Ready for the second half of the season?

Subject: Ready for the second half of the season? Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:03 am

Tigers aim for consistent second half
Detroit (47-47) at Baltimore (45-48), Thursday, 7:05 p.m. ET
By Scott McNeish / MLB.com

DETROIT -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland can't figure out why his fantasy baseball-like lineup hasn't consistently scored. He uses words like "shocked," "puzzled" and "baffled."
Sure, the Tigers have posted large run totals this season. They've scored 19 runs twice. However, they've also been shut out 10 times -- most in the Majors. Detroit has 13 blowout wins (victories by five runs or more), but also 14 blowout losses.

"I'm still shocked about the inconsistency of our offense," Leyland said. "The inconsistency is a big concern. When you talk about the first half, you'd say the biggest surprise is that the offense hasn't done well. We need to get that fixed."

With a batting order featuring six All-Stars, some predicted the 2008 Tigers would become the eighth team since 1900 to score 1,000 runs in a season.

To achieve that feat, last accomplished by the 1999 Indians, a team must score 6.2 runs per game for an entire season.

The Tigers have averaged 4.9 as they begin the second half, and are on pace to score 790 runs this season.

"We need to get our offense going on a consistent basis," Leyland said. "We've got to be able to beat the pitchers we're supposed to beat. When you face a good one, you have to struggle your [tail] off and find out a way to beat him. But there have been some pitchers in the first half that this offense should have beaten, and we haven't."

The Tigers have struggled to find hits in clutch situations, especially in their three losses in the week leading up to the break.

"We want to get it done. We want to get the big hits, but I think we're tensing up," rookie outfielder Matt Joyce said. "We want to get runs on the board and get the crowd into it, and sometimes I think we get a little too excited."

The Tigers played without cleanup hitter Magglio Ordonez, last year's American League batting champion and MVP runner-up, for the final 14 games of the first half. He went on the disabled list with a pulled oblique, but Detroit plans to have him back on Thursday for the opener of a four-game set at Baltimore.

Ordonez's return won't provide an instant cure, but it will help an offense in need of steadiness.

"We're going to have to score more consistently in the second half if we're going to win," Leyland said.

Pitching matchup
DET: LHP Kenny Rogers (6-6, 4.55 ERA)
Rogers gets the call to begin the second half. He finished the first half earning a no-decision against the Twins after allowing three runs on nine hits in seven innings. Since June 2, Rogers has been one of Detroit's most consistent starters, allowing an average of 2.3 earned runs in 10 starts. He begins the second half facing Baltimore, a team against which Rogers has a 10-9 record and 4.67 ERA in 28 starts.

BAL: LHP Garrett Olson (6-4, 5.65 ERA)
Olson had one of his worst starts of the season his last time out against Toronto. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings after allowing seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks. His ERA jumped almost three runs in his past seven starts. The rookie has never faced the Tigers. He has been much better at home (4-1) than on the road (3-6).

Tidbits
Marcus Thames started at designated hitter on Sunday. When asked whether struggling DH Gary Sheffield will reprise his role during the second half of the season, Leyland replied, "I'm going to DH Sheff the first day back." ... Carlos Guillen received his jersey for the All-Star Game on Sunday morning. A snooping Todd Jones took a look and said, "Man, brand new? So that's why they look so white on TV." He's kidding, of course, because Jones made the AL All-Star team in 2000. ... Speaking of Jones, he tied Rick Aguilera for 14th place on the all-time saves list with his 318th career save on Sunday. ... Tigers outfield prospect Wilkin Ramirez went 1-for-1 with a walk in Sunday's XM All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. ... ESPN's "SportsCenter" filmed the latest episode of its "Titletown USA" series in front of the giant tiger statue outside Comerica Park on Sunday morning.
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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: Ready for the second half of the season? Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:21 pm

Can't Wait

Subject: Re: Ready for the second half of the season? Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:59 am

I'm definitely ready Nod

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"I'm on a mission. Mark my words: I'll be back, and I'll be able to do what I've been doing." Joel Zumaya

Subject: Re: Ready for the second half of the season? Thu Jul 17, 2008 3:11 am

Let's rock it GUYS!!!
_________________
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: Ready for the second half of the season? Thu Jul 17, 2008 4:57 am

TIGERS ARE GOING TO BE AWESOME 2ND HALF!!!! YAY!

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Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Subject: Re: Ready for the second half of the season? Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:20 pm

Ready....

Has it started yet??

Subject: Re: Ready for the second half of the season? Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:38 pm

_________________
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