Month: August 2013

OK, I’m Sorry…

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I know this is a baseball blog and baseball is my true passion.  But I’m also passionate about the sport I grew up playing, hockey.  I like to tell people that I’m married to baseball but hockey is my girlfriend.  Anyway, I just saw this picture of Pavel Datsyuk on Facebook and I’m getting excited for hockey to start.

Pavel Datsyuk
Pavel Datsyuk Fishing

One thought led to another and I started thinking about my favorite youtube videos.  The video below shows the beautiful Larionov sisters, Alyonka and Diana, daughters of Red Wing and Hockey legend, Igor, singing Ave Maria in Red Square.

This thought led me to yet another.  The picture below is courtesy of Alyonka “Wonka” Larionov’s facebook page.  It is a picture of her, her sister Diana, and father Igor with the Stanley Cup.  It is so cute.  I reminds me of when my own nieces were little.

Igor, Alyonka, and Diana Larionov
Igor, Alyonka, and Diana Larionov kissing the Holy Grail, the Stanley Cup. One sip gives you eternal life.

OK, back to baseball, I promise.  But I hope you enjoy.

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

Tigers Lose Game and Series…

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in the Bronx.

The Tigers lost this afternoon to the Yankees 5-4 and lost the weekend series 2 games to 1.  This was a terrible series to lose.  The Yankees have been struggling and the Tigers surging. but the Tigers found a way to lose two games.

Justin Verlander was, ok, not great, not terrible. He pitched 7 complete, allowed 4 runs on 4 hits, struck out 9 and walked 1.  JV was not lights out but his offense didn’t pick him up today.  The Tigers as a team left 23 runners on base.

Austin Jackson made another crucial base running error in the 8th inning.  With the score 4-2, Jackson was on first base with one out.  Torii Hunter followed with a long fly ball that Yankee center fielder, Brett Gardener, flashed some leather on. He made a fine running catch and crashed into the wall. He was momentarily hurt and unable to throw the ball in.  As a result, he shoveled the ball toward the left fielder Alfonso Soriano.  For some reason, Jackson never went back to first base and got double off leaving Miguel Cabrera in the on deck circle.

Miggy struck in the 9th.  He lead off the 9th with a solo shot off of Yankee closer Mariano Rivera.  After Prince lined out softly to third, Victor stepped up and hit a solo homer to tie the game.  Unfortunately, Brett Gardner homered off of Jose Veras in the bottom of the 9th to win the game for the Yankees.

Even with the late inning heroics, you can’t leave 23 runners on base and expect to win baseball games.  The Tigers have a gaping hole in left field and need to figure out a way to fill it, at least partially.  Matt Tuiasosopo played today and he seems to have cooled off but you can hardly blame him.  He hasn’t played much in the last two weeks as Tiger manager Jim Leyland was suffering from Dirksburger Syndrome and couldn’t find many at bats for Tui.

It’s on to Chicago.  They need to win this series.

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

Tigers Thrash Yankees 9-3…

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even series at 1.

The Tigers beat up on Yankee pitching early and often.  The 1-2-3 hitters were on fire but the big hit came off the bat of Don Kelly in the top of the 5th.  After a Victor Martinez double, Kelly came to the plate with runners at second and third with two out and delivered a 2 RBI single making it 6-0.

Miggy, Ajax, and Hunter each hit home runs today.  Hunter’s 3 run shot in the 6th, effectively put the game out of reach.

Anibal Sanchez pitched well.  He went 7 complete, allowed 2 earned, struck out 8, and walked only 1.

In the bottom of the 4th inning, Yankee Brett Gardner, went in to second base high and hard on Jose Iglesias to brake up a double play.  He was successful.  Iglesias threw the ball wide and Ichiro was safe at 1st.  This may be considered an acceptable, hard, baseball play, but after what happened to Omar Infante in Toronto, I think the Tigers should have responded and sent the Yankees, Gardner and the rest of the league a message.  In his next at bat, Gardner should have gotten a 95 mph fastball in the ribs but it didn’t happen.  Perhaps tomorrow? Perhaps next year?

As far as I’m concerned, the Tigers have two scores to settle.  The first is with the Toronto Blue Jays and Colby Rasmus.  That little jerk should be given chin music in his next 3 at bats against the Tigers and his in his 4th at bat his ribs need to be light up with a Rondon 103 mph fastball.  As for Gardner, one in the ribs should suffice, Verlander perhaps tomorrow?

