said Peter Gammons on many occasions. Well the last few games, the Tigers didn’t pitch and didn’t win.
The Tigers lost to the A’s for the second day and for the second straight day, the pitching was horrible.
I’m not sure what to make of JV, to say he sucked tonight, would be an understatement. He needed 44 pitches to get out of the 1st inning and ended up throwing 104 pitches in 5 innings. Infante’s error in the 5th didn’t help him much, but he doesn’t look anything like the pitcher of the last two years. Verlander’s final line was 5 complete, 5 runs, 3 earned, 3 strikeouts and 3 walks.
If the playoffs started tomorrow, Verlander would be 4th or 5th on my starter depth chart. I have no confidence when he toes the slab anymore and I’ve lost hope of him getting any better before next year. Unfortunately, to make a run, this is the JV the Tigers have to expect.
Bruce Rondon relieved JV in the 6th and Seth Smith promptly deposited the second pitch he threw over the center field wall.
Mercifully, this game was called after 6 innings due to rain. I couldn’t take anymore.
Prince had a walk and drove in his 89th and 90th runs of the year with a bases loaded single in the first. Other than that, there wasn’t much to cheer about.
Back at it tomorrow. The Tigers need two in a row to split.
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Flashin' Leather 
Verlander is crap, and in my opinion the players seem to lack any confidence in him. They’re out there in the field, on the bench, watching him throw 44 pitches to get out of the first. Then they actually come back and give him the lead after the first inning. Then he walks hitters, and ultimately gives up the lead, and more.
He clearly isn’t the pitcher people think he is. Maybe it’s a one year thing, I don’t know. But he will be a huge risk in the playoffs. I’m almost hoping there is some sort of injury that will come out soon, and he ends up on the DL.
I’m confident with Fister and Scherzer coming up we’ll take the next two.
Sark I hope you’re right about Scherzer and Fister.
Regarding JV, I’m ready to say he goes to the pen for the playoffs. That’s what the Giants did with Lincicum and look how that worked out.
I have more confidence in Porcello than JV right now.
I didn’t get to see JV pitch the first inning last night…..I did get to see a lost little puppy walk around behind the mound with it’s head down whimpering. I did get to see infielders stand and stare and pound there gloves. I did get to see a frontline catcher wear out a path trying to figure out what to throw………but I didn’t get to see JV pitch…and this was before the rains came. As far as Rondon..buy the time he got out there it was just plain miserable and he looked it. I will chalk his night up to conditions. Avila and Leyland said the same thing about JV no command all over the place and the rain didn’t really start until the third. If he keeps imploding the time is short to figure out what if any his place is in the post season. Unless they find something physical REALLY quick ……..welcome to the world of Rick Ankiel & Dontrelle Willis…..I really don’t want to believe that however after last night I hit bottom. Interesting to see what it takes to turn a $200 Million aircraft carrier…
I’M TELLING YOU, HE NEEDS TO DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET BACK TOGETHER WITH HIS OLD GIRLFRIEND, EMILY. It has been all down hill for him since he stopped going out with her.