Baseball

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…

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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

10 IN A ROW!

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The Tigers opened up a 5 game lead on the Indians in the American League Central courtesy of their 5-1 victory over Cleveland tonight.

The Tigers needed a big game from Justin Verlander, and the former MVP and CY Young winner didn’t disappoint.  He pitched 8 complete innings, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits.  He struck out 7 and walked none.  JV delivered!

It wasn’t looking good early, offensively, the Tigers let Justin Masterson off the hook in the second.  They loaded the bases with nobody out but Masterson struck out Alex Avila and Jose Iglesias and got Santiago to ground to second to end the inning without surrendering a run.

Entering the 5th inning, the Tigers trailed 1-0, but then the bats exploded.  Miguel Cabrera doubled in the go ahead run, his 100th RBI of the season.  Prince followed with a ground out moving Cabrera to third.  Masterson hit Victor to put runners at first and third with 2 out.  Then DK, Don Kelly, stepped to the plate and on the third pitch he saw delivered a three run homer giving the Tigers a 5-1 lead which was more than enough for JV.

Jose Veras pitched a scoreless 9th and the Tigers recorded their 10th consecutive win.

DK, Don Kelly, had a day.  He was 3-4 with the three-run homer in the 5th and was also flashin leather.  He robbed Lonnie Chisenhall of extra bases with a fine running catch in the bottom of the 8th.  The time truly has come for DK.

With Fister and Scherzer pitching the final two games in Cleveland the Tigers might be able to sweep and leave Ohio with a 7 game lead.

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

A SQUARED MONEY!

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Things weren’t looking good for the Tigers.  This was a pitcher’s dual but going into the 9th inning the Indians had managed to scratch out 2 runs against Anibal Sanchez and led the first game of this crucial, 4 game, series 2-1.

The Tigers had some base runners in the first two innings but couldn’t push across any runs.  From then on, they were dominated by Indians starter Corey Kluber.  Kluber pitched 7 and 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing 6 hits, striking out 6 and walking one.  He was ahead of Tigers hitters all night.

The Tigers ran themselves out an inning in the 8th when Austin Jackson got thrown out at second.  After Torii Hunter singled, Ramon Santiago was held at third by Tom Brookens.  Apparently, Jackson didn’t see Santiago getting held up and rounded second.  Right fielder, Drew Stubbs threw behind Jackson and instead of the bases loaded with 1 out, the Tigers had runners and first and third with two out.  Miggy grounded to second to end the inning.

The Indians brought in closer Chris Perez to pitch the 9th and the Tigers pounded him.  He gave up all four Tiger runs and didn’t record an out.  The big hit was a three-run homer off of the bat of Alex “A Squared Money” Avila.  Alex has had a tough year at the plate but he’s had some big hits.  None bigger, at this point, than this homer.

Anibal Sanchez pitched well today. He went 7 and 2/3, gave up 2 earned on 4 hits, struck out 11 and walked two.  Although he didn’t get the win, it is fantastic that this performance wasn’t wasted.

The Indians Jason Kipnis was flashin leather tonight.  He robbed Dirks and Iggy of base hits.

Coincidentally, it was a year ago to the day, August 5th, 2012, that Indians closer, Chris Perez, had a meltdown in a Sunday, afternoon, game at Comerica Park.  Last year, Miggy hit a big home run off of him.  Tonight, it was A Squared Money!  Perhaps he should take the 5th of August off in the future.

IMHO, Miggy looks like he’s still not 100%.  It might be a good idea to put him on the 15 day DL and get him nice and healthy for the final stretch?  I’m not sayin’.  I’m just sayin’,

JV is on the hill tomorrow.  Tomorrow would be a nice time for him to return to his form of the last two years.

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

Random Notes For Monday, August 5th 2013

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In case you didn’t watch the video from the Mario Impemba post, there are few interesting tidbits of information about the day Nolan Ryan beat Robin Ventura into a conniption.

