Jeremy Bonderman was the stopper this week as the Tigera avoided a sweep at the hands of the Twins.  He was awesome in eight shutout innings and he gave up six hits and a walk and he struck out seven.  Todd Jones needed just seven pitches to put the Twins down in the ninth and the Tigers ended their little mini-skid.

The lone run of the game for either side came in the eighth inning when Marcus Thames belted a solo homerun.  It was one of only three hits that the Tigers were able to pick up against Scott Baker but it proved to be the game winner.

Congratulations to the five Tigers who made it into the All Star Game.  Magglio Ordonez, Placido Polanco and Ivan Rodriguez were all voted in by the fans while Justin Verlander and Carlos Guillen were picked up as reserves.  Jeremy Bonderman has the chance to get the final spot as there’s one final vote.  If you remember, A.J. Pierzynski edged Justin Verlander last year for that final spot.  Also congratulations to both Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, Jr.  Both guys were very deserving here in the twilight of their career.  And these weren’t lifetime achievement awards either because Bonds is having another MVP caliber season and Ken Griffey, Jr. is getting it done for the Reds.

The Tigers traded Christopher Cody for reliver Jose Capellan.  This trade just doesn’t do much for me because Capellan doesn’t look to be much better then what the Tigers have put out there this year.  His only really full season was last year and it was unspectacular (58 strikeouts/31 walks in 71 2/3 innings).  And while Cody was putting up good numbers for West Michigan, but he was also 23 playing Low A Ball and he was just an eight round draft pick last year.  He is left handed, which is in his favor but he showed up at just 19 on John Sickels Top 20 list and Sickels gave him his lowest rating.

The Tigers have a day off and then it’s three against the Indians.  With the win tonight they’re a game and a half back so they’d need to sweep them to have first place back by the end of the series. Still, two of three would have them knocking on the door.  Nate Robertson throws in the opener and he’ll face Paul Byrd.  Thursday’s matchup of Justin Verlander versus C.C. Sabathia should be a great one.

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