Larry Stone's Notebook | Tigers pickup Garcia is liking what he sees

The Tigers might have made an astute pickup in ex-Mariner Freddy Garcia, whom they signed to a minor-league contract last month.

Garcia pitched excellently in his Tigers debut Wednesday (five innings, no earned runs against Texas) and indicated he wants to sign with the Tigers next year.

"I like the guys here," Garcia told The Detroit Free Press. "I like the manager and pitching coach and staff. They want to win. They will win at some point."

Garcia, who hadn't pitched in the majors since undergoing shoulder surgery a year ago, will be a free agent after the season. The Tigers' rotation needs a boost; the 4.91 earned-run average by their starters ranked 11th among 14 American League teams.

Garcia, who should make at least one more start this year, has had four seasons of at least 16 wins, been an All-Star, won an ERA title, and pitched the clinching victory for a World Series champion.

He was clocked at 90 mph several times against the Rangers, on par with his velocity in 2005 when he won 17 games for the White Sox and three more in the postseason.

Game relocation not a wise move

The Astros and their fans are extremely unhappy that they were mandated to play two home games at Milwaukee's Miller Park on Sunday and Monday, in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

They lost those games by a combined score of 11-1, and then lost their next three games by a combined 27-4.

Some of the players were seen this week wearing T-shirts that read "Bud Killed Us," referring to commissioner Bud Selig, who made the final call on the relocation.

State Senator John Whitmire unleashed on Selig to the Houston Chronicle:

"It is outrageous what Major League Baseball and commissioner Bud Selig did to the Houston Astros players, their families, and the Houston community of Astros supporters," Whitmire said.

"First, it is unconscionable to have the Houston Astros play in Milwaukee on Sunday night when the players and team staff should be in Houston with their families or in other locations where their families have evacuated.

"To require players like Lance Berkman to drive at 4 a.m. [Sunday] from San Marcos back to Houston to catch a (10) a.m. flight to Milwaukee is outrageous. Major League Baseball endangered the lives of the team and their families. Some things are more important than baseball and money.

"Second, the fact that Houston is in the wild-card race with Milwaukee and the perception, if not the reality, of Bud Selig's connection to the Milwaukee franchise questions the integrity of his decision."

I don't question Selig's integrity in this case; just his wisdom.

Notes and quotes

• Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs is having a notable season — with the bat. According to STATS, his .354 average is the highest for a pitcher with at least 75 plate appearances since Orel Hershiser hit .356 for the 1993 Dodgers. Before that, you have to go back to Don Newcombe of the Dodgers (.359 in 1955, .361 in 1958).

• The Dodgers have switched their Class AAA affiliation back to Albuquerque of the Pacific Coast League, ending their eight-year stint in Las Vegas. The Dodgers' Class AAA team was based in Albuquerque from 1972 through 2000. Albuquerque had been affiliated in recent years with the Florida Marlins, who are expected to move to New Orleans.

• Baltimore manager Dave Trembley didn't exactly coddle rookie starter Garrett Olson after he was shelled for six runs in two-thirds of an inning against Minnesota last week.

"To me he looks nervous," Trembley told reporters. "I'm going to tell you straight out. He looks nervous out there. Whether or not we can do something, or he can do something to get over that hurdle, that's yet to be seen."

Yeah, that should help him calm down.

• The dangers of long-term pitching contracts, part 1,652: The Cardinals' Chris Carpenter was given a five-year, $63.5 million extension after the 2006 season.

Carpenter hasn't won a game since, victimized by elbow and shoulder problems. Carpenter went 51-18 with a Cy Young Award from 2004 to 2006.

• Want a good race to follow down the stretch? Through Thursday's games, Arizona's Mark Reynolds had struck out 191 times. Philadelphia's Ryan Howard had fanned 190 times.

It's still anyone's ballgame. Howard set the major-league record last year with 199, so he has the pedigree.

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com