The Tigers scored 7 runs in the first two innings tonight, beat the Rangers, and took the first game of the last series before the 2013 All-Star break.
Doug Fister pitched fairly well, but struggled at times with his control. He pitched 6 innings, gave up 2 earned, struck out 5, walked two, and threw 106 pitches.
The bullpen looked good, especially Bruce Rondon, who recorded 4 outs on 10 pitches including 2 Ks.
If I can complain or worry about anything, which you know I can, it is that the Tigers didn’t do much offensively after the 2nd inning. In fact, Joseph Ortiz replaced Russ Grimm and allowed only 1 hit, a Prince Fielder, infield single, in 3 and two thirds.
What made the lack of add on runs troubling is that the Rangers had chances to come back and make a game of it.
In the 4th inning with two runs already in, the Rangers had the bases loaded with two out and were one swing of the bat away from making a game of it, but Fister got David Murphy to strike out to end the threat. Also, in the 9th, the Rangers had two on with two out but Benoit was able to strike out Nelson Cruz to end the game.
Another thing that vexes me is the this Tui/Dirks platoon. Why does Dirks come in for Tui late in games when right handers are brought in but not the other way around. Dirks was 0-4 tonight and didn’t have a decent at-bat or swing the entire night. With the way Tui has been swinging the bat, and the way Dirks hasn’t, I thought it would be nice to bring Tui in when Ortiz, a lefty, replaced Grimm. It seems like this platoon thing is mostly a one way street and I don’t get it.
Back at it tomorrow. A series win would be nice.
“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Flashin' Leather 
I agree with you about the LF platoon situation. I don’t get the fascination with Dirks. He kind of reminds me of Raburn…great sub, but when given the starting job he got exposed. Any sensible manager would ride the hot hand of Tui until he drops off.
What really caused this problem in LF was the Sanchez signing, which I was against. All that did was take their strength and make it a little stronger, but not much. Could have spent that money on a solid LF, such as Upton. But instead they spent that money on Sanchez, and it could ultimately cost them Scherzer, who will undoubtedly be going after more than Sanchez. How many 15-20 million dollar pitchers can they carry?
My two cents!
That’s a good point. I know you were against the Sanchez signing. And, I guess I didn’t understand how he commanded that kind of money. But how good would our outfield look with Upton in left? And Smyly taking Sanchez’s place.
It’s funny you mentioned the Raburn fascination. I was thinking and saying the exact same thing at the game tonight. This LF platoon reminds me of when Leyland used put Clete Thomas and Raburn in every game, after the 6th inning, no matter how shitty they played..
Ya both right when you figure LF out call JL…pleezzzz. As far as Sanchez goes I think I can offer a why (no right or wrong just why)…so Sanchez is bought with win now money period. What will cost them Scherzer is 2015. Per baseball reference.com Scherzer is ARB eligible in 2014 and FA in 2015. Cabby is FA in 2015. Both are Boras guys. I don’t think the world can eat enough pizza to keep them both so………..read the Jack Morris article and tell me which you would pick? Me thinks we have one to many Leroy Halladay contracts already and GOD I HOPE I AM WRONG!
Nebraska/Sark,
As much as I hate to say it, perhaps 2015, or there about, might be the right time to let Miggy go. He’ll be 32 or 33, he will probably have a lot of trade value, and we might be parting with an asset ready for accelerated depreciation, sort of like the Cardinals letting Albert go. This may seem blasphemous, but I’m just sayin’.