  1. Yesterday, August 4th was the 20th anniversary of the brawl.
  2. The Tigers’ own Gene Lamont was the manager of the White Sox then.
  3. Vincent Edward (Bo) Jackson was playing for the Sox at the time.  (Hmmmm, I wonder if anybody ever threw up and in on Bo?)
  4. Nolan Ryan did not get thrown out of the game!!!!!  This is the most unbelievable part of the entire story.  NOLAN RYAN WAS ALLOWED TO KEEP PITCHING AFTER HE BEAT ROBIN VENTURA INTO A CONNIPTION!

On a completely different note, the Red Wings have announced that they are retiring Nick Lidstrom’s #5.

Big series for the Tigers starts tonight in Cleveland, Sanchez v Kluber.

The Tigers need at least a split of the 4 games.

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

UPDATE:  MLB has announced suspensions.  Jhonny Peralta is on the list.  Today is the official beginning of the Tigers Age of Iglesias.

Tigers Complete Perfect Homestand, Sweep White Sox 3-2.

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Behind 7 and 2/3 strong innings from Rick Porcello, the Tigers beat the White Sox 3-2, swept the series and finished the current home-stand 8-0.  And, they needed the win, as the Indians keep rolling.

Ricky allowed only one run, a home run to Adam Dunn, on 8 hits.  He struck out 4 and walked 1 while throwing 93 pitches.

The Tigers were leading 2-1 going into the top of the 9th.  Smyly came on to relieve Porcello with 2 out in the eighth and struck Adam Dunn out to end the inning.  In what can only be called an interesting move, Jim Leyland sent Smyly out for the 9th.  The first batter he faced in the 9th was right handed, power hitter, Paul Konerko.  Konerko hit Smyly’s second pitch, a 91 mph hour fast ball into the seats to tie the game.

The Tigers were unable to score in the bottom of the 9th so on they played into extra innings.

In the bottom of the 12th inning Miggy came in to pinch hit for Ramon Santiago and lead off with a single. Tui pinch-ran for Miggy and Jackson sacrificed Tui over to second with one out.  Torii Hunter stepped to the plate and delivered a single which scored Tui, ended the game, and gave the Tigers a perfect home-stand.

What was interesting about Leyland’s decision to leave Smyly in for the 9th, is that I thought this was the situation the Tigers got Veras for.  Benoit was unavailable today, so I wrongly assumed that Veras would be used to close the game.  Instead he left Smyly in to face the right handed hitting Konerko?  To make things more confusing, Veras was immediately brought in to replace Smyly and retired the next three White Sox in order.  I guess my question is, why not bring Veras in to start the 9th especially with a righty leading off?

Anyway, Veras pitched scoreless 9th and 10th innings and Bruce Rondon was money as he pitched the 11th and 12th allowing only 1 hit, striking out 3 and the big number, he walked 0, and got the win.

Two things really impressed me.  The first was Miggy’s ability to step to the plate after not playing for almost 5 games and deliver a lead-off single.  The second, was Bruce Rondon’s pitching.  For a guy who had problems finding the strike zone, he had nice command today.

A big series with the Indians starts tomorrow.  Perhaps the Tigers can break their will with a series win?  We’ll see.

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

A GEM FROM MARIO IMPEMBA!

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As a Tiger fan, I love our TV announcers.  Mario and Rod are fabulous.  And, I often said, that Rod Allen was the only thing that made the 2003 season bearable.

Today, they had a beautiful conversation.  They showed a clip of current White Sox manager Robin Ventura getting beaten into a conniption by legendary pitcher, Nolan Ryan.  As they showed the clip, Rod said, something to the effect that Ventura had a few knuckle sandwiches.  Mario replied, and I’m paraphrasing, ‘it was more like a picnic.”  I have been laughing for the last 10 minutes.

Here’s a video of that fateful day in 1993.

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