Come back Voodoo Child

The pen pitched 9 innings and allowed 1 run last night. Gas Can Grilli helped put out the fire quite nicely this time. Denny Bautista has been a pleasant surprise in the 8th. When Zumaya returns, why not start him out as a 7th inning reliever to ease him back ? Point to consider.

Verlander goes today against Gavin Floyd. The Tigers owe him about 10 runs in 4 innings, however it'll be cold and damp in Chicago and runs will be at a premium. We'll see.

The Tigers are only 4 games out after a horrid beginning, and that's behind Kansas City. If you think about it in those terms, we're in a good position. Game on !

The Fat Man

Check out this line:

Year Ag Tm  Lg  W   L   G   GS  CG SHO  GF SV   IP     H    R   ER   HR  BB   SO  HBP  WP  BFP  IBB  BK  ERA *lgERA *ERA+ WHIP

2008 27 CLE AL   0   2   3   3   0   0   0  0   14.0   24   18   18   3    9   13   1   0    74   1   0 11.57  4.23   37 2.357

This pathetic excuse for a pitching line is the biggest reason the Tribe is two games below .500. Who'd a thunk last year's CY Young trophy winner would lay not one, not two but THREE NEal Heaton-like starts on his team?

This guy's supposed to be the next hundred-million-dollar pitcher, and he's throwng meatballs.

I tell you right now: Forge the Tigers; the Indians are in real trouble.

White Sox v. Umps 2008

UPDATE: Thome suspended 1 game. He musta said something untoward...

Wish I was a little bit taller...

I'm biased in two places on this one...first, the W. Sox are playing the Tigs. Second, I tend to side with umpires/referees on most things (despite a seething problem with authority, just ask those three cops I got fired in Jackson, Mich...booyah.)

The issue has long been Ozzie Guillen running his mouth about pretty much anything. Add to this, the official "correct" call percentage in MLB hovers at around 95 percent as judged by the video monitoring system the league installed several years back, according to what the MLB veep said at the camp.

So that leaves you with 1 out of 20 pitches being called either a ball or a strike when "by-the-book" it is actually the opposite. (for an amateur, this climbs to well around 6 out of 20) The point is, every game sees more than 10 pitches that are technically called improperly. The best you can do as an Ump is to make sure you're calling the same zone no matter which team is batting. And that's usually what the league, the managers and -- to a lesser extent -- the players hold the Umpires to.


The White Sox are off to a very poor start with Umpires this year with Ozzie loudly getting into a tiff with Phil Cuzzi (10) the other day, saying he calls strikes against the Sox because Cuzzi doesn't like him. Ehh.

But the attitude pervades the organization. Today, Jim Thome was tossed by Home Plate Ump James Hoye (a rookie-ish fellow) for arguing balls and strikes. It happened after Thome sat on a strike out pitch that ate full plate and fronted at the tips of his generously tall knees (the southern border of the strike zone is defined the hollow of the knee, or the top of your shin really). He lost it. The announcers (the hot-and-cold combo of “Hawk” Harrelson and former OF Darrin Jackson) spent the rest of the game complaining about the call, the zone and how the Sox "had the bat taken out of their hands." By the end, the Sox gabbers suggested the Tigers had a different zone (Magglio and Inge both suffered borderline calls late) and that "a strike for us is pretty much anything that hits the glove of Pudge Rodriguez." On and on it went.

The point is...one pitch at one at-bat is not worth this amount of anger. For 100+ years, the league has accepted this -- hence, the reason you get tossed for arguing balls and strikes. If this was allowed, the games would never end. And worrying about it these days with the Umps under video grading is tantamount to giving yourself a complex -- always a no-no for a hitter, pitcher or team.

But it's not just baseball. Those that complain usually only serve to get inside their own heads (Kobe, Mark Cuban, Guillen) and truly lose any sympathy from the Umpire/Referee crews. It seems the Sox are being consumed by this attitude from the top already. I know this much, the Tigers liked seeing Thome leave the game more than any of the Umpires did.


Huddy Extra: If you got to see it, you can really see the difference in an experienced salt like Cuzzi taking flak and a young ump like Hoye. With the old guys, the eyes are bored, the bodies are firm, posture perfect...great body language. With Hoye, his eyes were bright and he had slightly nervous body language. It's subtle, but it's there. When Ted Barrett (65) -- who happened to by on 3rd in this game -- was screaming in my face, playing an irate manager after I blew a call, I had the benefit of sunglasses to hide my nonverbal expression...which was certainly screaming "help" thanks to Barrett's generous height of at least 6' 4" with a build and bark to match. Hoye had no such protection, but fortunately had the full support of his crew in case he was getting nervous.

