract could be in the offing.

"If all goes well, hopefully I'll be there soon," Garcia said on a cell-phone call. "My arm is feeling great. But I need to throw innings."

When asked if he hopes to pitch for the Tigers next season, Garcia said he does.

"They have good players, a great team and great fans."

Garcia's good friend Carlos Guillen, who set up the call, thinks Garcia will pitch for the Tigers next year. But more has to come together than already has.

Meanwhile, it's an intriguing signing because just two years ago, Garcia won 17 games for the White Sox. In 2005, he also started the clinching game for the Sox in the World Series.

Garcia has won 117 major league games.

So, if he's right after last year's shoulder surgery, he obviously can help. Finding out if he's right, however, is now the task at hand.

"It's a minor league contract with no major league commitments," said Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski. "He's still a while from pitching. He's a chance.

"There's nothing to lose on our part. We scouted him, watched him (throw) at the University of Miami and liked him. We thought he threw well, but feel he needs continued improvement in his arm strength."

Dombrowski said Garcia threw 85-87 miles an hour when they scouted him.

"As you know, he's thrown harder than that in the past. I have no idea how long it will take for him to come back."

Willis to Triple A

Dontrelle Willis can finally say farewell to Lakeland.

After two months of trying to correct flaws in his delivery, and solving the problems that have made him a bust so far for the Tigers, Willis has been promoted to Triple A and will pitch for Toledo at Richmond on Friday night.

"We told Dontrelle that our goal with him is that we'd like him to be ready, and to be the good big league pitcher that he's capable of being in 2009. If it's before that, great.

"The last two times out (for Lakeland), he's thrown strikes. His arm strength is there, his breaking ball has been solid, so we'll just see what happens."

In six appearances at Lakeland, five of them starts, Willis was 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA.

Sheffield reportedly waived

Tigers designated hitter Gary Sheffield , who criticized his role with the team on Sunday, has been placed on waivers, according to an ESPN.com report.

ESPN, citing a source, said Sheffield and other Tigers players were placed on waivers Tuesday.

Teams have until Thursday to claim Sheffield. It's doubtful, however, any team will claim him. His contract guarantees him $14 million next season.

Subject: Re: Tigers: Notebook - FROM THE DETROIT NEWS Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:56 am

Thursday, August 14, 2008
Notebook
Relieved Zumaya returns to Tigers' DL
Reliever thought 'my career was over' after tearing scar tissue in his right shoulder.
Lynn Henning / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- Joel Zumaya's first thought Tuesday was that his arm had "exploded" during a disastrous relief stint in the Tigers' 6-4 loss to Toronto at Comerica Park.

His next thought was darker.

"I thought my career was over," the Tigers right-hander said Wednesday. He had been placed on the 15-day disabled list after tearing scar tissue in his surgically repaired right shoulder. "I was trying to be a hero. I could have ended my career."

Zumaya had just thrown his last pitch of the night Tuesday during a five-batter stint in which he didn't record an out. It was a fastball. And the sound his shoulder made at release left Zumaya even more shaken than the boos that rolled down upon him as he shuffled to the Tigers dugout.

"I blew a big chunk of it (scar tissue)," Zumaya said, adding that he has not "been right" since giving up a late home run in a July 19 game at Baltimore. "I feel like I'm hurting."

As scary as Tuesday night was, and as weary of injuries as Zumaya acknowledged being Wednesday, the Tigers were happy with medical reports.

"Great news," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "No problem with the rotator cuff, or elbow, or shoulder." That's a great relief for Joel."

The Tigers called up right-hander Francis Beltran from Triple-A Toledo to take Zumaya's roster spot. As for forecasts on when -- or if -- Zumaya will be back in 2008, neither Leyland nor Zumaya was upbeat.

"We'll watch it till it's 100 percent," Zumaya said. "It could be next year. I'm not gonna even pick up a ball for 12 days."

"Hopefully, he'll be ready for spring training," Leyland said.

As for why Zumaya would not have told the Tigers medical team that he had been hurting for nearly a month, Zumaya said he believed he should pitch through the pain in a bid to help his team get back into contention.

"I hate to lose," he said. "I wanted to be helping this team."

Sheffield's shift

Gary Sheffield was smiling and conversational Wednesday. The flap that had developed earlier this week when he and Leyland traded words over Sheffield's role with the Tigers seemed to be in the past.

There were other things to consider, such as his two home runs in Tuesday night's game against the Blue Jays. And, of course, the fact he had been placed on waivers.

"I've been on waivers all my career," he said. "Lots of times."

The Tigers have not commented on Sheffield's waiver-wire appearance.

Sheffield, who was ejected for flipping his bat during Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays, has been bothered by a sore shoulder since he collided with second baseman Placido Polanco in a game in July of 2007. He had surgery on the shoulder last autumn.

Guillen shelved

Carlos Guillen missed Wednesday night's game with lower back pain that he believes could keep him out of the lineup "two or three days."

Short hops

Magglio Ordonez , who had two singles Wednesday, is batting .355 with four doubles, a triple, three home runs and 21 RBIs in 25 games since the All-Star break.

You can reach Lynn Henning at (313) 222-2472 lynn.henning@detnews.com