August 31, 2008
Summing Up the Tigers Season
After a 13-3 loss to the Royals on Saturday, Bless You Boys sums up the Tigers:
Owned, pwned, fail - whatever you want to call it, it's plain ugly. Just when you think the Tigers have fallen as low as they can go, they push those shovels a little deeper and find further depths. The same might be said of Kenny Rogers, especially when he's facing the Royals. Last night, he allowed six runs on eight hits - including three home runs, two by rejuvenated Tigers killer Billy Butler - in six innings. In five starts against Kansas City this season (the most he's faced any team this year), Rogers has a 1-4 record and 7.07 ERA.
That can be a problem with pitchers in their 40s. At some point their athleticism fades, and eventually the ability to fool batters. I assume he made five starts against the Royals because Leyland knew Rogers was a weak link in the staff and wanted to put him in a situation where he could succeed. The Royals are the second lowest scoring team in the AL, but even they ripped apart Rogers. The probability is farily high that Kenny won't be back next season.
(Note, however, that the Royals do hit lefties much better than righties.)