Yardbarker: Jacque Jones

NLDS Game 2 Recap: Cubs 3, Dodgers 10

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:56:05 -0500

Booted

W - Billingsley (1-0)

L - Zambrano (0-1)

Things to Take from This Game

1.A Alex Gonzalez Redux

Second inning with Ethier on first, the dodgers put on a hit and run.A Loney hits the ball to shortstop.A But with Theriot covering the bag, he's out of position, can't make the barehand stop of the chopper.A Ruled a hit.A Correctly. Two batters later, DeWitt hits a potential inning-ending double-play ball right at DeRosa, but it pops out of his glove, and everyone's safe with a run scoring on the play.A Lee makes an error on the next play, a chopper right at him hit by Blake, loading the bases.A A Furcal bunt and a Martin bases-clearing double to the left-center Gap, and the Cubs found themselves down 5-0 going into the bottom of the second. A particular shame as Z had looked really focused, sharp, pitching quickly, with an awesome fastball, only to have his defense betray him and then give up a legit double.

Ramirez also made a lame error a couple innings later.A No damage was done, save to our pride.A

And Theriot gives the Cubs infield the Defensive Anti-Cycle, an error by each infielder, when he throws one away in the ninth.

2.A Manny Ramirez Redux

Manny hit a gargantuan home run.A He's good.A

3. Ah, screwit.

Cotts and Marmol struggled, the Cubs got through 2/9ths of a 9-run comeback in the bottom of the ninth, other things probably happened to.

The "we have not yet begun to fight!" "No, really...A we haven't yet begun to fight...." details, below.

Game Recap

Pregame

Stockton still going on about crowd enthusiasm.A Gyeh.
Another cool night, wind blowing in

Inning 1 - Top

Fastball low for ball one to start the game.A Fastball at 91 on the outside for a strike, and then another, 1-2 count.A Z pitching very, very quickly to start
Swinging bunt, Z with a nice bare-handed play to get him at first
A 94 fastball fouled off behind the plate to start martin.
Martin pop flies out to Fukudome in shallow right
Gun reads 97 on first pitch to Manny.A Foul
93 on the inside corner, Manny not happy with it.A Crowd roaring.A They booed Manny when he came up to the plate.
Z blows a 95 mph fastball, up and outside, past Manny. Who knows what happens in ten minutes, even, but can't overstate that Z looks poised and focused so far.

Inning 1 - Bottom

A Soriano lines a slider over the middle of the plate for a single into left.
Low fastball to Theriot, just barely short-hops martin.A Tries for the backhand, and it skips away just a bit.A Soriano takes second.
Theriot swings through a high fastball that missed its spot by about two feet, 1-2 count.
Theriot flails at a slider, strike three.A Ball gets away, no advance from Soriano.
Nice breaking pitch from Billingsly to start Lee with a called strike
0-2 swinging at a low outside fastball.
News Flash:A Billingsly has really good stuff.
The TBS broadcast crew declares this a Key Moment In The Game.
- No, it's not.
Martin sets up in on a 2-2 count, ball misses over the plate, confusing the ump who calls it a ball.
Lee waves at a sharp slider, K's.
Ramirez swings through a fastball outside, strike one.
Martin with a nice stop on a slider in the dirt
Works the count to 3-2.
Crowd on its feet.
Ramirez flies to medium-deep center.A Nuts.

Inning 2 - Top

A 0-2 to start Ethier.
Z is throwing his next pitch right at every 9-10 seconds after receiving the ball from Soto
Ethier lines a 2-2 into right for a single.
Ethier runs, Loney chops one right to where Theriot was before going over to cover.A Theriot turns back for it, tries for the barehand, it slips away.A Runners at 1 and 3.A Z jumps and twists in some frustration at the misfortune
Z throwing a lot of strikes, Kemp swings and fouls off first pitch.A Strike fastball on inside corner, 0-2.
Crowd to its feet
supposed to be fastball outside, it sails up and in on kemp, just misses his jersey.
FAstball just a bit too low and outside, 2-2 count. Would have been nice to have.
Strike three called on Kemp.A Huge strikeout.A looks like a sliderA One out
DeWitt hits a sharp grounder right at DeRosa.A DeRosa goes to one knee, the ball goes into his glove and pops back out.A He lunges for it, does a backhand shovel to Theriot, but the pass is wide of the bag.A Everybody safe, run scores, runners at 1 and 2.A From an inning-ending DP to a chance to at least get the force at second to absolutely nothing.A 1-0 dodgers
And now Blake bounces one to Lee, and the ball bounces up on lee a bit, and the ball bounces off him.A A second consecutive error.A Bases loaded.A Z trying to stay composed.A Rothschild comes out to calm Z down.A Crowd booing the defense at first, now standing up to cheer on Z.
0-2 on BillingslyA Strike three swinging on a 95 fastball.A two outs.A Crowd chanting "Z Z Z!"
Furcal pushes a bunt to shallow second base.A DeRosa runs in for the bare-hand play, but it's too late. Safe at first.A Run scores. perfect positioning by Furcal. 2-0 dodgers
2-0 on Martin.A Now to 3-1.A Martin lines one that splits the left-center gap.A All three runs score.A Double.A 5-0 Dodgers
Z now overthrowing a bit.A 97 high and outside to Manny.A 96 mph blown past him, swinging.A 1-2 count.
Called three on the outside corner.A Inning over.

