Detroit News: Rays rise on speed, strength

the Rays’ Detroit coverage is more interesting than anything on the Tampa/St. Pete sites…

The expectations are greater, and so is the competition. But the Rays finally are starting to prove last year was far from a fluke.

After a sluggish start, which fairly can be blamed on injuries—among those placed on the disabled list in May alone, Pat Burrell (neck), Scott Kazmir (quad), Troy Percival (shoulder), Jason Bartlett (ankle), Akinori Iwamura (ACL) and Brian Shouse (elbow)—the Rays had won nine of 10 and were a season-best nine above .500 before losing Wednesday to drop back to five games behind the Red Sox in the AL East.

They’ve revived their season with equal parts speed and strength. Entering Wednesday, they had 121 stolen bases—the Angels (76) are second—and 105 homers, making them the fifth team in history with 100 of each before the All-Star break.

That puts the Rays on pace for 248 stolen bases and 215 homers, which would make them the second member of the 200-200 club (1996 Rockies, 221 homers, 201 steals).

plus, Tigers Notebook: Homers offset June swoon

foxsports.com: Tigers taking it slowly with Porcello

Porcello has attributes that will buy him extra outs, in accordance with those guidelines: He has a fluid delivery, and his power sinker induces well-timed double plays, as happened twice on Wednesday.

“He’s not a max-effort guy,” Leyland said. “That makes a big difference. But I’m going to watch him.”

It’s not known if Porcello’s representatives made any suggestions to the team about his innings limit. The Scott Boras Corp. negotiated his $7 million major-league contract following the 2007 draft, but Porcello has since changed agents. He’s now represented by the Houston-based firm of Randy and Alan Hendricks.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw may be the most relevant comparison for Porcello among recent 20-year-old pitchers. Kershaw threw 122 innings as a minor leaguer in 2007, followed by an increase to 169 in the regular season last year, of which 107 2/3 were in the big leagues. He added two in the playoffs.

Kershaw did not arrive at that total by accident. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said Wednesday that team officials determined a 50-inning increase would be acceptable.

“But the best criteria are what you see and how those innings are accumulated,” Colletti added. “Had he accumulated more ‘stress innings,’ his total would have been less.”

Former A’s and Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson believes that annual increases of 30 innings are optimal for developing pitchers. A bump of 40 innings or more, he said, could cause concern.

But when Peterson was told that Porcello exceeded 90 pitches only three times entering Wednesday, he replied, “That’s very wise of them. You can tell that they’re being very cognizant of his workload. They’re doing the best they can.”

Detroit News: Tigers are on pace to walk in 31 runs

One small problem.

Despite being in first place and having the second-lowest ERA in the American League, the Tigers are the worst at something.

They’ve allowed 14 bases-loaded walks, the most in the majors—not to mention a total that’s well on its way toward being the most Tigers have allowed since Jim Leyland has been their manager.

Prompting this particular piece of research is the fact the Tigers received and put to good use—since they won by two runs—two bases-loaded walks from the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night.

Any thought the Tigers have been on the receiving end of more generosity than they’ve bestowed, however, is incorrect.

Going into Thursday’s game against the Cubs, they’ve walked nine times with the bases loaded—a lower total than many teams, but substantially higher than four teams tied at the bottom of the list with two.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland has strong words for agent Scott Boras

“I’m very respectful of Scott Boras, but I’m not going to listen to his (nonsense),” Leyland said. “Scott Boras might be better off if he lets Magglio and myself handle this instead of him.”

Boras claimed in published reports that Ordonez’s numbers this year—except for a reduced number of home runs—were similar to last year’s.

“I admit to you that Magglio had a rough April,” Boras said. “But if you want to talk about why his production is down in 2009, it’s about one thing and one thing only: His home runs are down by seven.

“I submit to you that’s not compelling information for declaring failure.”

(skip)

“If it’s the truth and I’m(Leyland) wrong, then go ahead and punch me in the jaw, but don’t give me this (nonsense).”