I saw a clip of the other Umpires in the crew before the game giving Hoye a fist bump on the chest to pump him up before the game. So he must be a real newbie, though I saw he had been behind the plate before from some box scores. He handled himself well, I thought. And he kept his zone the same after the dust up from the normally staid Thome.

Why the douche are kids going to school today?

Isn't the first Yankees/Red Sox tilt of the year, like, a Federal holiday?

I admit it, I'm interested. But only because I have the Wang-meister on my fantasy team.

Hit up this link for more lame self-mytologizing.

1 Little Win

Thames and Inge watch the shot that — finally — launches the Tigers’ season.

(AP)

Wasn’t it fun to watch: home runs, manufactured runs, pinch bunting, Pudge throwing out runners, a starting pitcher getting out of a jam, relief pitching protecting a lead, enthusiasm in the dugout? It was only one little win, and the Tigs are still 1-7, but that glimpse of successful, competent baseball suddenly opens up a season of possibility, don’t it?

90 Percent Polls: '07 Yanks or '08 Tigs?

Get of my (BRAND NEW!) face

The question is simple...which is worse:

21-29 after 50 games for the 2007 Yanks (read previous link for what the fans were saying and here and the NYT here.)

or

0-6 for the wildly-hyped 2008 Tigs?

Vote over to the right and discuss!

White Sox Winner!!!

No matter where the White Sox finish in the standings this season, all of us fans are winners, because we have been blessed with the presence of the best radio analyst ever. Period. AMEN.
*
Steve Stone is the only thing I ever begrudged Cub fans. And ever since the fascists at Tribune Co. ran him out of town in 2004 for being two steps ahead of the manager I have prayed for this eventuality.

I don't know how satellite radio or any of that shit works. But if you like your broadcasts dense and delightful, dial up Stoney and Farmio some time this season. And who knows? It looks like maybe the Sox will be worthy of his attentions.

Here's some vintage video of two geniuses at work. And then - if you haven't seen it yet - some video of Jeff Brantley sticking his head up his own butt, in real time:

Wake Me When 2008 Starts

...and don't forget to tell the Tigers.

When The AL Central Smack Will Cease ...

... When talk turns to AL Central World Champions:

Detroit - 4
Chicago - 3
Cleveland - 2
Minnesota - 2
Kansas City - 1

_________________________________________

The recent slide out of the gate here by the Tigers just gives frivolous fodder to the divisional rivals that do not have as many World Trophies. We'll see where Detroit is on June 1. The rest will have to "earn their stripes" so to speak after October 1.

JuanP for 2B

The time has come to find Juan Pierre a permanent spot in the Dodgers lineup while making sure that Andre Ethier AND Matt Kemp get their everyday at bats. Pierre, never known for his arm, won’t be missed in the Dodger outfield. Furthermore (and least importantly) the little speedster just looks like a second baseman.

Now the Dodgers currently have MLB veteran and clubhouse curmudgeon Jeff Kent manning the territory between first and second, but at what point do we move on from the 40-year old who is batting .188 on the season? Much of last year’s clubhouse tension seemed to begin with Kent who couldn’t get along with the young Dodgers. Well, with Russell Martin, Andre Ethier, James Loney and Matt Kemp the future of the Dodgers, why alienate them in any way for a guy that hasn’t gotten along with a single teammate since he went hunting in Houston?

Kent aside, Pierre’s ability to play everyday, steal bases and generally distract an opposing pitcher from his game plan is an invaluable asset to have in your lineup. Now these types of defensive switches are best made in Spring Training to work out the kinks before it counts, but it’s never too late to get a guy you gave $44 million to last Spring back into the everyday lineup. Especially a guy who scored 96 times last year, into an anemic offense.

So the question becomes, what to do with Kent? As I see it, there are three options:

1. Wait for inevitable DL stint and make the transaction
2. Trade him to a veteran team that needs a solid bat in the 7 or 8 hole (if Jeff Kent is your cleanup hitter, you have problems.
3. Move him to third until Andy LaRoche or Nomar can play, and keep him around as a solid bat off the bench.

The current situation with Pierre is disgraceful and reminiscent of a few years back when Dodgers GM Ned Coletti ruined Gold Glove Shortstop Cezar Izturis’ career by rendering him obsolete. Izturis deserved better (and I was happy to see him traded so that he could play every day again) and so does Pierre.

Beware the Snows of April

The link I've provided here underscroes why the Tribe shouldn't play a home game before April 15.

Check out the giveway on April 12: Tribe stocking cap.

Baseball is meant to be played in the summer, when the weather's warm and the beer is refreshing. Not in temperatures that usher in freezing fog.

Further proof -- if you need it -- is last year's opening weekend debacle. The Tribe was snowed out three straight days as it began its home schedule against the Mariners. Downtown Cleveland got a foot of snow that weekend.

