SB Nation - Alfredo Figaro

Figaro Gets the Start on Saturday

Ian Casselberry — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:30:25 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

Alfredo Figaro will make a spot start for the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, versus the White Sox.

With Monday's rainout pushing Rick Porcello's start to yesterday, there was some question as to who would pitch for the Tigers on Saturday.

Start Porcello on short rest? Move Justin Verlander up to pitch that game (which would also be on three days' rest)?

Jim Leyland preferred to keep Verlander on track to pitch Sunday, in case the AL Central race comes down to that last day on the schedule. (Plus, after throwing 129 pitches last night, the guy could really use the full rest.) And according to Jason Beck, Leyland doesn't plan on pitching Porcello again until the postseason (if the Tigers make it).

So who pitches Saturday? Alfredo Figaro gets the call (via Beck on Twitter).

Perhaps Leyland wanted to go with a superhero.

This isn't the most obvious choice, as Figaro hasn't started a game since June, when he went on the DL with a sprained wrist. The longest outing on his rehab assignment was four innings. And since being activated by the Tigers, he hasn't pitched more than three innings.

Did Leyland really have any other choice here? Who else could've started? We know Zach Miner won't do it. No one wants to see Armando Galarraga out there right now.

Of course, this would be a relatively stress-free situation if the Tigers were to clinch the AL Central before Saturday. I'm just sayin'...

Anything is Possible! Tigers 12, White Sox 5

Ian Casselberry — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 12:55:23 -0000

More photos » by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Curtis Granderson can't believe the comeback he and his Detroit Tigers staged in Chicago on Saturday night.

Browse more photos »

Now that was a comeback.

The Detroit Tigers have rallied plenty of times this season when they were behind. But what they did Saturday night in Chicago stands apart from those other revivals.

We've seen pitching duels where Detroit finally broke open a close game by taking advantage of an opponent's inferior bullpen. We've seen game-tying hits and home runs. We've seen walk-off wins. And we've enjoyed many celebrations along the way.

But had we seen anything like this? Down 5-0 after four innings, on the road in hostile territory? Against a pitcher who hadn't allowed more than three runs in his last six starts? With an offense that hadn't scored a run in its last 14 innings?

I guess they were due. In a big way.

Remember last weekend, when the Tigers got all those singles against Carl Pavano, but only scored two runs? It was a bit of a different story Saturday night versus the White Sox.

After only getting one hit off Freddy Garcia in their first four innings, Detroit began to chip away at the 5-0 deficit Nate Robertson left them with. Miguel Cabrera broke the seal with a solo homer in the fifth. But that was just the beginning.

Cabrera drove in two more runs in the sixth, cutting the margin to 5-3 and suddenly making a Tigers comeback look possible. That possibility became reality in the next inning.

Four of the first Detroit batters hit singles, driving in another two runs to the game at 5-5 and chasing Garcia out of the ballgame. Tony Pena took over and promptly gave up another two singles, bringing in two more Tigers runs. The comeback was complete.

But apparently, the Tigers wanted to make sure this one stuck. In the eighth inning, Detroit strung together four straight two-out hits (fueled by Curtis Granderson's triple that was almost a homer), each of them driving in a run. The team that was down by five and looked flat-lined was up by six, with a more than healthy heart rate. Granderson finished off the avalanche of runs in the ninth with a RBI single.

Could there have been a more important win this season? Had the Tigers lost on Saturday (and taken a series loss for the second straight weekend), their lead in the AL Central would be a mere one game. And depending on what happens Sunday, they could've found themselves tied for first place as they play the Twins beginning on Monday.

But instead of a demoralizing loss, the Tigers rallied triumphantly. Perhaps their most inspiring win in a season full of stirring comebacks.

Roar:

Yes, the offense roared mightily. Cabrera went 4-for-6 with four RBIs. Placido Polanco went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Gerald Laird and Magglio Ordonez combined for five hits. And Granderson broke out of a 2-for-22 slump with a 3-for-6 night and three RBIs.