Rosenthal: Forget benching, dropping Mags makes more sense

So pack up your troubles in your old kit, Mags and smile, smile, smile…

The Tigers, with little difficulty, can cite performance reasons for benching Ordonez, starting with his .343 slugging percentage, which is lower than Ramon Santiago’s, lower than Adam Everett’s, lower than most of the free world’s.

Who ever thought that Magglio would hit like Rey Ordonez, the famously light-hitting shortstop with the same last name?

Magglio, 35, led the AL with a .363 batting average in 2007. He hit .317 with 21 homers and 103 RBIs in ‘08. His home-run total this season stands at two — two! — and he has hit none since April 27.

...Frankly, the Tigers should just release Ordonez, to whom they owe approximately $11 million in ‘09 salary, plus a $3 million buyout in ‘10.

Problem is, they’ve already released Sheffield. They might want to release Willis, to whom they owe approximately $18 million through next season. And don’t forget lefty Nate Robertson, who is a $7 million reliever this season and looms as a $10 million mop-up man in ‘10.

Hoo boy.

MLB: Tigers give Leyland two-year extension

In the Interest of Good Taste We Changed Our Pack. For the Same Reason, We Didn’t Change Our Manager.

Jim Leyland’s future will remain in a Tiger uniform. The team and the manager agreed Friday to a two-year contract extension, ending speculation while rewarding the veteran skipper for a first-place start with a team that has had no shortage of challenges.

The deal was quickly negotiated and finalized Friday morning between Leyland and team president/general manager Dave Dombrowski in Leyland’s office. It was arguably fitting, given the way the Tigers have had to react to one situation after another to keep the team headed in the right direction.

“It’s extremely well-deserved,” Dombrowski said in making the announcement. “He’s done a tremendous job for our organization since he’s been here. He’s done a great job this year keeping our club in first place and continuing to work hard along with his staff. It’s a happy day to be able to make this announcement.”

It was not a day that Leyland was expecting quite so soon.

“This was a total shock,” Leyland said. “I kind of assumed this was going to be at the end of the year and [the team would] evaluate and it would be yes or no.”

Detroit Free Press/Sharp: Don’t blame Jim Leyland for Tigers’ troubles

The Tigers remain in first place. That’s a miracle on a par with that one Lions first down last season.

The back end of the Tigers’ rotation is held together with chicken wire and chewing gum. They lack the speed necessary for manufacturing runs, and they’re one of the more offensively deficient teams in the American League.

Now, either you feed Matt Millen’s delusion and blame him for the Tigers’ personnel issues or maybe join me in this rare concession of the glass being half full. .

If you’re in first place, you’re doing something right. It’s time to get off Jim Leyland’s back.

He’s making the necessary tough decisions, the hardest of which was benching the struggling Magglio Ordoñez on Thursday. That’s not a popular recourse on this team or in this town. But Leyland had no alternative—his primary responsibility is squeezing the most out of a drying 25-man roster.

Dodger Thoughts:Edwin Jackson: What if?

As I researched this piece, I read several reviews of Jackson, and there is a common theme: No one disputes his physical tools, but almost every criticism ends up with his mental approach and confidence.  Baseball Prospectus still had words like “frustrated,” “struggles” and the dreaded “potential” in its 2009 review of Jackson.  I don’t know where I saw it, but I know Jackson himself said in an interview that he does not blame the Dodgers or Rays for moving him, as he knew better than anyone how his career had evolved to this point.

I close this piece by saying that if the question was, “Could the Dodgers have kept Edwin Jackson on the 25-man roster from 2007 to the present?,” from a pure roster management issue, I would say yes. Enough flotsam existed on the roster during that time to make me think they could have done that, and whatever damage Jackson brought on to the team during his growth period would probably not have been too different than every other bad pitcher during the last 2½ seasons. 

