Baseball

Today’s Game Sucked…

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that’s the only way I can describe it.  It was lack luster from beginning to end.  Perhaps it was just one of those days.

The really shitty part is that the Tigers lost 2 out of 3 to the White Sox, at home, and see their lead over the Indians fall to 2.5 games.  This series is almost as bad as getting swept by the Angels a few weeks ago.

Victor continued his torrid pace, Miggy hit a homer and so did Tui.  Which begs the question, why can’t Tui play the whole game.  Does he always have to bring Dirks in late?  For what purpose?  Dirks isn’t hitting and the last time I checked nobody is going to mistake him for Willie Mays in the outfield.  Let Tui play the whole game.

The killer, obviously, was the grand slam Sanchez allowed to Josh Phegley in the 6th.  The Tigers did have their chances to come back but just couldn’t do it today.  Oh well, it is hard to complain about the offense lately.  They can’t be expected to score 7 every game. (Or can they 🙂 )

On the bright side, Victor had another 3 hits today raising his average to .260.

Also, what is the story with Evan Reed?  He made another throwing error today.  Going from memory alone, I believe he has made 3 or 4 errors in his short time in the big leagues.

The Rangers come to town tomorrow.  The Tigers need a good start from Fister.

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

I Was Wrong About Victor….

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it looks like I was too quick to pull the plug on Victor Martinez.  Since I wrote my Why Victor Must Go...post he has shoved those words down my throat.

And his tear continued tonight with 3 more hits, another RBI, and has raised his average to .254.

There was a lot to like about tonight’s 8-5 win over the White Sox, not the least of which is the fact that all eight Tiger runs, were scored with two outs.

Ricky looked pretty good.  He went six innings, struck out six, walked none, and allowed three earned.  Ricky’s era is down to 4.80

Smyly and Benoit were good out of the pen.  The only rough spot was that Bruce Rondon got roughed up a bit in the 7th.

Here’s an observation, the next time you hear a Tiger broadcaster say, “Rondon has nothing left to prove in the minors.”, strap yourself in, he’s going to start getting shelled.  Tonight, on queue, after Rod Allen uttered those words, Gordon Beckham hit a home run.

A win tomorrow afternoon would be nice.

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

White Sox Thrash Tigers 11-4

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This was a very strange game.  The offense looked sluggish, which was not all that surprising, considering it was the first home game after a long road trip.

I thought JV looked good for 7 innings.  The odd thing about this start was that Verlander kept getting the first two outs in the inning but then surrendered hits to extend the innings.  I don’t think he had a 1-2-3 inning but through 7 had allowed only 1 run on 100 pitches with 3 strike outs.

With the score tied at 1, I was a little surprised to see JV come out for the 8th.  Especially, with Rios and Dunn coming up.  Dunn hadn’t done much but Rios had a single and a triple off of Verlander.  As the 8th started, Coke was warming up in the bullpen.  I figured Leyland would let JV pitch to Rios and then bring Coke in to face the leftie Dunn.  But that wasn’t the case.

Rios led off with a single.  I looked to the dugout, no Leyland.  Rios stole second.  No Leyland.  Dunn homered to right.  No Leyland.  JV was left in for two more hitters.  He left the game not having recorded an out in the 8th, having surrendered 3 runs, and responsible for the runners at first and third.

Alburquerque steps to the hill to relieve JV and continued his Toledo Mud Hens audition, that began in earnest a few days ago in Cleveland, and promptly served up a three run homer to Dayan Viciedo.

By the time the top of the 8th was over, the Sox had scored 7 runs, blowing the game wide open.

JV’s final line looks horrible.  He pitched 7 plus and gave up 5 earned raising his era to 3.71.

I just don’t get it.  I’m usually the first one to scream about letting pitchers go out for another inning, but his was insane.  Perhaps the bullpen was depleted and JV was just a sacrificial lamb?  I think this was a horrible thing to do, not only to JV, but to any pitcher.  I feel like Leyland hung JV out to dry.  Perhaps the Tigers still would have lost but JV deserved a better fate.

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

Granderson Robs Sizemore!

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I just had to post this video.  As most of you know, Curtis Granderson is my favorite player.  And while I think the trade that sent him to the Yankees has worked out well for the Tigers, he’s still my man.  It is sort of the same thing as growing up a Tiger fan but have Reggie Jackson as my favorite player.