But a comeback like that doesn't happen without the pitching also shutting the opponent down. And the Tigers' bullpen put some serious clamps on the White Sox over the final 5.2 innings. Most important was Alfredo Figaro, who took over for Robertson in the fourth and allowed only one hit in almost three innings of work. If baseball teams handed out game balls, he'd get one.

Comment of the Night:

On a night in which more than 1,300 comments were posted in the GameThreads (almost 1,700, if you count the Afterglow thread - and I didn't post any comments!), this wasn't easy. And I may well have not gotten this right. There was a lot to scroll through.

But kudos to you for sticking this one out. The Tigers definitely rewarded you for your fandom.

Freddy Garcia

turned into a pumpkin. And Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordonez are all gods among men

by ChrisDTX

And your runner-up, with visual aid. Thanks to everyone who spent their evening with BYB, and participated in one hell of a night. You guys are truly amazing. And this fun had better continue.

The Tigers' Rookie Hazing Costume Party

Ian Casselberry — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:01:23 -0000

Okay, we could all use a laugh, right? Been a little tense in Tiger Town lately.

Rookie hazing is a rite of passage in all sports, but the ritual might be most interesting in baseball, due to the long road trips. With the Detroit Tigers leaving on Thursday for their last trip of the season, it was time for the rookies to pay some final dues.

As described by the Detroit News' Amelia Rayno on Twitter, those dues included some dress-up. And if you were watching any of FOX Sports Detroit's game telecast last night, you saw some photographic evidence of this.

Thankfully for us, our own allikazoo captured some screen shots and shared them with us in a FanPost. Click over there to see plenty more, but here's a taste of Alfredo Figaro taking us to the gun show, Wonder Woman-style:

Nothing is tougher than wearing a tiara, buddy. Don't let anyone tell you anything different.

Lynda Carter would be proud. (And now, I can scratch something else off my Tigers blogging bucket list by posting a link to a Lynda Carter Wonder Woman photo. Win!)

The Return of Figaro

Ian Casselberry — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 20:05:23 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

Due to injuries, Alfredo Figaro has returned to the Detroit Tigers. But can he help out the team's starting rotation?

Browse more photos »

The Detroit Tigers are near the point where they just need warm bodies on their pitching staff, after Jarrod Washburn's latest setback with his left knee. As a result, Alfredo Figaro has been activated from the disabled list and added to the active roster.

Technically, Figaro was included in the initial wave of September call-ups, but was kept on the DL. However, there's obviously a need for more arms now. And the Tigers are surely hoping he can provide more than just a warm body.

Will Figaro be added to the starting rotation? He made two starts for the Tigers in a brief stint with the team in late June, going 1-1 with a 7.46 ERA, before being sent down to Triple-A Toledo. (Soon thereafter, he went to the DL with a sprained wrist.) At the time, Jim Leyland was critical of Figaro's lack of aggressiveness towards hitters. There were even rumblings that he might be tipping his pitches.

The only problem is that Figaro didn't work as a starter during his rehabilitation assignment with Double-A Erie. In five games with the Seawolves, he pitched 12 innings of relief. His longest outing was four innings. Figaro allowed 11 hits during that span, but gave up just one earned run. He also compiled 10 strikeouts and six walks.

So who will be Detroit's starting pitcher on Sunday vs. Minnesota? For right now, it's the Tigers' most nagging mystery.

Lunchtime Prowl: D-Train's Season Ends, Porcello's Pitch Speeds, Rodney's Suspension, and Everett's Wife

Ian Casselberry — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:00:48 -0000

If you were worried that Dontrelle Willis might somehow be added to the Detroit Tigers' major league roster and perhaps appear in one of these last 25 games, fret no longer. Technically, Willis was recalled from his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo. But he wasn't activated from the disabled list, which means he won't see any game action.

Also recalled from the minors, but not activated, was pitcher Alfredo Figaro. Figaro had been pitching in relief at Double-A Erie.

