AGRI Biz

The San Diego Zoo—that would be a good place to leave Ryan Raburn. He would probably fit in better there than on a major league baseball field.  Notice where the ball is in this picture. It is not in his glove. Notice Raburn is off balance. He probably fell down right after this photo was snapped.  Tiger fans have gotten used to this sight. It goes something like this: Raburn gets a ...

Rick Porcello got kicked around again on Wednesday night. This has become a common occurrence throughout the 2010 season. Starting against the Chicago White Sox, he only lasted 3.1 innings, allowing eight runs.  Porcello's season ERA rose from 5.25 to 6.09. Just like in most of his outings this season, he looked extremely hittable. I know that is a subjective evaluation, but this is an attribute that he did not seem ...

Zach Miner.....does that name even ring a bell to anyone? Certainly not in 2010. Ok, you might remember him from such exciting shows as Imploding 'Pen 2009 and Fail 'Pen 2008.  Miner is an everyman reliever and sometime starter most notable for not being notable. The story is always the same—average stuff, below average strikeout rate, above average walk rate, never an exceptional outing, and usually pitches as if he belongs ...

Bo·da·cious, adjective: remarkable, outstanding. That sounds like Eddie Bonine of the Detroit Tigers this year, does it not? That is what I have taken to calling him lately: Bodacious Bonine. I'll go one further: Steady Eddie. I will note, one really has to impress me in order to get labeled with the "S" word. I have been continually making a case for Eddie Bonine to a sports savvy friend of mine, insisting that Bonine ...

The Tigers have played 39 games in the 2010 season. They recently shook up their roster in a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox. Struggling SP Max Scherzer and 2B Scott Sizemore were shipped off to exile in the minors. The pair have given fans ample opportunity to scratch their heads and wonder about some of the offseason moves the Tigers made. Well, I figure 39 games is enough of ...

The Winter Meetings are over and winter itself officially starts next week. While some of the Tigers are home in the tropics or enjoying 18 holes in Florida, The Hammer Toss will keep you warm with the hot stove! Stop celebrating. This is no time for a high-five. The Tigers' offseason is quickly heading toward the toilet, as we are left to reap what has been sown in years past.á Failure begets ...

Shortstop Adam Everett was signed Monday to a one-year contract for the 2010 season by the Detroit Tigers, who were able to cross an item off their shopping list. The signing of Everett does not come as much of a surprise for a franchise that is short of cash but flush with needs.áThe financial reality of the Tigers does not allow them much leeway in offseason spending. The free agent market was ...

The World Series has wrapped up, and it has gotten chilly in the Midwest. While some of the Tigers are home in the tropics or enjoying 18 holes in Florida, The Hammer Toss will keep you warm with the hot stove. áá á Is it just me, or is the Tigers' front office being remarkably short-sighted about who will be playing second base in 2010? We can automatically rule out Placido Polanco now, as ...

The "Dear Jim Leyland" Chronicles will be a recurring segment in which I question some of the decisions made by the skipper of the Detroit Tigers, Jim Leyland. After all, some of his choices leave us all scratching our heads, wondering just what was going through his nicotine-starved mind. Edwin Jackson and the Detroit Tigers are sliding backward at the wrong time of the year. Anyone care to stop the bleeding? Dear Jim ...