Location: Detroit, Mich. | Ballpark: Comerica Park (41,000) | Spring Training: Lakeland, Fla.
Owner: Mike Ilitch | GM: Dave Dombrowski | Manager: Jim Leyland | World Championships: 4
Hitting has hurt the Tigers most of the season, as has substandard starting pitching.
Friday night it was the defense's turn.
The Tigers made two expensive misplays during the seventh inning to hand the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-3 victory.
Carlos Guillen had trouble adapting from shortstop to first base, so he was shifted to third early in the season. He's had trouble there, too.
He made a one-hop throw to first trying to close out the seventh inning, and first baseman Miguel Cabrera couldn't scoop it as the winning run crossed the plate.
Earlier in the inning, Guillen, shortstop Edgar Renteria and left fielder Matt Joyce all let a foul popup fall untouched between them, a play that should have been made. The batter went on to become the second consecutive walk opening the seventh to set up a three-run inning.
The Tigers are a below-average defensive club at many positions. The corner outfield spots aren't good, except when rookie outfielder Matt Joyce is in left.
Third and first are works in progress (see above) while Renteria is a less powerful version of Guillen.
The Tigers are doomed to being a mediocre defensive club all season.
DIAMONDBACKS 4, TIGERS 3: A good effort by starting RHP Jeremy Bonderman was ruined by two walks and a couple of botched fielding chances. Bonderman didn't allow Arizona a hit until the fifth inning Friday night and gave up just three in six innings. He walked the leadoff batter in the seventh and seemingly had the next man out when he lifted a high foul pop fly back of third base. But the ball fell untouched between three fielders and Bonderman walked the batter on a 3-2 pitch. The Diamondbacks when went on to score three runs -- the last on a throwing error by 3B Carlos Guillen -- to take the lead for good. CF Curtis Granderson hit a sacrifice fly for Detroit's first run and the other two scored on a home run by 1B Miguel Cabrera in the fourth.
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I was perusing through some of the subjective year-to-date stats in the AL. I was wondering how possible it was for Magglio Ordonez to actually win the batting title in the Americal League for the seconde year straight. Tough feat to accomplish.
Right now, the top hitters for batting average in the Americal
Armando Galarraga faces the team that has hung 3 of his 4 losses on the rookie. It will be interesting on two fronts. One is K/BB ratio against the Twins at 15/13 easily his worst against any team. Second how he fares against the MM boys.
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Well for some reason this kid isn't on the september call up list. I am hoping it is because he was pitching tonight and they call him up for a few innings in the pen in September. His final game for AA Erie was a win pitching 6 innings with 10K 1BB 3 ER. His final stats for AA Erie are