Jose Iglesias and Victor Martinez flashed leather today.  In the bottom of the 3rd, Iggy made a nice diving stop on a ball hit sharply, off the bat of Austin Romine, between short and 3rd and Victor made a nice scoop at 1st to complete the play and end the inning.  Iggy also had two hits raising his average to .323.  Not too bad for a guy the Tigers got for his glove.

Tiger manager Jim Leyland had a slight reprieve from his Dirksburger Syndrome.  Andy Dirks was replaced in left field by Don DK Kelly.  Kelly was 2-4 with 3 RBIs.  What’s even more surprising is that Dirksy didn’t even come in as a defensive replacement late in the game.

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

VINDICATED…

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I have to say, I feel pretty good right now.  Remember this previous post, Tigers Lose 7-4. Dirks Embarrassing! ? In case you don’t here’s a link to the post.

The story of this game was written in the 4th inning. The Tigers scored 2 in the top of the 4th to tie the game at 2, but the White Sox came back in the bottom with 4 runs, thanks largely to the efforts of Tiger left fielder Andy Dirks. Dirks’ play in left field, makes ex-Cleveland left fielder Albert Joey Belle, look like a gold glover.

With one out and two on, White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers hit a 92 mph JV change up hard to left field that Andy Dirks completely misplayed. In fact, it looked like the ball went off of his glove, but miraculously, the official scorer gave Flowers a double and an RBI.

When I was writing the post yesterday about Jack Clark, I looked up JV’s numbers for the season.  When I saw the ERA at 3.50 it looked a little low to me.  Well, I’m watching the Tigers dust the Yankees right now, it is 9-2 in the top of the 7th, they flashed a picture of JV standing in the in dugout.  As they showed JV they also showed his 3.50 ERA and Mario commented that the era was lowered because MLB changed the scoring in the above mentioned White Sox game.  They gave Dirksy an error on the play and as a result, 4 earned runs that were originally charged to JV were changed to un-earned.

I feel a bit vindicated.

Dirksy isn’t in the lineup today, yet, anyway.

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

Jack Clark Dismissed

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Former MLB player turned shock jock, Jack Clark has been dismissed from his radio show after accusing Albert Pujols and Justin Verlander of using PEDs, with absolutely no shred of evidence.

Upon learning of the accusations, Albert Pujols released a statement and threatened to sue Clark and his now former employer, WGNU 920 AM.  Apparently, the heat was too much for WGNU and they decided to dismiss Clark.

From SBNATION courtesy of Nebraskaknows:

After seven shows, Jack Clark has been dismissed by WGNU 920 AM following on-air accusations about Albert Pujols and PED use.

Former St. Louis Cardinal Jack Clark has been fired from his newly-found gig on WGNU 920 AM for his comments made about former Cardinal and current Angels first baseman Albert Pujols, according to a report in the St. Louis Dispatch.

Here’s the story from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

Former Cardinals icon Albert Pujols said late Friday that he plans to sue former Cardinal Jack Clark, as well as those connected with the St. Louis radio station on which he appears, for Clark’s on-air steroids allegations about Pujols.

Then shortly after midnight Saturday morning, the company that has put Clark and co-host Kevin Slaten on the air abruptly announced they will not be returning — after just seven shows.

Clark’s supposed source regarding Pujols, Chris Mihlfield, has denied telling Clark that Pujols used PEDs.  Here’s a story from the LA Times

A former personal trainer for Angels slugger Albert Pujols strongly denied accusations by former major leaguer Jack Clark that Pujols used performance-enhancing drugs during his early days with the St. Louis Cardinals.

“I haven’t even talked to Jack Clark in close to 10 years — his statements are simply not true,” Chris Mihlfeld, who worked with the Dodgers in 2000, when Clark was the team’s hitting coach, wrote in an email to The Times.

“I have known Albert Pujols since he was 18 years old, and he would never use illegal drugs in any way. I would bet my life on it and probably drop dead on the spot if I found out he has. As before, once again, both Albert and myself have been accused of doing something we didn’t do,” Mihlfield wrote.

Understandably, all the buzz has been over Albert Pujols because Clark was working for a St. Louis station.  But lost in all of this is Clark’s absolute, baseless, unfounded, attack on the Tigers’ Justin Verlander.  At least with Pujols, Clark acted like he had some “inside” information.  But on JV, he didn’t have anything.

