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To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (53090)	7/19/2006 9:17:08 AM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 104155

MITCH ALBOM: PENNANT FEVER! freep.com

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (53090)	7/19/2006 10:08:56 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 104155

Leyland hedging on Abreu trade? ____________________________________________ Manager says he sees no way the Tigers will get outfielder, but adds he's been surprised before. By Tom Gage / The Detroit News detnews.com

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (53090)	7/20/2006 12:21:30 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 104155

It's amazing that the Detroit Tigers are only spending a total of about $12 Million this year on their starting pitchers... suntimes.com -s2@TheyAreGettingQuiteAReturnOnThatInvestment.com

To: Glenn Petersen who wrote (53090)	7/20/2006 1:26:39 AM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 104155

Series winner will sing some sweet music ______________________________________________________________ By Mike Downey Columnist The Chicago Tribune July 19, 2006 DETROIT -- So which pitcher do you like in Thursday's daytime date between the Tigers and White Sox, a game that could tell us quite a bit more about which of these teams really rocks? Is it Kenny "the Gambler" Rogers? (Not the singer whose cheeks are chockfull of Botox—that's that other Kenny Rogers—but the 41-year-old All-Star left-hander who still looks and performs youthfully the natural way.) Or is it Jose Contreras? (Not the third tenor who sang with Domingo and Pavarotti on tour—that's Jose Carreras—but the 34-year-old All-Star right-hander who looks 44 and still pitches like he's 24.) It might not be a classic old-school duel like the one Wednesday night in Chicago between golden oldies Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux, but this episode of Pitching With the Stars will go a long way toward making Detroit or Chicago feel more secure about where its baseball team stands. The Motown sound of "Dancing in the Streets" roared from the Tigers' stereo system at Comerica Park after a 5-2 victory over the Sox left downtown Detroit's mood a whole lot more upbeat than it was the night before. A big game coming up Thursday? "Yes, sir!" Craig Monroe said loudly and enthusiastically. Detroit's designated hitter sure did have a good time in Wednesday's game, smacking a grand slam. With one swing, Monroe turned around a game in which the Tigers were having trouble coming up with any runs against the Sox for the second straight night. Monroe enjoyed himself so much that he didn't much mind a minor difference of opinion with Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who might have felt the Tiger bumped into him after rounding the bases. No one got knocked down. Well, except the Sox, who did fall backward one more game behind the Tigers in the standings. They hope Contreras can get it back for them Thursday, which would keep Rogers and the Tigers from pulling 5 games in front of the pack. It wasn't an old pitcher but Jeremy Bonderman, 23, who pitched like an old master in Detroit's victory. He gave up only four hits to the free-swinging Sox, two of them home runs. "Two home runs, but just two runs," Monroe emphasized. "Jeremy was pitching so well other than those two pitches, we just had to go do something to get him the W." Bonderman struck out the side in the first inning. Ten of his first 11 pitches were strikes. He caught Scott Podsednik looking and made Alex Cintron and Jim Thome whiff on offerings well out of the strike zone. But he wasn't able to fool Joe Crede or Juan Uribe, whose nearly identical home runs off the roof of Comerica's left-field bullpen staked the Sox to a 2-0 lead. Javier Vazquez always gets staked to a lead. In 16 of his 18 starts this season, the Sox right-hander has been given a lead to work with—sometimes a huge lead. He left a game in Seattle leading it 11-0. He left one at Cleveland on top 10-0. He left one with the Sox ahead of St. Louis 19-2. Nevertheless, not since way back on May 18 has Vazquez been able to last into a seventh inning. He owns one of the American League's highest earned-run averages, which might account for some of those rumors about the Sox still being in the market for a starting pitcher as well as a setup man. Ozzie Guillen said before the game that he was satisfied with the roster he has. However, interestingly, he did single out that one area of concern. "The question mark is how good our starting pitching rotation is going to be," the Sox skipper said. He thought Vazquez might have Monroe's number. They had faced each other six times previously, with Monroe striking out twice. Vazquez blew a third strike past Monroe his first time up Wednesday as well. But in the sixth inning—which is as far as Vazquez seems to get these days—the Tigers filled the bags and then Monroe promptly emptied them. Going into this game, opponents were hitting .228 against Vazquez in their first two times through the batting order, .361 thereafter. So if the Sox are out shopping for a middle reliever like a Tom Gordon, they might be wise to look for one who can get loose as early as the sixth. Meanwhile, things are looking up again in Detroit, where fans seemed to take Tuesday's loss a little too hard. Once again the Tigers are in a position to put a little distance between themselves and the World Series champs, while talk radio is abuzz with rumors of a deal for either Bobby Abreu or Alfonso Soriano. "I hope they do make a trade," Guillen said, "because they'd have to trade one of their good young pitchers." Well, you know how it is. You have to know when to hold 'em and know when to fold 'em. Copyright © 2006, The Chicago Tribune