But from what I think what would have happened, only if had he been able to speed up his growth to where he is today could Jackson have survived the 2007 season as a Dodger out of options.  And we’ll never know if Jackson would be the pitcher he is today without those two years in Tampa, where he got 62 starts to work out whatever issues he had.

Ivan Rodriguez set to break catching record against old team

Half the career of Ivan Rodriguez.

That’s all Texas Rangers starting catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia is hoping for.

If all goes as planned after tonight’s start against the Rangers, half the career of the Houston catcher would be more than 1,100 games caught.

Rodriguez tied Carlton Fisk for most games caught with 2,226 on Tuesday night. He’s in line to break the record tonight.

Rodriguez will get to do it against the club for whom he played for 12 seasons and started what is sure to be a Hall of Fame career.

Detroit News: Dontrelle Willis won’t make next start for Tigers

Dontrelle Willis will not make his regularly scheduled start for the Tigers on Saturday. Other than that, manager Jim Leyland refused to discuss the status of the struggling left-hander.

Willis walked eight in his 3 2/3 innings Sunday in Pittsburgh, dropping him not only to a 1-4 record with a 7.49 earned-run average in seven starts, but making it highly unlikely the Tigers could continue with Willis in the rotation.

At this point, as Leyland tersely indicated in his pre-game media session Tuesday, the Tigers are not ready to discuss their plans for Willis, other than to say he won’t start Saturday.

Bad shoulder could cost Tigers’ Guillen ‘09 season

It has become increasingly unlikely that left fielder Carlos Guillen will return to the Detroit Tigers’ lineup any earlier than one month from now. And Guillen’s season will be in jeopardy if his right shoulder doesn’t improve soon.

Guillen’s agent, Peter Greenberg, said Monday that there could be a drop-dead date on the decision to have surgery sometime in July, in order to afford Guillen the best chance at making a full recovery before the 2010 season.

Greenberg acknowledged that off-season surgery is a possibility, even if the 33-year-old returns to action this year.

“He is trying to do everything he can to avoid surgery, especially since it’s his throwing shoulder,” Greenberg said.

Detroit Tigers Weblog: Billfer: This has to stop now

Too much pressure, these Dontrelle starts got to stop...now.

Dontrelle Willis came into action today with yet another chance to solidify his spot in the rotation and on the roster. He did neither today and his time on the Tigers roster has to have come to an end. This isn’t brilliant thinking by any means, and it’s late, but it’s time.

Today’s effort included 8 walks in 3.2 innings, 4 of those were to the leadoff hitter in each inning. He also allowed 6 hits and a lot of loud outs. That he was only charged with 6 runs was a matter of luck and not grittiness or some ability to bounce back. Sadly this carnage was a continuation of a pattern rather than a blip.

Whether this is anxiety or mechanics or another injury, Willis is not an effective big league pitcher. The Tigers have been patient, as they needed to be due to the contract. But he can’t be allowed to hurt this team anymore. He needs to be off the roster now. I don’t care if he gets optioned to the minors or outright released but he can’t be allowed to pitch for this team any longer.

SDNN: Blair: The magic that was the 1984 Padres postseason

A look back at the Cubs - Padres series...and Mike Royko/GOD.

Of course, the Padres team that boasted Garvey and Tempe, Flannery and Bevaqua, Nettles and Show was a glorious one. But our citizens were up to the challenge, too. We were the underdogs going into the National League championship series with the Chicago Cubs, and we relished our role. The baiting by the outta-town media helped,too.

The Chicago Tribune’s legendary columnist Mike Royko didn’t come to San Diego for our side of the playoffs. Fear of flying. He took his potshots from 2,000 miles away, calling Padres fans “lousy wimps” and “laid-back surf rats” who couldn’t appreciate the magnitude of what was happening. When Royko’s syndicated tirade was picked up by the Escondido Times-Advocate, the newspaper invited readers to respond to in print. But when editors transmitted the responses to Royko in Chicago, the columnist was not amused. An aide phoned the paper to warn that Royko might pull his column from the T-A. Editor Will Corbin beat him to the punch. He phoned the Chicago Tribune syndicate to advise that the T-A would no longer publish Royko’s column. “For a guy who’s always sticking pins in people,” said Corbin, “his skin is much too thin for us.”

