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Rick Porcello will own Detroit one day

May 28, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Just a short while ago I remember telling my friend Brian (a Tigers fan) that he needed to keep an eye on this Rick Porcello, and that in a few short years the baseball world would be talking about him as we talked about Josh Beckett a few years ago, with a dominance about him. I told him that in a few years, Detroit will be his town. It’s looking like that day could come sooner then later.

Porcello, at least for the moment; has arrived. From Nick Underhill:
By beating the Royals on Wednesday he became the first 20 year-old pitcher since Doc Gooden to win five games in a row. Gooden won seven as a 19 year-old. That’s no small feat. I mean, sure, anyone can win five a row, but consider this: over that span he has only allowed five earned runs, struck out 20, walked ten, and given up only one homer, all while accumulating a 1.50 ERA, bring his season total down to 3.48.
Okay, when you’re in Doc Gooden territory; you’re downright S-I-C-K. Gooden should have been one of the greatest of all time. And while it’s early in Porcello’s story to know if he’s the real deal or not, a lot of pitchers have came and gone since the days of Gooden. Porcello is showing us a dominance that he’s capable of.
Why Rick Porcello Matters [Deadspin]
Filed Under: Detroit Tigers, Rick Porcello, Young Guns
April 22, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Curtis Granderson is blogging about a 10-day west coast road trip: Long road trips are cool for me, because I think it is actually less tiring than a short road trip. I can sleep on any plane. I have fallen asleep on a flight from Detroit to Cleveland which is a 30 minute flight. As long as I have a window seat, I am good to go. Most hotel beds I have no problem sleeping in as long as I have an AC control. I like to keep the room cold, and the noise helps to sleep. We also get to arrive at the ballpark an hour or so later than we would normally in Detroit. [Y! Sports Big League Stew]

Filed Under: Curtis Granderson, Detroit Tigers, short hops

Tigers open Comerica with a thrashing of Rangers

April 10, 2009 By Leave a Comment


You were warned that the Detroit Tigers were going to hit this season. Today they took it to the team who were thought to have perhaps the best lineup in baseball, at least in the opening week it looked that way.

Miguel Cabrera hit a grand slam home run and drove in six with three hits on the day. Chris Benson started his first game since the 2006 season and gave up 10 hits, 7 earned runs and was generally crashed around the waves for 5 innings. We knew we should have bet the OVER 9.5 in this game. Every Detroit hitter except Carlos Guillen had a hit in this game.

In the Motor City they’re going to score some runs this season. Armando Galaragga went 7 innings allowing only one run.

Filed Under: blow outs, Detroit Tigers, Grand Slams, Miguel Cabrera, Texas Rangers

Jim Leyland did not want to release Gary Sheffield

April 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

It’s official. Jim Leyland is the greatest baseball man in the history of the game. If we could have just one beer with just one figure currently in baseball today (or smoke) this guy would be that individual 100 times repeated. The latest from the Detroit skipper:


“It’s not good when you light up two Marlboro’s at the same time at 3 a.m., washing it down with a glass of chocolate milk.”

The guy really is exactly like our father except for the fact that our father prefers Lucky Strike non-filtered.

Filed Under: Chain-Smoking Managers, Detroit Tigers, Gary Sheffield

Tigers release Gary Sheffield

March 31, 2009 By Leave a Comment

The Detroit Tigers recently made a trade for speedy outfielder Drew Anderson. The trickle down move from that move is for the Tigers to release outfielder Gary Sheffield, who said he was in his final season anyways.

This comes on the heels of the news for the Tigers that Dontrelle Willis is doing his best Mark Fidrych impression.

Look for teams like the Red Sox, Dodgers, Giants, and yes possibly even the Yankees to at least sniff around Sheffield. Anyone looking to add some right handed power who has cash to spend. This is a bit bittersweet for Sheffield who was trying to wrap things up quietly (for once) in Detroit and now he’ll most likely spend his final season a free agent or in a weird looking uniform.

We wouldn’t be shocked to see Sheffield hang them up entirely. Then again, although he was hitting only .178 this spring, he is only 1 homer shy of 500 for his career. He’s going to do it somewhere.

Update: Tim Kurkjian just said on Sportscenter that Gary Sheffield would get his Hall of Fame vote if it came to that. Kurkjian listed Sheffield along with Barry Bonds, Frank Thomas and Ken Griffey Jr. as the most productive offensive players of the last 20 years.

