Month: September 2014

Tigers 3 Twins 0

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It took 162 games but the Tigers clinched their fourth consecutive America League Central Division title.

This game was won by Price and Kinsler.

The Tigers needed a big start and they got it. Price was smokin’ balls. He pitched 7.1 innings of shutout baseball.

The atmosphere at Comerica Park was extremely tense. Very few batters had good at-bats but Kinsler was 3-4 and drove in two of the three runs.

Miggy’s first two at-bats were two of the worst I’ve every seen from him.

This season wasn’t pretty but the Tigers, flaws and all, are in the post-season. I’m not sure what to expect but I guess anything can happen.

I hope the A’s beat the Royals into a conniption. I’ve developed a deep dislike for KC and the Twins. And the White Sox for that matter.

Twins 11 Tigers 4

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Uh oh!

This game was over before it started. I don’t know what is up with Freeway Ricky but he has been horrible lately. Not only is he giving up hits but the extra base hits, double and home-runs, is very concerning. That being said, he didn’t get much help from Rajai Davis or Nick Castellanos.

On the first pitch of the game, Danny Santana hit a long fly ball to straight-away center field. Davis came in, then went back, then turned the wrong way. Santana ended up on second. A good center fielder would have made the catch.

If the Tigers make it past the wild-card game, Castellanos cannot start at third. He is an abomination. He is directly responsible for four of the Twins’ eleven runs yesterday. He isn’t doing anything at the plate either. In fact, the Tigers aren’t getting much from the 6,7 or 8 hitters.

I have a bad feeling the Tigers’ season is going to be over Tuesday. The Royals are not going to lose to the White Sox and I’m not sure the Tigers will win the last two against the Twins.

I hope I’m wrong.

Tigers 4 Twins 2

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I’m pretty sure I’ve never said this before, the Tigers bullpen was smokin balls. It worked out just the way it was scripted. Soria, Chamberlain and Nathan pitched the final 9 outs and got them in order.

Max was pretty good. He had an elevated pitch count but last six complete and got his 18th win.

I was listening to the White Sox broadcast on the way home from the game. For what it’s worth, they think the Tigers will re-sign Victor but Max is leaving. I think most Tigers fans expect Max to leave. I’m not sure about Vmart. I’m usually not in favor of singing older players but this could be an exception.

The Royals won’t go away. They beat the White Sox 6-3.

Tigers 6 White Sox 1

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That’s why they play the games. I had this chalked up as a loss when I saw the pitching match-up. That shows how much I know.

I have not said this very often in the last two years; JV was smokin balls. I thought I was time warped back to 2011. He out pitched that sack of garbage Chris Sale.

Until the sixth inning, I was a Sale for CY Young booster, but anybody that can be that stupid doesn’t deserve to win it.

Like Nebraska says, ‘you can’t fix stupid.”

Just when I think Miggy is back he K’s four times. WTF?

Hat tip to J.D. and Rajai, they led the offensive charge this afternoon.

The Tigers are in first for another day.

Twins tomorrow.

Tigers 4 White Sox 3

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The Tigers have held onto first place for another day.

The offense is still MIA. Although they scored four runs, the White Sox tried to give them a big inning in the 7th, but the Tigers refused to take it. That being said, they had a 3-0 lead going into the top of the 9th.

I have to give a partial hat tip to Brad Ausmus. He left David Price pitch in the 9th until the game was tied. I would have done the same thing. Did he have a choice? During BA’s first trip to the mound I thought Price looked winded but a winded David Price is better than ANY option out of the pen.

I only gave BA a partial hat tip because of his unnatural love affair with Joe Nathan. Was Nathan his only option? What in the sam hell did the Tigers acquire Soria for? I rarely see him warm up. This would have been the perfect opportunity to see what Soria is. It wasn’t a save situation so he could have explained away his decision not to bring in his “closer”.

I don’t get it.

I feel bad for Price in that he lost his shutout and win. He was smokin balls all game and in the 9th he just got unlucky.

In the end, despite the lack of relief pitching, suspect defense and inconsistent offense, the Tigers still have Miguel Cabrera. And he might be getting healthy.

On another note, Avisail Garcia continues to the hurt the Tigers. Last year, his off the field shenanigans got Miggy hurt for the stretch, today he drives in two runs in the top of the 9th in a game the Tigers had to have. As far as the Tigers are concerned, Garcia is a low-grade infection that keeps flaring up.

They had to have this game and they got it.

White Sox 2 Tigers 0

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Not this again. Just when I was starting to praise the offense they play a game like this.

Ian Kinsler was a one man offense sabotage unit. He was 0-4, reached on an error in the first, was promptly thrown out trying to steal second. Then he killed a rally by bouncing into a double play in the third.

To show you the sorry state of affairs, the Tigers lead-off man, Kinsler, is hitting .273. His OBP is .305 and he has struck out 77 times. The worst part is, he’s the best the Tigers have.

A great outing by Kyle Lobstein went to waste and to make matters worse, the Royals won.

Royals 5 Tigers 2

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I know they can’t win them all but today was very disappointing. It almost looks like they took the day off.

Freeway Ricky was very disappointing. It seems he has the same ailment that David Price has, one good start, one bad start. I’ve noticed that Ricky doesn’t do a good job of adapting. If he gets ambushed early, it doesn’t seem like he has a plan b. For that matter, shouldn’t Jeff Jones have a plan b?

The offense blew today.

Basically, the Tigers got what they deserved, a loss. One hundred and fifty five games into the season, nothing is settled in the Central.

Tigers 3 Royals 2

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The Tiger survived terrible fielding by Ian Kinsler and Eugenio Suarez, and terrible relief from Joba and the turd, and squeezed out a narrow victory in KC.

The win increased the Tigers lead to 2.5 games in the AL Central.

A few things to note:

  1. I think this is the first time I’ve seen a starting pitcher, who wasn’t injured, ask to come out of a game. Is Scherzer just playing for his contract as it has been suggested on this site? It appears so,. For as horrible as JV has been I have never seen him ask to come out of a game. In fact, JV reminds me of Jack Morris, who had a conniption anytime he was removed.
  2. I’m starting to like Tyler Collins.
  3. I’m beginning to question the value of replay. Baseball headquarters said that the play where Perez didn’t tag up was not reviewable. Really? Why?
  4. Romine has to be the regular shortstop. Neither he nor Suarez is much of a hitter, but Suarez looks like an asshat in the field.

Joba and Nathan were not good. That’s why the Tigers need the starters to go as deep into games as humanly possible. Any started that would willingly give way to this bullpen deserves his fate.

How long is this team going to sick with Nathan? Does he have cost the Tigers a Pennant or World Series for BA and DD to admit they made a mistake?

WTF?

Tigers 10 Royals 1

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The Tigers dusted KC. There’s no other way to say it.

The offense put up 10 runs and JV looked pretty good.

The only thing I can’t figure out is why JV seemed to be mad at Johnny Giavotella for going to 3rd on a fly ball? Wtf? Was he supposed to stay put to preserve his shutout? I don’t get it.

This is a nice win. I’ll take it.

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