...Kurt Bevacqua was the home-run king of the first series game, but Steve Garvey was still hanging onto the hero status he earned during the playoffs. One enamored Garvey fan — an attractive young woman — spent the night waving a sign with her spiritual message: GOD LOVES US ALL — BUT HE LOVES STEVE GARVEY JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.

Judge paves way for Tiger Stadium demolition | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Detroit—Activists seeking to preserve what is left of Tiger Stadium were handed a significant defeat this morning when their request for a preliminary injunction to halt demolition of the stadium failed in Wayne County Circuit Court.

“It appears that the plaintiff has been given every opportunity on this project,” said Judge Prentiss Edwards. “The plaintiff has simply failed to come up with the requisite funding.”

Edwards said the city, meanwhile, would continue to inherit significant costs if the issue was delayed any further, both in securing the property and increasing costs for its demolition.

Demolition ordered to stop at Tiger Stadium

The demolition of Tiger Stadium was halted by a judge Friday, just hours after crews began tearing down what’s left of the historic ballpark.

Wayne County Circuit Judge Isidore Torres issued a temporary restraining order, said Robert Rossbach, spokesman for the Detroit Economic Growth Corp.

The injunction was requested by the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy, a nonprofit group that had tried to raise money to preserve and redevelop the ballpark. Its $33.4 million plan was rejected Tuesday by the city’s Economic Development Corp. board, which said funding wasn’t in place.

A hearing on the order will be held Monday before Wayne County Circuit Judge Prentis Edwards, Rossbach said.

This probably won’t change anything, alas.

What little is left (as of two days ago) can be seen in this picture I found on Flickr.

MLB: Laird defends bunt attempt in no-hit bid

And not since Nixon’s Vietnam plan has a Laird defended better.

“You’ve got to [try to] win that game,” Laird said. “It’s only 4-0. It’s in the sixth inning. It’s not like it was the eighth inning. When you’re only down four runs in the sixth inning, what does he want us to do? You do whatever you can to get on. I’m sure he didn’t like that. That’s probably why I wore one in the leg. It’s all right. It’s part of the game.”

...Never shy about expressing his opinion, Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley, who was serving as a color commentator on NESN for Wednesday’s game, wasn’t a big fan of Laird’s attempted bunt.

“I didn’t like it. But I’m a pitcher,” said Eckersley, who threw a no-hitter in 1977 for the Indians. “I wouldn’t like it; I don’t think Nolan Ryan would have liked it.”

Told of Beckett’s diplomatic response, Eckersley said, “But then he drilled him.”

...However, Red Sox manager Terry Francona had no issue with Laird’s attempt Wednesday in what would end up a 10-5 win for Boston.

“You know what, I’m not big on unwritten rules anyway,” Francona said. “I think their job is to try to beat us and our job is to try to beat them. I think that somewhere along the way, the book and the unwritten rule has gotten rewritten by people that don’t know how to write. What was the score, 4-0? They’re trying to win. I just think—just play the game.”

Tigers’ Joel Zumaya brings Jimi Hendrix back

Meh. Alan Douglas has been doing this for years.

Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya says the top question he gets from fans has nothing to do with his fastball or bullpen role.

“Everyone asks me the same thing,” Zumaya said. “It’s: ‘When are you going to get ‘Voodoo Chile’ back?’ Well, it’s coming back the next time I come out at home.

“My wife (Rachel) convinced me to bring it back. She says it’s one of the best coming-out songs.”

And so the Jim Hendrix guitar riffs, recorded in 1968 on the “Electric Ladyland” album, are going to be back on the top of the charts at Comerica Park.

Zumaya is parting ways with “Raining Blood,” the signature song of the thrash metal band Slayer. It served its purpose.