I wonder if WGNU would have fired Clark if Pujols hadn’t threatened to sue.  I guess we’ll never know.

If I could give JV any advice, it would be to forgive, Jack Clark.  Perhaps he’s still struggling with roid rage.

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

The Streak Ends At 12…

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as the Tigers fell to the Yankees tonight, 4-3, in 10 innings.

Rick Porcello started the game and only lasted 5 innings allowing 3 runs on 6 hits.  He struck out six and walked 2.  Ricky didn’t pitch poorly but I knew he was in trouble from the very first batter.  The umpire, Will Little, was not calling the inside pitch to left handers a strike.  Brett Gardner led off the game with a walk and the replay showed that Ricky had struck him out twice but couldn’t get the inside strike called.  In fact, the Yankees first 5 hits were all from left handers and all to left or left center.  The only hard hit ball was Robinson Cano’s double that drove in 2 runs in the third.

In fact, this was one of the worst umpired games I’ve seen in a long time at home plate.  I couldn’t tell what was a strike and neither could anybody else.  Most of the time replays show that umpires get the calls right but not tonight.  I’m not sure what Little was looking at.

That being said, the Tigers had plenty of chances to score but the offense basically consisted of Autsin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera.  Jackson was 4-6 and Miggy was 2-5 and drove in all three Tigers runs.  The big hit was Miggy’s two run bomb in the 9th inning off of Mariano Rivera to send the game into extra innings.  It looked like the Tigers might go ahead in the 9th.  After Miggy’s homer, Fielder followed with a double.  The Yankees then walked Martinez putting runners at first and second with 2 out.  Andy Dirks stepped to the plate and completed his 0-5 night by grounding out to 2nd base.  Between Torii Hunter and Andy Dirks, they left 15 men on base.  Hunter stranded 8 while Dirksies chipped in with 7.

Ichiro Suzuki, Torii Hunter and Jose Iglesias all flashed leather tonight.  Ichiro was first when he made a nice running grab in right field, crashing into the wall and robbing Miggy of extra bases in the 3rd.  Torii Hunter made a fine sliding catch in foul territory on a ball hit by Alfonso Soriano to end the 7th and Jose Iglesias, smooth as silk, started a 6-4-3 double play in the bottom of the 8th to bail Bruce Rondon out of a jam and keep the Tigers within striking distance.

With the run the Tigers have been on it is hard to complain.  Hopefully, they can regroup and start another streak tomorrow afternoon.

Looking at the big picture, the most important thing is that Jimmy Leyland got Andy Dirks a start and kept him in for the whole game.

Here’s a thought, Don Kelly was brought in to pinch hit for Jose Iglesias to lead off the 9th.  I know there’s no way of knowing Miggy would tie the score but perhaps it would have been a good idea to keep your best defensive player in the game in a tight game on the road.  It might have been a better idea to have Kelly pinch hit for Dirksy to lead off the top of the 8th.  Kelly could then have played left field instead of shortstop.  But, I guess at that point, Dirksy was only 0-3 with only 5 left on base.  But, what do I know.

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

Jack Clark Projecting?

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Ex-MLB player, Jack Clark, turned radio host, has accused Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander and California Angels first baseman/DH Albert Pujols of using performance enhancing drugs to earn big contracts.  Clark’s theory seems to be that the players use PEDs to have outstanding seasons that reward them with huge contracts.  Once the player gets the big contract, they stop taking PEDs, their performance declines, but the player doesn’t care anymore because they already have the big money.

Neither Pujols or Verlander have ever tested positive for PEDs or have been investigated for such.  As far a the accusations directed toward Pujols go, they stem from a conversation Clark supposedly had with one of Pujols’ personal trainers, Chris Mihlfield.  Pujols has reject the accusations and volunteered to submit to a drug test at anytime.

Clarks’s accusations directed toward JV seem to be completely unfounded.  Here’s what he had to say about JV, from STLTODAY:

“Verlander was like Nolan Ryan, he threw 97, 98, 100 miles an hour from the first inning to the ninth inning,” Clark said on the air. “He got that big contract, now he can barely reach 92, 93. What happened to it? He has no arm problems, nothing’s wrong. It’s just the signs are there.

“The greed … they juice up, they grab the money and it’s just a free pass to steal is the way I look at it.”

