Month: October 2014

World Series Thoughts…

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After three games of the 2014 World Series the Kansas City Royals are two wins away from their second World Series crown in franchise history and first since 1985.

I know they are the Tigers’ Central Division rivals but I’m pulling for them.

I respect the Giants but they’ve won two of the last four World Series. It is time for new blood, new champions.

Watching these games I can’t help pondering the following:

  • Perhaps speed and defense trump power? Maybe “Money Ball” is good for regular seasons but the A’s haven’t won a World Series in the Billy Beane era.  Someone once said, ‘speed doesn’t go into a slump.
  • Sark was correct, James Shields doesn’t deserve the “Big Game” moniker. In my opinion, he’s the weak link in the Royals staff.
  • Maybe Ned Yost is good manager?
  • Miggy had bone chips removed from his ankle and a stress fracture repaired.  Basically, he was playing with a broken ankle.  I’m sorry I ever complained about him.
  • Does Joe Maddon’s free agency mean anything for the Tigers?
  • Maybe Earl Weaver’s philosophy was right, ‘pitching, defense and three-run homers.’  The Royals are using pitching and defense.  Actually, they’ve hit their share of homers this post season too.
  • The Royals don’t strike out too much.

Anyway, these are just my most recent musings.

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

Orioles 2 Tigers 1

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A very disappointing season comes to an end. This three-game demise was a team effort. The flaws of the 2014 Tigers were too much to overcome.

Bad defense and a horrible bullpen lost game one.

Ditto, in spades, for game two.

In game three it was an inconsistent offense that could muster only 4 hits, 2 off of “future hall of famer” Bud Norris.

Did I mention, the fielding sucked today too? Although no errors were awarded, Castellanos and Kinsler should have gotten one each.

David Price was fantastic. He lasted 8 innings and made only one mistake, a two run, opposite field, home-run to Nelson Cruz. (Perhaps, if they ever meet again, the Tigers should pitch around Cruz. I’m not sayin. I’m just sayin.)

Basically, all season long, the Tigers have had three reliable hitters, Cabrera, Martinez and Martinez. Before and after that trio, nobody contributed much. You can’t have 1 and 2 slot hitters that don’t get on base.

If not for the starting pitching the 2014 Tigers may have finished near the bottom of the Central. I don’t think spotty hitting, bad defense, and a horrible bullpen will take a team too far.

The most disheartening thing is that I don’t see a way to fix this team without spending a ton of money. They need two outfielders, a lead-off hitter, a shortstop*, a catcher**, and an entire bullpen.

*I’m not very optimistic about Iggy coming back. Even if he does come back how much is going to be able to play and contribute.
**AA left the game today after being rocked by a foul ball. He has taken so many shots I don’t think the Tigers should let him catch anymore.

My prediction is that the Royals and Giants will meet in the World Series. Everything just seems to be falling into place for both of those team.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever see another Tigers World Series win.

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

Orioles 7 Tigers 6

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“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”

The Tigers bullpen has been its Achilles heal for the past four years. The genius Dave Dombrowski, has done nothing to remedy the issue.

Oh, I know he made a half hearted attempt with the acquisition of Soria. But he knew Soria didn’t work out almost immediately and did nothing.

The TBS broadcast showed a statistic of the Tigers bullpen ERA during the last three post seasons. It wasn’t pretty. If I’m not mistaken, the 2011 ERA was over eight. Dennis Eckersley made the comment that the pen has been the single reason the Tigers haven’t won the World Series. (No kidding.)

For some reason, Ausmus keeps sending out the same parade of idiots. I know, ‘what can he do? That’s all he’s got’. I thought you’d never ask. How about leaving Sanchez in for the 8th or how about Kyle Lobstein? How about Porcello? Anybody but Soria, Chamberlain, Coke, Nathan, et al.

Now JV wasn’t good. I thought the home plate umpire was a joke but JV wasn’t good. He got picked up by his offense and Anibal Sanchez who was brilliant.

Do you remember a few months ago when I said third base coach Dave Clark was the second worst third base coach in the history of baseball behind Tom Brookens? I was wrong. He’s worse than Tommy Brookens. His asinine send of Cabrera in the eight with nobody out proved to be a dagger in the heart.

Given the deficiencies this team has it is a wonder they have won four division titles.

I’m sick.

Orioles 12 Tigers 3

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All of the Tigers flaws were on display but it all started with Scherzer. He wasn’t nearly good enough. Although his final line was worse than he pitched he wasn’t good enough.

I could excuse his first inning but giving back the lead right after the offense tied the game was offensive.

I’m not even that mad about the 8thinning implosion. Anybody that was shocked by the defense and bullpen hasn’t been watching all season.

What really sent my blood pressure through the ceiling was the final out of the game. I was under no delusion, the Tigers weren’t coming back, but what they could have done was irritate the Orioles by scoring a few runs and stretching their bullpen.

With two outs, Tigers loaded the bases. Kinsler the struck out but the ball got away from the catcher. Everybody ran except Kinsler. He could have easily made it to first. A run would have scored and the inning would have been kept alive for Hunter. But Kinsler refused to run. Who in the sam hell does he think he is? A few runs wouldn’t have meant much today but it may have created a better atmosphere for tomorrow.

Kinsler’s antics are the biggest reason the Tigers will be golfing next week. Only a few of them seem to give a shit. Like Fielder last year, I hope Kinsler isn’t in a Tigers uniform next year.

I HATE THEM!

Sent from my iPad

Giants 8 Pirates 0

Crippy Baseball

I was hoping the Jolly Roger would be raised but it didn’t happen.

The Giants beat the Pirates into a conniption. Leading the way was Madison Bumgarner who tossed a complete game, shut out.

I wanted the Giants gone. Have I mentioned I hate them? Whether the Tigers win or not, I don’t want those jackasses winning. But they look good. All of the sudden Fat Panda and Hunter Pence are taking pitches and working walks? WTF?

FYI: None of the afternoon commentators on MLB Network have picked the Tigers. Everyone of them has the Orioles beating the Tigers and going to the World Series.

Nebraska, I’m surprised, yet again, at the Vegas lines. The Tigers on the road $-113?

As you can probably tell by the time-stamp of this post, I’m excited for tomorrow.

Royals 9 A’s 8

Crippy Baseball ,

This may have been the best baseball game I ever saw.

It was supposed to be a low scoring, pitcher’s duel, but neither Big Game James Shields or John Lester were on their game. Or maybe it was just time for both of those offenses to break out.

Lester pitched into the eight but in the end he was charge with six earned runs.

I thought the Royals were done at 7-3.

I thought the Royals were done at 8-7.

When the A’s scored in the top of the 12th I thought that was it. I figured the Royals had squandered too many chances to win it. I was wrong. They just kept scratching out runs.

I’m interested to see the Royals – Angels series.