“I wanted a fresh start with a new song after the (shoulder) setbacks in spring training,” Zumaya said. “I said, ‘Babe, it’s time for a new song.’ And I chose something really loud and crazy.

“But I had people tell me that when they played it as I ran out, they didn’t know whether to go to a mosh pit or what.”

AP: Detroit board OKs leveling Tiger Stadium

What a week in Detroit.

What remains of historic Tiger Stadium will be demolished after the city rejected a $33.4 million proposal by a nonprofit group to preserve and renovate the old ballpark.

The Economic Development Corp. board voted 7-1 to authorize the complete demolition of the stadium....

Gary Gillette, a leader of the group trying to save the stadium, blasted the vote as “shortsighted” and vowed to fight.

“We are obviously going to do everything we can—including calling on all of our friends and supporters—to try to get this decision reversed,” said Gillette, board member and secretary of the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy.

Grand Scott: Orioles slam Tigers (Wieters goes 0-4)

Were you expecting someone else? Designated hitter Luke Scott stole the show Friday in Matt Wieters’ Major League debut, upstaging the rookie by swatting two home runs for the second straight day. Scott, who now has five home runs in the past three days, led the Orioles to a 7-2 win over Detroit.

Scott returned from the disabled list on Wednesday, and he celebrated by blasting a homer in his first at-bat. The left-handed hitter drove another two long balls Thursday before making a difference Friday. Scott hit a grand slam in his second at-bat and came back in his third to drive a solo shot off Dontrelle Willis.

Wieters, meanwhile, had a modest big league debut. The catcher went 0-for-4, but he did help usher Brad Bergesen through a successful start. Bergesen (2-2) allowed just two hits in the first six innings, and he weathered a seventh-inning storm to record the longest start of his brief career.

Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk and Gary Carter all went hitless in their debuts too.

Oh, and the Force is strong with Luke Scott.

Jim Leyland steamed after Tigers’ loss

I like my Jim Leyland smoked. Thank you.

Everything was calm at that point. Questions were being asked and answered. You could see and hear Leyland wasn’t happy, but he had a right not to be happy. The Tigers had just lost a stinker. They’d gone 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

That’s when the one-too-many was asked.

“How encouraged were you by Galarraga’s performance?”

“I’m not going to talk about that, because you guys are worried about Bonderman taking somebody’s place,” Leyland said. “I’m not going to talk about that (stuff). Galarraga pitched a great game. But that’s all you guys are looking for. Forget it. Good bye. Good night.”

And with that, the post-gamer ended.

Leyland doesn’t get upset with his team often. For that matter, he doesn’t get upset with the media often.

But he hates it when he thinks reporters are fishing, although whether there were lines in the water this time almost wasn’t the entire point.

Peter Gammons: Ilitch stands up to baseball, for the fans

Ilitch is more loyal to his neighbors in Detroit than he is to Selig, which is why a 20-year old kid named Rick Porcello won his fifth straight start Wednesday afternoon. If Selig had been able to muscle Ilitch into overruling general manager Dave Dombrowski and his esteemed scouting director David Chadd, Porcello would be pitching for the University of North Carolina on Friday against Dartmouth in the NCAA regionals.

Instead, Porcello has six wins and a 1.50 ERA in his past five starts. With manager Jim Leyland’s careful monitoring of Porcello’s 85-95 pitch limit, the youngster is on a pace to win somewhere between 17 and 21 wins; for some perspective, over the past 50 years, the only pitchers under 21 years old to win 17 games were Doc Gooden (17 at 19, 24 at 20), Wally Bunker (19 at 19) and Sabathia (17 at 20).

Porcello is smart, and he comes from a family that wanted him to go to college. Ilitch had to OK more than $8 million to get him to forget about a dorm room in Chapel Hill, N.C. Ilitch took Selig’s calls and allowed Chadd to go above Selig’s price-fixing “slot” and sign Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller, who in turn gave Dombrowski the chips to trade for Miguel Cabrera, one of the best hitters in the game.