Inning 2 - Bottom

A DeRosa bounces out to Blake.
Edmonds with a slow roller to short.A Blake cuts it off and throws him out
Credit to parachatters for pointing it out, Billingsly is pitching away, away, away to the Cubs righties.A Soto K's swinging at an outside fastball.
That was quick.

Inning 3 - Top

A Ethier pops to DeRosa, right next to second base bag
3-0 on Loney.A 3-1.A A Lines a shot to center, carries more than Edmonds thinks, but adjusts to make the stretching catch.
Kemp Ks swinging through a fastball.A Nice to see a good bounce-back from Z

Inning 3 - Bottom

ferocious slider by billingsly, Fukudome swings and misses for 1-2.A And another swing and miss for strike three. Crowd not happy.
A Z walks!A Go offense.
And 2-0 to Soriano.A Honeycutt to the mound.
and winds up flying out to right.
Theriot with a sharp grounder right to Furcal, goes for the force at second.A Inning over

Inning 4 - Top

DeWitt flies to Edmonds
and Blake grounds to Ramirez.A Poor Z.A He really has had it going, other than the Martin double...
A a quick 0-2 on Billingsly.A Credit to the fans, they're still cheering on Z.
Wow.A Billingsly bounces one to Ramirez, who backs up on it.A You know what happens when Ramirez backs up on a bouncer.
Furcal with a liner just in front of Soriano, runners at 1 and 2
Crowd chanting "let's go Z! let's go Z!"
On a strike call to Martin, Soto's throw back to Martin slips out of his hand, and bounces out to Z who fields it, makes sure the runners don't go anywhere.A Soto goes to get the Resin bag.
Martin swings through a fastball ending the inning.A Z still looks great

Inning 4 - Bottom

A Lee with a sharp liner in front of Manny for a single.
Ramirez rolls out to Furcal, who starts the 6-4-3 with the force at second.A Lee sticks his right hand way up in the air, as DeWitt sidearms the throw to keep Lee's slide low.A The throw goes right into Lee's outstretched fingers.A Ramirez safe at first, no interference called.A Never seen that before.A Lee seems to be fine.
DeRosa with a bouncer to Furcal, this time a very easy 6-4-3.A Inning over.

Inning 5 - Top

A Dear God.A Manny hits a moon shot to center off of Zambrano.A It lands on the roofing above the green area in straight-away center, with a thunk.A Fastball that catches the inner third of the plate.
Ethier walks.
2-0 on Loney.A Pops out to Ramirez
Kemp rolls into a nicely turned 4-6-3

Inning 5 - Bottom

A Edmonds flies to the warning track in left-center.A Manny catches it right at the ivy.
Soto grounds out to third.
3-2 on Fukudome, watches a called fastball strike on the outside corner.A Inning over.

Inning 6 - Top

A DeRosa makes a nice play on a DeWitt grounder.A 4-3
Ron Darling, I think it was, asked Lou if this was a chance to get the bench in the game.A Wow.
Fastball runs in on Blake, hitting him.
Billingsly bunts, Z fields, bobbles, fires to second.A Blake clearly is safe.A I mean, clearly.A He's called out.
Furcal pops to Soriano

Inning 6 - Bottom

A Z chops one out to Blake, nice charging backhanded stop, 5-3.
Soriano K's swinging
Theriot grounds to DeWitt.A Knocks it down, easy 4-3.

Inning 7 - Top

A Z still pitching, 0-2 on Martin.A Martin K's looking
Z vs Manny again.A A walk, not much drama
Lou comes out for Z. Nice ovation for Z as he leaves the game, Cotts in
Z on the bench,A holding his head in his hands, and with a towel draped over it.
Cotts goes 3-0 on Ethier.A Walks on five pitches
and 2-0 on Loney, Rothschild visits.
Loney rolls to DeRosa, can't quite turn the 4-6-3.A Out at second, runners at 1 and 3, two outs.
Kemp slices one inside the right field line, bouncing off the padding (with a nice if irrelevant play on it by Fukudome) for a double.A Runner scores, 2nd and 3rd.A 7-0 dodgers
DeWitt pops to DeRosa, inning over.A More booing.

Inning 7 - Bottom

A Lee flies out to deep right.
Ramirez K's swinging.A Billingsly cruising.
DeRosa lines a double high off the right-field Ivy.A First extra-base hit for the Cubs.
Edmonds hits a high arcing double off the top of the left-center ivy.A Kemp made a leap for it into the ivy, I thought he was going to make a spectacular catch.A Lots of ivy come falling to the ground, as does the ball.A Run scores, 7-1 dodgers
Soto grounds a single through the left-side hole, Edmonds holds at third.A first and third, two outs.
Cory Wade in for Billingsly.A
Fukudome bounces to Furcal, gets the force at second base.A Inning over.

