Yardbarker: Joel Zumaya

Zumaya has fractured shoulder

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:19:06 -0500

Joel Zumaya was diagnosed today with a non-displaced stress fracture in his throwing shoulder. I guess that would explain some of the shoulder pain that shut Zumaya down for the last month. Zumaya will be shut down from baseball activities for the next 6 to 8 weeks. While it doesn't make a damn bit [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Zumaya has fractured shoulder", url: "http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/09/zumaya-has-fractured-shoulder/" });

Zumaya has fractured shoulder

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:19:06 -0500

Junkballing: Booing, Injuries, Waivers and Minors

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 22:40:11 -0500

A hodgepodge of all the stuff that went down this week that just didn't fit anywhere else: Much ado about a boo A lot of disgruntled fans did a lot of booing this week. Gary Sheffield received his share when culmination about frustration with his production collided with Sheff being Sheff. That was noisy, but [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Junkballing: Booing, Injuries, Waivers and Minors", url: "http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/junkballing-booing-injuries-waivers-and-minors/" });

MLB Injury Extra: Replacements - Week 20

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 07:15:52 -0500

Screaming Sports' Zach Powell breaks out another Screaming Sports original. With so many valuable fantasy studs going down with injury, Drew decided it was time to take a look at several replacements. So if you're one of the many fantasy GM's who have been ravaged by injury, then this piece is exactly what the doctor ordered.

Injuries Galore: Mike Lowell, Joel Zumaya to the DL; Jeter hurt; Crawford opts for surgery

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:48:47 -0500

How will today's injury news impact your fantasy team?

Joel Zumaya to the DL

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:13:17 -0500

Not surprisingly, Joel Zumaya has been placed on the disabled list. His shoulder is the culprit but the diagnosis on the press release was limited to "sore." Francis Beltran gets called up to take his spot. Why not Casey Fien or Francisco Cruceta, or someone else? This is probably a 2 day call up [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Joel Zumaya to the DL", url: "http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/joel-zumaya-to-the-dl/" });

Joel Zumaya to the DL

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 17:13:17 -0500

Leyland abuses Verlander's arm for no good reason

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:08:03 -0500

Jim Leyland before the game: Zumaya's right shoulder remains a point of concern. Leyland said Zumaya reported "normal soreness" and indicated that he was able to pitch, but Leyland said that description was "not defined enough for me." "I'm not going to have it on my plate that I got Joel Zumaya hurt, getting greedy," Leyland said. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Leyland abuses Verlander's arm for no good reason", url: "http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/leyland-abuses-verlanders-arm-for-no-good-reason/" });

Photoshop Off-Day: Super Stache Brothers

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:37:52 -0500

Transforming Sal Fasano and Matt Ginter into the Super Stache Brothers to help defeat villains such as Joel Zumaya, Ozzie Guillen, Brandon Phillips, and Milton Bradley

Ask Detroit or St. Louis if Closers Are Overrated

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:19:34 -0500

Sabermatricians are in theme to their lost opportunity? The Blown Save. In the past week the Tigers have declared two new closers. Fernando Rodney was declared the closer last week, he responded by blowing the only two chances he was given. As a result he was removed from the role and the job was given to youngster Joel Zumaya. Zumaya responded last night by giving up 4 runs in the 14th inning to cough up a win to division leader Chicago, meanwhile Rodney no longer the closer pitched 3 scoreless innings.

For the Cardinals the story has been the rotation of Izzy and Franklin in the closers role. Izzy was the intial team closer but was replaced by Franklin due to injury and ineffectiveness. Franklin was then moderately successful as the closer until Izzy came back to which he blew game after game after the all star break. After blowing three in a row he was again replaced by Izzy, since being replaced Franklin has thrown 5.2 scoreless innings. Meanwhile, Izzy gave up 3 runs last night to blow the lead. Combined the two have 13 blown saves this year. Simply put the 9th inning has been one massive headache for a team that sits only a .5 game back of the wild card.