I’m not an expert or an insider, but I don’t believe in accusing people of crimes with absolutely no supporting evidence.  Additionally, his statement regarding Verlander is false.  Verlander’s velocity really hasn’t been an issue this year, rather, it has been his command of the strike zone that has gotten him in trouble.  Further, although 2013 hasn’t been good compared to what Tigers fans have been accustomed to seeing from JV, he is hardly having a bad season by MLB standards.  In 24 games, Verlander is 12-8 with a 3.50 ERA.  He has struck out 145 and walked 56 which is a 2.58 K/BB ratio.

Jack Clark played in the Major Leagues from 1977 to 1993 and earned close to $16 million for his efforts.  That’s big money.  Perhaps Clark has squandered all of his earnings and is struggling to make ends meet and is trying to cope with his miserable post baseball life?  Perhaps Jack Clark is projecting?  In psychology, projection is defined as:

a defense mechanism that involves taking our own unacceptable qualities or feelings and ascribing them to other people. For example, if you have a strong dislike for someone, you might instead believe that he or she does not like you. Projection works by allowing the expression of the desire or impulse, but in a way that the ego cannot recognize, therefore reducing anxiety.

PEDs have been around for decades but were relatively unknown to the general public in the 70’s and early 80’s, despite the fact, that they were used by body builders, weight lifters and routinely given to soldiers in the military.  During Jack Clark’s career, MLB was not testing players for PEDs.  As a result, it is possible that Clark used PEDs to get, what was at the time, big money.   Hey $16 million is nothing to sneeze at.  Perhaps he’s broke and bitter and even a little bit remorseful.  To compensate he may be projecting his inadequacies on current, successful, highly paid players.

Whatever the case, I don’t care who used PEDs or not, but unless Clark has proof he should refrain from accusing people of wrongdoing.  By making these baseless accusations Clark revels himself to be a small, petty, pathetic, bitter, jealous, old cur, who has not adjusted well to life after baseball and is trying to turn himself into a sports shock jock.

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

12 IN A ROW! TIGERS SWEEP TRIBE 10-3!

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Max Scherzer improved his record to 17-1 as the Tigers pounded the Indians and swept the 4 games series.  Max pitched 7 innings, allowed 2 earned runs, struck out 5 and walked on to earn his 17th win of the season.

The Tigers offense exploded in the 3rd when Indians starter Zach McAllister couldn’t throw strikes.  They scored six runs, 4 on back to back doubles by Fielder and Martinez.  They added 2 runs in the both the 4th and 5th innings and cruised to their 12 consecutive victory.

After 5 innings, the Tigers led 10-1.  I was expecting Miguel Cabrera, and possibly Prince Fielder, to come out of the game for some rest with the game well in hand but that didn’t happen.  Both Fielder and Cabrera played the entire game.

I’m a little confused.  Last night in a one run game, Jim Leyland pull Miggy out of the game for a defensive replacement and to rest his ailing hip.  Tonight, with a 9 run lead, he’s left in to play the whole game.  Perhaps, the thinking was that a defensive replacement in yesterday’s game might help preserve the lead and avoid extra innings?  I’m not sure.  But as it turned out, the Indians tied the game and Miggy missed at least 2 more at bats.  If that is the thinking, I can understand not pulling Miggy for defensive purposes, but how about to rest his injury.  Nothing seems to make sense but it’s hard to complain with the role the Tigers are on.

I guess the Important thing is that Andy Dirks started and played the whole game.  I’m not sure if the Tigers could have survived if Dirksy didn’t play.  He did have two hits and an RBI but they came when the game was well in hand.  In the third inning, with no score, Dirksy came up with the bases loaded and nobody out and promptly struck out on three pitches, all fast balls, up in the zone.

I think I’ve diagnosed a new illness.  It is very rare and only known to affect one person to date,  The illness is Dirksburger syndrome.  Similar to Assburger syndrome when the sufferer sees everybody’s behind as a cheeseburger, Dirksburger syndrome is more concentrated.  Those inflicted have this nagging neuroses that requires them to insert Andy Dirks into the lineup of a baseball game no matter what the circumstances are.  It is rare, never fatal, but could prevent the Tigers from ending their 29 year World Series drought.