So what do the schedulers -- in their infinite wisdom -- do to the Tribe this year? They put a larger percentage of their home games (relatively speaking) in April and May, including an opening series against Chicago that, may I remind you, the two teams played in weather more suited for rugby than baseball.

Cleveland certainly isn't the only city whose team suffers this fate, but there are enough warm-weather cities in the league to mitigate the risk.

I hope that the schedule makers can put on their Tribe stocking caps and do some serious thinking about this problem.

And yes. I'm complaining because I'm a season-ticket holder and I absolutely hate the friggin' cold.

Calls: Saturday Offers Dugout Rule Insights, Fox "Wired" Umps

Jim Joyce has a wonderful mustache. (Photo: Boston.com)

As the seaon progresses, I'd like 90 Percent to not only offer up some thoughts on players/teams, but also on the rules and the umpiring. Here's a couple-three (as we'd say in Greenville) items from Saturday.

1. Fox Listens In: I remember something about Umps starting to wear microphones, but I guess I forgot in all the excitement. Today, we listened in to Jim Joyce (66) explaining (to a fan, no less) the call discussed in item two. The cool thing with this is you got to hear the authority in the Umpire voice, they kind of remind you of cops the way they talk. It's startling to hear such a firm voice from these guys you've never heard speak, usually only see while a player is cursing at them and/or an announcer is assuring you they blew a call.

2. The Call that Torre Built: With the Dodgers @ Petco Park taking on the Padres, "parents" catcher Josh Bard -- chased a fly ball into foul territory toward his own dugout. Rafael Furcal was perched on 3rd base, with no outs, if I recall. Padres catcher dives/slides into the dugout and makes the catch as a few coaches give him a hand making sure he doesn't fall asunder on the steps. Furcal tags up, but the catcher is able to compose himself and hold the runner. The Umps called the batter out. Dodgers skip Joe Torre requested an explanation...after a quick consult that apparently included the rule book, the Home Plate Ump Joyce called the out and awarded the runner home plate. Normally, this is where the announcers and all your friends take turns butchering the rules of the game.

But thanks to the in-game talk with Torre and the wired conversation with the fan we heard later, this involved two rules, neither of which involving the helping hands of the coaches. On one hand, a catcher CAN make a legal catch in the dugout IF he maintains his footing. Otherwise, he is out-of-play. In this case he caught the ball legally IN play, but then slid OUT of play. As such, he was under normal rules with the catch and then subject to the special dugout footing rule after the catch. The ball is out-of-play (as if he had thrown it or dropped it in the stands) and the baserunner is awarded a base. Because the catcher was out-of-play and the ball was dead, the assistance of the coaches never affected the play.

Credit to Torre for knowing this rule about the catcher's footing from some corner of his mind. Not sure if the Umps were discussing giving the runner the plate or not before he brought it up.

3. Remember the Name of Timmons: Porsche aficiando and dude who was good enough to say I had an eye for calling the corners, Tim Timmons (95) is a professional official you should PAY to watch call a game, no matter who's playing. And despite this, they called him "Tim Thomas" on SportCenter when one of those crafty Indians tried to insinuate a problem with a particular call. It was like when Steven Cohen had to hear ABC/ESPN's Dave O'Brien announce "Michael Beckham" take the field during the World Cup. That was pretty funny, actually. We eventually just had to turn the volume off for the poor Brit to finish watching the England match in peace.

"Opening Weak": The 2008 Detroit Tigers

Click the title for a great and sober round-up from our former Deacon -- Lynn Henning of the Detroit News -- on the damage the Detroit Tigers are doing to themselves by losing their first four -- now make that -- first five games.

Huddy's Amateurish Thoughts Here:

1. Magg's et al...Please Don't Swing @ Pitch #1: In 2006, the namesake of my daughter (partially kidding) spent the first half hacking away and finding little success. He's looking very much the same way this year, killing rallies with no-out double plays in the 1st inning yesterday and in the 8th today...both off weak slaps at 1st pitches. Clete Thomas hacked at #1 in the 9th with two men on, Guillen and M. Cab did it in other innings...all to similar fates just upon a quick review. There's plenty more in there.

2. Bullpen: Why take Willis out with a 2 run lead after he's thrown a 1-hitter (with like 8 walks, of course) on 80ish pitches? For Zach Miner? Let Dontrelle either fight it out or lose it. He earned that right. Leyland yanked him for our sad-sack bullpen help after Thome crushed a double that was the first hit and the first run.

