Here's the speech Jim Leyland should've given his bullpen after Tuesday night's loss.  (Or Sunday's, for that matter.)  If I knew he did this, I could accept him not following through on the "changes" he promised.

Meanwhile, Dave Dombrowski should call this kid in for an interview.  He might be just the sort of new blood the Detroit Tigers need.

I bet Baldwin, Jr. here would fire Chuck Hernandez, at least.

Jack Lemmon as Kyle Farnsworth?  Ed Harris as Fernando Rodney?  Alan Arkin as Joel Zumaya?  Fox Sports Detroit should play this every time there's a save situation from now until October.

(Here's the real thing, if you want to watch it.  Not safe for work, in terms of language, but you probably already knew that.)

The Detroit Tigers needed a great start from Justin Verlander tonight.  Maybe that was more than they had any right to expect, given the lost cause that this season has now become.

But when it fell to the staff ace to stanch the bleeding, to put a stop to this demoralizing losing streak, what does Verlander do?  He tees up a three-run homer to Jim Thome in the first inning.  Not what the Tigers needed.

That's really not a fair assessment of Verlander's overall effort tonight, however.  Even though a lights-out pitching effort would've been great, the Tigers needed him to just hang in there and keep their damn relievers off the field.  Verlander tired out at the end, and two more runs were charged to him when Aquilino Lopez couldn't get an out.  (Stop pretending to act surprised.)  But he toughed out almost eight innings, giving his team what it needed.  And for that kind of effort - even if it wasn't a winning one - he probably deserves a salute. 

Yes, that's what it's come to.  Applause just for playing.  Get your complimentary pat on the back on your way out.

Save a different kind of salute for the lineup, which only managed five hits tonight.

Roll Call

I think a subdued GameThread was to be expected after last night, and the feeling of resignation that loss created.  I don't know how many actually watched every pitch tonight, but it's like they say - misery loves company.

Welcome to the BYB support group.  Say hi to MackAveKurt, HavocRox, MSU4LIF, spotstarters, ThaWalrus9, wepri31, explosivo2k2, ViolaHalo, Boney, pfuhrmeister, densogirl, dettigionswings'stons, rock n rye, Juskimo, Rogo, bradm, and ahtrap.

Justin Verlander (8-11, 4.49) vs. John Danks (8-4, 3.31)

Grumble, grumble...

Okay, I'll add a little bit more than that.  Mostly because I took the time to boot the computer up and all that.

I hope (and believe me, I realize the cruel irony in using that word tonight) that Justin Verlander throws strikes tonight.  Because after so much of the b-b... I almost can't even say it... bullpen was burned off last night, he will probably have to pitch deep into this game.  This 110-pitches-in-five-innings junk is not what the Tigers need. 

Just to make you feel better, Verlander's career record against the White Sox is -7 with a 6.03 ERA.  At U.S. Cellular Field, he's 0-4 with a 6.19 ERA. 

But the schedule says this game has to be played, so here we go...

Much better (and probably more appropriate) train wreck photos were posted in the GameThread, actually.  It was the only way to get through 14 innings of hell.

Words cannot explain how utterly disastrous the Tigers bullpen is right now.  (Bobby Seay and Fernando Rodney - with four hitless innings between them - are excused from this discussion.)  Great efforts from Placido Polanco and Ryan Raburn (and the aforementioned relievers) were rendered meaningless by another comically horrendous failure.

Absolutely no lead is safe.  No win seems possible. 

Kyle Farnsworth and Joel Zumaya didn't just blow the leads they were given.  They coughed them up in spectactular, cataclysmic fashion, serving up fat softballs that were launched out of the park for two demoralizing, soul-crushing home runs (along with a horrible error by Edgar Renteria) that would suck the spirit out of any team, let alone one already as disheartened as the Tigers have been. 

Jim Caple says closers are overrated?  He obviously hasn't watched the Detroit Tigers this season.

Who can be trusted to pitch in the ninth inning now?  Who's left?  Where can this team possibly go from here? 

Nate Robertson (6-8, 6.06) vs. Gavin Floyd (11-6, 3.43)

Though it seems as if the Tigers are effectively out of the AL Central and playoff race after getting swept in Tampa, this three-game series with the White Sox could either put a more definitive note on that sentiment or keep this team in the limbo it's been swimming in for the past couple of months.  Perhaps it's delusional thinking, but what if Detroit wins two out of three games?  Are they squarely in the division race or is it just another hope-tantalizing tease?  Of course, if the Sox win or sweep, the bus toward 2009 can probably start moving.  (It's already warmed up.) 