Urban Prankster: Guy Fieri Impostor Interviewed on Fox During Royals Game

Via kansascity.com:

Not to take away from Zack Greinke’s masterful shutout, but a Guy Fieri imposter was interviewed on-air last night during Fox Sports Net’s broadcast of the Royals game.

Guy Fieri, for those who don’t know, is the Food Network host of “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” He travels the country visiting these places. He has been to Kansas City before.

A call to PR person Rebecca Brooks confirmed it: It wasn’t Guy!

The imposter gave interviewer Joel Goldberg’s questions short, rude, one-word answers. He was acting like he wanted no part of the interview. He took a phone call during the interview. It was no doubt from his buddy Cletus, who said something like “hey, Buford, I see you on TV!”

The Food Network has video, as well.

MLBlog: Beck: Pitch count facts

Sometimes I think this whole world
Is one big ballyard.
Some of us are managers
The rest of us are guards.
Lord, Lord,............................................

Edwin Jackson’s 132 pitches are the most by a Tigers pitcher in the Jim Leyland era. The last Tiger to throw that many in a game was knuckleballer Steve Sparks, who threw 132 pitches against the Mariners on Aug. 21, 2002.

The last non-knuckleballer to hit that count? Remember Felipe Lira, who threw 135 on Aug. 11, 1996. He gave up nine runs on 14 hits in 6 1/3 innings that game.

The 132-pitch mark is also a first in the Majors this year, topping the 131 pitches from Pittsburgh’s Ian Snell on April 29.

Manager Jim Leyland has not put as big an emphasis on the number of pitches as much as the situation and the strain with which they’re thrown. Still, he usually tries to avoid racking up high pitch counts in back-to-back starts for a pitcher. Jackson went 97 pitches in his last outing May 15 against Oakland after topping 100 in his previous four outings.

The biggest thing to remember is that Leyland wanted to rest Joel Zumaya today after back-to-back outings.

Rosenberg: Justin Verlander overcomes frustration with ferocity

Man with a mission and a recipe for hate...just might be his epitaph.

Last season, Verlander would frequently mill around the clubhouse before his starts, chatting with teammates.

“I’m not a very nice guy on my start day right now,” Verlander said. “Something had to change. I don’t hardly talk to anybody unless I need to.”

Verlander was not at his best Tuesday night, which should tell you something about his best. His best is Cy Young Award-best. This was merely excellence. This was Verlander giving up one run in six innings and putting just five guys on base. This was a guy who can anchor a contending rotation for 10 years.

Warming up in the bullpen before the game, Verlander threw one good breaking ball. The rest were lousy. Then the game started, and the first batter was Texas star Ian Kinsler. Verlander hates Kinsler. He also hates the Rangers’ No. 2 hitter, David Murphy. And their third hitter, Michael Young.

“From the time I wake up in the morning, I pretty much hate whoever I’m pitching against,” Verlander said. “I think about their lineup, and I don’t like any of those guys.”

MLB.com: Rangers pull off triple play vs. Tigers

The Rangers thwarted a Tigers rally and made some history in the process on Wednesday night, when second baseman Ian Kinsler and shortstop Elvis Andrus teamed up for a triple play against the Tigers at Comerica Park.
...
After Laird fouled off a bunt attempt on the first pitch, manager Jim Leyland sent the runners in motion, setting up the extra outs when Laird lined out sharply to Kinsler, who flipped the ball to Andrus to tag second base for the second out on Inge. Once Andrus crossed the bag, he had a mere few steps to go to tag Raburn for the third out.
...
With that, the Rangers had pulled off the fifth triple play in franchise history, and their first since April 14, 2002, when former Rangers pitcher and future Tigers starter Kenny Rogers induced a fielder’s choice grounder from Seattle’s Ron Wright. That play featured two run-downs on the basepaths for the final two outs.