Inning 8 - Top

A Marmol in for Cotts
Blake rolls a single through the left-side hole.
Bit of a nifty play as Angel Berroa pinch hits forWade, bunt rolls one out to Lee wide of first base.A He shovels to first, where Marmol is racing to cover and DeRosa already is there.A DeRosa grabs it, just beating Berroa.A Blake to second
Furcal singles to right, and uncharacteristically, Fukudome Jacque Joneses one to the plate.A Blake slides around the tag.A 8-1 dodgers.
Martin K's looking
Manny bloops one into shallow right-center.A Edmonds makes a nice diving effort for it, comes up short, lands awkwardly on his right wrist and elbow.A Stays in the game.A Furcal scores, 9-1 dodgers
Ethier K's swinging on a full count.

Inning 8 - Bottom

A Fontenot in to hit for Marmol
and rolls to DeWitt
Soriano with a one-hopper to Blake.A 5-3.
And Theriot with another pedestrian 5-3.

Inning 9 - Top

A Wood in
Loney flies to Fukudome
Kemp flies out just short of the warning track in center.
Pierre hits for Wade.A Hot smash to Theriot, Ball pops out of his glove.A Picks it up, poor throw to first, hops away from Lee, for an error.A Each infielder now has made an error.A Pierre to second.
Blake rolls a single up the middle, just left of the bag.A Pierre scores. 10-1 dodgers
Berroa with a single through the left side hole, Blake to second.
Furcal pops to Fukudome, mercifully ending the Cubs defensive effort for the night.

Inning 9 - Bottom

A Saito in.A
Lee lines a one-hop double into the left-center ivy.A Ground Rule Double.
Ramirez lines one through the left-side hole.A First and Third.
DeRosa lines one that lands just a fraction of an inch foul of the left-field line.A Announcers think it had to have caught at least a blade of foul-line white-colored grass.A Nuts.
Ramirez to second uncontested
DeRosaLines one to right-center.A Kemp misjudges it a bit, it gets over his head for a double.A Two runs score.A Ramirez almost runs past Lee on the way.A 10-3 Cubs.A DeRosa keeps going to right-center with good results.
Pie hits for Edmonds.A Have to assume that he's feeling the effects of that dive.
Broxton in to face Pie. This just isn't fair.
Well I'll be hornswaggled.A Pie walks.A Runners on 1 and 2
Ball one to Soto.A Still no one out.A Still down 7, though.
Soto rips one to the second baseman, but Berroa makes a nice leap for it (Berroa stayed in on a double-switch, forgot to mention that) for the out.A Runners scamper back to the bags.A
Fukudome K's looking, third K tonight, crowd boos.
Ward pinch-hits for Wood
3-1 on Ward.A Crowd standing, but also sort of quiet.
3-2 on Ward, a fastball low and inside gets called strike three to end the gme.A Ward was pretty surprised and upset.A Rightfully so.

Parachat Recap

Pregame

Following the debate
Gravity is a gay jewish conspiracy
VPILFS
Snow on mars
A

Inning 1

Who are you praying to?
- Cozad the Goat King
- Siva
- MeA
Excited about Z's start
ok, time to switch over to the debate during the commercials
More debate/cubs attention division.A Fun night of chatter with so much good stuff going on.
Following the game, complaining about TBS announcers.A Commercial!A Over to the debate
NUCULAR!!!!!

Inning 2

A Pretty intensely following the game.A Parachat gets serious for the post-season? egads.
People who could field better than our second inning defense
Parachat has an aneurysm.
Despair.A
Booze-smuggling mules.
Worst post-season:A this one or last one?
- wow, tough question
Continuing our VP Debate Drinking Game

Inning 3

Regaining our sensibilitiesA
Feeling bad for Z
Debating the egregiousness of the different defensive mistakes
Palin's "diversity."
Playoff history
Nukular Mavericks
More and more Palin talk.
Crazy Martha
Abstinence

Inning 4

A More Palin
and more Nukular.
AND MORE BOBOS!!!!!
Nukular attacks against the Mexican Moose
more bemoaning of the Cubs' "defense"
welcoming new parachatters.A Always glad to have people join us!
"Cubs are pretty Uggla tonight" - NohitA
BOBOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Should the Cubs try a human sacrifice to get back into the series?
- yes.
The weird Lee play at second.
The Morneau Contract

Inning 5

something involving a circle jerk website and Chad.A I really don't want to know, and if I'd read parachat any more closely at this point, my eyes would have bled.
If Scrooge McDuck owned the cubs.
Comparing Manny to Cholera.
Cubs ask for a bailout from Paulson.
Admiring my awesome Manny/Cholera comparison.A Damn, I'm smooth
Donuts.A We are informed that this is some sort of pornographic term, but either no one knows exactly what for, or is willing to say.
"Tony Gwynn makes Steve Urkel look like Gary Sheffield" - Logan

Inning 6

A Q: What did Sarah Palin say when she opened a box of Cheerios?A A: "Look!A Donut seeds." - Ryno
The donut discussion gets graphic, and weird, and graphically weird
The horridly inaccurate but pro-cub call at second base.
Volcano Tacos
Chad's suicide watch
Oh wow.
What counts as sex?
Which would you rather have:A Your preferred presidential candidate win, or the Cubs win the WS?

