Bless You Boys: FanShots

From Jason Beck's mailbag: "As long as I can remember, it always seems that the team goes into a...

Ian Casselberry — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 16:22:28 -0000

From Jason Beck's mailbag:

"As long as I can remember, it always seems that the team goes into a "swoon" in August. I am a relatively young fan, but both my parents say that this is something that has been going on for years. Is there any truth to this?
-- Tom S., Seymour, Conn.

It's true. The Tigers have had a winning record for August just once since the strike-shortened 1994 season. That exception came in 2000, when the Phil Garner-led Tigers made a late charge after a terrible start to get over .500 in early September and put themselves on the fringe of playoff contention before falling back over the final couple weeks.

Last year's Tigers went 11-18 in August. Detroit went 13-16 in August of 2006. The Tigers went 13-13 in August of 2005 to get within a game of .500 on Aug. 23, but went into a tailspin over the final month."

via tigers.com.

The Tigers get headaches: The Tigers split their four-game weekend series in Baltimore, but Sat...

Ian Casselberry — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:46:19 -0000

The Tigers get headaches:

The Tigers split their four-game weekend series in Baltimore, but Saturday night's 11-10, 10-inning loss could stick with them. As John Lowe pointed out in the Detroit Free Press, Saturday's game was the second this year in which the Tigers lost after taking a 6-0 lead in the first inning.

"11-10, that's exactly what a lot of people thought might happen to that team," a rival executive said Sunday. "This is what the doubters thought would happen."

It didn't help that the starting pitcher Saturday was Nate Robertson. With Jeremy Bonderman out for the year and Dontrelle Willis likely not returning, either, the Tigers will need Robertson to become a winner.

"Look, he is what he is, a fifth starter," said one scout who doubts Robertson can do it. "And fifth starters aren't that good."

Former Tigers beat writer Danny Knobler, in his "Weekend Buzz" column for CBSSports.com.

"He had so much hair, I could've slept on that for a week. "I'm just jealous."

Ian Casselberry — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 15:59:46 -0000

"He had so much hair, I could've slept on that for a week.

"I'm just jealous."

Tigers manager Jim Leyland, after Fernando Rodney received his first haircut since 2005.

And so the Baltimore Orioles win the game on this call. Plays like this are why the MLB is the bi...

Tony K — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 04:14:42 -0000

And so the Baltimore Orioles win the game on this call. Plays like this are why the MLB is the biggest laughing stock in professional sports.

"I felt what that game meant. They were (thinking), ‘We’re going to stick it to the Twins, and w...

Ian Casselberry — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:44:18 -0000

"I felt what that game meant. They were (thinking), ‘We’re going to stick it to the Twins, and we’re going to be in second place by the time this series is over with.’ That was the attitude I felt coming in here by listening, and we came back and rocked their world a little bit, and I liked that feeling."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, talking about last Thursday's 7-6 comeback win over the Tigers in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

(via the Detroit Free Press)

Q: Who wins the AL Central? And does the winner have a chance in the postseason? PEARLMAN: Detr...

Ian Casselberry — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:01:53 -0000

Q: Who wins the AL Central? And does the winner have a chance in the postseason?

PEARLMAN: Detroit. I don’t care that they’re a .500 team. The White Sox and Twins just don’t blow me away, and I think the Tigers have gotten most of their cruddy play out of the way. They’re the most talented team in that division, and somehow they’ve remained in striking distance. Do they have a chance in the postseason? Not really.

An excerpt from a Q&A ESPN.com's Jeff Pearlman did with The Big Lead

"We should all (have four-day breaks) or nobody should and you can quote me in big, bold print. ...

Ian Casselberry — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 13:14:38 -0000

"We should all (have four-day breaks) or nobody should and you can quote me in big, bold print. I want everyone to write it and put it all over the airwaves. It's a joke. It's garbage. Silly is what it is."

I'm just doing what the skipper tells me to.

A look inside Tiger Stadium. Unfortunately, the circumstances aren't exactly ideal. (From MLive...

Ian Casselberry — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:45:37 -0000

A look inside Tiger Stadium. Unfortunately, the circumstances aren't exactly ideal. (From MLive.com)

"That's a hell of a win... "Any more 15-inning games, I'll be going to rehab."