MLB.com: D-Train won’t be denied in second start

Six days after Dontrelle Willis returned to the big leagues, he rejoined the ranks of stingy Major League pitchers Tuesday, cooling off the red-hot Rangers for 6 1/3 innings of scoreless ball in a 4-0 shutout of Texas at Comerica Park.
...
His no-decision at Minnesota showed off some quality pitches and ample competitiveness, but nothing like the show he put on Tuesday, when he sent down 17 consecutive batters and topped out at 93 mph on his fastball.

Michael Young’s first-inning double and Andruw Jones’ ensuing four-pitch walk were the only baserunners Texas had until Jones worked out of an 0-2 count to draw a one-out walk in the seventh, taking a high fastball on Willis’ 100th pitch of the night. It was also the last pitch, bringing out manager Jim Leyland to send in his bullpen.

Sixty-one of Willis’ 100 pitches went for strikes, leading to two walks and five strikeouts.

MLB: Ump touches Ordonez; Leyland angered

Dammit...only Tektro U-Brake shoes touch my Maggs!

Leyland erupted, bursting from the dugout and getting between the two. Leyland animatedly picked up the protest and had some pointed words for Schrieber, who eventually ejected him. It was Leyland’s first ejection this season.

Leyland continued to vent after the ejection, walking up and down the dugout and yelling back to Schrieber before climbing the steps to the visiting clubhouse at the Metrodome.

...Leyland, meanwhile, clearly believed that Schrieber had crossed a line by touching Ordonez. Players, managers and coaches are typically suspended if they touch an umpire.

“Did you see what happened? OK, then you write what you saw,” Leyland said angrily. “I don’t have to say a word. You write what you saw. And I hope you all got the guts to write what you saw.

“I don’t need to say anything. Write what you saw. I don’t need to say a word. If you watched the ... game, then write what you saw.”

plim points us to the Video.

Magglio Ordoñez’s early numbers are alarming

It’s not too early to ask questions. And with Ordoñez in 2009, the biggest question is this: Will he stay in the lineup?

It is a $30-million question.

At the end of this season, the Tigers will either pick up an $18-million option on Ordoñez or pay him a $3-million buyout. The Free Press Math Department tells me that’s a $15-million difference. Then there is another $15-million option for 2011.

Rosenberg: Magglio Ordoñez’s early numbers are alarming

Or will he go from Mags to riches?
His fate is up to...Dombrowski?

It may be too early to bench or release Ordoñez , but it’s not too early to wonder about him. Here are some of Ordoñez’s numbers entering the Tigers’ game in Minnesota Tuesday night: .241 batting average, 108 at-bats, three extra-base hits, sixth in the batting order, 35 years old. I mean, the numbers could be worse. His cholesterol level could be 500. But those numbers are disturbing.

It’s not too early to ask questions. And with Ordoñez in 2009, the biggest question is this: Will he stay in the lineup?

It is a $30-million question.

At the end of this season, the Tigers will either pick up an $18-million option on Ordoñez or pay him a $3-million buyout. The Free Press Math Department tells me that’s a $15-million difference. Then there is another $15-million option for 2011.

I doubt the Tigers want to pay Ordoñez $30 million when he is 36 and 37 years old. Manager Jim Leyland has already dropped him in the lineup and started to remove him for defensive purposes. You don’t do that if a guy is worth $15 million a year.

The Grandstand: Behind the scenes of the catch in Cleveland

Granderson gives us the goods on his game-saving grab vs Grady. If you missed it, you can RTFA and watch the clip of the most special play of the season so far.

As far as the play, it was the ninth inning and there was a runner on first base. From a defensive perspective, with Sizemore coming up to bat, I had to back up and respect his power. I also had to play deeper to keep him — the winning run — from getting to second in case he did get a hit. Before the play even started, I was already much deeper than I would normally play. Still, if Grady hits the ball to the left, right or a foot further or a foot shorter, this play never happens.
You really can’t practice this type of play.