Inning 7

A James Fenimore Cooper rules parachat.
Comparing the Cubs to late-80s Michael Jackson.
and with Johann's mom.
Cruel Santo death jokes
Showbiz Pizza
Molestation.A Also not funny.
Skeeball
again, nice to see so many long-lost faces in parachat
Just what we need to complete a long and painful night: an esoteric music discussion!
Viagra.
A Parachat rules of discussion
Rectal Prolapse
Shrinkage
Pinch-hit for Fukudome here?
- yes

Inning 8

Kellie Pickler vs. Sarah Palin
Things we wish would befall the Dodgers
Fukudome vs. Jacque Jones
Self-Mutilation
- I prefer Other-Mutilation, personally.
Fukudome's dreadlocks
Read Tomorrow's BCB Headlines, Tonight:A "Don't Panic."

Inning 9

No one feels as if they've been slapped in the face by a giant penis
Boxing Mr. T.
Dissecting Fukudome
Cholera.
"They could cut off my balls right now and I wouldn't feel it" - RobG
Wood's future in a Cubs uniform.
What we'll do if the Cubs score 9 or more in the bottom of the ninth.
A Bartman lookalike?
Racist Carlos returns.

The 8/31 Exemption (and How to Use It)

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:30:36 -0500

August 31st is an important date for contending MLB teams, because that's the date that determines eligibility for post-season rosters.

To be eligible to play in the MLB post-season, a player must be on the club's 25-man roster or 15-day or 60-day DL as of 8/31. However, any player (regardless of position) who is a member of the organization on 8/31 is eligible to replace an injured player on the post-season roster as long as the injured player is placed on the DL prior to the start of the post-season series. (If the "replacement player" is not already on his club's 40-man roster, he must be added to the 40 before he can be added to the post-season roster). NOTE: If a player suffers a disabling injury DURING a post-season series, the club can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) replace the player with any player who was a member of the organization on August 31st, although in this case (replacing an injured player DURING a post-season series), the replacement player must play the same position as the injured player, and the injured player is ineligible to return to the active list at any later point in the post-season.

Essentially, the more players a club can stash on its 15-day or 60-day DL on August 31st, the more post-season roster exemptions for the club. And more post-season roster exemptions gives a club greater flexibility to tweak its post-season roster from series-to-series.

Using post-season roster exemptions, a club can alter its LDS, LCS, and World Series rosters at the start of each series, adding players who were not on the 25-man roster or DL on 8/31. And since projected match-ups are one of the prime influences in determining how a post-season roster is to be constructed, the ability to add an extra lefty reliever in a series where the opposition has a left-handed heavy batting order, or an extra lefty bat off the bench when the opposition has a right-handed heavy bullpen, could give a club an edge. And in a short series involving two quality MLB teams, any little bit of an edge could make the difference between moving on to the next level and going home.

But to add a player or players to a post-season roster, a club needs post-season roster exemptions, and the only way to ensure having the exemptions when they are needed is to have a couple or three players riding the 15-day or 60-day DL on August 31st.

So how did the Cubs go about creating their post-season roster last season?

2007 CUBS 25-MAN ROSTER AS OF 8-31-07:

PITCHERS (11): Ryan Dempster, Scott Eyre, Rich Hill, Bob Howry, Ted Lilly, Carlos Marmol, Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood, Michael Wuertz, and Carlos Zambrano

CATCHERS (2): Henry Blanco and Jason Kendall

INFIELDERS (6): Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot, and Daryle Ward

OUTFIELDERS (6): Cliff Floyd, Jacque Jones, Craig Monroe, Matt Murton, Felix Pie, and Alfonso Soriano

DISABLED LIST (4): Pitchers Angel Guzman (sprained elbow ligament), Roberto Novoa (fractured shoulder) and Mark Prior (shoulder surgery) on the 60-day DL, and outfielder Angel Pagan (colitis) on the 15-day DL

Because Guzman, Novoa, Prior, and Pagan were on the DL on 8/31, all four were eligible to be included on the Cubs 2007 post-season roster.

Note that the Cubs went with 11 pitchers for four days (8/28 through 8/31), as LHP Carmen Pignatiello was optioned to Iowa on August 28th, when OF Alfonso Soriano (strained quad) was activated from the DL. But then RHP Sean Gallagher and LHP Will Ohman were recalled from Iowa on September 1st, and RHP Steve Trachsel (acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on 8/31) was also added to the Cubs active roster on 9/1, giving the Cubs 14 pitchers right at the beginning of September (increased to 16 pitchers when Pignatiello and Kevin Hart were brought up on 9/4).

Trachsel was acquired from the Orioles on 8/31 but was not added to the Cubs active roster until the next day, so he was not automatically eligible for the post-season roster. However, he was eligible to be a post-season "replacement player" because he was a member of the Cubs organization on 8/31.

