Rogers will miss next start- Tigers rotation

09/06/2008 1:43 AM ET
Rogers will miss next start for Tigers
Veteran left-hander has been bothered by a sore hip
By Thor Nystrom / MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Tigers announced that starter Kenny Rogers will be skipped for his next scheduled start on Tuesday, one day after Rogers was yanked after 39 pitches in a 7-1 loss to the Angels.

Manager Jim Leyland said the left-hander has been bothered by a sore hip.

"Kenny would take the ball whenever we wanted him to," Leyland said. "This was the decision that I made. I wasn't going to get in a long discussion. He was so professional about it, you can't believe it. It's not his arm. I just think he needs to maybe freshen up the body a little bit and give him a chance to get the hip a little bit better."

Rogers allowed six runs and eight hits in two innings before receiving the early hook against the Angels on Thursday.

Leyland said Rogers will return to the rotation on Saturday in Chicago against the White Sox. Rogers' replacement on Tuesday will not be Dontrelle Willis or Freddie Garcia, according to Leyland.

"There is a good chance that it could be Nate Robertson," Leyland said, without confirming a decision.

Rogers said in Spring Training that he thought he would retire after last season, not wanting to take additional time away from his family and not wanting to put more stress on his arm.

It was a topic that again entered Rogers' mind after Thursday's performance.

"Trying to deal with that after a game like today is probably not the best way to decide those things," Rogers said after the contest. "Coming off the mound, though, it's hard not to think about it."

Rogers was respectable in the first half (6-6, 4.55 ERA in 19 starts), but has been shaky since the All-Star break (3-7, 7.45 ERA in 10 starts).

Thor Nystrom is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Why not start Garcia or Willis?

Tigers are in 4th Place; 12 and a half out with 21 games left

What do they have to lose?

gs78 wrote:

Why not start Garcia or Willis?

Probably because Nate did well in his last relief game. But I would rather see Willis or Garcia given a chance!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gs78 wrote:

Why not start Garcia or Willis?

Probably because Nate did well in his last relief game. But I would rather see Willis or Garcia given a chance!

Let Nate stay in relief

Tigers pay Willis a boatload of money but Jimbo won't start him

Another reason why Leyland needs to go

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gs78 wrote:

Why not start Garcia or Willis?

Probably because Nate did well in his last relief game. But I would rather see Willis or Garcia given a chance!

3 IP, 1ER while phenomenal for him, isn't that great :haha:

catbox_9 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

gs78 wrote:

Why not start Garcia or Willis?

Probably because Nate did well in his last relief game. But I would rather see Willis or Garcia given a chance!

3 IP, 1ER while phenomenal for him, isn't that great :haha:

I kind of hope Nate does start though - he needs to get 162 IP so he qualifies for the ERA title...or in his case worst ERA in baseball title.

catbox_9 wrote:

I kind of hope Nate does start though - he needs to get 162 IP so he qualifies for the ERA title...or in his case worst ERA in baseball title.

Another reason why Nate needs to stay in the BP

09/06/2008 3:53 PM ET
Tigers' rotation set through Sox series
Verlander, Rogers and Miner scheduled to face Chicago
By Thor Nystrom / MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- Detroit's starting rotation of the near future began to take shape after Detroit manager Jim Leyland announced that Nate Robertson will likely take Kenny Rogers' scheduled start on Tuesday. The skipper has his rotation solidified through next weekend's three-game series against the White Sox.

After that, it's anyone's guess who will take the hill, and in what order, for the Tigers.

Justin Verlander started on Saturday against the Twins and Chris Lambert will start on Sunday. Zach Miner, Robertson, and Armando Galarraga, in that order, will start for Detroit when the Tigers begin a three-game home set with Oakland on Monday.

The Tigers are off on Thursday before the White Sox come to Detroit on Friday. Leyland announced Verlander will go on Friday, Rogers will return on Saturday, replacing Lambert, and Miner will conclude the series on Sunday.

Leyland hadn't apprised Robertson of his starting status for Tuesday as of the skipper's pregame session with media on Saturday. Could this be an isolated start, as opposed to Robertson returning to the rotation indefinitely?

"Most likely," Leyland said. "But I can't answer anything in stone at this point, I don't know. We're obviously going to be doing some tinkering with our rotation at the end of the [season]."

Two veteran starters who hold a level of intrigue are Dontrelle Willis and Freddy Garcia. Leyland said he would like both to start for the Tigers before the end of the year.

"I would, yeah. But that doesn't mean it's going to happen," he said.

Leyland said he was impressed by a recent simulated game thrown by Willis. The left-hander will throw another simulated game on Monday. A course of action will be decided after that.

Rogers' start was skipped because Leyland said the veteran starter had a sore hip. Leyland said he thought it was the left hip that was bothering the lefty, but Rogers declined to elaborate on the injury when questioned prior to Saturday's game.

Leyland thinks the extra time off will benefit the veteran.

"I think he'll be feeling better, yeah," Leyland said. "One thing I want to make perfectly clear: there is nothing wrong with Kenny Rogers' arm. His hip is sore."

Rogers went 6-6 with a 4.55 ERA in 19 starts during the first half, but is 3-7 with a 7.45 ERA in 10 starts since the All-Star break.

Thor Nystrom is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Justin Verlander - Sat - 9/6 - at MINN
Chris Lambert - Sun - 9/7 - at MINN

Zach Miner - Mon - 9/8 - vs OAK
Nate Robertson - Tue - 9/9 - vs OAK
Armando Galarraga - Wed - 9/10 - vs OAK

Thurs - 9/11 - OFF

Justin Verlander - Fri - 9/12 - vs CHI
Kenny Rogers - Sat - 9/13 - vs CHI
Zach Miner - Sun - 9/14 - vs CHI

Kenny has a bad hip? Old age.....