Why Todd Jones… Why?

 

Anyone remember the last time they saw Todd do that?

 

*Chugs a quick beer*

Ok I think I’m ready to write.

Tonight I spent my time split between watching and listening to this horrendous excuse for a loss.  Both Mario Impemba and Dan Dickerson were in great sound tonight.  Both sounding equally disappointed when they watched and called Jermaine Dye’s homerun over Magglio Ordonez head. 

Speaking of heads, I demand Todd Jones head on a platter after tonight.  I don’t want him to pitch another game.  I know that isn’t an actual reality but one fan can hope. 

To quote Jones after tonight…

"Sometimes you get beat. Sometimes you beat yourself," said Jones, who was trying not to give Dye a good pitch to hit. "I don’t think I beat myself tonight. I think I just got beat. Dye hit a two-run homer. I guess that’s the way it goes. There’s nothing I can say. He got me. I have to live with that."

No shit, Sherlock.  Except I have to disagree with Jones on this:  Jermaine Dye just hit the lob that you threw over the plate so you beat yourself as well Mr. Jones.   Speaking of which, is anybody else sick of hearing about how Todd Jones “Has to live with it” … I get the impression that this is his default excuse for every time he sucks it up out there…And I’m sick of hearing it… Thoroughly.

What happened? What were you thinking?  Just wanting to play with the fans? Making us think that maybe… just maybe you might have a quick 9th inning? Ugh…

No, instead, to quote the general feeling among the fans at the Bless You Boys forum, “you kicked us in the gut”. 

One can only hope Leyland is ready to make a change.  I don’t care who they throw in there. As long as its not Jones.  I’ve never seen a team look so confident at the plate when they face Jones.  Its like their thinking “Hey, he’s gonna hurl something over the plate that we can hit.”

I guess the only next question is… Where do we go from here?

Well, you look to your ace, Justin Verlander, to steal a game, and then take back this series.  And obviously you hope to not have to go to Jones again.

Should there be a trade?

Personally I think not.  Unless you can package Sheffield and Renteria for some decent pitching (starting or closing), I think the Tigs should stay put. 

What should you do with Jones?

Personally, I’d just try to hope he works his stuff out… Preferably down in the Minors for a bit.  But likely what they’ll do is save him for a game where we have large run lead and see if he can’t blow it.

Who would be his replacement?

The answer I want to say is Joel Zumaya.  BUT I don’t think he’s ready yet, he just gives up too many walks.  I think he has the talent, he just has to play some more games and get the command back.  So, the question becomes, where do you go? Dolsi? Rodney? Fossum? Who?  The honest truth is I don’t know. That is Mr. Leyland’s decision to make… and based on his decisions so far this season, I don’t know how confident I am with him. 

Should Jim Leyland still go?

Yes. I will not repeat myself.

*Chugs another beer* 

Ok, I’m done.

 

P.S. FIRE CHUCK HERNANDEZ!

The Marcus Thames Show: A Look at the Resurgence of the Detroit Tigers and the Importance of the Longgggggggg Ball

 

yup he’s been doing alot of that lately

A few points to start off: 

-I know, that was a long title, but it all had to be there

-Marcus Thames stats for the past 4 games (5 for 10, 5 HR’s) (including tonight’s game as of the 4th inning)

-The Tigers are undefeated when Marcus hits a home run.

With that being said, I would first like to say the obvious.  This man can no longer be an every once in awhile player.  He needs to be in the lineup as much as Granderson, Polanco, Cabrera… you get the point.  Why? He’s a decent fielder (very average, but decent), and he’s got an amazing knack for the longball.

I feel as though the longball has been one of the little talked about things lacking with this team.  It just has not been there consistently.  Thankfully Cabrera and Maggs have been getting hot.  Not to even mention Marcus.  The simple fact of the matter is that Homeruns not only energize a team, but also tends to be contagious to other hitters. 

