Month: August 2011
Remembering Tigers Tamer Mike Flanagan
A couple of things came to mind when I heard the awful news about Mike Flanagan last week. First, he seemed to own the Tigers in the late 1970s and pretty much all of the ’80s.
The second was his brilliant performance against Detroit in game 161 of 1987 when he was pitching for the Blue Jays.
I had to look up the first at Baseball Reference.com and I was sort of right. In 49 career games against the Tigers (42 starts) Flanagan posted a 18-11 record and a 3.66 ERA — 8-8 at Tiger Stadium.
The only team in the old American League East against which he had a better winning percentage was Toronto (17-7). (Inexplicably, he was 8-12 against the Indians who, if it were not for the dreadful Blue Jays, would’ve been dead last in the East.)
I didn’t have to look up the second memory, because I was there for it.
On Saturday, Oct.3, 1987, with the Jays and Tigers tied for the East lead with two games to play. Flanagan, who’d been dealt from the Orioles on Aug. 31, faced off with Jack Morris in a game for the ages.
Flanagan pitched 11 innings, scattered eights hits, struck out nine and allowed just two runs, one earned. Morris matched him through nine, also allowing eight hits and two runs, both earned.
Flanagan was tremendous and there were moments, several, really, when we thought the Tigers were in deep trouble. But they managed to hang around and scratch across two, and eventually got the Toronto bullpen for a 3-2 win.
Morris was terrific that day, too. Even though the Tigers won the game, and the next to clinch the division, that day belonged to Mike Flanagan.
Update: The Free Press’s John Lowe wrote about the game here.
The Tuesday Breakfast: The Delmon Young Era Begins
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The Tigers are in first place, two games ahead of the Indians.
Today’s Game: Tigers vs. Twins – Justin Verlander (17-5, 2.35 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Blackburn (7-9, 4.36 ERA) | 7:05 p.m. – FSD/1270 AM and 97.1 FM
From STATS, LLC:
Verlander has won five straight starts with a 2.61 ERA, striking out 43 in 38 innings during that stretch. He allowed three runs and struck out 10 in seven innings of his 100th career victory — a 4-3 win over Cleveland on Thursday.
In the right-hander’s lone start against Minnesota this season, he gave up one run and five hits over eight innings of a 6-2 win July 21 at Target Field. Verlander is 3-1 with a 1.59 ERA over his last five starts versus the Twins.
Happy Birthday, Damian Jackson, 38, and Roger Cedeno, 37.
On this date in 1968, Denny McLain improved to 16-0 on the road after blanking the Red Sox, 4-0 at Fenway Park. Bill Freehan was hit by a pitch in three consecutive plate appearances, tying a major-league record. He was hit a record-tying 24 times that season.
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Good morning. And welcome to the Delmon Young era. Last week the Boston Globe’s Nick Cafardo tweeted that a few notable names had cleared waivers, including Young. I wondered, however momentarily, if the Tigers would make a move for Young. No way they’d make another intra-division trade, I decided. Fast-forward to yesterday and,ta-da.
Leading Off: There were a few enjoyable moments in Monday night’s game when we thought Young’s moon shot in his first Tigers at bat would be the notable home run of the night. Then, Jim Thome erased that notion by hitting career homers 599 and 600 — off Tigers pitching, imagine. In fact, I was surprised that the Tigers had offered up 10.8 percent of Thome’s career home runs. Then again, he did play in the National League for a couple of seasons … Oh, the rest of the game was abysmal thanks to Rick Porcello’s pitching and gruesome defense from Ryan Raburn and, less so, from Wilson Betemit. Perhaps the Tigers should remember that earlier this season they had won eight of the first nine against the Twins this season. Final score: Twins 9, Tigers 6.
Around the Central: In the only other game featuring an A.L. Central team, the Yankees beat the Royals 7-4 at Kauffman Stadium.
Bowden on Young: Here’s what former Reds and Nationals GM had to say about the Tigers picking up Delmon Young:
Young should get recharged with this change of scenery deal, and the deal could make a huge offensive impact on the Tigers’ lineup, as they expect him to return to last year’s form since he’s finally healthy again.
I have to cut this one short today. I’m attending a training class in Los Angeles and it starts in seven minutes. But before I do, Happy 66th Birthday to Bob Balaban, who played NBC executive Russell Dalrymple in Seinfeld.