Ian Casselberry — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:15:01 -0000

"That's a hell of a win...

"Any more 15-inning games, I'll be going to rehab."

Jim Leyland, after yesterday's marathon between the Tigers and Mariners.

"The White Sox should win that division by half a dozen games or more, if you want to know the tr...

Ian Casselberry — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:43:31 -0000

"The White Sox should win that division by half a dozen games or more, if you want to know the truth.

"They have just about everything that you need. They have power. They have a good defensive team on the field and they have a heck of a bullpen. They have good starters."

Cubs manager Lou Piniella on the Tigers' chances, after his team was swept by the White Sox this weekend.

"If Sheffield is indeed back to normal, the Tigers lineup all of a sudden looks a lot scarier. T...

Ian Casselberry — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:34:12 -0000

"If Sheffield is indeed back to normal, the Tigers lineup all of a sudden looks a lot scarier. They won 12 of 15 games before Sheffield rejoined the lineup and are just five games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox. It looks like they can refrain from hitting the panic button for now."

They still miss Gary Sheffield in New York, it appears. (Courtesy of the NY Times' Bats blog.)

Tigers Hitters vs. Kyle Lohse

Tigsfan — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:01:59 -0000

Tigers Hitters vs. Kyle Lohse

Check out the Tigs stats against Kyle Lohse... Good stuff ;)

Hope this translates to gameday ...

It's over. For the Indians, an extended spring training has begun -- and down deep, the front of...

Ian Casselberry — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:12:54 -0000

It's over.

For the Indians, an extended spring training has begun -- and down deep, the front office has to know it.

There will be no contention this season, not even in the pathetic American League Central Division.

Terry Pluto, Cleveland Plain Dealer - 06/19/08

Zumaya throwing an offspeed pitch. He looked really good in the last bullpen session before leavi...

THE_J — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:14:16 -0000

Zumaya throwing an offspeed pitch. He looked really good in the last bullpen session before leaving for S.D. to wait for the Tigers. He even threw what looked to be some kind of knuckle curve. He's lost probably 20 to 30 pounds and has added quite a few tattoos to his flames.

Joel Zumaya in a bullpen session right before he left Toledo to catch a plane to San Diego to wai...

THE_J — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:11:07 -0000

Joel Zumaya in a bullpen session right before he left Toledo to catch a plane to San Diego to wait for the Tigers

Joel Zumaya in a bullpen session right before he left Toledo to catch a plane to San Diego to wai...

THE_J — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:10:45 -0000

Joel Zumaya in a bullpen session right before he left Toledo to catch a plane to San Diego to wait for the Tigers

I don't really have any words to accompany this... Miguel Cabrera: .278/.354/.461, 9 HR, $11.3 m...

Ian Casselberry — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:00:55 -0000

I don't really have any words to accompany this...

Miguel Cabrera: .278/.354/.461, 9 HR, $11.3 million
Jorge Cantu: .291/.341/.524, 14 HR, $0.5 million

Let's not even talk about Dontrelle Willis...

Geoff Young, at Baseball Digest Daily ("Why Cantu Be More Like Cabrera?")

SportsCenter highlights of yesterday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.

Ian Casselberry — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:03:59 -0000

SportsCenter highlights of yesterday's 2-1 win over the White Sox.

Chicago's Central... My Ass!!!! That's Right! SWEEP IT UP BABY!!!

Tigsfan — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 19:26:59 -0000

Chicago's Central... My Ass!!!!
That's Right! SWEEP IT UP BABY!!!

"Here's the bottom line: Unless Willis and Miguel Cabrera begin to seriously focus on their cond...

Ian Casselberry — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:52:34 -0000

"Here's the bottom line: Unless Willis and Miguel Cabrera begin to seriously focus on their conditioning and give themselves a chance to be great, Detroit's offseason blockbuster trade -- which was followed by a $181 million in investment in the two players -- is going to be remembered as one of the colossal busts of all time because of the assets involved. Some scouts who have seen Willis believe that part of his problem is that he simply has gotten too big to maintain his complicated delivery, and unless he drops some weight, he will not be able to repeat his mechanics with any consistency."

From Buster Olney's ESPN.com blog. (via The Spot Starters)