Motor City Sonics
10-01-2006, 09:05 PM
This year our boys have a shot at extra credit.
Shelton C+ "A" for April and "C-" for the rest of the season. Must decide if he will be a gap hitter or a power hitter. He'll work on it - he still has a bright future with the Tigers.
Casey B Short-termer may not have overwhelmed anyone with his stats, but he had some huge clutch hits. I hope he comes back next year.
Polanco B+ He was off during the first half (injury?). He really redeemed himself with that shoulder busting catch in Boston and he came back hitting the ball very well. Can't question his toughness.
Infante B Hard to grade him because he really wasn't used until Polanco went down and then wasn't used enough in favor of Neifi Perez. He did all that was asked of him. I hope he stays around, but I think he could be trade bait.
Perez D Just not that good, no reason he should be with this team. Infante and Santiago are better. Yes, I said Santiago is better.
Guillen A He's the best player on the team. He needs some serious work on dropping his shoulder too much with his throwing, but he will fix that.
Santiago C He did what they asked him to do, run well, play good d and lay down an occasional bunt or slap hit. Have to give credit for a guy like that. I would rather have him on the playoff roster than Perez.
Inge B I don't care about his average, I love the way he plays. I know he made some bad throws and all, but he never quits and the guy has the kind of power you'd want from a third baseman.
Ordonez B If not for that middle section of the season, he would have had an amazing year. Got hot again at the right time. Defense is well, blah.
Granderson B+ Cut down the strikeouts by a third and he's an A+ player.
Monroe B+ I believed in him all year (I know you won't believe me now) and the guy had some super clutch hits. The grand slam against the socks was a jump out of your seat and scream moment.
Gomez B- Like Santiago, he did what they asked of him, so I can't give him a bad grade.
Clevlen B Surprisingly good balance of htting and speed. He does have a bright future, as long as he doesn't think too much at the plate.
Thames C Look at those power numbers. No second half slump and he was headed for 40 HRs. Still not very good in the field, but probably no worse than Maggs.
Rodriguez A- He sure rebounded from that horrible season last year. I am impressed with how he keeps going and going. He may be the key to the whole postseason for the Tigers.
Wilson A- The Tigers lose almost nothing defensively when he plays. His bat was solid, but if you consider how much he sits, his bat was very good. Another important role player.
Young F I hope he gets his **** together. I wish he could have kept it together and been a part of this after suffering with all of us the last few years, but maybe they don't win if he's around. Tough call.
Pitchers
Rogers B+ It was an A until he walked in the winning run today - not the first time he's done that in his pro career. He was a stablizing force for that young pitching staff.
Bonderman B- Finally got the confidence to throw that change up. Still has that one meltdown inning that seems to drag him down in a lot of his starts. He gets a little better every year.
Robertson A- 9 times out of 10 the Tigers have a chance to win when he starts. I would have no problem with him starting Game 1.
Verlander A- Slipped a little bit when he reached the higher inning total, but not much. 17 wins for a rookie and there is a question if he might be rookie of the year? Get out!
Ledezma B He surprised me a lot this season. I never expected him to do that well as a starter, but the coaches did a good job protecting him.
Maroth B+ Got off to that hot start. I am bummed that he won't be on the playoff roster. After losing 20 in 2003, he should taste a bit of the post season, but I understand.
Miner C- Had a good string of starts including that key one in Minnesota, but he really faltered late. Has a good future as a long reliever, but could be trade bait too.
Zumaya A+ Don't make him a starter, whatever you do Tigers, leave him in the pen.
Jones B+ click-click-click-click-click-click (pause) WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Rodney B- If Jonesy is the rollercoaster, this guy is the tilt-a-whirl.
Grilli B- Solid as a long/middle reliever. Pefect for that role.
Walker B- They protected him well. They need to keep doing that, he's not as good as his numbers and everyone knows it.
Colon C- I just don't think this guy is all that good. I don't think he's better than Spurling
Humberto Sanchez A+++ 30 game winner with an ERA under 1 and 250 Ks, well in our imagination anway.
Coaches A+ Hey, Leyland pisses me off sometimes too, but can't argue with results.
Dombrowski A+ I could take away the "+" because of the Perez deal, but I really think it was more of a Leyland deal. Think of where they were four years ago and where they are now. Dombrowski is the reason.
DETROIT TIGERS A-
Yeah, the finish hurt, but they can redeem themselves starting Tuesday. Win or lose in these playoffs, this was a wonderful summer.
