Scheduling quirks prompt Tigers to make move
DETROIT -- COURTESY: FREEP.COM -- After his near-perfect game last month, Armando Galarraga seemed the least upset person in the Tigers’ locker room. He said he felt for Jim Joyce, the umpire who missed the ninth-inning call at first base.
After the Tigers’ 11th-inning win over Baltimore Tuesday night, Galarraga — the night’s starting pitcher — seemed the most disappointed person in the locker room.
Because he won’t need to start again for nearly two weeks because of the upcoming All-Star break, Galarraga had just been told that he’s being sent to Triple-A Toledo for one start, then will be recalled to start for the Tigers on July 20, almost two weeks from now.
Reliever Robbie Weinhardt was called up from Triple-A Toledo to take Galarraga’s roster spot.
The move has logic to it, but that logic didn’t appear to have settled in on Galarraga Tuesday night.
He looked upset when a reporter approached him at his locker, and he declined to comment.
For his temporary demotion, Galarraga can blame the All-Star break and the lefty-heavy lineup of the Minnesota Twins.
Galarraga was originally scheduled to pitch Sunday against Minnesota in the finale before the Tigers’ four-day All-Star break.
But because the Twins have so many left-handed hitters, the Tigers flipped Andy Oliver and Galarraga in the rotation this week. That way, the rookie Oliver — the Tigers’ only left-handed starter — will face the Twins on Sunday.
Tuesday night marked Galarraga’s final start before the All-Star break. The Tigers could have put him in the bullpen for the Twins’ series. But by calling up Weinhardt, the Tigers have a fresh arm in the bullpen beginning tonight.
Weinhardt could get some immediate work. The bullpen has thrown 11 2/3 innings over the last two days.
Tigers officials explained the move to Galarraga after the game. The meeting might have taken a while, because reporters were kept out of the clubhouse for about 15 minutes, which is longer than usual.
