The Wednesday Fungo: June 12

June 12, 1984: Blue Jays 12 –Tigers 3

W: Jim Clancy (5-6) – L: Jack Morris (11-3) | Boxscore

Record: 44-15 — 7 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • All the highlights in this one belonged to the Blue Jays. They took it to all three Tigers pitchers.
  • Morris: Three innings, eight hits, six runs.
  • Sid Monge: Four innings, six hits, three runs.
  • Oh, here’s one Tigers highlight: Lou Whitaker went three for four with a single, double and triple

Miscellany

  • Venue: Exhibition Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Jerry Neudecker, 1B – John Hirschbeck, 2B – Steve Palermo, 3B – Dave Phillips
  • Time of Game: 2:43
  • Attendance: 40,437

Elias Sosa #36

Here are five things to know about right-hander Elias Sosa, who spent one year in Detroit:

  1. Sosa was sent to the Tigers by the Expos on March 30, 1982 as part of a conditional deal. I have no idea what that means.
  2. He made his Tigers debut on April 12, 1982, pitching the ninth inning in a 9-5 Tigers loss.
  3. Of his 38 appearances, 23 were multiple innings, and he averaged 12/3 innings of work.
  4. Sosa’s longest outing was a five-inning stint on July 12 against the White Sox.
  5. His final line: 3-3 record, 4.43 ERA and four saves. The Padres purchased his contract from the Tigers on Oct. 7, 1982.

Birthdays

Avisaíl García, Scott Aldred and the late Matty McIntyre

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 437 9/9: Rarity: 14

See you tomorrow.

The Tuesday Fungo: June 11

June 11, 1984: Tigers 5 – Blue Jays 4

W: Dave Rozema (2-0) – L: Luis Leal (6-1) – S: Willie Hernández (10) | Boxscore

Record: 44-14 — 8 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Detroit knocked around Leal with nine hits in six innings: three doubles, a triple and a Kirk Gibson home run.
  • Rozema went five, allowing three runs on four hits. Newcomer Sid Monge was immediately pressed into duty; he faced one batter, threw two pitches and gave up a single.
  • Willy pitched 21/3 scoreless, yielding a hit and striking out three.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Exhibition Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Dave Phillips, 1B – Jerry Neudecker, 2B – John Hirschbeck, 3B – Steve Palermo
  • Time of Game: 3:04
  • Attendance: 35,062
  • Start Time Weather: 75° F / 24° C

Birthdays

Ezequiel Carrera, Adam Pettyjohn, John Doherty and the late Archie Yelle

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 436 9/9: Rarity: 30

See you tomorrow.

The Monday Fungo: June 10

June 10, 1984: Game 1 Tigers 10 – Orioles 4

W: Doug Bair (3-0) – L: Mike Boddicker (7-5) – Save: Willie Hernández (9) | Boxscore

Record: 42-14

Highlights

  • The Tigers got to Boddicker early, five runs on seven hits in 41/3 innings. Glenn Abbott faired slightly less bad: three runs, seven hits in 22/3.
  • Bair threw 31/3 scoreless, one-hit innings.
  • The game featured 24 hits — 13 by Detroit — and the Orioles made four errors.

Miscellany

  • Venue: Memorial Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Jim Evans, 1B – Greg Kosc, 2B – Ted Hendry, 3B – Drew Coble
  • Time of Game: 2:48

Game 2 Tigers 8 – Orioles 0

W: Dan Petry (9-3) – L: Dennis Martínez (1-3) | Boxscore

Record: 43-14 — 7 games up on Toronto

Highlights

  • Petry was stellar: a complete-game three-hitter.
  • All told: Gibby had six hits and six RBI in the two games‚ while Tram and Johnson each had five hits. Lou scored five runs in the first game. 

Miscellany

  • Venue: Memorial Stadium
  • Umpires: HP – Greg Kosc, 1B – Ted Hendry, 2B – Drew Coble, 3B – Jim Evans
  • Time of Game: 2:44
  • Attendance: 51,764

Then, After the Doubleheader …

George Kell informed us that “the Tigers just announced they have acquired the rights to left-handed pitcher … (and it seemed like an eternity before revealing it was …) Sid Monge.”

Birthdays

Al Alburquerque, Elias Sosa and Hank Foiles

Today’s Grid

⚾️ Immaculate Grid 435 9/9: Rarity: 28

See you tomorrow.

Tigers Roster Set … and a Tad Upsetting

In 1984, the Tigers made the no-brainer decision to leave southpaw reliever Sid Monge off the playoff roster. Monge had an undistinguished half seaon with the Tigers after being picked up off waivers from the Padres — 1-0, 4.25 ERA in 19 games.

He didn’t pitch enough in the regular season and, left hander or no, he wasn’t going to appear in the ALCS or World Series. And God knows we didn’t want him to.

This morning we learned that another seemingly no-brainerish decision — to leave Brad Penny off the ALDS roster — was, in fact, not made. What the …? Jim Leyland hasn’t, and likely won’t, offer much to the media to chew on in the way of rationale for this decision.

Here’s the most obvious question: In what scenario, a Game 4 start, long relief, middle relief, would any Tigers fan feel comfortable seeing Penny on the mound? Speaking for myself: None.

Jason Beck reports on his blog:

Both Rick Porcello and Brad Penny are on the roster. One of them is expected to start Game 4 is necessary (sic). The other will work out of the bullpen.

Would I feel better seeing David Pauley? It depends. If it’s relief, absolutely. And would I feel more confident in Porcello starting Game 4? Ditto. (But if there’s a rainout between tonight and Game 4, are we still to believe that Justin Verlander won’t make that start?)

And what about Ryan Perry? Can the Tigers afford his baffling inconsistency in the postseason?

So what we’ve got are four pitchers — the three P’s: Penny, Porcello, Perry, and Max Scherzer — on the ALDS roster that make us wonder if the good version or bad version will show up.

I have no problem with the position-player decisions, even backup catcher Omir Santos. There’s no way Leyland is going to lose a playoff game — or series — by having to put Brandon Inge or Don Kelly behind the plate. No chance. I think Santos makes sense.

But the real news here is Penny. I’m afraid that if we see him in this series we’re going to long for Sid Monge.

Dave Schoenfield weighs in on both A.L. Division Series rosters on the SweetSpot blog.