Latest news with #DetroitTigers'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers puts team first after shifting to backup role
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jake Rogers used to be the Detroit Tigers' No. 1 catcher. Now, he's their No. 2. The Tigers recently flipped their catching depth chart, elevating Dillon Dingler into the starting role. As Dingler emerged as one of MLB's best catchers, both offensively and defensively, Rogers shifted into the backup role. Advertisement "We got another great catcher," Rogers said Wednesday, May 28. "It's tough. I'm used to playing a lot, but that's just not my role anymore. I know my role. I'm going to be here for him with whatever he needs, and whenever they want me to play, I'm going to be ready." Rogers isn't bitter. He's bought in. Buy our book: The Epic History of the Tigers Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (34) looks on during an at bat in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park in Detroit on Saturday, May 24, 2025. "As long as we're winning, I love it," Rogers said. The numbers don't lie. Dingler, 26, is hitting .289 with four home runs, two walks and 42 strikeouts in 41 games. He's also been worth plus-6 defensive runs saved in 342⅓ innings behind the plate. His offense ranks sixth among 20 catchers with at least 150 plate appearances, while his defense ranks fourth among 19 catchers with at least 300 innings. Only Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narváez ranks higher than Dingler in both categories. Advertisement "We're a year removed from him being the guy getting the opportunity," manager A.J. Hinch said Wednesday of Rogers getting replaced as the No. 1 catcher. "Last year, Jake caught so much because we trusted him so much. Just because Dillon has done well doesn't mean we trust Jake less or we expect less of him. It's really important that we keep it all in perspective." Rogers, 30, remains an above-average defensive catcher, but his offense continues to lag behind. If Dingler weren't hitting, Rogers would probably still be the Tigers' No. 1 catcher. J.V. ON SKUB: Aces then and now: Justin Verlander wants Tigers to 'ride that horse' Tarik Skubal But Dingler is hitting. Advertisement And Rogers is not. "I want to play every day," Rogers said, "but when you got a player playing that well, it's tough to play every day." Despite the demotion, Rogers has the respect of his teammates — and then some. He hasn't lost the clubhouse. "Jake is awesome," said right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle, who owns a 1.50 ERA in six innings with Rogers catching. "He's been an incredible teammate. I've seen it since Day 1 of spring training. He came up to me and gave me a big hug. I was like, 'Oh, this is awesome.' He's a great catcher. He does everything for us. He will go out there, lay on the ground and pretty much die for you. I love that. That's pretty much everybody in here." Advertisement [ MUST LISTEN: Make "Days of Roar" your go-to Detroit Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ] For now, the plan is simple: Rogers will start once per three-game series, and Dingler will catch the other two games. In the Royals series, Dingler is scheduled to start Friday, May 30, and Saturday, May 31, with Rogers getting the nod Sunday, June 1. Left-hander Tarik Skubal is starting Saturday's game. It's another Skubal-Dingler pairing. With Dingler catching this season, Skubal has a 1.55 ERA with two walks and 74 strikeouts across 52⅓ innings in eight starts — including his most recent outing, even though Rogers was healthy. With Rogers catching, Skubal has a 5.51 ERA, five walks and 18 strikeouts across 16⅓ innings in three starts. Advertisement The Tigers are riding the hot hand behind the plate. JACK IS BACK: Jack Flaherty takes 'step in right direction' in best start of 2025 season Detroit Tigers pitcher Tommy Kahnle (43) shakes hands with catcher Jake Rogers (34) to celebrate 4-3 win over San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park in Detroit on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Although Rogers isn't the No. 1 anymore, he still has a role on the Tigers — a team with MLB's best record, at 37-20, entering Friday. He is a veteran leader behind the scenes, a unifying presence in the clubhouse and a steady backup catcher. The Tigers need Rogers, even if they're not relying on him on the field as often. "We've got a group of guys in the clubhouse that are all in, and when you are that way, any given day, you can be the guy," Hinch said. "When he gets his opportunities, he's the same guy. When he doesn't get opportunities, he's the same guy. That consistency is indicative of a really healthy clubhouse that cares about winning and cares about where we're at." Advertisement Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@ or follow him @EvanPetzold. Listen to our weekly Tigers show "Days of Roar" every Monday afternoon on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. And catch all of our podcasts and daily voice briefing at Order your copy of 'Roar of 125: The Epic History of the Detroit Tigers!' by the Free Press at This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers puts team first despite backup role
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tigers' Javier Baez rips umpire Phil Cuzzi after ejection on terrible strike call: ‘I'm not an animal'
Javier Baez had every right to be heated at home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi during the Detroit Tigers' 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants. Baez was ejected at the end of the fifth inning on a called strike by Cuzzi that was well below the zone. The Tigers center fielder was animated after the low strike call, telling Cuzzi how he felt. Baez began walking away and turned around to say something else to the umpire, when Cuzzi threw him out of the game. Advertisement Tigers manager A.J. Hinch sprinted from the dugout and Baez had to be held back by third base coach Joey Cora. After the game, Baez told reporters, including Detroit Free Press Tigers beat writer Evan Petzold, what he said to the umpire. 'I only said, 'I'm looking for that pitch. It's not a f****** strike.' That's the only thing I said. And then he said, 'Don't point at it. Walk out.' And then I said, 'What do you mean, walk out? I'm asking you something,' and then he just threw me out.' Baez added that he felt disrespected by Cuzzi. 'It's not even about the call. It's about how he treated me. I'm not an animal. We can talk. We can argue. And that's it. If he would've told me, 'OK, I missed it,' I would've f****** shut up. I know he's not perfect, but don't treat me like that.' Advertisement Cuzzi, who has been a full-time umpire since 1999, has drawn criticism over the years for questionable calls. Baez has rejuvenated his career in his fourth year with the Tigers after signing a six-year, $140 million deal ahead of the 2022 season. He has been playing center field due to injuries and has a .799 OPS, 125 OPS+, six home runs and a 1.6 bWAR through 41 games. It's a turnaround after he wasn't even guaranteed playing time heading into 2025 following the worst season of his career in 2024. The Tigers improved their record to 35-20 with the victory and currently lead the American League Central by 4.5 games over the Minnesota Twins.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Malloy's go-ahead, 2-run single in 5th lifts AL-leading Tigers to 4-3 sweep-earning win over Giants
