GDT: 7/5/08 - DET (43-43) AT SEA (34-52) - 10:10 p.m. ET

Last edited by GoGetEmTigers on Mon Jul 07, 2008 4:02 am; edited 1 time in total

GDT: 7/5/08 - DET (43-43) AT SEA (34-52) - 10:10 p.m. ET

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07/04/2008 10:16 PM ET
Sliding Renteria could sit Saturday
Detroit (43-43) at Seattle (34-52), Saturday, 10:10 p.m. ET
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

SEATTLE -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland is trying what he can to get Edgar Renteria out of his struggles, but he's also trying what he can to get some offense. So on Saturday, he'll likely give Michael Hollimon another try for a game.

It has been a perplexing stretch for Renteria. The times he has hit, he has hit almost entirely singles. More often, he simply isn't hitting. His 0-for-4 performance Friday dropped his season batting average to .264. Over his last 55 games, however, he's batting just .230 (45-for-196). Just three of those hits have gone for extra bases, none since his home run against the Indians on June 7.

His .332 average last year tied him for the lead among Major League shortstops, and his .860 OPS trailed only National League MVP Jimmy Rollins and Florida's Hanley Ramirez among that group. Now, his .653 OPS ranks next to last among American League shortstops behind Tampa Bay's Jason Bartlett.

Asked how vital it is to get Renteria out of his struggles, Leyland said, "It's important. Needless to say, he's struggling. We'll have to wait and see."

Leyland's latest idea Friday was a day batting third in the order with Carlos Guillen off. With left-hander Erik Bedard on the mound, Leyland normally would've batted Renteria leadoff, but decided to put him in an RBI spot, where he normally performs well. Renteria was effective when batting third at times last year with Atlanta, hitting at a .311 clip.

The move didn't help Friday, though he had a chance at a hit. With Placido Polanco on first base and one out in the opening inning, Renteria hit a sharp comebacker that was seemingly headed up the middle. Bedard, however, reached quickly for the grab and started an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play.

That, Renteria said, was an example of how he's feeling at the plate these days.

"Some days you feel like you hit the ball good, then you hit a ball bad and it goes through for a base hit," Renteria said. "Right now, I feel like everything I hit, somebody's got it. They make every play. You saw the first play [Friday]."

Renteria believes he has the same swing that he had in Atlanta, but that pitchers are approaching him differently by pitching him inside and making it harder for him to hit the ball to the opposite field. Leyland would like to see him pull the ball a little more, but he also knows Renteria's approach is to track the ball in further towards the plate before swinging, rather than getting in front of it. It's what makes him an effective contact hitter.

"He's hit way too many fly balls to right field," Leyland said. "But he's a professional hitter, and I definitely believe he'll hit. He's a professional. Edgar Renteria's one of the best clutch hitters I've seen. He's struggling a little bit."

On Saturday, he'll likely get another day out of the lineup. But for him, it won't be a day to relax.

"You're thinking when you watch the game," Renteria said. "I'm one of the players who likes to watch the game, watch my video and go from there."

He believes his numbers are going to go in the other direction. He was hoping he was headed that way last weekend against Colorado, when he went 5-for-9 over the final two days of the series. Yet that stretch, like others before, hasn't stuck.

"I know my luck is going to change," Renteria said.

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (7-2, 3.40 ERA)
Galarraga is coming off an underwhelming start against Minnesota in which he went six innings, allowing nine hits and three earned runs while striking out three. He received a no-decision. The Tigers beat the Twins, 5-4, however, improving the club's record in Galarraga's starts to 11-3. He has never faced the Mariners despite Detroit's eight games against Seattle so far this season.

SEA: RHP R.A. Dickey (2-4, 4.53 ERA)
Dickey put up his second effective start in a row on Monday, giving up two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings while striking out three, but was outpitched by Toronto's Roy Halladay. He tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Tigers on May 30 at Safeco Field, but he hasn't made a start against Detroit since 2004. He's a different pitcher than he was then, and his knuckleball could mean more frustration for Tigers hitters.

Tidbits

Not only will Dane Sardinha get the start behind the plate, he'll get to play in front of his parents for the first time in the Major Leagues. Dexter and Darneen Sardinha made the five-hour flight from Hawaii to Seattle for the weekend to watch their son play in the big leagues. ... Brandon Inge expects to take full batting practice on Saturday for the first time in his rehab from a left oblique injury that put him on the disabled list a week and a half ago.

On the Internet

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Sun., July 6: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (6-7, 5.56 ERA)) at Mariners (LHP Ryan Rowland-Smith (2-1, 3.05 ERA)), 4:10 p.m. ET

• Mon., July 7: DAY OFF

• Tues., July 8: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (5-9, 4.34 ERA)) vs Indians (LHP C.C. Sabathia (6-8, 3.83 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

Last edited by GoGetEmTigers on Sat Jul 05, 2008 5:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

STARTING LINEUPS

Detroit
Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Cabrera, 1B
Thames, LF
Sheffield, DH
Joyce, RF
Renteria, SS
Sardinha, C

Seattle
Suzuki, R
Lopez, 2B
Ibanez, LF
Vidro, DH
Beltre, 3B
Reed, CF
Sexson, 1B
Clement, C
Betancourt, SS

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_________________
Charlie Manuel on Durbin's pitching performance on July 4th:
"Durbin was fantastic," Manuel said. "The role he plays in our bullpen is a big one."

Durbin said he learned a valuable lesson from veteran teammate Tom Gordon:

"Whenever you come in, consider it a 2-0 count," Durbin said. "Like you need a strike."

cmon guys these are the MARINERS, for goodness' sake!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

LETS GO TIGERS!!!!
_________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

BOUNCE BACK, BOYZ...you guys can do it!!!!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Less than 6 hours away

Stupid fireworks.... I don't think I'll be home for most, or at leaest part, of the game
_________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Fireworks?

Where?

Fireworks at Lake Erie Metropark in... Gibraltar? It might be in Rockwood. I'm not really sure. But I am going.
_________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

Have Fun

Thanks, I will Smile

_________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

And there is zero chance of right tonight

Perfect Night for Fireworks

perfect night for a home game! Frown

_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Next Weekend will be hot and stormy!

And the Tigers play three day games against the TWINS

We are the Cubs of the AL!

If it were up to me;

All night games would start at 8:05 in June, July and August

And only 5:05 Day Games on Sunday

Bring back the 5:05 Saturday games!!!
_________________
Miner

back and better than ever. Starting, baby! YAY!

bring back more day games period. Like it usta be
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Live blog is up and running!
_________________
Miner

back and better than ever. Starting, baby! YAY!

Then, where are you?
_________________
Charlie Manuel on Durbin's pitching performance on July 4th:
"Durbin was fantastic," Manuel said. "The role he plays in our bullpen is a big one."

Durbin said he learned a valuable lesson from veteran teammate Tom Gordon:

"Whenever you come in, consider it a 2-0 count," Durbin said. "Like you need a strike."

Tigers half of 1st

Tiger2

1-0

end of 1

1-0

flies out - 1 out

walk

grounds out - 3 outs

Score still

Tiger2

1-0