Filed Under: Detroit Tigers, Gary Sheffield, spring training

Detroit Tigers 2009 Season Preview

March 27, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Leading up to the start of the 2009 Regular Season, Diamond Hoggers will preview each of MLB’s 30 teams. Today’s team is the Detroit Tigers. Stay tuned as Diamond Hoggers will preview every team division by division until the start of the regular season.

We’re high on the Tigers of 2009. Jimmy Leyland is a great manager, and all great managers have one final run to glory, whether it be a run that ends in a World Series or a playoff run. We aren’t sure how far this run will go, but we are certain it is going to happen in some capacity this upcoming season.

If you are a fan of an American League team, you are damn lucky that these guys don’t play in an offensive park, or they’d cause nightmares over and over for your pitching staff. Curtis Granderson could be the finest leadoff hitter in all of baseball. He’s a threat for insane numbers that not many players in this game can reach. He’s got the pop for 20 homers and the speed for 20 triples. He will score runs at a crazy pace. Placido Polanco doesn’t get enough credit, the guy can bunt and hit .300 and might be the finest 2 hole hitter in baseball. Then comes the pain. Miguel Cabrera is a perrenial MVP candidate this season, and he’s had a year to adjust to AL pitching. Did anyone notice what he did in the second half last season? He raked like he always has. Magglio Ordonez is healthy and ready to be a consistent run producer. Then you’ve still got Gary Sheffield and Carlos Guillen as guys who can both hit. Sheffield has said this will be his final year, so we’ll get 162 games maximum of watching Sheffield whip that bat. If he can stay healthy. Brandon Inge slides over to third full time, he’s another guy who can hit but doesn’t get a lot of hype in a lineup full of studs. Gerald Laird is the catcher, another pretty good hitter from that position. The bottom of the lineup is filled out with shortstop Adam Everett.

The rotation is a real wildcard, but if they can get enough pitching they’re going to be a real force. There’s reason to believe that they might get enough pitching when you look at their personnel. Justin Verlander is the ace, and he’s been getting hit hard for a while now. He must return to be the dominant arm of the staff or at least give them a chance to win on most nights for the Tigers to be a real threat. Jeremy Bonderman is the number two. Bonderman’s time is running out to prove that he’s a top arm. He once had a very high ceiling but now he’s just a guy with a good fastball and they don’t last forever in this game. Young Edwin Jackson was acquired in the offseason from Tampa Bay, he’ll be the three starter. Armando Galaragga will be impressive if he can progress and make a full season of starts. Dontrelle Willis is either going to prove he can still pitch in this league and be a huge shot in the arm and pitch above what a five starter should provide a team or his career could be over. The closer is Brandon Lyon. Could be one of those special years for him, you watch.

And so this is what Jim Leyland is aligned with to do battle with the AL in 2009. The ageless wonder, that Marlboro cowboy. Detroit is a hell of a town when their sports teams are winning. Could this be one of those magical summers? We figure these guys will do battle with the Indians for the division crown. At the very least they will score a lot of runs and be in the thick of things for the wildcard.

Filed Under: 2009 Diamond Hoggers Season Previews, Detroit Tigers

Does anyone in baseball pack more lips then Carlos Guillen?

March 26, 2009 By Leave a Comment

We think not. Look at that thing.

Filed Under: Carlos Guillen, Detroit Tigers, Dip

Move over Bebop & Rocksteady, you got competition

February 13, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Detroit Tigers fans, your time has arrived. I’m going to talk about your team and give you some major props. You see, I think Detroit for this year and this year only; have the two best offensive threats in baseball. And you can go ahead and name me two from other teams around the league that sound more imposing; just as I could. But when the curtain falls on 2009, no duo will have wreaked more havoc on major league pitching then Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez.

I was selecting keepers for my ultra important fantasy league the other day. I did not have the balls to let Miguel Cabrera go back into the pool for the fantasy draft. I think the only thing that can stop Cabrera from being the AL MVP this season is Grady Sizemore. And if Eric Wedge doesn’t hit Sizemore 3rd instead of leadoff, Cabrera is gonna be your most valuable in 2009.

People don’t realize what this guy did during the second half of last season because of the Tigers’ futility. After he figured out AL pitching he put up eye popping numbers, hitting well over .300 in the second half of the season.

Magglio Ordonez is an unreal run producer, and while many will say he’s had his day in the sun I think he’s going to stay healthy and give one final swan song in the elite category of players in the league. Say what you want about Ordonez, but in a park that isn’t condusive to big offensive numbers he’s simply went out and raked his whole career.