More MLB Players Geeking Out with iPads
Technology can help hitters work smarter. Now, they’re able to scrutinize video of themselves – and similar hitters – against a given pitcher whenever it’s convenient for them. While many players use their teams’ video equipment on a daily basis, the ballpark is no longer the only place where they can work. They can study on their own time – at the hotel, while they’re relaxing at home, or by utilizing Wi-Fi connections on the team charter. For the service, major leaguers pay a fee that varies depending on the player and amount of service needed for the team.
“The beauty of the iPad is that I was able to do my film study in the morning, so I wasn’t rushed when I got to the field,” [Pirates outfielder Matt] Diaz said Monday. “I’ve always said film study helps hitters more. It’s such a confidence thing, going into the box. If you have an idea of what they might throw, and they throw it, you have a much better chance of hitting it.
I’m a geek and iPad lover so I loved this column.
Cameron Maybin Emerges at Last
Perhaps “at last” is a skosh strong. After all, Cameron Maybin is still just 24. But as Jerry Crasnick writes today, in San Diego the former Tigers top pick is starting to reach the level of performance Detroit (and the Marlins) had expected:
… Maybin is Exhibit A of the wonders that result from talent colliding with opportunity. After more ups and downs than your average debt-ceiling negotiations, he’s found a home as San Diego’s resident leadoff hitter, fly chaser and catalyst.
(snip)
Maybin, acquired by the Padres from Florida in November in a trade for relievers Ryan Webb and Edward Mujica, got the 2011 season off to a rousing start with a home run and a diving catch in St. Louis on Opening Day. Given the green light to steal by Padres manager Bud Black, he’s succeeded on 26 of 28 attempts. And his monthly batting averages — .247 in April, .263 in May, .288 in June and .315 in July — are testament to his personal growth.
(snip)
“This is the first time in two or three seasons where I’ve felt comfortable,” Maybin said. “I’m not worried about the consequences of going out there and trying to get a hit every night. Even if I have a bad week or a bad month, I feel like these guys are still with me.
I’ve often wondered if Maybin would’ve had the opportunity to develop with the Tigers. But, when I watch Austin Jackson I think they got a modified version of Maybin in the Curtis Granderson trade.
At any rate, it’s nice to see Maybin with a team that’s rebuilding and that can invest the time to watch him develop.
Lukewarm Reviews of Tigers’ Deadline Deal
Our latest Fungo Flash poll asks for your opinion on the Tigers/Mariners trade over the weekend. Based on his article on Grantland — Headline: “Trade Deadline Power Rankings: Part 1, the Vanquished” with the subhead: “Find your team on this list and hang your head in shame” — I’d guess Jonah Keri would vote “Wait and See” with a lean toward “Thumbs down.”
Here’s what he had to say:
16. Detroit Tigers
I have this theory that raw park effects and defense-independent stats don’t always tell the whole story on a particular player. Imagine you’re a pitcher in Petco Park. You know that hitters are far less likely to hit the ball out of the park. Couldn’t that change the way you pitch? Isn’t it conceivable that you could throw more strikes without the fear of an Earl Weaver Special in the back of your mind, thus improving your strikeout rate, your walk rate, and your overall statistical profile?
I think Doug Fister may have benefited from that effect while pitching for the Mariners. The combination of Safeco Field and an excellent defense behind him may have made Fister feel more secure in throwing strikes. That in turn may have led to some microscopic walk rates (career 1.9 BB/9 IP) which contributed greatly to Fister’s success. There are a couple of other more tangible statistical indicators that suggest Fister has had luck on his side, notably a very low home run-per-fly ball rate of 4.4 percent this season. But batting average on balls in play, strand rate, and other oft-cited luck markers don’t necessarily suggest a fluke, or a pitcher ripe for regression.
I wish I could properly test my theory to see if there’s something to it, but there are too many variables in play, and self-reported data such as “how confident was I when I pitched at Safeco Field” is rarely reliable. But the Tigers’ trade for Fister and fellow strikeout-challenged right-hander David Pauley depends largely on whether this effect is real, and if the new guys can adapt to conditions less favorable to pitchers. The good news for the Tigers? They might win a very weak AL Central anyway, even if Fister and Pauley (and recently acquired third baseman Wilson Betemit) fizzle out.
The good news? The Indians are tied with the Rockies at number 18.
Discuss.
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