The Gist: Nate Robertson finally showed up but the offense took the night off (do I hear an echo?) and Edgar Renteria, well, Edgar thought it was a good idea. Let’s put it this way: if it worked, a definite top-five Web Gem. If it didn’t, Esteban German would come around from second to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth — and the Tigers would lose 3-2. You know the rest. Matt Joyce hit his second career homer. If only he’d hit his third.

The Quote: “Jose Guillen has had a lot of success against Nate Robertson in his career.” — Royals’ TV announcer Ryan Lefebvre mere seconds before Guillen unloaded a game-tying, two-run double in the third.

The Stat: 4. The number of errors by Renteria in 2008. How many did he have in all of 2007? How about 11?

*Yes, I’ve used this headline before. Not only is it appropriate but it’s also a nod to a goofy sociology teacher fellow Fungo scribe John Milton and I had in ninth grade.

…on this date in 1911 when Ty Cobb hit his first grand slam?

After six innings, Detroit led the Red Sox, 10-1. Boston came back to win the game 13-11 in 10 innings.

(Thanks, Baseball Reference.com)

How in the world did Lou Whitaker turn 50 — forget about 51, which he is today? Lest we’ve forgotten, let’s take a quick stroll down memory lane on his 19-year career with the Tigers:

• 2,390 games
• .276 average
• 2,369 hits
• 244 home runs

If you’re keeping score at home, Whitaker averaged a hit a game over his career. (Actually he averaged .991 hits a game, but when it’s your birthday, you benefit from rounding up.)

And how is he not in the Hall of Fame? Jeez!

Notable Hardware

• 1978 Rookie of the Year
• Five-time All Star
• Four-time Silver Slugger
• World Series Champion

Here’s hoping that Sweet Lou enjoyed his birthday at home in Lakeland, Fla., or a local theme park.

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: Game #37 featured a terrific outing from #37 Kenny Rogers, three hits from Pudge Rodriguez and ridiculous ninth inning from Todd Jones. Luckily, and most importantly, it all added up to a Tigers’ 6-5 win over the Yankees. Rogers gave the Tigers a quality start — 6 IP, 9 H, 2 ER, 3 K — and, in the second inning, picked off the 92nd runner of his career, Wilson Betemit. Ryan Raburn, getting the start in center, went 2 for 2 with a pair of runs scored.

The Quote: “Todd had the [leadoff] guy 0-2, and if he gets him, the game probably ends without any excitement.” — Jim Leyland on the Yankees’ half of the ninth inning.

The Stat: 5. The number of consecutive games the Tigers have played without hitting a home run.

My Two Cents: Watching Kerry Wood smoke the Diamondbacks in the top of the ninth inning this afternoon at Wrigley Field made me long for the return of Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney. You know, guys who can hit 95+ on the gun. I’ll admit that railing on Todd Jones seems so 2006, yet I can’t help but wish aloud that Tigers had a flamethrower at the back end of the bullpen.

For your consideration…

1. 50 years ago today the Tigers acquired RHP Herm Wehmeier from the Cardinals for cash. How much cash? Not sure. In seven games in 1958 (three starts), Wehmeir finished with a 1-0 record and a 2.38 ERA. The Tigers released him 368 days later.

2. On this date in 1994, Tigers legend Neifi Perez, then with Central Valley Rockies (California League), pulls an unassisted triple play on a line drive.
3. Who knew? The Tigers are 17-16 all-time against the Yankees at Comerica Park. On the other hand, the Tigers are 150 games under .500 all-time at Yankee Stadium.

Enjoy the weekend.

The other day I sent an instant message to Ian Casselberry asking if, perchance, the Tigers may be feeling some buyer’s remorse regarding the Miguel Cabrera trade.

I admitted to Ian that it’s way early but that doesn’t mean that panic is not setting in everywhere around Comerica Park — but never at Fungo HQ!

So, I’m lobbing it out there: Are the Tigers wondering what they signed themselves up for over the next seven years?

Maybe.

Fast-forward to this afternoon and the latest installment of Jayson Stark’s Rumblings and Grumblings on ESPN.com. This time he reviews the off-season trades and the Tigers’ deals are getting anything but passing grades.

6. Braves-Tigers (RHP Jair Jurrjens and OF Gorkys Hernandez for Edgar Renteria): “At this point, Atlanta has won that deal,” said one scout. “Jurrjens [4-2, 2.84] has been their most consistent starter.”

Ouch.

And if you think that’s a harsh assessment, get a load of this:

Read the rest

It’s been quite a week for birthdays in the Tigers’ galaxy, starting with May 2. Let us review.

Remember these guys?

• Jim Walewander, 46 — A fan favorite in 1987 and ‘88, Walewander captivated the media with tales of his aluminum-foil window treatments and affinity for the Dead Milkmen, described in Wikipedia as a “satirical punk band.” The prototypical good-glove-no-stick guy, Walewander played exactly 162 games in his career — 141 with the Tigers, nine with the Yankees in ‘90 and 12 with the Angels in ‘93 — with a .215 average, one homer and 14 RBI. He actually had one more steal than RBI. He wore number 32 with Detroit.

  

• Keith Moreland, 54 — This short-timer had a brief Tigers career (90 games, wearing number 30) in the awful 1989 season. The Tigers traded Walt Terrell to the Padres for Moreland and Chris Brown. He was traded to the Orioles near the trade deadline for Brian Dubois.
• Steve Grilli, 59 — Jason’s dad pitched in 69 games for the Tigers (wearing the same number 49 that Jason would wear 30 years later) over the 1975-77 seasons with a 4-3 record, 4.51 ERA. He also pitched in one game for the Blue Jays in 1979.

• Gates Brown, 69 — Who doesn’t love the Gator? Left-handed hitting, number-26-wearing William James Brown played 13 seasons with the Tigers as a pinch-hitter extraordinaire. His two best seasons were 1968 (.370) and ‘71 (.338). For his career (1963-75) he finished with a .257 average, 84 homers and 322 RBI. He later served as hitting coach, leaving after the 1984 season because the Tigers wouldn’t give him a raise into the obscene $70,000 range. I may be off on the dollar amount. If I am, my brother will remember it precisely.

And some others…

May 4

• Brian Maxcy, 37
• Rick Leach, 51

May 5

• Dave Gumpert, 50

May 6

• Phil Clark, 40
• Tom Bolton, 46

May 9

• Ron “Action” Jackson, 55

The Gist: The Tigers couldn’t hit Tim Wakefield, though it wasn’t for a lack of trying. The lack of plate discipline arrived just in time to send the Tigers to a 5-0 loss to the Red Sox. That’s five in a row, if you’re counting. And my man, Tigers starter Nate Robertson? Oof.

The Quote: “I think the main thing is to not lose sight of how good we are.” — Jim Leyland

The Stat: 2. The pathetic number of hits the Tigers mustered against Wakefield.

Up Next: Red Sox at Tigers

Armando Galarraga (2-1, 1.88) vs. Clay Buchholz (2-2, 3.71)

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: Jeremy Bonderman spotted the Red Sox four runs, leaving the Tigers to figure out Daisuke Matsuzaka on a night that he was totally figure-outable. Matsuzaka walked eight and gave the Tigers plenty of opportunities to blow the game open. Alas, Detroit dropped its fourth straight, losing 6-3. We’ll all have to wait at least another day to see — or at least get a glimpse of — how the new lineup configuration works.

The Quote: “I think I threw the ball really well.” — Bonderman.

The Stat: 2. The number of errors by Tigers shortstop Edgar Renteria.

My Two Cents: Patience. Patience. Patience. That’s what I keep telling myself.