Lloyd McClendon won’t change his underwear until the Tigers stop winning

15 Comments

Detroit hitting coach Lloyd McClendon has vowed not to change his underwear until the Tigers lose again and they’re riding a 12-game winning streak that dates back to September 2.

“Guys are getting a little uncomfortable standing next to me now,” McClendon told Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “They believe they can’t be beat. So if this thing keeps going, it can ugly.”

Luckily for McClendon the Tigers’ dugout probably smells of Jim Leyland’s cigarettes enough to mask his stench for at least another few games.

Nightengale notes that the last team with a winning streak longer than 12 games was the A’s in 2002, when they won a record 20 games in a row (which is featured prominently in the Moneyball movie). Coincidentally the Tigers begin a four-game series against the A’s in Oakland tonight.

Orioles option LHP Bruce Zimmermann to minors

Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
0 Comments

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Baltimore Orioles have optioned left-handers Bruce Zimmermann and Nick Vespi and reassigned infielder Lewin Díaz, left-hander Darwinzon Hernandez and catcher Mark Kolozsvary to minor league camp.

The Orioles announced the moves Monday.

Baltimore’s spring training roster now has 46 players.

Zimmermann made 13 starts last season. He went 2-5 with a 5.99 ERA.

The competition for rotation spots with the Orioles has been a significant story during spring training, but after the team acquired Cole Irvin and Kyle Gibson in the offseason – and with top prospect Grayson Rodriguez in the mix as well – there were a lot of pitchers Zimmermann needed to beat out.