During September 2007, the Cubs recalled pitchers Sean Gallagher, Will Ohman, and Carmen Pignatiello, catcher Geovany Soto, infielder Ronny Cedeno, and IF-OF Eric Patterson from AAA Iowa (Patterson was subsequently optioned to AA Tennessee for disciplinary reasons), and selected RHP Kevin Hart and OF Sam Fuld from AA Tennessee, as Hendry & Piniella opted to go with a 34-man roster over the last month of the season. (Neal Cotts, Jake Fox, Juan Mateo, Billy Petrick, and Jeff Samardzija were not recalled from their minor league optional assignments).

Because Guzman, Novoa, Prior, and Pagan remained on the DL through the balance of the 2007 season, their roster slots became available as post-season roster exemptions, allowing the Cubs to add Kevin Hart, Geovany Soto, and Ronny Cedeno to their NLDS roster. (Hart, Soto, and Cedeno were brought up from the minors in September, so they would not have been eligible to be included on a post-season roster if not for the roster exemptions).

But adding Hart, Soto, and Cedeno to their NLDS roster meant the Cubs had to deactivate three players who had been on their 25-man roster on 8/31, and so they dropped pitcher Sean Marshall, catcher Henry Blanco, and outfielder Craig Monroe. (Marshall stayed "stretched-out" as a starter during the NLDS, throwing 70+ pitches for the Cubs AZ Instructional League team in a "Camp Day" intrasquad game at Fitch Park while the Cubs were in Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, and Monroe kept active by taking early-morning BP every day that week at Fitch).

Marshall, Blanco, and Monroe, plus Will Ohman (who also threw an inning in the Camp Day intrasquad game at Fitch while the Cubs were in Phoenix) and Sam Fuld, remained with the Cubs throughout the NLDS (Trachsel, Pignatiello, and Gallagher did not), serving as potential "replacement players" in case of a season-ending injury to somebody during the NLDS, and as potential Plan "B" options in the NLCS and World Series (if the Cubs had gotten that far). For instance, Marshall could have been an alternative to Marquis as the #4 starter in an NLCS, or Hart could have been exchanged for Ohman, or Fuld could have replaced Pie or Murrton, or Murton or Pie could have been switched with Monroe.

So knowing what the Cubs did with their September call-ups and post-season roster last year, what are Hendry & Piniella likely to do this year?

If Hendry & Piniella once again go with a 34-man September roster, I would think pitchers Angel Guzman and Jon Lieber will be reactivated from the DL, catcher Koyie Hill will be brought up from Iowa to be the 3rd catcher (the Cubs always add a 3rd catcher in September) and post-season fall-back in case Soto or Blanco were to suffer a disabling injury, and pitchers Michael Wuertz and Kevin Hart, 1B-OF Micah Hoffpauir, and outfielder Felix Pie will be recalled from Iowa. That leaves two spots for a right-handed power bat off the bench (probably either 1B-OF Jason Dubois or OF Jake Fox) and another bullpen arm (probably either Jose Ascanio or Randy Wells).

At present, the Cubs have three players on the DL, with pitchers Chad Fox (sore elbow) and Jon Lieber (sore foot) on the 15-day DL, and pitcher Angel Guzman (TJS surgery rehab) on the 60. Guzman and Lieber will likely be activated from the DL in September, so probably only Chad Fox will provide the Cubs with a ready-made roster exemption for the post-season. (Fox could be transferred to the 60-day DL if an additional spot on the 40-man roster is needed in September).

Of course Lieber has the type of chronic foot problem that probably would allow the Cubs to place him on the DL any old time, so if the Cubs wish to replace a struggling and ineffective Bob Howry with Michael Wuertz and 5th starter Jason Marquis with Micah Hoffpauir, they should be able to do it just by leaving Chad Fox on the DL for the rest of the season and by placing Jon Lieber back on the DL before the start of the NLDS (since Lieber is unlikely to be on the Cubs post-season roster).

Also, LHP Rich Hill (on the Iowa DL with a back problem) and RHP Adam Harben (on the Daytona DL while on extended rehab from 2006 TJS) are both on the Cubs 40-man roster, so either (or both) could be recalled from his optional assignment on August 31st and then be immediately placed on the 60-day DL, giving the Cubs another post-season roster exemption (or two), as well as opening up one (or two) more slots on the 40 in September. (While Harben could get outrighted to the minors at any time, he would have greater value spending the rest of the season on the 60-day DL as a post-season roster exemption than he would by getting outrighted right away).

LHP Carmen Pignatiello and RHP Billy Petrick could also get outrighted if additional slots are needed on the 40-man roster in September, but it's more likely that they will be removed from the 40 after the season.

Jones wants to be a Marlin?

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:16:55 -0500

Yea, I know who wants to play for them? Well, apparently Jacque Jones REALLY wants to play for the Florida Marlins. The Detroit Tigers designated the outfielder for assignment last week, and have till this Friday to make a decision on whether or not to trade or outright release him. The Tigers will obviously hold out until Friday to see if they can squeeze ANYTHING out of an interested team. Because of this the Marlins could consider a trade.

