Month: August 2015
Tigers 15 Cubs 8
The Tigers completed a mini two game sweep of the Cubs by pounding their pitching staff into a conniption for the second straight night. There was a lot to like on offense, not the least which was Nick Castellanos’ two home runs, his second a grand slam.
I really like Tyler Collins. He had a double in the eighth inning that drove in a run but what really impressed me was his ability to bunt runners to second and third in seventh. He seems like he is a good guy to have off the bench. I remember his pinch hit home run in Cincinnati a few months ago. He seems like he can do things at the plate that not lot of other guys on this team can do. He may not be an everyday player but like I said, a good guy to call upon when needed. (I didn’t like the fly ball that fell between him an Gose in the eighth but I’ll give him a Mulligan for getting that bunt down.)
Fifteen runs today. Ten runs yesterday but no amount of runs makes me feel comfortable.
How about Miggy flashin’ leather at first?
It looks like Daniel Norris is done for the season with an oblique strain.
Just when I start bragging about Kinsler he makes two bone head plays at second. I thought, for sure, the second one was going to blow up.
Two in a row. A win tomorrow makes a winning streak.
Ken Griffey Sr. | Flashin’ Leather
From 1985
Curtis Granderson | Two Conniption Shots and Flashin’ Leather
My favorite player, Curtis Granderson, had himself a day. He had two conniption shots and flashed some leather.
Tigers 10 Cubs 8
I was listening to MLB radio yesterday afternoon, I guess like every afternoon, and they were discussing what went wrong with the Tigers in 2015. One host said that basically it is starting pitching. It isn’t the bullpen because they have never had a bullpen. The difference between this year and the past few years is starting pitching. I guess you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out. When you don’t have good starting pitching it taxes your bullpen even more, not good, especially when it’s weak, and it demands that your offense produce everyday, and produce a lot. Tuesday night, the Tigers’ offense, despite a two hour and sixteen minute rain delay, produced a harvest and the pitching staff needed it.
Kinsler had five hits, Iggy had two and J.D. had a conniption shot in the first. Kinsler has really turned a miserable season around. Too bad it isn’t in the middle of a playoff run.
Can the Tigers afford J.D. now?
Jackie Bradley Jr. | Flashin’ Leather
This catch was against the Tigers on August 10th, 2015. I forgot to post it then but better late than never. This was a fantastic, Willie Mays-esque catch.
Astros 6 Tigers 5
Another loss. Another series loss. But there were a few things to like.
First, the Tigers battled back from a 5-2 deficit. Second, Jose Miguel Cabrera.
In his third game back from the DL Miggy went 2-3, with a HR, 3 RBIs, two walks, and two runs scored.
Miggy drove in the Tigers’ first run in the first inning with a double off the wall in left center. He was able to pull his hands inside and drive an inside pitch to get the Tigers on the board early. In the seventh, Miggy got the Tigers within a run by hitting a two-run homer, his 16th of the year. Basically, with JD struggling, Miggy was a one man wrecking crew. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough.
Tigers 4 Astros 2
The Tigers evened up the series with the Astros behind a fabulous pitching performance from Justin Verlander. JV didn’t get rewarded with a W but he pitched seven strong innings and he looks like he might be getting back to the form that got him his big contract.
Getting back to my watch list, Castellanos went 0-4 and his batting average is down to .237.
Iggy was 2-5. He’s hitting .306. I wish he’d take more walks.
Miggy had two hits and a walk.
Let’s see what happens this afternoon.
Flashin' Leather 