Tigers may have AL's top rotation with Washburn

2009-08-01T11:13:23-04:00

2009-07-31T13:35:01-04:00

2009-08-01T11:13:23-04:00

mountainfreedom

Boston 624388

33 it's too bad we can't trade Leyland. He is the most overrated Manager I have ever seen. He was pulling pitchers last night for no reason..and then he puts this FEIN guy in???? When is Cabrera going to start using his .324 avg. when it matters. He hasn't had a clutch hit since May. 6322181

2009-08-01T05:18:05-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/820/407/thumb/homer_mascot_resize.jpg 12 IL

Bleacher Preacher

Chicago 821067

32 As far as the M's are concerned, they have a considerably different outlook under new GM Jack Zduriencik. I totally agree that before him under Bavasi pretty much all the trades sucked. That said, under Z the Mariners have acquired Russell Branyan and Franklin Gutierrez who outside of Ichiro have easily been their best position players this year. Given the fact that they were acquired for next to nothing, these deals must be quite gratifying for fans. I would also say that the Adrian Beltre trade has worked out just fine. But more than any of these individual parts, Mariner management seems to have a real plan and methodically works to put the pieces in place, now. Acquiring Jack Wilson, Ian Snell, and flipping Washburn for French are all moves that make sense. The Mariners have drastically improved their defense and are steadily upgrading their offense and farm system depth. 6321442

2009-07-31T23:39:57-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/484/700/thumb/ND_2552.jpg 1478 MI

piratey

Ann Arbor 485140

31 Sure we didn't get a bat but what put name me one batter on the 2001 Arizona Diamondback world series champion team? The 2003 Marlins was Miguel Cabrera and who? Sure the Astros got swept in 2005 by the ChiSox but they got there with what prominent batters? The point is, all those teams got there with dominant rotations, which is what wins in the playoffs. 6319756

2009-07-31T18:57:06-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/598/585/thumb/JayHelicopter.jpg 525 IL

Bring_On The_Bears

Saint Charles 599225

24 What about now? The sox add Peavy that definetly puts them ahead of the Tigers 6317850

2009-07-31T23:32:54-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/484/700/thumb/ND_2552.jpg 1478 MI

piratey

Ann Arbor 485140

What about now? The sox add Peavy that definetly puts them ahead of the Tigers

30 Uhh keep dreaming. Peavy doesn't come back till the end end of the month and can you assume he will be either A.Healthy or B.Effective, he hasn't pitched in months. Who is your number 3 starter till then? You have duct tape and chewing gum for a 3,4,5 starter right now and that's giving Danks more credit than he deserves. We have 3 of the top 10 ERAs in the majors in our rotation with Armando Galarraga turning his season around as well as a far more effective closer THIS YEAR then Jenks. Rodney has a 0.86 ERA in save situations this year and has yet to blow a save in 21 attempts. 6319700

2009-07-31T23:22:12-04:00

randybuist

Jenison 821206

29 Bleacher Preacher, If you were a Mariner's fan, you would probably feel the same way. It's not often that their management pulls off a good deal? 6319617

2009-07-31T23:19:12-04:00

randybuist

Jenison 821206

28 Bleacher Preacher, IF you were a Mariners fan, you would hate this move too. When has their beloved team made a really good trade over the past fifteen years? Starting with their hero Ken Griffey Jr. and onward? 6319596

2009-07-31T21:29:38-04:00

mountainfreedom

Boston 624388

27 TMZ. The Mariners are 2nd in the league in D...the Tigers are 3rd. Comerica will only help Washburn. 6318714

2009-07-31T14:40:34-04:00

mountainfreedom

Boston 624388

6 May have? The Tigers now have 3 of the top 6 ERA's in the AL. Jackson-2.59 Washburn-2.64 Verlander-3.13 I do believe that French will have a long MLB career. Now..we need to trade Larish and a few others for mid level+ left handed bat. 6313335

2009-07-31T21:11:13-04:00

1470

TMZ41486

Tarrytown 174890

May have?The Tigers now have 3 of the top 6 ERA's in the AL.Jackson-2.59Washburn-2.64Verlander-3.13I do believe that French will have a long MLB career. Now..we need to trade Larish and a few others for mid level+ left handed bat.

26 luckily Comerica is a huge park. But Washburn's ERA is due in large part to that ridiculous outfield defense the Mariners have. 6318697

2009-07-31T21:03:35-04:00

mountainfreedom

Boston 624388

25 I must admit...Peavy vs. Washburn???? Holy crap. Either way..I am not worried about the W. sox...it's the Twins. If you look up Washburn's stats...he doesn't have a history of being a 'great' pitcher, but..this is an 8 week loan..and if you have watched this guy..he is hitting the spots and playing well. He's a loan..not a commitment. French should be good, but.... By the way..why is our Thailand 'Ni' guy not playing more? He has a jerky release and seems to be making batters hesitate. 6318609

2009-07-31T18:57:06-04:00

http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/598/585/thumb/JayHelicopter.jpg 525 IL