With Jones out, does Inge now have a role?

Mon, 05 May 2008 20:36:57 -0500

The Detroit Tigers decided to designate left fielder Jacque Jones for assignment, effectively ending his time with the team, even with the $3 million still owed to him this season. To replace Jones on the roster, minor league outfielder Matt Joyce was called up from AAA-Toledo. According to manager, Jim Leyland, Joyce will spend time in both left and right. So where does, undefined position, Brandon Inge stand with the team?

Jacque Jones?

Mon, 05 May 2008 15:55:59 -0500

Should the Seattle Mariners pursue to newly released Jacque Jones?

If You Have Seen the Tigers Wins Please Call 1-800-WTF-TGRS?

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:44:03 -0500

Dontrelle Willis made his debut as a Tiger in his new home ballpark in Detroit today. He would try and earn the Tigers first win of the season after losing to the Sox yesterday and being swept by the Royals to start the season. He walked Nick Swisher, the first batter he faced this season, and then put down Cabrera, Thome, and Konerko in order to get out of the first. The Tigers first two batters went back to the dug out early, Carlos Guillen walked and Maggs got a single but Cabrera popped out to end the inning. Willis sent the next set of batters down in order. After getting two quick outs to start the inning off again the Tigers bats looked to be stuck in the same slump as the first four games. Jaque Jones singled two keep the Tigers alive, Brandon Inge drove him home with a double. Clete Thomas singled and it wasn't until Placido Polanco grounded out did the Tigers stop running. Dontrelle looked to have run support, if he could continue to shut down the sox he could get his first win as a Tiger, and get the Tigers their first win. The next inning Willis kept the Sox off the bases aside from once again walking Nick Swisher. After Carlos Guillen, the holder of the highest batting average in Detroit, popped out the next two Tigers followed, this left Willis with a slender lead to deal with. After Thome grounded out to start off the fourth, Willis walked Konerko and Dye. Carlos Quentin came up with one out and two men on. Willis forced him to ground out into a double play that ended the inning and kept the Tigers lead intact. The bottom of the fourth started off Edger Renteria getting a single. Pudge came up and looked to have at least a double when Quentin caught his fly ball and threw out Renteria (who seemed to share my thought that Pudge would get a hit) at first for a double play. Jaque Jones walked with two outs, and Brandon Inge came up. Inge who up until this point had the games only RBI, added to his stats by hitting a two run jack to push the Tigers ahead by three. Clete Thomas got the third out to end the inning, but the damage was done. Willis, who now had some breathing room, walked Joe Crede to start off the fifth. Pablo Ozuna grounded into a double play, and Toby Hall followed by popping out for the final out. The Sox to this point had still not recorded a hit. The fifth ended with the Tigers top batters going three and out. The sixth started out with another Swisher walk, his third in three appearances, and then walked Cabrera. First and Second had runners on them with Jim Thome coming to the plate with no outs. The first hit of the game was a Thome double that drove home Swisher and pushed Cabrera to third. Zach Miner came in to replace Willis on the mound. Miner would have his hands full, the go ahead runner was Paul Konerko who also had two men on with no outs and the two hottest hitting Sox coming up. Konerko grounded out to Brandon Inge who threw him out at first while Cabrera scored and Thome stayed put at second. Miner would go on to walk Jermaine Dye, one out. Carlos Quentin tied up the game by getting a single, which pushed Dye to third on an error by Thomas. Joe Crede popped out to Jones; his outing earned him a RBI sac fly after Dye scored. Ozuna grounded out to end the inning after Zach Miner had given the Sox a one run lead. The Tigers retaliated by going three and out. Willis pitched strong for five innings and got enough run support to maintain a lead. When the sixth rolled around the Sox rallied forcing Willis to retire, the bullpen struggled and now the bats looked to fall right back into their slump. Francis Beltran replaced Zach Miner, and sent the sox down in order. The Tigers looked to do the same but Clete Thomas got a single. Then Placido grounded out. Beltran stayed in for the top of the eighth, he forced Thome to pop out and struck out Konerko. Jermaine Dye continued on his streak by homering with two outs in the eighth and extending the Sox lead to two runs. Carlos Quentin ended the inning by grounding out to Brandon Inge. Guillen started off the bottom of the eighth with a single to left field. Magglio erased all the progress by swinging into a double play. Miguel Cabrera stayed hitless for the day by ending the eighth and sending the Tigers in to the ninth trailing by two. To the ninth! The Sox would try to extend their lead against Denny Bautista. Joe Crede popped out for the first out of the inning. Juan Uribe did the same for the second. Toby Hall grounded out for the final. Renteria would lead off followed by Pudge and Jones. Bobby Jenks would try to save the game for the sox. Renteria hit one towards the infield gap but Uribe cut it off and put him out at first. Pudge came up with one out and lined sharply to Nick Swisher for the second. Jones continued to have a hot day and got a hit putting the tying run at the plate. And who else would come up besides Brandon Inge. Inge would get walked, bringing up Clete Thomas who would be the go ahead run. On the first pitch, a fastball, he grounded out. So the Tigers remain winless, and it seems as though they have continued to fall into the same losing formula. Strong pitching falters and the bats fizzle out late when it really matters. Detroit has now gone through their rotation without earning one of their pitchers a win. Only Carlos Guillen has been playing where he should offensively. We'll have to wait another day to see a Tigers win this year. We'll have to wait and see if everyone was wrong about all the hype that came to Detroit with the three big names they brought in. Until then enjoy this article Tigers fans because theirs really nothing else to enjoy at this point in the season.