You wanna throw Albert Pujols and whoever in there somehow, or you want to talk about A-Rod and Texeira. Don’t give me that. No tandem out there is going to do what these pair of Motown sluggers will do in 2009; and they’ll do it for a team that still struggles to find its way in other areas of the game. Their protection of eachother in that lineup will flow into a beautiful crescendo of RBI’s and doubles. They’ll play every day and they’ll put up pinball game-like offensive numbers.

I think Cabrera will go for 45 homers, 130 RBI and hit .290 while Ordonez will hit .330 with 40 doubles, 35-38 homers and 120 RBI. Neither guy is going to steal too many bases at this stage in the game, but lets not forget they’re going to have a guy at the top of that lineup that is a poor man’s Grady Sizemore in Curtis Granderson.

So get ready for a gun show at Comerica this summer.

Filed Under: Detroit Tigers, Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera

Ask Jimmy Leyland

December 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Inspired by Jim Leyland’s interview with Chris Myers a while ago (and in the spirit of Thanksgiving since Leyland mentioned the holiday), we’ve decided to continue our segment here at Diamond Hoggers featuring baseball’s John Wayne-esque Manager. He is here to offer readers his wisdom on life, and all things pertaining to. Behold the marvel that is Ask Jim Leyland:

Hi Jim, Seasons greetings. Hope your turkey tasted well this year. My family is trying to enjoy the holidays but we can’t seem to get past a tragedy that happened several months ago. We lost the patriarch of our family. My husband’s SUV ran out of fuel on some train tracks and he wasn’t able to escape the vehicle before a train arrived. I’m trying to really spread holiday cheer within our family to keep spirits high, but its not working. Please help me Jim!

Concerned Caroline

Jim Leyland: Caroline- Your husband should have remembered to fuel up his car before heading out. You can afford a big gas-guzzling car, but not the fuel it takes to run it? What kind of sense does that make?

Jim, hello. Last Christmas my husband wanted to really make it special for all the kids in the family. He decided he wanted to make it a special Christmas by playing Santa. I warned him that he should have gone for the simple sit on Santa’s lap bit but he wouldn’t listen. Towards the end of the family Christmas party, he dressed up like Santa Claus and went up on our roof. The kids and entire party were interrupted by my husband falling off of our roof and breaking his back. He also cracked a few ribs and severed his spleen. Our Christmas was ruined. He had been planning to sneak down the chimney with toys and gifts for everyone. He’s planning something big for this year as well. Jim–I can’t talk him out of anything. You wouldn’t dress up like Santa Claus and slide down the chimney would you, Jim? Please talk some sense into him.

Sandy in Utah

Jim Leyland: Santa Claus is a faggot. It’s Utah. So the kids would have known that it wasn’t the real Santa anyways.

Dear Jim, last winter we found that our carbon-manoxide detectors were very outdated. I warned my husband that they needed replaced. He said he was going to do them in the summertime when it was warm? But every summer day he had off, he just laid on the couch and watched baseball. I warned him that his laziness was endangering our family. He still continued to put off the task. He said that ‘no one ever dies of carbon manoxide poisoning these days’. Then one day last september, we returned home from a weekend away to find that our family cat, Max, was laying dead in his cage. My husband’s laziness killed our family pet! Jim, I am considering leaving him because his laziness is like this with everything in his life. It was traumatizing for the kids. I can’t live like this anymore! Please help.

Lindsay in Tallahasse

Jim Leyland: You need to go buy a dog. Cats are annoying animals and don’t add much to anything. When it’s your time to go, it’s just your time.

Filed Under: Ask Jim Leyland, Chain-Smoking Managers, Detroit Tigers

Nothing like a good old September baseball fight

September 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment

If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the brawl last night down at Progressive Field. Fausto Carmona and Gary Sheffield mix it up a bit. It definitely falls short of Nolan Ryan/Robin Ventura. You have to wonder, why are they fighting? Someone should tell them they’re both members of bad teams and they don’t matter anymore. They’re afterthoughts on this season. Still fun to watch.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPbPcOFMdns&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6]

Filed Under: Bench Clearing Brawls, brutal fuckin' teams, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers

Ask Jimmy Leyland!

