This Is Going To Be A Lonnnnnng Summer

[TheMAIT]

This bullpen is shot. Jones now blowing it in the 9th? We can't lose games like this to Tampa Bay...taking a lead into the 9th. Sure it is only the end of May, but 3 of the 4 teams in the Central are playing relatively well. Tigers could be set for a freefall if their hitting lets up too.

[Brown duck]

Not the end of the world, man! You're right - it is just the end of May. The current streak is only at 4, not that bad over the course of a 162-game season. The bullpen is a little banged up, and most closers (save a few around the Bigs) are going to blow a game now and then. Things will be allright.

[radiohead]

Relax. Jones has converted 15/18 saves. That is a good save %.
The real issue is relying on your starters to go deeper into the games to keep the Middle Relievers in the Bullpen.



This bullpen is shot. Jones now blowing it in the 9th? We can't lose games like this to Tampa Bay...taking a lead into the 9th. Sure it is only the end of May, but 3 of the 4 teams in the Central are playing relatively well. Tigers could be set for a freefall if their hitting lets up too.

[augustus0603]

Relax. Jones has converted 15/18 saves. That is a good save %.
The real issue is relying on your starters to go deeper into the games to keep the Middle Relievers in the Bullpen.

I agree. At this point last year, the Tigers had 8 shutouts compared to 1 this year.

But at the same time, I question Leyland's judgement last night. If you want your starters to go deeper into games, don't take them out after 88 pitches. I'm sure he had a reason though, the man has proven himself in my opinion.

No biggie. Baseball is a game of ups and downs, if the Tigers avoid the second half swoon of last year, they should be more than ok for the stretch run.

[loomisfun]

The whole team has to take a piece of last night's loss. Durbin was pitching well with <90 pitches and gets pulled. Leyland had just said that he needed his starters to go deeper in games yet he pulled him out.

Not a big deal to lose a game like this now and then.

[toto]

One thing thats different from last year, injuries. Man you got Rogers, Zumaya, Rodney, and Palonco down? Didn't have those kinds of injuries last year. If they can just stay close, they'll be alright. Once these kind get healed, and baring any other injuries, they'll be right there, and will most likely be in playoffs, at least as a wild card.

[greelhappy]

I can see an occasional hit here and there, but almost everytime out Jones gives the opposition a chance to win. This is not what a good closer is made of. Would you honestly put him in with runners on 2nd. and 3rd. two outs and the game on the line? And the way they dish out saves is a farce. pretty soon they'll give a save for warming up in the bull pen. I like to think that Zoom-Zoom is having the sophmore jinks. The oppostion is his hitting him pretty regularly this year. A lot of pitchers are throwing 95 and over, and the batters are getting used to seeing it. A 200 mph. fast ball is of no use if it's inside, outside, high or low. Just getting by, as in Jones case, does not cut it, and you will get bitten in the butt, as he did , and believe me he will again. How Leyland can watch is beyond me. I know I can't.

[Brown duck]

I can see an occasional hit here and there, but almost everytime out Jones gives the opposition a chance to win. This is not what a good closer is made of. Would you honestly put him in with runners on 2nd. and 3rd. two outs and the game on the line?

Just getting by, as in Jones case, does not cut it, and you will get bitten in the butt, as he did , and believe me he will again. How Leyland can watch is beyond me. I know I can't.

Would I put him in with 2-on, 2- out? Sure. And yes, this was not the last save he will blow. Most closers don't go an entire season without blowing a save. Again, 15/18 - not bad. Let's see, who's #1 in saves in the AL? Joe Borowski (actually tied with F-Rod) - 17 saves, 0-2, and 6.75 ERA. The closer doesn't have to be dominant, just good enough. All closers have ups and downs. Leyland must know something we don't - been to a couple World Series and still keeps putting him out there!

[greelhappy]

My comment was, " almost every time out he gives the opponent a CHANCE to win". I know saves are going to be blown during the course of the season. I only see closers of other teams on occasion so I cannot make a acceptable comment on them. But I see Jones often, and I do not like what I see. Jones was cut by quite a few teams before he landed in Detroit again. I wonder why was that?