Yes, it has been far too long. Busy schedules and then a week on vacation, but it’s time to get back to business. Taking things from where I left off, the American League once again topped the National Leaguers 5-4 in the Midsummer Classic, giving the AL home-field advantage in the World Series once more. For the Tigers, the All Star Game has become something that finally matters — after years at the bottom of the standings, the team now could very well be affected by World Series field advantage. However, things are never guaranteed. The Tigers have been downright embarrassing on the road, and have posted a 3-7 record in their last ten games overall. Seattle ties that mark, but more alarming is that only two teams in Major League Baseball have been worse through that stretch. Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh both have put up 2-8 records through their last ten — it should be noted both teams sit on the bottom of their respective divisions. Suddenly, things in the AL Central could start to stir. Coupled with Cleveland’s 4-6 stretch through the last ten, the Tigers still lead the division with the Tribe just 1/2 game behind. At the bottom of the pot, Kansas City, Chicago, and Minnesota all have went .500 through their last ten, and with Minnesota 6 1/2 games out, it’s still anyone’s crown with about two months left in the season. Of course, the Tigers recent tailspin has numerous factors behind it; though it is obvious where the team needs to find help: the bullpen.
Injuries have plagued the Tigers’ pitching staff throughout the 2007 campaign, and they have been costly. The starting rotation has for the most part held its own (save for a few ugly outings, which have become a little too common on this roadtrip), but the bullpen is simply not acceptable. On a team that is expecting to make a run for the playoffs, it is hard to maintain a championship level of confidence late in games when new pitchers begin trotting to the mound from the outfield. Things simply are not improving quickly enough, either. Roman Colon effectively ended his tenure with the entire organization after his little skirmish in Toledo, and was shipped off to KC for a “player to be named later.” Essentially the Tigers were happy to be rid of him. Even more alarming is Kenny Rogers’ latest trip to the DL — with such a depleted bullpen, a loss of Rogers means more innings for young, inexperienced starters as well as the high potential for an ensuing increase in work from the bullpen. Fortunately, there may still be a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Jim Leyland simply will not allow Fernando Rodney to walk back into the Show from Toledo whenever he feels like it. Instead the skipper says Rodney will “have to pitch good.” He also notes that pitchers have to be able to throw strikes in the Majors or risk being sent down. The direction of his comments go unnamed, but one can assume that high walk rates of Tim Byrdak, Jason Grilli, and Zach Miner come to mind. While Leyland says he expects no deadline deals, it is hard to believe one could be satisfied with the bullpen. Even with Joel Zumaya starting to throw heat again, the Tigers could definitely use a few solid guys both for middle relief and late innings. Is there hope for a deal before the trade deadline? Only Dombrowski knows for sure — let’s hope for a little magic. After all, if hope and a little front office magic can bring a futile 119 loss club into the World Series, it could certainly pull a pitcher or two down Woodward.