The Tribe Report takes on the Detroit Tigers: An interview from the A.L. battle field

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 23:35:08 -0500

The Detroit Tigers were the superstars of the offseason. In late October, the Tigers began their makeover by dealing away Jair Jurrjens (who seemed to snack on the Indians last year) to the Atlanta Braves, for shortstop Edgar Renteria. Renteria would take over the shortstop position formerly held by Carlos Guillen, who offered to move to first base in an unselfish move that should keep him more healthy. A couple of weeks later, in November, Detroit dealt Omar Infante to the Cubs for disgruntled outfielder Jacque Jones. Jones, a starter on most every MLB team will more than likely platoon in left field with Marcus Thames. Then came the blockbuster, that saw the Tigers bring in offensive savant Miguel Cabrera and starter Dontrelle Willis, for 6 top Tigers prospects. I guess you could say that the Tigers, who were the AL representative in the World Series in 2006, are looking for not only a return visit, but a victory.

Sleepers & Busters: 2008 Outfielders Edition

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:01:19 -0500

We've been screwing around in the wading pool with all of the various infield positions, but now it's time to slide on some floaties and plunge into the murky abyss. The vast Outfielder Ocean. It's inhabitants are as varying as the inhabitants of the Mariana Trench (the deepest part of the ocean where life barely exists, for those who aren't down with their oceanology.) You've got giant whales lumbering around (Carlos Lee), violent predators (Jose Guillen, Delmon Young), and puny prey (Juan Pierre, Kenny Lofton). Perusing the outfielders is much like stepping into Super Wal-Mart, except you don't feel like killing yourself afterward. There's merchand...Jesus, enough of the metaphors, jackass. Let's break out some sleepers and busters:

Phillies Phlashback Phriday: Bob Uecker

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:58:13 -0500

"Just a bit outside." The famous line uttered by Bob Uecker in the all-time great baseball flick Major League. That same Bob Uecker who played Harry Doyle, the announcer for the hapless Cleveland Indians actually played Major League Baseball himself in real life and was a Phillie. His professional career in the bigs was lackluster at best- 6 seasons, .200 average, 297 games, and 14 homeruns while playing catcher for the Milwaukee Braves, Cardinals, Phillies (1966-67), and ending with the Atlanta Braves. Uecker isn't best remembered as an athlete though, he's known for his humor which has garnered him many roles after his playing days. Uecker played the dad, George Owens, in the 80's tv sitcom Mr. Belvedere (one of Corey's favorites). He's currently doing radio for the Milwaukee Brewers, and I must admit he's a pleasure to listen to on XM. He made numerous appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, and used to do humorous Miller Lite commercials. He's written two books- Catcher in the Wry and Catch 222 (those titles sound strangely familiar). He's also a member of the Radio Hall of Fame and has won the Ford C. Frick Award. Some classic Uecker quotes: "You know, I was once named Minor League Player of the Year...unfortunately, I had been in the majors for two years at the time." "I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Actually, I was born in Illinois. My mother and father were on an oleo margarine run to Chicago back in 1934, because we couldn't get colored margarine in Wisconsin. On the way home, my mother was with child. Me. And the pains started, and my dad pulled off into an exit area, and that's where the event took place. I remember it was a Nativity type setting. An exit light shining down. There were three truck drivers there. One guy was carrying butter, one guy had frankfurters, and the other guy was a retired baseball scout who told my folks that I probably had a chance to play somewhere down the line."

Offseason Team Needs and Possibilities: NL Central

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 09:31:45 -0500

With Spring Training right around the corner, there are still plenty of holes that need to be filled in each and every major league team. Because of this, and because it is always a good idea to keep an eye on possible transactions, FIO staff writer Shane Huff has dissected the teams by division, revealing the needs still lurking for each team and providing the most likely of candidates who will fill those holes.

WILLIS, CABRERA, RENTERIA AND JONES JOIN LAST SEASON'S STARS AT TIGERFEST

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:51:45 -0500

23 players, including Dontrelle Willis, Miguel Cabrera, Edgar Renteria, Jacque Jones, Magglio Ordonez and Justin Verlander, are all scheduled to attend TigerFest at Comerica Park on Saturday.

