leyland = fail

[haveacigar]

that bunt/steal garbage with leaving Marcus Thames on the bench was one of the dumbest moves I have ever seen. Seriously, what the hell does that guy have to do to get an AB on this stupid team?

The sooner Leyland gets fired, the better.

[Jeffy25]

I want Thames in STL.....i like him, he is too good of a hitter to be a bench player

[bucher34]

Meh, I like what the Cards have now. Ludwick, Ankiel, Rasmus - they have a very nice outfield. They also have Duncan who is similar to Thames, maybe even a better hitter. Thames doesn't impress me at all. I am surprised he doesn't get more AB though on a struggling Tigers team.

[Jeffy25]

Meh, I like what the Cards have now. Ludwick, Ankiel, Rasmus - they have a very nice outfield. They also have Duncan who is similar to Thames, maybe even a better hitter. Thames doesn't impress me at all. I am surprised he doesn't get more AB though on a struggling Tigers team.

well yes, he wouldn't exactly be a good fit today in st. louis....but if somethign happened to someone like luddy, i would take a thames caliber player as a replacement....he wouldn't actually fit in right now

[haveacigar]

in case you don't know the situation:

tigers down 1 in the bottom of the 9th against Brian Fuentes, he the side-arming lefty closer of the Angels. Carlos guillen leads off with a single. On deck is lefty rookie DH Jeff Larish, an obvious pinch hit candidate. On the bench is right-handed slugger Marcus Thames, he with the .200+ ISO. Seems like a simple choice here.

However, Leyland gets it in his head that he needs to go small ball, pinch hitting Adam Everett. Yes, THAT Adam Everett. Josh Anderson pinch runs for Guillen for speed.

Everett quickly fails at bunting by getting 2 strikes. Josh Anderson is then picked off of first. Everett swings and misses at a junk pitch in the dirt. No on, 2 out.

Marcus Thames? He's still on the bench. And after Gerald Laird was hit and Brandon Inge drew a walk, Ramon Santiago came up to the plate instead of Marcus Thames. Santiago struck out looking to end the game.

I hate small ball and I really hate Jim Leyland.

[bucher34]

gotcha. hopefully luddy sticks around for awhile, he's got a nice career ahead of him.

[Jeffy25]

gotcha. hopefully luddy sticks around for awhile, he's got a nice career ahead of him.

fingers crossed....could be the cardinals lucky second find like albie....but ownership has to quit thinking they will keep getting lucky on their little finds...you are a 100 mil payroll team, maybe spend some of it?

[bucher34]

in case you don't know the situation:

tigers down 1 in the bottom of the 9th against Brian Fuentes, he the side-arming lefty closer of the Angels. Carlos guillen leads off with a single. On deck is lefty rookie DH Jeff Larish, an obvious pinch hit candidate. On the bench is right-handed slugger Marcus Thames, he with the .200+ ISO. Seems like a simple choice here.

However, Leyland gets it in his head that he needs to go small ball, pinch hitting Adam Everett. Yes, THAT Adam Everett. Josh Anderson pinch runs for Guillen for speed.

Everett quickly fails at bunting by getting 2 strikes. Josh Anderson is then picked off of first. Everett swings and misses at a junk pitch in the dirt. No on, 2 out.

Marcus Thames? He's still on the bench. And after Gerald Laird was hit and Brandon Inge drew a walk, Ramon Santiago came up to the plate instead of Marcus Thames. Santiago struck out looking to end the game.

I hate small ball and I really hate Jim Leyland.

Wow, horrible end game management. Ugh. I never really thought Leyland was that great of a manager. Had one very nice season and still considered a good manager.

I've got a big White Sox bias, but I think Ozzie is the best manager in that division and one of the better ones in the American League. Look at last year for example, he somehow gets those guys to win even when struggling offensively and/or on the pitching side.

Twinkies Gardenhire comes close, ugh I hate the Twins.

[Jeffy25]

Wow, horrible end game management. Ugh. I never really thought Leyland was that great of a manager. Had one very nice season and still considered a good manager.

I've got a big White Sox bias, but I think Ozzie is the best manager in that division and one of the better ones in the American League. Look at last year for example, he somehow gets those guys to win even when struggling offensively and/or on the pitching side.

Twinkies Gardenhire comes close, ugh I hate the Twins.

I disagree on Guillen and Leyland respectfully with your assesment...it could be our management styles...but I think Leyland (who has had many more then just one good season) seems to know what he is doing, obviously not in tonight's game from what it sounds....but he is a very good manager.

Guillen is too much like Randolph formerly of New York...is too buddy buddy with his players....he has the best offensive team (at least top five) in the majors....and his team hits constant home runs....I don't think that shows the sign of a good manager, i think that shows the sign of a good GM.

[haveacigar]

Watching both teams quite a bit, Ozzie seems to have a much, much better grasp of in-game strategy than Leyland. Leyland makes way too many in-game strategy errors.

For what it's worth, apparently Thames wasn't available to PH tonight because he injured a muscle in batting practice and is now on the DL. I'm not really sure I buy it.

http://www.freep.com/article/2009042...422004/0/rss07

[BINGLEBOP]

Wow that sucks. I thought they released Gary Sheffield so Marcus Thames could get at-bats.

[bucher34]

I disagree on Guillen and Leyland respectfully with your assesment...it could be our management styles...but I think Leyland (who has had many more then just one good season) seems to know what he is doing, obviously not in tonight's game from what it sounds....but he is a very good manager.

Guillen is too much like Randolph formerly of New York...is too buddy buddy with his players....he has the best offensive team (at least top five) in the majors....and his team hits constant home runs....I don't think that shows the sign of a good manager, i think that shows the sign of a good GM.

You don't think the Tigers offense is comparable to the White Sox?

[bucher34]

Watching both teams quite a bit, Ozzie seems to have a much, much better grasp of in-game strategy than Leyland. Leyland makes way too many in-game strategy errors.

Completely agree.

[Jeffy25]

You don't think the Tigers offense is comparable to the White Sox?

they are comparable, but the whitesox have such tremendous power, the tigers aren't as powerful as the whitesox....not far off, but not as powerful.

I am rooting for the Royals and Indians anyway haha

[HoustonGM]

they are comparable, but the whitesox have such tremendous power, the tigers aren't as powerful as the whitesox....not far off, but not as powerful.

The two teams were 1-2 in the AL in home runs in 2008, 235-200. In 2007, the Sox had 190 homers, and the Tigers 177. In 2006, it was 236-203. They're both very powerful teams. White Sox ahead, but both teams are certainly "tremendous" in the power department.