Driveline Mechanics has posted the first of a two-part profile of Rick Porcello. Part 1 compares Porcello's pitch speeds from last night's game to a start back in July. There's been plenty of concern about Porcello getting worn down as he nears 150 innings in his first major league season. But do the numbers show exactly how much is Kid Rick tiring out as the Tigers head into the stretch run?

Did Nate Robertson's relief appearance last night mean he's not starting on Friday? No, he's still scheduled to pitch against Toronto. Jim Leyland just wanted to get Robertson some work, as he'll have gone more than a week between starts, according to Jason Beck.

Kurt from Mack Avenue Tigers freelances for MVN Outsider to break down the American League Rookie of the Year race. Who are the top five candidates as of right now, and where does Porcello rank among them?

ESPN.com's Rob Neyer also looks at the AL's best rookies, and though he basically has the same list of candidates as Kurt, his top choice is different. Will this be a close race or is there a heavy favorite?

Of all the analysis I've read about Fernando Rodney's three-game suspension, Tigers Tracks might have the best take on why Rodney needed to be penalized.

And though Rodney immediately appealed his suspension and is presumably available to pitch, the way the Tigers used their bullpen last night makes me wonder if Rodney is already serving his sentence. Would Brandon Lyon have been used instead of Ryan Perry or Jeremy Bonderman if he wasn't being saved for the ninth inning?

Since the Tampa Tribune's Marc Lancaster seemed the most outraged by Rodney's heave into the stands Friday night, it probably won't surprise you that he was "pleasantly surprised" by MLB's decision.

On his blog, Tom Gage asked a similar question I had about a play Brandon Inge made last night. Inge scooped up a foul ball down the third base line and whirled to make an off-balance throw across the field that Miguel Cabrera caught at his chest. Yet since it was a foul ball, the play didn't count. Thus, no Web Gem.

Any time Drew Sharp is positive about something, it seems worth noting. (That is, if you're reading him in the first place.) Maybe the guy's excited about his new afternoon drive-time gig on WDFN. But Sharp thinks Leyland should be the AL Manager of the Year.

(But is it hard to take him seriously when he doesn't even mention Seattle's Don Wakamatsu among his candidates?)

Adam Everett was almost married to Mrs. America? His wife Jennifer represented Georgia in yesterday's pageant, and Everett spent Monday's off-day in Arizona to be the supportive husband.

In the end, Mrs. Missouri won the pageant. (Yes, I looked this up.) Everett's wife was not among the finalists. But does he have bragging rights in the Tigers' clubhouse?

MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo looks at the "reverse standings" to determine next year's draft order. If things stand where they are now, the Tigers will have the 21st selection in the first round. (That's just a guess, however, as Mayo hasn't factored in variables such as tiebreakers and compensation picks.)

Morning Prowl: Mid-Season Grades, Clumsy Attacks on Bloggers, and a Call For Clete

Ian Casselberry — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:00:17 -0000

The Tigers are now officially into the second half of the season, which means mid-season grades are being assigned throughout the Tigersosphere. First up is The Detroit Tigers Weblog, who looks at some numbers and projects them out over a full season. Billfer also has a handful of awards for some entertaining categories.

What does it look like when a cranky old sports columnist uses his forum to take a clumsy shot at bloggers, thus making his entire article look unfocused and perplexing? The Star-Tribune's Patrick Reusse provides just such an example, with a baffling swing (along with painfully forced joke) at Take 75 North's Matt Wallace over the Edwin Jackson-Matt Joyce trade.

I mean this seriously: I've read Reusse's column several times, and don't know what he's talking about. Matt criticized the Jackson-Joyce trade, so if the Twins had made a better deal than trading Matt Garza for Delmon Young, Minnesota would lead the AL Central right now? Trying to follow his logic will make you dizzy. Reusse's ham-fisted attempt at an insult made about as much sense as me ending this sentence by telling you I ordered a pizza with spinach and feta cheese on it last night. At least Reusse could've linked to Matt's post.

Here is Matt's response, though he graciously takes the high road by keeping the discussion about baseball (and if Reusse had done that, maybe his column would've been coherent), rather than engage in bloggers vs. traditional media mud-slinging.