August 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Inspired by Jim Leyland’s interview with Chris Myers a while ago, we’ve decided to open up a new segment here at Diamond Hoggers featuring our Marlboro Red Manager of the Year. He is here to offer readers his wisdom on life, and all things pertaining to. Behold the marvel that is Ask Jim Leyland:

Hi, Jim. About two years ago my husband was laid off from his job. After that due to stress he became a victim of insomnia. This led to him falling asleep during the day when he was doing anything at all. He could not find work with the job market being what it is today, so he started working landscaping and outdoor labor with a family friend at his age of 45. One day, he fell and hit his head on some cobblestone. Now he has short and long term memory loss and is left disabled by the accident. We have two small children, and now I must care for them both and somehow find a way to financially rescue our family. What should I do?

-Scared in Sacremento

Jim Leyland: (puts cigarette in mouth) Scared in Sacremento; your husband should have worked harder at his original job.

Hi Jim! Our eight year old son absolutely worships the ground you walk on. He wears his Tigers hat everywhere he goes, sometimes even sleeping in it. He is rewarded for doing his schoolwork by being allowed to watch the Tigers game, and he gets excited every time the camera sees you in the dugout. You’re his whole world. Recently, he wore his tigers pajamas to school under his clothes without us knowing, and when he wore them for the rest of the day the kids made fun of him to the point of him crying and leaving school and not wanting to go back. He’s skipped school several times since then and is now expelled. Jim we’re running out of answers for son and we’re desperate for help. Please help our boy.

-Desperate in Dallas

Jim Leyland: That was stupid for your son to wear pajamas to school.

Dear Jim, My husband and I have been happily married for about 8 years. We have had what I thought to be an amazing sex life. About a year ago I stumbled upon this hidden folder on my husband’s computer featuring pictures of women giving oral sex to horses. This discovery really has me creeped out and I find it hard to ever be intimate with him due to the fact that this disgusting act turns him on. It’s ruining my life Jim! Save my marriage, please!

-Stunned in Spokane

Jim Leyland: (inhales cigarette) You know stunned, horses are beautiful animals.

Hello Jim. About a year ago I lost my mom to cancer. Months after that my father was thrown in jail for not paying his taxes. My siblings are both real black sheep and I have no other close family. My close friends are at a point in their life where I feel like everything is coming together for them, yet I can’t help just to tread water. I feel like the grass is growing higher than I can mow it in life, Jim. I can’t go on much longer. Yesterday my dog ran in front of a mini-van and was struck and killed. I’m going to tie a heavy object to my ankle and throw it in my pool if you can’t help me, Jim. Please.

-I’m finished with life!

Jim Leyland: (sighs) I’ll HUFF! (inhales cigarette) And I’ll PUFF! (exhales cigarette) and I don’t give a fuck.

Filed Under: Ask Jim Leyland, Chain-Smoking Managers, Detroit Tigers

Yanks get Pudge

July 30, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The Yankees have wrestled away a future Hall of Famer in Ivan ‘Pudge’ Rodriguez to take over as their catcher for the rest of the season for Jorge Posada and all they had to give up was Kyle Farnsworth.

Are you kidding me? Kyle Farnsworth? What, did Detroit not get a good enough look the first time he was a Tiger back in 2005? I mean, even if he would have ever reached his potential this is still an awful deal.

Great deal by Brian Cashman, the cream of the crop as far as MLB GM’s go. The Yankees get a two month rental of Rodriguez and basically upgrade from Posada. Pudge gets to go after a World Series, if you believe the Yankees can get there.

There’s going to be lots of filings today/tonight/tomorrow. Keep it locked here, and not on ESPN’s Trade Deadline ‘Blog’.

Filed Under: Detroit Tigers, Ivan Rodriguez, Trades, Yankees

I'd just like to point out the Tigers early season bed-shitting

April 3, 2008 By Leave a Comment

The Detroit Tigers were shut-out today. By the Kansas City Royals. This coming after blowing a lead and losing the game in extra-innings on Opening Day to these same Royals. Both of these afflictions have occurred at Comerica Park in Detroit. Today’s pitcher of record for the Royals? Are you ready? Brian Bannister.

Look, I know it’s early. I know the Tigers have a nice ballclub. But you can’t be doing this shit Detroit. There isn’t enough Marlboro sold in that city (according to my friend who works for Phillip Morris) to keep Jimmy Leyland calm through this.

Filed Under: Chain-Smoking Managers, Clusterfucks, Detroit Tigers, How's this all going to end?, Kansas City Royals

Detroit Tigers 2008 Season Preview

February 27, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Leading up to the start of the 2008 Regular Season, Diamond Hoggers will preview each of MLB’s 32 teams. Teams will be rated on a 10-point scale in the following 5 areas: Lineup, Pitching, Manager, Intangibles/Chemistry, and Overall. Today’s team is the Detroit Tigers.