In the 9th inning, Indians manager, Terry Francona, brought our old friend Ryan Rayburn in to pitch, and he looked pretty good, actually.  He retired the Tigers 1-2-3 and got Tui for a swinging K.

On to New York City, the city so nice they named it twice.  Hopefully Ricky can keep the wagon rolling.

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

Tigers Top Tribe 6-5. Extend Win Streak to 11.

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Courtesy of a clutch two run double from Prince Fielder in the 14th inning, the Tigers were able to overcome some questionable substitutions, and extend their winning streak to 11 games.

Tigers’ manager, Jim Leyland, seems to have what can only be called an asinine obsession with Andy Dirks.  No matter what, come hell or high water, Leyland has to figure out a way to get Dirks into the game.  Why?  Am I missing something?  Is Dirks some kind of defensive wizard or offensive juggernaut? Tonight, with the Tigers down 3-2, Leyland brought in Dirks to pinch hit for, arguably the best defensive player on the team, Jose Iglesias to lead off the 8th inning.  I understand that Iglesias hadn’t done much against Indians pitcher Danny Salazar but not too many other Tigers had either.  In fact, at that point, Salazar had struck out the best player in the game, Miguel Cabrera, 3 times.

If bringing Dirks in wasn’t strange enough, Leyland wasn’t done tinkering.  Unbelievably, after Cabrera hit a two-run shot to give the Tigers the lead 4-3 in the 8th, Leyland pulled Miggy out of the game for a defensive replacement.  Should Miguel Cabrera ever be taken out of a close game unless he’s injured?  As a result, Dirks went to left field, Don Kelly went to third, Santiago went to short and Hernan Perez, now hitting in Cabrera’s spot, went to second.  If the Tribe tied the game, Miguel Cabrera would not bat again.

The Tribe came back to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th.  Cabrera didn’t bat again.

Luckily the Tigers were able to pull this game out in extra innings, but WOW!  You’re in extra innings, against your closest division rival, and Miguel Cabrera was out of the game.

On the bright side, Bruce Rondon and Jeremy Bonderman were very impressive.  Rondon bailed out the usually lights out Drew Smyly, in the bottom of the 8th.  He inherited runners at 2nd and 3rd with nobody out.  He blew Ryan Raburn away with a 103 MPH fastball,  He got Yan Gomes to ground out to shortstop, who for some reason was playing back.  The Tigers got the out at first but the tying run scored.  Rondon then got Mike Avilies to pop out to short to end the inning.  He would stay in and pitch a 1-2-3 9th.  This was a big pick-me-up for the usually solid Smyly.

Jeremy Bonderman was equally impressive in his first appearance as a Tiger since 2010.  Bonderman pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only 1 hit while striking out 3.  Bonderman looked like he did when he was the ace of the Tigers staff back in 2006.

In the top of the 10th, I saw two of the most horrible swings I’ve ever seen in 35 years of watching baseball.  Hernan Perez struck out on a pitch that was three feet outside.  The pitch was so bad it got by Indians’ catcher Yan Gomes and Perez was able to make it to first without a throw.  Next, Prince Fielder, struck out on a pitch that HIT HIM.  That’s right, he swung at the pitch, he missed it, and the ball hit him in the left thigh.

This was a very strange game.  I’m just glad the Tigers came out on top.

Update: I just heard Leyland in a post game interview.  He said the took Miggy out for defensive reasons.  He said Miggy wasn’t moving too well at 3rd so he moved Kelly to 3rd to solidify the defense.  So, remind me again, why you took Iglesias out?

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

High Praise For Drew Smyly…

Crippy Baseball ,

from Phillies, southpaw, Cliff Lee.

Thanks to my good buddy Nebraskaknows for turning me on to this article from the FREEP.

Phillies’ Cliff Lee says Tigers’ Drew Smyly has figured it out

Drew Smyly has gotten to know Cliff Lee. Both left-handers are from Arkansas, and they have the same agent.

In the days leading up to Lee’s arrival at Comerica Park this weekend with the Phillies, Smyly pitched like Lee at his best.

Entering Friday’s game, Smyly had pitched in 12 straight games without allowing a run, walk or an extra-base hit.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, that’s the longest such streak by a Tigers left-hander since at least 1916.

“That’s pretty impressive,” Lee said Friday. “Throwing strikes and going at them — that’s the point of the game. He’s definitely figuring that out. He’s got what it takes. It’s a matter of getting the reps and sticking with it.”

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