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I guess that answers my question.

Poor Nolan, hope he's able to hang in there for another three weeks. He has been one of my favorites since he joined the team, but the way he has bulldozed along despite such an uncomfortable injury has really totally raised my level of respect for him!

Roch,

TOTALLY unrelated... do you or any of the class know anything about the tribute planned for Ernie Harwell today?

I assume they (The Tigers) are doing something before the game but I also heard he was gonna be on the mic as well. I love the O's but I grew up as a kid in Michigan listening to that man call games.

I know the Orioles aren't involved but I wonder if anyone heard anything about it... like if MLB Network was covering it please pass it on.
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All I know is he'll be honored and he'll address the crowd. Haven't heard any other details. I'd love to see it. Talk about an emotional moment. I can't even imagine. - Roch

Now I know why Reimold didn't PH last night.

I wonder if the games he's played in the outfield recently have made the Achilles worse. I recall several games in the past 2 weeks (or more) with Scott at DH and Reimold in LF. If you know Reimold has a sore leg, why play him in the OF, especially when you have Scott and Fiorentino available? Let him DH and only run when he hits the ball. That seems like a pretty easy decision.

Maybe I'm too conservative with the youngsters on this team, but why risk further injury with Reimold? Nothing good is going to happen if he continues playing. Since so much of hitting is using your legs, why risk him either causing additional damage to his Achilles, or screwing up his swing by adjusting to the injury? Hasn't he proven enough so far this season? Shut him down along with Tillman...and see you next year!

I grew up listening to Ernie Harwell every summer when my family would come up to Michigan for vacation. He is the epitome of class. I had the honor of taking a behind-the-scenes tour of Comerica Park this summer, and got to sit in the press box where he called games. It was a true honor. He will be DEARLY missed by everyone who's lives he has touched, either directly or indirectly. He is going to address the team before the game, and there will be a tribute to him during the game on the video board, and he will say thank you to the fans. The game (and hopefully the tribute) will be on mlbtv tonight at 7:05pm.

Here's a story from the Tigers' site on mlb.com about Ernie Harwell and Nate Robertson.

Nate Robertson wasn't with the Tigers yet for Ernie Harwell's final season as a play-by-play broadcaster in 2002. He came to Detroit via a trade that winter. However, he has gotten to know Harwell as a friend in his retirement, from his ballpark visits to his 90th birthday party two winters ago.

Robertson visited Harwell at his home Monday to say thanks. He expects an emotional time when Harwell comes to Comerica Park on Wednesday night to thank everyone during the Tigers' game against the Royals.

"He's such a magnetic personality, and I think it's going to be really emotional for a lot of people, the fans, the generations of people that have listened to him over the radio, the city, the organization. So many have been drawn to him in so many different ways. I just thanked him [Monday] for the effect that he's had on my family, he and his wife. He's first class, no doubt, first class."

Harwell is expected to address the team before the game before coming up to the press box that is named after him to thank media members with whom he has worked and built friendships. At some point during the game, he's expected to thank fans following a video tribute on the left-field scoreboard.

The only players remaining from the 2002 team that was Harwell's last as a play-by-play broadcaster are Brandon Inge and Ramon Santiago. However, he has visited the clubhouse a handful of times every season since, albeit fewer times this year, and has touched lives. He follows the team closely, and even without that familiarity that he once had with every player, there's a respect for what he has done and what he means to so many people in this city.

"He tells stories," Robertson said. "He laughs. The thing is, he doesn't forget anything. He knows my family by first name, and doesn't forget no matter if you see him last week or last year. He actually looks great. That's what it's all about, when you impact people's lives like that and you leave a legacy like he's going to leave. People don't forget that. They'll never forget that, and they'll never forget him. So it'll be special."

The way with which Harwell has treated his situation, the incurable cancer that he revealed a couple weeks ago, has left an impression on many. He has called it a "new adventure," and wants to live his life to the fullest for whatever time he has left.

"He'll just treat it like another day," Robertson said. "I can't imagine that, possibly coming out here for maybe the last time."

It's an odd coincidence that Harwell's visit to Comerica Park will come on the day that Eddie Bonine is the starting pitcher. Bonine just went through the gut-wrenching process of saying goodbye to his mother, who was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer last fall. She passed away in June, but not before watching her son pitch one last time in Seattle back in April.

Bonine had the challenge of pitching through the emotion of his best friend's and biggest fan's final days. He admitted it wore on him for much of the summer, and he's slowly getting back to his focus on the mound.

It'll be his first start in nearly three weeks since finishing out his turn in the rotation at Triple-A Toledo, but he stretched out his arm in a bullpen session a couple days ago. Considering everything else with which Bonine has dealt, that's a very minor concern.

West Coast, what a call (crud lineup always wins)!!

duke of york --
You often see Roberts coasting into second, but I think the "rules" on making outs at third that BC Mike referenced (never the first or last) might be a better explanation than "hustle" (the lack of which I usually notice from Roberts on ground ball outs, not legit plays). Also, Roberts just isn't as fast as his rep. His steals come from being crafty and reading the pitcher (getting that famous jump-step to speed) as much or more than pure speed.

I've got Tillmania!!

Why not shut him down and have the surgery now? The quicker he has it the quicker he starts rehab. Am I missing something? Do I care if this team is 25 or 30 games below .500? It's all about '10 & '11. That takes precedent over ROY considerations.

This is just another bizarre example of management's inconsistent thinking.
They (rightfully) shut down Brian Matusz and they plan to do the same with Chris Tillman shortly. Why in the world don't they shut down Reimhold and have him go through with the surgery NOW? The prognosis included a 3-4 month recovery. If he's currently in pain/discomfort, shouldn't he have the procedure sooner and get a 2-3 week head start on the road back to good health? What is to be gained by having him even DH for the rest of the year? We're locked into last place. Isn't he also a valuable asset that needs protecting? [If the team is doing this to assist him in ROY consideration, it is terribly short-sighted and misguided.] If he/the team delays surgery until sometime in October and his recovery is extended, then he'll miss some or most of spring training.

How does this make any sense?

I don't think this injury is as big a deal as some people are making it. Apparently he has been playing with it for at least the last 2 seasons. If they thought it was dangerous, he wouldn't be playing at all. There was a story about it a couple months ago that said the doctors Reimold had seen told him it wasn't going to get worse and he could keep playing on it for the rest of the season.

I agree that letting him DH more the rest of the year would be a pretty smart move, keep him off his feet and only having to run a max of 4-5 times all game.

During Monday's game you could tell he was hurting one time when he was running the bases. This guy's got some heart to be gutting out this season. Very excited to have him in the lineup the next few years.

Get the surgery today. See you in ST.

Tom McAllister,

Thank you for the post about Ernie Harwell. His importance as a person and his contribution to Baseball can not be emphasized enough. His death will be a body blow for many.

All young SOR students unfamiliar with Ernie Harwell, treat yourselves to a wonderful experience by finding audio of his broadcasts and by reading some of the many books and articles written about him and by him.

Red Barber, long-time voice of the Dodgers was Ernie's mentor; Ernie was in awe of the mastery displayed by Red.

Vin Scully calls a smoother game with plenty of baseball stuff interwoven in the play-by-play.

Jon Miller is untouchable for those who appreciate humor with first class PBP.

Ernie Harwell would bitterly dispute the assertion that he was "the best there ever was," but Ernie would be wrong -- he was, and still is, the best of the best. Long live the King.