Mack Avenue Tigers thinks it's time for Clete Thomas to return to Detroit. I agree that the Don Kelly experiment has probably run its course, and the two should switch places between Detroit and Toledo. (Though if Josh Anderson wasn't out of options, would he draw the short straw?)

Was Carlos Guillen really the Tigers' representative at last year's All-Star Game? That seems so easy to forget now.

Eye of the Tigers has some very sobering numbers about Detroit's record when they score three or fewer runs. You can add another loss to that record after last night's defeat to the Royals.

Sort of lost among the All-Star bids, campaigning for Brandon Inge, and Rick Porcello's skipped start was the news that Alfredo Figaro was put on the 15-day disabled list for a sprained wrist. Was that injury affecting him during his start in Houston?

Would the corner of Michigan and Trumbull be a good spot for a new hockey arena for the Red Wings? Terry Foster addresses the question in the Detroit News. I wonder if Corktown residents would really want another sports venue there.

Passing out some more traditional letter grades is DesigNate Robertson. Rogo's a fair grader, and I think I only disagree with one of his marks (the last one).

We're a few days late on this link, but The Spot Starters looks at who might play second base for the Tigers in 2010. And giving the job to an inside hire looks a lot better than the free-agent candidates that will be available (other than possibly keeping Placido Polanco on a short-term deal).

Lunchtime Prowl: The Fu-Te Ni Mixtape, All-Star Picks, Same Ol' Maggs, and Bobby Seay's Holds

Ian Casselberry — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:10:43 -0000

Mack Avenue Tigers has more on Detroit's newest reliever, Fu-Te Ni, including a video clip "mixtape" that gives you a look at his sidearm-type delivery. It looks similar to Clay Rapada's to me, but if Ni has better control than Rapada, that obviously works in his favor. I'm very curious to see how he'll perform against the likes of Jack Cust and Jason Giambi, and Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer after that.

(On a personal note, my mother has been asking me for years, "Why don't the Tigers have any Asian ballplayers?" I mention Hideo Nomo and Masao Kida, but those names do nothing for her. Now, finally, Fu-Te Ni has settled this particular issue within Team Casselberry. I just hope Mom stays up to watch these games in Oakland. [She won't.])

Adam Everett is among Jon Heyman's list of the best free agent signings. Kerry Wood is on the "worst" list, which might mean that the Tigers dodged a bullet in losing out on him this winter.

Heyman also praises two of the moves Dave Dombrowski made in the offseason, both of which have been significant additions to the Tigers' starting rotation.

Want more national love for the Tigers? Yahoo's Gordon Edes has the column for you, marveling at how well Detroit has played despite the big names that have either underperformed or were told their services would no longer be required.

Always a Tiger is taking a look at Tigers history "by the numbers." BigJP's first post featured Lou Whitaker, and his latest looks at Charlie Gehringer. See how this is going? Number one, number two, etc.

Jon Paul Morosi filled out the All-Star pitching staffs for both the American and National League rosters, and both Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson are on his AL team. Meanwhile, Ken Rosenthal has quite a different take on the All-Star rosters, and gives the Tigers just their one obligatory representative.

Fire Jim Leyland checks out Alfredo Figaro's two starts through Pitch F/X, and finds that Jim Leyland's assertion that Figaro wasn't pitching aggressively was pretty spot-on. (Differences between Comerica Park and Minute Maid Park should be taken into consideration, however.)

FJL also takes a look at Luke French's pitching repertoire, and seems less than impressed.

Bobby Seay's been doing a good job out of the Tigers' bullpen, and rightfully gets a feature from Jason Beck on tigers.com. It's all about the slider. But I wasn't aware Seay currently leads the majors in holds with 16. Were you paying closer attention?

The Chicago Tribune's Phil Rogers has had enough of Carlos Zambrano, and wonders if the Cubs feel the same way. Would you like to see the Tigers get into that business or is a potential head case the last thing Detroit's pitching staff needs? (Thanks to Zappatista for passing this along.)