Nate Robertson might find himself in a similar limbo after tonight.  Given his abominable performance recently (7.77 ERA in his last four outings), this could very well be his last start for the Tigers.  But what if Nate goes out and throws one of those games that shows just how good he can be when it all comes together?  Or what if it's just good enough, as it was the last time he faced the White Sox?

Honestly, what would be more frustrating: For Robertson to blow up yet again tonight or to pitch well?  A terrible game would mean a loss, yet perhaps push the Tigers into making a decision.  A good game might help, but really wouldn't really answer anything.  (Though it could possibly boost any trade value he might have.)

For the White Sox, Gavin Floyd is 3-0 with a 3.77 ERA in seven career starts against Detroit.  At first glance, this looks like a brutal series-opening match-up.

Those waiting for big changes in tonight's lineup will likely be disappointed.  Ryan Raburn gets the start in left field, but that's probably because he's 5-for-12 against Floyd.  No word on the bullpen, however.  Also, Ozzie Guillen has been suspended for two games for his role in Sunday's brawl with Kansas City.

South Side Sox has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series.

   Who is Matt Lindstrom?  He's the pitcher Detroit wanted from the Marlins in exchange for Pudge Rodriguez.  Lindstrom has 32 strikeouts in 37 2/3 innings (with 17 walks and 39 hits) for the Marlins this season.  The Miami Herald called him a "potential future closer." 

(via The Cutoff Man)

   Speaking of Pudge, he's "very happy" with the Yankees.  Before reading, just remember that grinding your teeth will wear away that enamel.  Not good for you.

   Over at Baseball Prospectus, David Laurila talked to former Tiger Travis Fryman, who's now managing in the Cleveland Indians system.  Among the topics discussed were Tiger Stadium, moving from shortstop to third base, playing alongside Alan Trammell, and Ernie Harwell.

(Hat tip to Jay from Let's Go Tribe)

   Today is the day Freddy Garcia throws for the dozen or more teams that might be interested in signing him, if healthy.  Is this a move the Tigers should still consider making or has it now become pointless?

(via MLB Trade Rumors)

   Which Detroit starting pitchers like to eat more on the days their turn comes up in the rotation?  That is one of the things to be learned from this Steve Kornacki article on pre-game preparations.

  Based on the eyeball test (or a check of any stats page), we knew Nate Robertson was bad this season.  But how bad, exactly?  Blake lays it out in excruciating, stats-backed detail at The Spot Starters.

  If you need something to feel optimistic or hopeful about, in regards to the Tigers' bullpen, Lynn Henning has a report on Detroit's crop of relievers from this year's draft.  So far, they're all looking good.

  Mike Hessman hit two home runs yesterday for Team USA, in an exhibition contest against Canada.  The Americans hit four home runs altogether, in a 17-5 victory.  The U.S. Baseball team leaves for the Beijing Olympics this week, and their first game will be against Korea on August 13.

Courtesy of Eric Seals and the Detroit Free Press:

I think we could all use a day off from talking about the Detroit Tigers, but it's healthy to vent, so we're providing a safe place for you to get that stuff out of your system.  Normally, I try to encourage off-topic conversation on off-days, but not today.

There's too much to talk about after an awful weekend at Tropicana Field, one that created Mad Jim Beyond Thunderdome.  The Tigers' manager is threatening to make changes because he doesn't like what he sees (I guess he can go to the head of the line since he's the skipper), and implied he may be getting leaned on by upper management, as well.  Maybe we'll see some moves today, but I have a feeling we won't until tomorrow.  Today is probably a day of meetings and decisions among the Tigers' braintrust.

So what would you like to see Jim Leyland and/or Dave Dombrowski do?  And of course, we all have thoughts on who should go, but who really will?  Who has something to fear when they get to the ballpark tomorrow in Chicago? 

Is tomorrow night Nate Robertson's last stand as a starting pitcher?  Who should replace him?  Casey Fossum?  Eddie Bonine?  Chris Lambert? 

Have we already seen the last of Fernando Rodney as closer?  Though no one seems capable of protecting a lead at this point, who should get the next chance to do so?  Glass Joel?  Freddy Dolsi?  Casey Fien?  The Farns?  Kyra Sedgwick?

And how about the bigger picture?  Where does this team go now?  Did the season effectively end when Rodney walked in Carlos Pena yesterday?  (Of course, it may have been over long before that.)  Should the Tigers start playing for 2009 now?

Pull up a chair and say what's on your mind.  This is the BYB support group.  We're listening.  As always, just be nice to each other.