Lineup
The Tigers have assembled a lineup that has the firepower to compete with any team in baseball. Starting with Curtis Granderson, they have one of the finest lead-off men in all of baseball. Granderson had over 20 triples last season and over 20 home runs. Many would refer to him as a ‘poor man’s Grady Sizemore’, but Granderson is a poor man’s nobody. He’s one of the best athletes in the game. Second will be Placido Polanco, who has an amazing head. Then you get to the thunder. Magglio Ordonez will hit 3rd, with Miguel Cabrera and Gary Sheffield to follow. Cabrera is the crown jewell, and the only concern with Ordonez and Sheffield is can they stay healthy and be out there for a full season.

From there, you’ve got Carlos Guillen, Edgar Renteria, Jacque Jones and Ivan Rodriguez. Everyone is talking about the additions of Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis; but adding Jones and Renteria will really help this team. They are two fine veterans who have been there in this league. This lineup, at least on paper, appears to have as few of holes as any in baseball. They have power, speed, veteran presence, and should be a really tough out 1 through 9.

Rating: 9.0

Pitching
This is once again an area where the Tigers are very sound and defined in. They have their rotation already laid out. Ace Justin Verlander comes off an impressive season where he had a sub 3 ERA and a no-hitter. The addition of Dontrelle Willis should be interesting, Willis could re-gain his dominating form since few of the American League hitters have faced him previously. It usually favors pitchers when unfamiliarity is involved, initially. Two more lefties will be in the rotation, Nate Robertson and Kenny Rogers. The rotation is rounded out by Jeremy Bonderman, who’s had a rocket arm since birth but hasn’t put it all together yet. If this is the year he figures it out; this may be your AL Pennant winner.

The bullpen has some nasty arms in it as well. The closer is actually one of the lesser intimidating arms in the ‘pen, in Todd Jones. Jones is a gritty closer who does it with smoke and mirrors rather than stuff. He relies on guile and experience. In other words; he’s vulnerable. The set-up guy is Fernando Rodney, who has a fireball arm and some closing experience. A big loss to them is the injured Joel Zumaya, who figured to be their closer of the future at one time. Francisco Cruceta and Yorman Bazardo should factor in as the long relievers. Zach Miner and Jason Grilli will also log innings. Bobby Seay and Tim Byrdak are the crafty lefties.

Rating: 8.6

Manager
Manager Jim Leyland has guided Detroit to a 183-141 record in his two seasons with the team. This includes a trip to the World Series. We here at Diamond Hoggers are big fans of little Leyland. This is for many reasons. We believe he’s probably still smoking like a chimney, refusing to cave to the crave of most long-term baseball men; dipping. Leyland has seen every situation a thousand times; all that remains for him is for his players to execute and win him a World Series. He has the personnel to do it finally, and Detroit’s window should remain open for a year or two at least. Leyland will only help this team, rarely if ever making an in-game mistake from a management standpoint.

Rating: 9.1

Intangibles/Chemistry
This team has many personalities on it. Gary Sheffield usually puts on a show with his mouth. Miguel Cabrera has gotten in some trouble off the field. Willis the same. As long as they’re winning, as usual chemistry will be overstated in terms of a positive thing. They should win more often than not. They’ve got that new ballpark in Detroit, and it’s a pitchers park. They’ve got the hitters to knock down the walls there, and the speed at the top of the order to stroke the gaps. I like the makeup of this team very much; and they’ll enjoy some of the finest ‘meshing’ in the league this year.

Rating: 9.0

Overall
If teams and fans alike are sitting around and waiting for a collapse of the Tigers in 2008, it won’t happen. This team is good enough that if everything went wrong, they’d probably still win 90 games. Things should go right, so I have them in the 95-100 win range. They’ll have the task of playing the Cleveland Indians around 20 times which should be a season long grudge match that should go back and forth until late september.

This team will be one of the four to get in the playoffs, whether by way of winning the divsion or by taking the wildcard. Like the Indians, they need to take a step further than making the playoffs with the talent that is on this team. If they fall short of an ALCS win; disappointment will be the word used. Look out for these guys in 2008, it’s going to be a fun ride in the Motor City this summer.

Rating: 8.9

Filed Under: 2008 Diamond Hogger Season Previews, Chain-Smoking Managers, Detroit Tigers
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