Official Publication of

The Tigers

Special Edition of

From the Bullpen

STATISTICS

Hot Stove League Standings thru Sunday, May 24, 2009

What a race this is turning out to be.  Someone tell the Tribe you can’t run a long-distance race while holding your breath.  I think the top 8 teams all have a chance to compete for the crown.  Weren’t the Tigers ahead of the Bombers and Cubs a couple of days ago? 

Top 20 Hitters thru Sunday, May 24, 2009

There are certainly some surprises, and late round selections among this group.  The overall leader, Raul Ibanez, was drafted by the Senators in the 9^th round.  Likewise, the Redbirds picked up Zimmerman in the 9^th round.  The Tribe snagged Carlos Pena in the 7^th round, and Aaron Hill in the 18^th round.  The Blues got Torii Hunter in Round 13.  The Monarchs may have been the best bargain shoppers, as Adam Jones was drafted in the 13^th round, and Orlando Hudson was taken in the 24^th round. 

However, the biggest hitting surprise has to be Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay’s shortstop, who is the ninth best overall hitter for the Bronx Bombers.  Our esteemed group of owners went through 30 rounds without drafting Mr. Bartlett.  He was actually taken as a free agent by the bargain-loving Monarchs, and then thrown back on the scrap heap by Screech.  Hats off to Mouse for picking Bartlett off the waiver wire, who may be the Cliff Lee of 2009.

Breakdown of Top 20 hitters by team:

Tribe 3; Wahoos 1; Skipjacks 2; Chiefs 1; Cubs 2; Monarchs 2; Blues 2; Redbirds 1; Tigers 2; Bears 0; Highlanders 0; Senators 2.

Top 20 Pitchers thru Sunday, May 24, 2009

Everyone wishes they had taken Greinke, who looks very solid this year.  Late-round plums so far this season include:  Wandy Rodriguez, 20; Josh Johnson, 14; Cueto 17; Buerhle 20; Edwin Jackson 27; Jurrjens 18; and Garza 14.

Breakdown of Top 20 players by team:

Tribe 3; Wahoos 3; Skipjacks 2; Bombers 1; Chiefs 1; Cubs 2; Monarchs 1; Blues 1; Redbirds 1; Tigers 2; Bears 2; Highlanders 1; Senators 0.

REVIEW OF FIRST TWO ROUNDS

As they sing on Sesame Street, “One of these things is not like the other ones.”  I am not sure there is another player out of the 390 players taken on draft day who is still in negative points as of May 25, 2009.  I had the misfortune to select the player with this unique distinction on my SECOND ROUND pick.  Mr. Webb has right shoulder bursitis and an ERA of 13.50.  The Arizona team page happily reports that Brandon is now playing catch on the sidelines, but a long rehab assignment will be in the offing once he gets through the “throwing program.”  Them are nice.

BUTTERFLIES AND BASEBALL

My daughter Sara told me a story about her friend’s student teaching experience in Lincoln that amused me.  All of the kids in a first-grade class were given a caterpillar, which they named and became attached to.  The caterpillars spun their cocoons, and on a beautiful spring day, all of the kids took their cocoons outside to release the butterflies. 

One little girl’s butterfly had died inside the cocoon, and she cried and cried, and was inconsolable.  Eventually, the student teacher got the rest of the kids together, and they opened their cocoons and released the precious new butterflies into the sky, watching proudly as the butterflies fluttered their tender wings in the breeze in their newfound freedom.

Just then, an angry flock of swallows came swooping in and ate all the butterflies right in front of the horrified children.  There was much shrieking and wailing by the children, but it made the little girl whose butterfly died feel better.

What does this have to do with baseball?  Having drafted a dead butterfly in Brandon Webb, I can empathize with the little girl, and somehow I feel better when somebody else’s player gets hurt or suspended.  I don’t know why this makes me feel better, but it just does.

TOP 3 PLAYERS BY POSITION

Mauer was a great pick in Round 13.

I’m guessing the Redbirds might want a “do-over” on taking Reyes and Rollins in the first two rounds.

You may have noticed the absence of Bradley Thomas Lidge from this list, who I drafted as the second reliever of the entire draft in Round 4.  If you search for Mr. Lidge among relief pitchers, you will have to scroll through five pages of 25 relievers each, and then, lo and behold, there he will appear on page 6, ranked as the 136th best reliever.  Mr. Lidge has already blown four saves this year, and has surrendered a nice round figure of 20 earned runs in just under 20 innings of work.  When he yakked up his latest save against the Yankees, he actually lowered his ERA to 9.15 when he gave up only one run in one inning. 

TRIP RECOMMENDATION

To get ready for Cooperstown and the Baseball Hall of Fame, read “The Glory of Their Times” by Lawrence S. Ritter.  It is the story of the early days of baseball told by the men who played it, in their own words.  It is often called the best baseball book ever written.  Even though I have already read it twice, I got out my copy and started reading it again.