Another thing to consider is that Home-runs, can rattle pitchers, change how pitches are called, and obviously can change the way the hitter approaches the plate. 

For these reasons the Tigers need to be following Thames lead and knocking the cover off the ball.  Obviously it is easy for me to say this, but execution is another thing entirely.  Cabrera needs to hit his 40 hr’s, Ordonez needs his 35, and Marcus needs to stay in this lineup for the Tigs to have any chance at making the playoffs and continuing their success of late.

Speaking of their success, I thought I’d make a few points:

-The PITCHING is winning these games, absolutely amazing pitching.  I’ll be the first to admit that I thought that Kenny had nothing left in the tank, but then he goes and only gives up 3 ER in his last 4 starts! That’s just sick pitching right there.  Absolutely filthy (in the words of Rod Allen).

-The Tigers still have to cut down on errors, which is frustrating because they look so perfect in the field one day, then the next put up 3 errors. ugh

-Did I mention that Slick needs to stay in the lineup?

-I want to see the Tigs go 11-4 overall on this trip.  I like bigger game windows to truly evaluate if this team is turning it around.  They are  6-0 so far, if they go 5-4 over the next 9 I may start to change my mind about the chances for this team making the playoffs. 

I’ll end this on an uplifting video since the Tigs have been putting me in a good mood lately

Technorati Tags: Tigers Thames

Dear Tigers, I’m Done with You till Something Changes

UPDATE:  To clarify for certain readers the term “i’m Done with you” refers to me not investing myself emotionally in the Tigers for the rest of the year until something changes.

The Tigers continued to rip at the heart strings of fans everywhere, when they tallied a 4th terrible walkoff loss in there away stand against Seattle.

I’ll summarize for those of you lucky enough to not watch this game…

- Willis had 5 walks, in 5 innings, gave up no runs.

- Gallaraga relieved and gave up 3 runs in one inning, then pitched pretty solid 2 innings after his 5 inning debacle.

-  Hitting was not there… a bunch of runners left on base in a poorly pitched game that totaled 22 walks…. and no thats not a typo.

-In the 11th, the A’s load the bases, get a bloop INFIELD single to win the game.

After staying up (again) to watch the Tigers lose a heart breaker I’ve decided to go drastic.  I’m not going to be writing about the Tigers until I see a significant change.  Be it the retirement of the Marlboro man, or seeing Verlander come out of his slump, or how about when our hitting can string together a couple of consecutive good games.

Remember when Tigs slappies were claiming the Tigers had turned a corner after the series against the Mariners?  Yeah, I told everyone hold up, lets look at the next 12 games…

Since I’ve said that, the Tigs have went 4-7…

These Tigers are officially getting called a bust in my book for the season. They won’t make the playoffs and even worse THEY LOOK LIKE THEY DON’T CARE *cough* Cabrera *cough*!!!

This all has led me to just give up until something changes… I’m tired of beating myself up, convincing myself that this team is better then its played… but when you’ve played 58 games a fan has gotta start to think rationally.

My thoughts:

- Fire Jim Leyland, I’ve called him out before, but he needs to go.  And he needs to quit because Dombrowski won’t touch him.  He inserts no passion into this team anymore, and something is clearly not working, I start with the head coach (manager).

-  He can take his hitting and pitching coaches with him.

-  Verlander needs to step up…. I know hes pitched decent of late, but decent won’t cut it with this team.  He needs to go above and beyond and earn his contract.

-Speaking of earning contracts, anybody see Cabrera lately? Does he ever get clutch hits? how about hits in general? Isn’t this what we brought this fat man who supposedly had a fat bat in here for?

-  Bullpen needs to not ALWAYS give up a run every time they come in with men on base.

-  Does anyone else think that we have a team of DH’s ? (Guillen, Cabrera, Thames, Magglio)

I want changes Tigers. I don’t want the “well this team is better then its playing “ bullshit we’ve been getting fed from Leyland.