Lynn Henning has seen what I think many of us have also perceived since Magglio Ordonez returned from his "indefinite" hiatus: Nothing has really changed. (Here are the cold numbers.) Maggs still isn't driving the ball, and that home run last Thursday was due more to a terrible pitch by Ted Lilly than any adjustment made by Ordonez.

Remember Yorman Bazardo? Pitched in 14 games for the Tigers between 2007 and 2008? (I miss him, because I no longer have a reason to post my Bizarro picture whenever he pitches.) FanGraphs wonders why he's been in four organizations over the past four seasons.

We can't really blame Armando Galarraga's struggles on the World Baseball Classic, can we? Nevertheless, MLB Daily Dish lists a number of pitchers who have performed poorly this season, and each of them have something in common.

Farewell, Figaro; Bonjour, French

Ian Casselberry — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:30:19 -0000

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

Alfredo Figaro can always say he got to pitch in weird light on a Saturday night at Minute Maid Park in Houston.

Browse more photos »

Despite Jim Leyland's initial insistence that Alfredo Figaro would get a good look in the Detroit Tigers' starting rotation, his major league audition turned out to be a quick one. Figaro was sent down to Triple-A Toledo after this afternoon's game, with Luke French coming up to take over the fifth starter's role.

According to Jason Beck, French will get in some work out of the bullpen during the Tigers' three-game series in Oakland, but is scheduled to start Friday night in Minnesota. The initial explanation for the move seemed to be less of a concern with Figaro's performance in Houston on Saturday, and more of a desire for the left-handed French to pitch against the Twins' lineup.

However, comments by Leyland before the game seemed to indicate that Tigers coaches suddenly had some questions about Figaro. From John Lowe's story in the Freep:

"He didn't throw the ball. Some pitches were 89 m.p.h. I was very disappointed because I thought the one thing he would be was aggressive, and he was totally un-aggressive. ... He pitched like he was looking at the names on the hitters' backs (i.e., showing them too much respect). ... He got after them a little better after the horse was out of the barn."

Beck also mentioned on his blog that there was some thought that Figaro might be tipping his pitches, which might explain why the Astros teed off on his breaking balls. Leyland, however, stuck to his belief that Figaro may have tried to get too cute with his pitches.

French has a 4-4 record and 2.98 ERA with the Mud Hens in 13 starts this season, compiling 72 strikeouts and 20 walks in 81.2 innings. French filled in briefly during Nate Robertson's first DL stint this season, pitching in two games, and allowing three strikeouts and three walks in three scoreless innings.

Paulino Beats Figaro: Astros 8, Tigers 1

Ian Casselberry — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 12:25:32 -0000

More photos » by David J. Phillip - AP

Michael Bourn leads the run parade, scoring the first of eight Astros runs against Alfredo Figaro and the Tigers Saturday night.

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So... that happened.

Once again, the Detroit Tigers made a fledgling pitcher with a previously undistinguished track record look like an All-Star. (Detroit's pattern of doing this was detailed nicely in our GameThread.)

I'm not going to call Felipe Paulino "mediocre," because maybe he'll actually turn out to be a good pitcher. The Astros seem to think highly of him, and he definitely throws hard. Chalk it up to unfamiliarity, perhaps. Or maybe Paulino just deserves all the credit. But he was making his first start since coming off the DL. And those were some feeble swings the Tigers lineup took against him.

Paulino racked up nine strikeouts, while allowing only one run and three hits in seven innings of work. The only Tigers batter who had any kind of answer for him was Ramon Santiago, who hit a solo homer in the third inning when Paulino teed a fastball right down the middle. That was really the only bad mistake Paulino made all night.

Between that, and Alfredo Figaro continually hanging his off-speed pitches in the strike zone, along with Gerald Laird leaving in the first inning because of back spasms, and it was just a bad night overall. The Tigers have now lost six of their last seven games on the road. That's not looming well for a team that has seven more games to play on their current road trip.