Shelton C+ "A" for April and "C-" for the rest of the season. Must decide if he will be a gap hitter or a power hitter. He'll work on it - he still has a bright future with the Tigers.
Casey B Short-termer may not have overwhelmed anyone with his stats, but he had some huge clutch hits. I hope he comes back next year.
Polanco B+ He was off during the first half (injury?). He really redeemed himself with that shoulder busting catch in Boston and he came back hitting the ball very well. Can't question his toughness.
Infante B Hard to grade him because he really wasn't used until Polanco went down and then wasn't used enough in favor of Neifi Perez. He did all that was asked of him. I hope he stays around, but I think he could be trade bait.
Perez D Just not that good, no reason he should be with this team. Infante and Santiago are better. Yes, I said Santiago is better.
Guillen A He's the best player on the team. He needs some serious work on dropping his shoulder too much with his throwing, but he will fix that.
Santiago C He did what they asked him to do, run well, play good d and lay down an occasional bunt or slap hit. Have to give credit for a guy like that. I would rather have him on the playoff roster than Perez.
Inge B I don't care about his average, I love the way he plays. I know he made some bad throws and all, but he never quits and the guy has the kind of power you'd want from a third baseman.
Ordonez B If not for that middle section of the season, he would have had an amazing year. Got hot again at the right time. Defense is well, blah.
Granderson B+ Cut down the strikeouts by a third and he's an A+ player.
Monroe B+ I believed in him all year (I know you won't believe me now) and the guy had some super clutch hits. The grand slam against the socks was a jump out of your seat and scream moment.
Gomez B- Like Santiago, he did what they asked of him, so I can't give him a bad grade.
Clevlen B Surprisingly good balance of htting and speed. He does have a bright future, as long as he doesn't think too much at the plate.
Thames C Look at those power numbers. No second half slump and he was headed for 40 HRs. Still not very good in the field, but probably no worse than Maggs.
Rodriguez A- He sure rebounded from that horrible season last year. I am impressed with how he keeps going and going. He may be the key to the whole postseason for the Tigers.
Wilson A- The Tigers lose almost nothing defensively when he plays. His bat was solid, but if you consider how much he sits, his bat was very good. Another important role player.
Young F I hope he gets his **** together. I wish he could have kept it together and been a part of this after suffering with all of us the last few years, but maybe they don't win if he's around. Tough call.
Pitchers
Rogers B+ It was an A until he walked in the winning run today - not the first time he's done that in his pro career. He was a stablizing force for that young pitching staff.
Bonderman B- Finally got the confidence to throw that change up. Still has that one meltdown inning that seems to drag him down in a lot of his starts. He gets a little better every year.
Robertson A- 9 times out of 10 the Tigers have a chance to win when he starts. I would have no problem with him starting Game 1.
Verlander A- Slipped a little bit when he reached the higher inning total, but not much. 17 wins for a rookie and there is a question if he might be rookie of the year? Get out!
Ledezma B He surprised me a lot this season. I never expected him to do that well as a starter, but the coaches did a good job protecting him.
Maroth B+ Got off to that hot start. I am bummed that he won't be on the playoff roster. After losing 20 in 2003, he should taste a bit of the post season, but I understand.
Miner C- Had a good string of starts including that key one in Minnesota, but he really faltered late. Has a good future as a long reliever, but could be trade bait too.
Zumaya A+ Don't make him a starter, whatever you do Tigers, leave him in the pen.
Jones B+ click-click-click-click-click-click (pause) WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!
Rodney B- If Jonesy is the rollercoaster, this guy is the tilt-a-whirl.
Grilli B- Solid as a long/middle reliever. Pefect for that role.
Walker B- They protected him well. They need to keep doing that, he's not as good as his numbers and everyone knows it.
Colon C- I just don't think this guy is all that good. I don't think he's better than Spurling
Humberto Sanchez A+++ 30 game winner with an ERA under 1 and 250 Ks, well in our imagination anway.
Coaches A+ Hey, Leyland pisses me off sometimes too, but can't argue with results.
Dombrowski A+ I could take away the "+" because of the Perez deal, but I really think it was more of a Leyland deal. Think of where they were four years ago and where they are now. Dombrowski is the reason.
DETROIT TIGERS A-
Yeah, the finish hurt, but they can redeem themselves starting Tuesday. Win or lose in these playoffs, this was a wonderful summer.