Detroit Tigers' Jake Rogers slides safely into third base ahead of the tag of San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith hits a two-run double against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith hits a two-run double against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Jake Rogers slides safely into third base ahead of the tag of San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe throws against the San Francisco Giants in the first inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) San Francisco Giants pitcher Landen Roupp throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Detroit Tigers' Colt Keith hits a two-run double against the San Francisco Giants in the fifth inning during a baseball game, Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) DETROIT (AP) — Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a go-ahead single in a four-run fifth inning to help the Detroit Tigers rally to beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Wednesday. The American League-leading Tigers swept the three-game series and closed their homestand with a four-game winning streak. Advertisement Detroit generated all of its offense in the fifth with Colt Keith's two-run double and Malloy's two-out, two-run single. Brenan Hanifee (3-2) allowed one hit and struck out one in one inning. Tommy Kahnle picked up his seventh save after stranding two runners that he inherited with no outs in the eighth inning and pitching a perfect ninth. Landen Roupp (3-4) allowed four runs — one earned — on five hits and two walks while striking out seven over four innings. The Giants chased Jackson Jobe with two outs in the fifth inning, leading 3-0, but couldn't take advantage of additional scoring opportunities. Advertisement LaMonte Wade had an RBI double to right in the second inning and Heliot Ramos hit a two-run homer in the fifth to give the Giants a 3-0 lead. San Francisco, which left 10 runners on base, has scored four or fewer runs in 11 straight games for the first time since early in the 2024 season. Key moment San Francisco's Mike Yastrzemski hit an inning-ending groundout in the eighth against Kahnle. Key stat The Tigers were a baseball-best 67-33 from Aug. 11 of last season through their win Tuesday night in the second game of the series against San Francisco. Up next After San Francisco and Detroit have a day off on Thursday, Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (0-1, 3.86) is expected to be on the mound at Miami on Friday night while Tigers RHP Casey Mize (6-1, 2.45) is scheduled to start at Kansas City. ___ AP MLB:
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
‘I'm not an animal': Tigers' Javier Baez reacts to being ejected from Memorial Day MLB game vs the Giants
Detroit Tigers' Javier Baez clarified what caused him to lose it at the home plate umpire on Monday, saying that the reaction wasn't about the call. Baez was so enraged by a called strike three that he had to be held back during the Tigers' 3-1 win over the San Francisco Giants on Memorial Day. After the game, Baez told reporters that he had only said that it wasn't 'a f–king strike.' 'That's the only thing I said. And then he said, 'Don't point at it. Walk out.' And then I said, 'What do you mean, walk out? I'm asking you something,' and then he just threw me out,' Baez was quoted by the Detroit Free Press as saying. The shortstop insisted that his reaction wasn't over the call but rather over the way the umpire spoke. 'It's not even about the call. It's about how he treated me. I'm not an animal. We can talk. We can argue. And that's it. If he would've told me, 'OK, I missed it,' I would've f–king shut up. I know he's not perfect, but don't treat me like that,' he added. The incident happened during the Detroit Tigers' fifth inning when home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi called Javier Baez out on a 3-2 pitch that appeared outside the strike zone. Enraged at the decision, the Tigers' shortstop quickly began arguing with the umpire. Several times during the word exchange, it appeared as though Baez was going to walk away. But he re-engaged several times before the home plate umpire finally tossed him from the game. The already angry Baez attempted to charge back toward the umpire after being ejected. He needed to be held back by third base coach Joey Cora and teammate Gleyber Torres. 'Javy Baez is incensed. I don't know what was said, but Javy is livid. AJ Hinch was one step away, but Phil Cuzzi threw out Javy Baez, and Javy's going to leave this game,' a Tigers' broadcaster said on-air
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tarik Skubal's career day, Shohei Ohtani back on the mound & a weekend recap
The Detroit Tigers' ace continued to mesmerize the league, and a raucous Detroit crowd, over weekend with a career day. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, Tarik Skubal, threw his first career complete game shutout on Sunday. Jake and Jordan dive into the impressive 13 strikeout performance that saw the final pitch of the game reach 102.6 mph. Also, Ohtani stepped onto the mound in New York with a crowd of both teams, the media and others looking on. In a big step towards his return to pitching, Shohei Ohtani took his first live bullpen since 2023. Jake witnessed it live and talks about where the Dodgers' superstar goes from here. Plus, the guys give you a recap of every series from the weekend. Join us on this Memorial Day at the Baseball Bar-B-Cast. (2:37) - Tarik Skubal (21:01) - Cardinals sweep Diamondbacks (33:18) - Rays sweep Blue Jays (36:37) - Mets/Dodgers (40:52) - Shohei Ohtani pitching (57:01) - Yankees/Rockies (1:00:19) - Astros/Mariners (1:02:02) - Orioles/Red Sox (1:04:35) - Padres/Braves (1:06:04) - Turbo Mode🖥️