A.L Central preview,Happy New Year

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 02:28:18 -0500

Hey everyone first I hoped a great christmas, and a great new years eve and day so let's get to it. 1.Cleveland Indians Can the Indians break the curse of Rocky Colavito in 08',well it'll be tough to take the Red Sox off there temple.Let's start with the pitching like I always do. The pitching for the Indians is looking really good they again have the 290 pound ace in C.C Sabathia,a great contender for 08' Cy Young Fausto Carmona and you can't forget about about the great #3 of Paul Byrd who if he was with in half of the other teams he would either be a low #1 or a good #2. When you look at there lineup on a stat sheet it really doesn't look like much but if you watched any of there games there a good team, and clutch when they really need that hit to the right to bring in the runner from first. The one guy who I think deserves more credit with his impact on this team is Victor Martinez. He's a great catcher who has great average and he can give you 20-25 homers a year. So it was hard to choose between Detriot and Cleveland but I'll give Cleveland a little advantage but I won't be surprised to see Detriot to take the number 1 spot in the Central. 2. Detriot Tigers Wow this is really gonna be a good battle between Detriot and Cleveland, but because they have Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera doesn't mean they're the best team in the league but there pretty close to being that. The pitching for this team is pretty good but not as good as in Cleveland but still good.Verlander is a pretty damn good ace with a good 3.60 ERA and he'll likely get up to 22 wins this year.Dontrelle if you're reading this I wish you good luck in trying to take the #2 spot from Bonderman, you both are good pitchers so good luck in the season man. What more do I have to say about this lineup other than wow, with the addition of Miguel Cabrera,Edger Renteria, and Jacque Jones and there core of guys like I-Rod.,Ordonez, and Granderson. So for this team will be a pitchers nightmare and be a Tiger fans dream. 3. Minnesota Twins With the loss of Hunter and let's take Santana out of the picture, and this is gonna look like a new team in 08'. With the loss of Santana this will be a younger and less exprienced rotation. If the Twins are trusting Liriano to be the ace which they likely are if there not gonna get a good pitcher when they trade Santana. So if Liriano performs at least 80% of what he did in 06' and if Boof Bonser surprises the baseball universe and gets at least 12 wins this year this could be a average rotation if all of this happens. If you look at the lineup from last years team and 08's team you'll think they'll 2 different teams. As only 4 starters return to the team in 08' some of the newest players that comes to the Twin Cities include one of the big name youngsters Delmon Young, and the average former Tiger Craig Monroe. So if the pitching staff does decent and the hitting does as good as they can this could be a wile card team at best. 4. Kansas City Royals Yes I'm putting the Royals ahead of the Sox because all of the youngsters that started in 07' should make a big impact on the team this year, and the Sox have one of the worst rotations in the Central but the Royals aren't much better. As this young team looks to step out of the AL Central cellar, there rotation really needs to mature and mature fast because GIl Meche and Zack Greinke aren't the two pitchers that Kansas City needs to improve this team. One pitcher you need to watch for is youngster Luke Hochevar who in all the Baseball America's I read and in the Future's Game I watched this past year this guy is a great prospect and he could be the Jered Weaver of 08' mark my words. When I look at this lineup I see potential but they need to put that potential and impress the Kansas City market and put butts in seats. The 2 prospects that people need to look for is Billy Butler and Alex Gordon who both had looks at big league pitching and Gordon actually looked good at the end of the season so he might do something in 08'. 5. Chicago White Sox This 05' World Series champs are in the rebuilding process as many of there bigger players are getting up there in age and getting passed there prime. As Contreras is in his late 30's and Buehrle is coming off his season of his career someone really needs to step up and give Bobby Jenks and this offense some good pitching and allow less runs. This lineup looks pretty good with the likes of Crede, Konerko and the newest addition of Cabrera but the aging of Jermaine Dye and Thome might bring this team down, but I'm not really worried about Thome because he's a DH and it takes along time for a DH to age. So I hope you had a great new year and I'd like to thank Crooked Pitch and droppinbombs and everyone who helped me on my way. So let's make 08' the best year ever!!

Japanese OF Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs Make 4 Year Deal

Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:22:25 -0500

I started hearing about this Fukudome about a month ago and thought that it was a name for a new domed stadium. Only when I did searches on google and wikipedia did I discover that Fukudome is not a name for a domed ballpark, but is the family name for one of the premier outfielders in Japanese baseball; lefthanded hitting Kosuke Fukudome.

Fantasy Baseball Stock Up, Stock Down

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 16:21:38 -0500

"What have you done for me lately?" FIO and Baseball Lab writer Lou Poulas takes a look at some players whose stocks have risen (and fallen) as a result of their 2007 performance. Poulas strays away from looking at the obvious - Carlos Pena, Magglio Ordonez, Andruw Jones - and instead focuses on some under the radar players.

Yanks Sign Catcher Posada; Cubs Deal Jones to Tigers; Braun, Pedroia Win Rookie Awards

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 01:55:49 -0500

The New York Yankees signed their free agent five-time All Star catcher Jorge Posada for four years, the Chicago Cubs dealt centerfielder Jacque Jones to Detroit for a utility infielder and Milwaukee's 3rd baseman Ryan Braun and Boston's 2nd baseman Dustin Pedroia won Rookie of the Year honors â€" all on Monday as the post-season awards began and the trading and free agency season heated up.