It has been quite an eventful day for everyone involved with the Detroit Tigers, enough to make your head spin.

OF Jacque Jones DFA

Acquired in the off-season for infielder Omar Infante, Jacque Jones has been designated for assignment by the Detroit Tigers.  Jones has been having a less-than-stellar year at the plate, hitting an abysmal .165 at the dish, with only one home run and 5 RBI.  His on-base percentage has been putrid sitting at .244, and has K’d 18 times in the year.

When asked by reporters how he felt, Tigers manager Jim Leyland has this to say,

“I want to make one thing clear: Jacque Jones is not the reason we’re four games under .500,'’ Said the manager.  “In no way is anyone pointing fingers at Jacque Jones.  Jacque Jones is kind of paying the price for our club not performing. He was one of the guys not hitting. He wasn’t the only guy. That’s what I feel worst about.'’ 

Tigers Purchase Contract of OF Matt Joyce 

Taking Jones’s spot on the roster will be OF Matt Joyce who has been purchased from the Toledo Mud Hens, and will start in LF for the Tigers tonight against the Red Sox.  Joyce has hit .299 so far this year for the Mud Hens, with 5 homers, 11 walks, and a .536 OBP in 97 at bats.
The Lineup Carousel

According to Detroit radio station WDFN, it has been reported that Detroit Tigers DH Gary Sheffield will be moved to play left field as well as bat 6th in the batting order.

Other moves made for tonights game will be,

• Magglio to DH
• Joyce to RF
• Guillen Batting 3rd
• Pudge batting 9th

 To Put it Simply, WTF?

These moves make me really scratch my head.  Why in the world is Magglio DHing?  Why isn’t Carlos “I can’t field” Guillen DHing while you move Inge to third and keep Miggy at 1st?  Joyce hasn’t been tearing it up in the minors, what makes him the savior to this lineup that you move Magglio who hasn’t made an error all season to DH?

Game Preview: Detroit VS Boston 

The Tigers have a challenge for them tonight on the hill for the Red Sox.  The undefeated Daisuke Matsuzaka will be facing off against Jeremy Bonderman tonight at 7:05 PM.  Matsuzaka is unbeaten this year posted a 2.52 ERA along with 32 K’s in 35 innings.  Dice-K has looked amazing so far this year, and he will be a tough matchup for the Tigers.

Bonderman has been pretty decent so far this year with an ERA just below 3.90 with 18 K’s to boot.  The thing that has killed him so far this season is his control.  He has 5 more walks than he does strikeouts this year, and a 1.60 WHIP is definitely nothing to write home about.  He needs to straighten that out in order to give the Tigers a better chance to take this game and possibly the series from the Boston Red Sox.

Leave a Reply