Whimper:

Today's Captain Obvious statement: Eight runs and 10 hits is not the type of performance the Tigers were hoping for from Figaro in his second major league start. Suddenly, the fifth spot in Detroit's starting rotation looks like a question mark again. Credit the Astros for a patient approach at the plate, taking pitches and making a young pitcher work. But Figaro also wasn't throwing very good stuff, either. As mentioned above, his curveballs and change-ups kept finding the middle of the strike zone, and Houston batters just teed off on that soft stuff.

If there's a bright side to Figaro's outing, it's that he toughed out another four innings after getting shelled in the third. He essentially became his own mop-up man, and saved the Tigers from tapping out their bullpen in what became a blowout. And though many of Figaro's strikes were too hittable, at least he threw strikes. The Astros beat him, but he didn't beat himself. That's something we shouldn't take for granted from any fifth starter these days. And I certainly think he warrants at least one more look.

Comment of the Night:

If you did stick this one out until the end, Freddy Dolsi provided at least one highlight for those watching.

Dolsi just blew his nose on the ground.

by densogirl

New Arms of the Week: June 15-21

Harry Pavlidis — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:20:57 -0000

Three rookie pitchers made their Major League debut last week.

Sean O`Sullivan

#55 / Pitcher / Los Angeles Angels

Height: 6-2

Weight: 230

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Sep 01, 1987

Alfredo Figaro

#43 / Pitcher / Detroit Tigers

Height: 6-0

Weight: 175

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jul 07, 1984

Brad Mills

#59 / Pitcher / Toronto Blue Jays

Height: 5-11

Weight: 185

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Mar 05, 1985

First, some "clippings" from around the web. PITCHf/x data after the jump.

Tiger Tales: A Detroit Tigers Blog: Who is Alfredo Figaro?
Lee Panas quickly provides some context around Figaro, from being released by the Dodgers after just one year and his place in the prospect pecking order in Detroit.

Tigers win third straight in Alfredo Figaro's debut - The Morning Sun Sports: Serving Clare, Gratiot and Isabella counties
Figaro's debut as a Tiger came Saturday, and the 24-year old gives the Tigers what may be another impressive young arm.

Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - An Interview with A Civil Engineer (Brad Mills)
Mills wasn't drafted out of high school, or even recruited. So he went to Arizona for his education, and stuck it out despite being drafted a first time.

Barajas torments former club in ninth | bluejays.com: News
As the Jays shed pitchers, Brad Mills was called up to start against the Phillies. He didn't get out of the fourth inning, but still burned up 94 pitches.

Poised O'Sullivan earns win in debut | MLB.com: News
At just 21, O'Sullivan debuted in interleague play. He earned the win in AT&T park, allowing the Giants just a single run on five hits and a walk.

BaseballAmerica.com: Draft: Angels Sign O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan took nearly year to sign after being drafted in the 3rd round in 2005.

Figaro throws heat, and not much else (in his debut)

Four-Seam Fastball (F4): 94.9 mph
Two-Seam Fastball/Sinker (F2): 93.8
Change-up (CH): 81.4
Slider (SL): 83.0

Combined, Figaro threw 96 pitches, including 57 fastballs and 33 sliders. He tossed in just two change-ups and four sinkers. He seems to vary his release point by pitch, but keep in mind, he only threw a half-dozen change-ups and sinkers combined.

Mills didn't last too long, and threw what amounted to a near even mix of three pitches

Four-Seam Fastball (F4): 87.4 mph
Change-up (CH): 74.8 mph
Curveball (CU): 72.2 mph

The latest member of the Junior Moyer Club used his change 32 times, his curve 24 and a total of 38 fastballs. He throws right over the top, and shows almost no lateral movement on his pitches.

O'Sullivan had a good outing, making this group two-for-three in that department. O'Sullivan also appeared in an exhibition game, so we have some extra PITCHf/x data

Four-Seam Fastball (F4): 90.7 mph
Two-Seam Fastball/Sinker (F2): 91.1
Change-up (CH): 77.3
Curveball (CU): 79.1

O'Sullivan has a very slow change-up. The curve is slurvey, could be/should be re-labeled at some point.