The bottom line is there is a mental hurdle to get over for closing the games. And some pitchers just don't have it. Perhaps, Zumaya will be able to recover and turn into a solid closer, but given the Tigers struggles one could expect the hurdle to be too high.

(I picked up Rodney last week for the ole fantasy team, and picked up Zumaya on a whim monday thinking he would get the job. I also had Franklin through his multiple blown saves. Ya, not so much good luck oozing from this mans team)

AccuScore Closer Report - 8/6

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:59:02 -0500

Bullpen issues seem to be getting even worse across baseball as players succumb to injuries and poor performance. There are some possible places to steal some saves but it will require some patience, foresight, and a lot of luck.

New Sheriff in Texas

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:57:28 -0500

C.J. Wilson's mystery injury is finally revealed and he is headed to the DL. Eddie Guardado immediately becomes very valuable in fantasy, but several other relievers should be downgraded after recent performances. Adam Jones might be done for the year, and another Baltimore rookie dominated the Angels.

The Detroit Tigers are Dead to Me

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:28:15 -0500

The Tigers season was hanging by a thread last night. Most, including myself, had already dug their grave and admitted that the 2008 Season was a colossal disappointment. But there was that small chance. That 1 in a million shot that the Twins and White Sox would both blow up and the Tigs would somehow manage a sweep this week. Up 6-1, that 1 in a million shot was looking pretty good. But then it happened. Robertson gave up a few runs which is he more than prone to do. And the White Sox just kept inching closer. When newly acquired Kyle Farnsworth toed the rubber in the 8th inning, he had yet to show Tigers fans anything but misery. He did not disappoint. He served up a game tying solo shot. He looked visibly distraught and so did most of the Tigers squad. Even the young guys looked like they had given up. I don't know why but for some reason I continued to watch this game. The car wreck was up ahead and I was just trying to see how bad it was going to get. But out of the blue, Placido Polanco lifted everyones spirits with a two run homer in the top of the 14th inning. It was a gut check kind of homer from Polly who rarely hits home runs (let alone two in one game). I asked myself at about 1am, are they teasing us again? Is this going to be a win to propel them? About 10 minutes later, I had my answer. It was just another tease job. Before the game, The Wizard of Woodward Jim Leyland had annointed Joel Zumaya as the new closer. And like all the Tigers closers before him this year, he failed miserably. A couple of hits and a Edgar Reneteria bobbled grounder led to two on and Nick Swisher coming to the plate. And like Jermaine Dye did against Todd Jones only three weeks before, he sent a homerun into right field. A homerun the Tigers won't soon forget. ------ It's over for the Tigers. The only people hanging on are homers. The only people hanging on are people too stupid to realize that this time just doesn't have it this year. It's painfully obvious they don't have the right mix of players. But much more than that, they just don't have pitching. Something that separated them from the rest of baseball in 2006. The Joel Zumaya that gave up that three run homer isn't the same Zumaya that scared hitters just a couple of years ago. In fact, the fear when Zumaya comes in is from the Detroit dugout now. Knowing its just a matter of time before another injury ends his season. This was a frustrating year for both the fans and players. Hope and happiness in spring training turned to despair just a week into the season. They played good at times, perhaps even great, but it was never enough. Their spurts of good were surrounded by a week or two of horrendous play. So I bid adieu officially to the Detroit Tigers 2008 Season. It was not nice knowing you.

Ah, the closer by committee

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 20:46:31 -0500

The Tigers are going the route of closer by committee. Sort of. In the sense that Kyle Farnsworth, Fernando Rodney, and Joel Zumaya will all get opportunities there is definitely a committee of people who will be closing games. But it seems as if it will be pre-determined heading into the game [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ah, the closer by committee", url: "http://www.detroittigersweblog.com/2008/08/ah-the-closer-by-committee/" });

Trade Deadline Deals - Impact on Your Fantasy Team

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:18:52 -0500

What are the fantasy impacts of the trade deadline deals? Which players gained the most value (hint, Andy LaRoche), and which lost the most (Andruw Jones)? Foxsports Fantasy breaks it down for you.