3. Leyland: A team this good mathematically shouldn't start 0-5 @ home against losing teams more than maybe 2 or 3 times out of 100. So chances are fairly high that something is "wrong." And that goes to preparation and that goes to my hero James "Awesome" Leyland. But he's on the ball so he'll get it fixed...still, this stretch isn't making his job any easier. But I'd still bar fight anyone who speaks ill of him...if I could bar fight. Maybe I'd just insult you under my breath once I was safely in the car.

4. Detroit Fans (an unfair, lashing-out from Hud): Maybe it's the LA Dodger mentality that has seeped into me, but I boo the 2nd Highest Paid Team in MLB when they stink up the field. It's not impolite to boo your team when they are bad. As an athlete, wouldn't you rather hear your fans venting than sitting on their hands? If this were Yankee Stadium, that team would know they better show up to play when they don the home jersey and trot out. AND QUIT SELLING OUT LIONS GAMES!!!

5. Baseball: What kind of cruel game is this?

Frank Thomas Tossed -- Here's Why

Big Hurt Takes a Big Shower -- Pic = NYT.com

In the NYY/TOR game today, Frank Thomas got tossed in record time right after (the very topic we broached in the previous post) a Strike Three call from Home Plate Ump...UCLA Alum Bill Miller (26) that the Big Hurt thought was an obvious Ball Four.

While I personally TiVo'd the pitch several times and still don't understand how a veteran like FT could both take this pitch on a full count and then dart down the line the moment the ball hit Jose Molina's glove...the larger point for moi is this...

Q: How Could FT Get Tossed So Quick?

A: The Golden Rule of Tossin' as I know it has two main parts...(1) if the word "You" is included in the tirade from the player/manager (2) if a player/manager argues balls and strikes. It's automatic, baby!

Thomas was still angry after the game, saying the call was terrible. Again...that's a tough argument considering it ate a good part of the plate at FT's belt, but more importantly...Thomas has been around long enough to know he needed to just swallow it, especially with his total salary this year dependent on his total AB count. I don't have access to his contract, but I'm pretty sure Miller gets the same salary either way.

Two ejections so far! What a season.

2008 is Grrrrrreat!

Whatever, dude.

Here's a few things on my mind.

1. Shutout? If it weren't for Edgar Renteria (aka "the other guy we got" in Detroit) the Tigers would have been NO HIT by the combined pitching power of the Kansas City Royals. Three hits and no runs? I hate to care this much about Game #2 (Game #1 was awesome, despite the loss...) but the 2008 Detroit Tigers should be able to put up at least one against Koufax on his finest day. Land!

2. Reyes of Confusion: Those ads for MLB 2K8 with Jose Reyes and the disembodied voice of Denis Leary just don't make any sense. I get a guy smashing a cheap little boom box with a bat that he'd just been stroking with a towel (should be funny, but I don't get it.) And we even get Mr. Met with his head in an ice bucket (this should be better even than the WKU red lump). But I don't get it. I miss the Baseball Tonight guys playing out classic scenes from baseball movies.

3. Fukudome Me? Fukudome You, Pal! What a debut for everyone's (read: my) favorite rookie...3 for 3, with a bunch of RBIs, 8 total bases and an entire stadium of drunks still thinking they won that game.

4. Larry Bowa v. Ed Montague: I've gotta say...seeing a guy get his stir-ups in a bunch on April 1 is kind of a new thing for me. But Larry Bowa was born angry and the sun never sets on his temper, I'm gathering. As reported on this blog earlier this spring, MLB wants base coaches in their designated boxes in addition to wearing their hard hats. With a runner on 2nd, that puts 3rd Base coaches like Bowa in a tough spot because of the angle required to judge balls to the outfield. Long story short, Montague (11) wanted Bowa in the box, Bowa wanted Montague to clam up. I love every part of this and I'm sure both gents would agree over a brew in a month or two...each did their jobs. But beyond the greatness of seeing a base coach care enough to hoot and holler and get tossed this early over a minor issue...appreciate the professional job done by Montague...having a tough nut like Bowa screaming at you like a crazy person is more rattling than I care to imagine. But with 31 years under his belt, Montague doesn't break character, wince or even afford Bowa the satisfaction of even a decent frown. He just tosses the old salt and walks right back to his position without batting an eye. BAD ASS!

5. Wait For It: The big leaguers like to tell young Umps to take their time making a call. You build the anticipation of the call (my theory) and then deliver it. Either way, they consider it good form to pause a moment after the ball hits the glove -- lest you risk calling what you were anticipating the pitch to be. Tim Welke (3) took his sweet time making the ball or strike call in Detroit on Opening Day and caught a number of batters ushering themselves to 1st thinking they'd earned a walk only to be punched out or otherwise detained by a "late" right-hand strike call. This starting off to first whenever a ball on the corners passes by on a 3 ball count seems new to me...did guys always do this? It really honks Umps off. So why are more guys doing it?