Moehler to start Wednesday night...
Moehler to start Wednesday night...
...thanks IE, I thought I read that earlier today, but had forgotten where I read it.... shouldda known it was you.
Moehler to start Wednesday night...
The Tigers announced after Tuesday's 17-9 loss that Brian Moehler would start Wednesday against the White Sox, a date Moehler had known since Friday. Among those caught by surprise was Mike Maroth, who was told after the game he was out of the rotation despite three quality starts in five Major League outings. "It's not good news," he said, "but it says something that I'm still here." He becomes the lone left-hander out of the bullpen, with Jamie Walker sent down to Triple-A Toledo. Maroth will start twice after the All-Star break as part of a six-man rotation when the Tigers play 12 games in an 11-day stretch, including a day-night doubleheader July 13 against the White Sox. ... A day after president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said manager Luis Pujols has "done a fine job with this club," Pujols was a little more modest in his first-half self-assessment. "I've never been in this position before, so I don't know how to answer," he said when asked how he'd like to be evaluated. "I feel like I've done what I've wanted to do. You might judge me on something, players something else, management something else. But I go home at night knowing I did the best I could. The numbers don't sound well. We took step forward playing Santiago and some other young guys. Robert Fick never played left-handed pitching. I played him against lefties and righties and he makes the All-Star team." ... Craig Paquette can't figure out his recent hitting success. He entered Tuesday's matchup at Chicago with two three-hit efforts in his last four games. "Same old story," he said. "I've never been a quick starter." He's hit .235 before the All-Star break since 2000 and .280 in the second half. But his return to utility play might also have a factor. "It's kind of weird how the last three years I've played a lot better in different positions. For some reason I've struggled starting in one spot every day. I don't know if it's real or mental." He started two consecutive games at first base and batting third in the order this past weekend before Randall Simon returned from a swollen left ankle Tuesday.
