Month: July 2013

The Tiger Ship is Taking On Water…

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and sinking fast.  The Tigers got dusted this afternoon in Toronto, 8-3.  Last year’s NL Cy Young winner, R.A. Dickey pitched 7 strong, striking out 4 and walking 1.

The Tigers got no starting pitching from Jose Alvarez who lasted only 3 innings, allowing 5 runs, 4 of them earned.

The offense looked like they were going to try to make a game of it, scoring 2 in the top of the 4th, to cut the Jays’ lead to 5-2.  But Luke Putkonen came in to relieve Alvarez in the bottom of the 4th and killed any chances the Tigers thought they might have when he gave up a three run homer to Mark DeRosa to extend the Toronto lead to 8-2.

If there were any bright spots, Omar Infante went 4 for 4 and drove in 2 of the 3 Tiger runs.

And what do you know, the Tigers finally scored a run after the 6th inning.  They got one in the top of the 9th.  Granted, it didn’t mean much but I’m grasping at straws here.

The Tigers have lost 6 of 7 and are no longer in first place, and frankly, unless something changes, I don’t expect them to be there when the season is over.

Commentors, Sark and Nebraskaknows, made excellent points in regard to yesterday’s game post.  You can’t fire or trade all of the players, so it might time for Jim Lelyland to go.  Something has to be done to shake this team up.  While I’ve been a supporter of JL’s, I’m beginning to think he has run his course.  On his way out, he can take Jeff Jones and Lloyd McClendon with him.

“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Serena Williams Loses At Wimbledon…

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Ok, sorry, this is not a baseball post, but the way the Tigers have been playing, and are playing, they’re getting destroyed in Toronto this afternoon, 8-2, can you blame me.

Serena Williams, the odds on favorite to win The Championships, Wimbledon 2013, was ousted this morning by Germany’s Sabine Lisicki, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.

Sabine Lisicki | FlashinLeather.com
Sabine Lisicki smiles her way to victory over Serena

I have to be honest (I’ve never thought much of lying anyway.), I just got into tennis about 4 years ago when I saw The Great Dane, Caroline Wozniacki play.  Once I started watching, I realized the hotness of the likes of Maria Sharapova and the Radwanska sisters and I was hooked.

I prefer women’s tennis over men’s, not only because the women are generally hot, but the points seem to be much longer, they have longer rallies.  The men’s game has so much power a point seems to last only a few seconds.

It’s the top of the 6th in Toronto, still 8-2 Blue Jays.  Fielder has homered and Victor is 1 for 3.  He actually scored a run on a double by Infante.

“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural

Why Victor Must Go…

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or at the very least, moved way down in the order.

Victor Martinez’s struggles this year are well documented.  After missing the entire 2012 season I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.  I was will to give him 40 to 50 games to get back in a groove.  Well, 80 games into the 2013 campaign, he is showing no signs of getting into a productive groove.

He’s hitting .232 with 6 homers and 40 RBIs.  Actually, the 40 RBIs aren’t bad, that puts him 3rd on the team behind Fielder and Cabrera, and on pace for 80 this season.  But his lack of power and speed make him a severe liability.

Consider this scenario:

Victor, comes to bat with the bases empty and gets to first on a walk or a single.  Obviously, he’s no threat to steal and only a horrible wild pitch or passed ball is getting him to second so let’s leave him on first for now and using today’s lineup Dirks steps to the plate and hits a single.

Victor is not going first to third so the Dirks single puts Victor on second.

Up steps Peralta who delivers another single.  Assuming Victor is not running on the pitch, he’s probably not scoring, so now he’s at third.  The Tigers are basically playing station to station baseball with him and as a result, another hit is going to be required to score Martinez.  Add it all up and including Victor’s single, four hits are going to be required to score him. (Also, how many times have the Tigers had four hits in one inning this season?  I haven’t researched it, but I’m sure it isn’t many.)

Granted this scenario is assuming all singles, with no extra base hits from any of the participants, but this is the deck the Tigers are playing with and unless Victor starts showing signs of extra base power, I just don’t see how Lelyand can leave him in the 5 slot.  At the current pace, I’m not sure Leyland can make an argument for playing him every day.

“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural