Month: September 2015

Tigers 7 Twins 4

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Daniel Norris looked good in his first start coming off of the DL.  He only gave up one run in 4.2 innings.  It is a shame he was on a low pitch count and had to come out of the game because the pen couldn’t hold his slim 2-1 lead, nothing new here.

The Tigers offense battled, despite hitting into four more double plays, and finally took the lead for good in the top of the 12th.  They also got a huge boost from Ian Krol who picked the entire bullpen up, including VerHagen and Hardy who were not good tonight. Krol pitched three scoreless innings, the 10th, 11th, and 12th, after Bruce Rondon blew a 4-3 lead in the 9th.

Blaine Hardy has been struggling for the last week or so.  Yesterday’s and tonight’s outings may not show up in his numbers but he’s not getting the outs he’s called upon to get and not stranding runners.

J.D. hit his 37th homer of the year and recorded his 95th and 96th RBIs.  With Miggy struggling, I guess J.D.’s quest for 100 RBIs is what I’ll be tuning in for.

Tyler Collins had a good night, he drove in two runs and had a nice outfield assist.

This game meant and series meant nothing to the Tigers but the Twins missed a chance to improve their position in the Wild Card race.

Remembering Bob Probert…

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Hat Tip to Big Johnny.

Bob Probert was probably the best enforcer to ever play the game of hockey.  He played for the Red Wings from 1985-1994.  He was my favorite player of that era and one of my favorite players of all-time.  I still wear his #24 jersey to home games. He was trouble for opponents on the ice and troubled off the ice.  The Red Wings honored him at HockeyFest this past Sunday, 9/13/2015.

Here’s a link to a post on Red Wings dot com.

Kocur wrapped up the event with how he will always remember his best friend.

“How I remember him was the toughest player ever, and I mean ever, to play in the NHL,” Kocur said. “With all the talent he had, he still had to do all that fighting and everybody knew it. If you ask every other tough guy in the NHL, there’s only one name going to the top of that list and that’s Probie.

Bob Probert Memorial Jersey Poster
Bob Probert Memorial Jersey Poster

Tigers 5 Twins 4

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Alfredo Simon pitched well, better than his final line indicated.  He ran into some bad luck in seventh but this was a quality start. Both VerHagen and Simon’s outings would look and feel better if they had a little luck but both pitched well.

Victor Martinez had three hits and should have, should have, had four. This is his first three hit game since July according to Mario Impemba.

James McCann had three hits, raising his batting average to .276. I didn’t realize, he hasn’t made an error all season.  This is a very impressive rookie campaign.

Drew VerHagen and Alex Wilson both looked good out of the pen and the Tigers have a chance for a series win tomorrow night.

The Twins missed a chance to pick up a game on the Yankees and Blue Jays who both lost tonight.

UPDATE: I almost forgot to mention the perfectly executed hit and run and safety squeeze the Tigers pulled off in the top of the ninth inning. These two plays resulted in the fifth and winning run.  My first thought was, bravo.  My second thought was, ‘where has this been all year?’ In any case, I guess it is better late than never.

Don’t Forget About Jack Eichel…

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who was the second pick in the 2015 NHL draft behind Connor McDavid.  I saw Eichel play at the World Junior tournament last year in Montreal and he looked like a fabulous playmaker.  I know Sabres fans were disappointed when they lost the McDavid lottery but I think they are going to be very happy with Jack Eichel.

From the The Hockey News:

At the Sabres’ prospect tournament finale Monday night, Buffalo’s prospect squad took on Boston’s prospects in a contest to determine who the winner of the three-team tournament would be. The Sabres were down 2-0 after the first frame, but cut the lead to 2-1 in the second frame. That’s when Eichel made two special plays worthy of the hype that comes along with being the second-overall selection at the 2015 draft.

In the third, with Buffalo down 2-1, Eichel received a pass on the left wing and walked in to the Bruins’ left-wing faceoff circle before delivering a picture perfect cross-ice saucer pass that landed right on the tape of Brycen Martin. Martin made no mistake, firing home the game-tying goal.

Prince Fielder | Conniption Shot

Crippy Conniption Shot

9/14/2015 – This normally wouldn’t qualify as hitting ball into a conniption but I want to say a few words about Prince Fielder.  I was mad at him for the way he played and acted at the end of the 2013 season and didn’t want him back in a Tigers uniform.  However, being two years removed from the ALCS loss to Boston, and my high blood, down somewhat, I’ve forgiven him.  He went through a horrible ordeal in the Tigers clubhouse in 2013.  I hope everything has turned around for him and his family.  It looks like he’s got his hitting shoes on again.

Twins 7 Tigers 1

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J.D. continues to hit the ball hard and Kyle Ryan looked good in out of the bullpen.  I was really happy with Ryan’s performance because Ausmus had to make another early call to the pen and Ryan delivered 4.2 solid innings.  Ryan and VerHagen just might be long relief options for 2016.

Andrew Romine is a solid utility player that can flash leather at any position and can swing the bat just enough.  I haven’t said enough about him this year.

I’m not sure if anybody else noticed but Nick Castellanos has similar offensive numbers to Minnesota’s All-Star second baseman Brian Dozier.  Nick “The Quick” is hitting, .250, with 15 hrs and 68 rbis.  Dozier is hitting .239, with 27 hrs and 70 rbis.  The homer are way higher for Dozier but he only has two more runs batted in. I know you expect more power from third base but I I couldn’t help it, the numbers just struck me as interesting.