Bring_On The_Bears

Saint Charles 599225

24 What about now? The sox add Peavy that definetly puts them ahead of the Tigers 6317850

<div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/39921/jarrod-washburn-keith.jpg" alt="Jarrod-washburn-keith" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: left;">Jarrod Washburn has the lowest WHIP in the American League at 1.068. AP </div> </div> Just two days after acquiring Jack Wilson and Ian Snell from the Pirates and saying "No one is throwing up the white flag," Mariners general manger Jack Zduriencik seems to have done just that. With Friday's trade of Jarrod Washburn to the Tigers, the Mariners sent a signal that they are not going to make up the eight-game deficit staring at them in the AL West or the 6 1/2-game deficit -- behind four other teams -- they face in the wild card race. In adding Washburn, the Tigers may now have the top starting rotation in the American League. Detroit already ranks in the top five in the American League in ERA (4.08, second to the Mariners), opponent batting average (.260), fifth in strikeouts and second in fewest hits allowed. And that was before they added Washburn, who is 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA and an AL-best 1.068 WHIP. He's been especially good of late, going 4-0 with a 0.74 ERA in his last 36 2/3 innings pitched, which includes seven innings of scoreless ball two starts ago in a win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. Washburn brings some much-needed depth and balance to the Tigers' righty-dominated rotation. Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, Armando Galarraga and Rick Porcello are all righties. And while Galarraga and Porcello have been effective, Porcello is a prized prospect who is just 20 years old, meaning his innings count will be kept under close watch. Washburn ranks 16th in the AL in innings pitched and could ease some of the burden on the back-end starters in Detroit's rotation. He figures to slot into a top-three spot, which would put him in line for some postseason starts should the Tigers get there (they currently lead the AL Central by two games over the White Sox and 2 1/2 over the Twins). Washburn's exit is a sign that Zduriencik is not only pulling the plug on this season but keeping an eye on next year's payroll as well. Washburn was not likely to be a Type-A free agent, and in order to get a compensatory pick for him had he left as a free agent, the Mariners would have had to offer him arbitration. Had Washburn accepted that offer, he would surely have been in line for a raise over the $10.35 million he's making this season. Instead of having to pay him a huge salary, or get just a single draft pick in exchange, the Mariners get two players who are already progressing through pro ball. One is a major-league ready starter right now (Luke French) who comes cheaply and is under team control for six years, and the other is a 20-year-old (Mauricio Robles) with promise.  Neither, however, was projected as a top prospect in the Tigers system, which is a bit curious considering Washburn's performance this year and the Tigers small lead in the AL Central. French, a 23-year-old rookie, had gone 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven games (five starts) for the Tigers and figures to join the Mariners rotation right away. He's significantly improved his control from last season, when he had 88 strikeouts but 60 walks in 170 innings. This year, he had 72 K's and 20 walks in 81.2 innings pitched in Triple-A before his big league call-up, where he's had 19 K's and 11 walks in 29.1 IP. The 20-year-old Robles has been pitching at high-A for the first time this season, going 4-4 with a 4.63 ERA.  The question now becomes whether the Twins and White Sox will try and match the Tigers' move in an effort to close the gap in the AL Central. Detroit has been in first place by itself all but one day since May 16 and Friday's trade was done to ensure that they'll stay there. http://img.fannation.com/upload/user_profile/image/375/513/thumb/keith_ted.jpg 0 NY

Ted Keith

New York 375953 72801 <div class="photo_container image_right"> <div class="photo"><img src="http://img.fannation.com/upload/si_blog_post_images/39921/jarrod-washburn-keith.jpg" alt="Jarrod-washburn-keith" /></div> <div class="photo_attributes" style="text-align: left;">Jarrod Washburn has the lowest WHIP in the American League at 1.068. AP </div> </div> Just two days after acquiring Jack Wilson and Ian Snell from the Pirates and saying "No one is throwing up the white flag," Mariners general manger Jack Zduriencik seems to have done just that. With Friday's trade of Jarrod Washburn to the Tigers, the Mariners sent a signal that they are not going to make up the eight-game deficit staring at them in the AL West or the 6 1/2-game deficit -- behind four other teams -- they face in the wild card race. In adding Washburn, the Tigers may now have the top starting rotation in the American League. Detroit already ranks in the top five in the American League in ERA (4.08, second to the Mariners), opponent batting average (.260), fifth in strikeouts and second in fewest hits allowed. And that was before they added Washburn, who is 8-6 with a 2.64 ERA and an AL-best 1.068 WHIP. He's been especially good of late, going 4-0 with a 0.74 ERA in his last 36 2/3 innings pitched, which includes seven innings of scoreless ball two starts ago in a win over the Tigers at Comerica Park. Washburn brings some much-needed depth and balance to the Tigers' righty-dominated rotation. Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson, Armando Galarraga and Rick Porcello are all righties. And while Galarraga and Porcello have been effective, Porcello is a prized prospect who is just 20 years old, meaning his innings count will be kept under close watch. Washburn ranks 16th in the AL in innings pitched and could ease some of the burden on the back-end starters in Detroit's rotation. He figures to slot into a top-three spot, which would put him in line for some postseason starts should the Tigers get there (they currently lead the AL Central by two games over the White Sox and 2 1/2 over the Twins).