The video below is of Curtis Granderson robbing Grady Sizemore of a home run in Cleveland with Justin Verlander on the mound.  I’m pretty sure this was in 2009 but I could be mistaken.

Curtis is still recovering from surgery on his pinky.  Hopefully, for the Yankees, he’ll return after the All Star break.

Just a little note.  The first time I remember watching baseball was during the 1977 World Series.  My Mom was a baseball fanatic.  My Dad was working nights and my brothers and sister were already in bed.  My Mom let me stay up with her and watch.  It was game six, October 18th, 1977.  I watched Reggie hit three home runs on three consecutive pitches from three different pitchers.  After that, I was hooked and Reggie was my man.

Anyway, I can’t sleep and I have a cold so felt like sharing this.

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

Big Win! Nice Road Trip!

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With their 4-2 win tonight over the Indians the Tigers ended a nice road trip that started dismally.

After losing 3 of the first four games on this trip, on the heels of a three game home sweep at the hands of the Angels, the Tigers won 6 of the last 7 to end the longest road trip of the season with a 7-4 record.

Max Scherzer went 7 strong innings, allowing only 2 earned runs, but got a no decision.

The game was tied at 2 going into the 10th.  The Indians were 5-0 in extra inning games, while the Tigers were 2-9.

Even with the recent success, I wasn’t optimistic about ending the Indians’ extra inning winning streak, but I was wrong,  With two out in the 10th, and Cabrera and Fielder on, Victor Martinez hit his second double of the game, driving in 2 and giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead.  Benoit made the runs hold up in the bottom of the 10th and Tigers came away with 7 wins on the 11 game road trip.

Although there wasn’t a lot of offense, the fact that the Tigers scored late to win, is a good sign as their late inning struggles have been well documented.

Since I was ready to run Victor Martinez out of town a week or so ago, he’s made me eat my words.  He has come alive with a 10 game hitting streak and upped his average to .245.  Perhaps, the Tigers do have a five hitter?

A few other notes:

1) TCH got is 20th save tonight.

2) I think a case can be made for Smyly to make the all star team.

3) I’m voting for Benoit.  He’s never made an ASG so I’d like to help get him to one.

4) The White Sox are in town tomorrow with JV on the hill.  Let’s hope we see the JV that pitched in Toronto.

5) I wish JL had left Tuiasosopo in instead of bringing in Dirks late in the game.

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

Back on the Bandwagon…

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Even with the loss today, I’m back on the bandwagon.  After losing 6 of 7 the Tigers won five in a row and everything looked good.  Good starting pitching, good offense, good bullpen.

Today, Fister got roughed up and the Alburquerque was a boon but I like how the Tigers battled back to tie the game after falling behind early.

What’s even more impressive is that the offense scored late, 2 in the 7th then three in the 8th.  Unfortunately one third of an inning from Alburquerque prevented the Tigers from six in a row and a road, sweep of the Indians.

I had planned to write about each game this weekend, while I was in Vegas, but my bluetooth key board for my iPad ran out of juice and I didn’t have the charger for it.

On a different note, was anybody else a little surprised that JV made the All-Star team?

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

JV Looking Good

Crippy Baseball

Happy Independence Day everyone! I wanted to thank you all for reading my blog and commenting! I really appreciate it!

I missed the game yesterday because my flight to Vegas was delayed. But from the numbers, things looked good.

Alex Avila, aka A Squared Money, had 2 hits including a home run and Max is now 13-0.

More importantly the Tigers are on a 2 game winning streak with JV looking good today.

I’m watching the game in the Paris Sports Book.

I saw Hunter was pissed yesterday but couldn’t hear what happened? Did he think they were throwing at him?

Nebraska, I have the hockey futures, I’ll give you a call or an email tomorrow.

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

Sent from my iPad

A Pulse?

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The Tigers rallied tonight beating the Blue Jays 7-6 on an 8th INNING, MANUFACTURED RUN.

It didn’t look good early.  The Blue Jays ambushed Doug Fister and the Tigers for 6 runs after their first 13 batters.

The Jays scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first and it looked like a short night for Fister and the Tigers.  But the Tiger offense stormed back with 6 in the top of the 2nd to to take the lead, a lead that was short lived.

Doug Fister gave up a two run homer to Colby Rasmus in the bottom of the 2nd and it was looking like the same old story.  However, Fister settled down and shut the Jays out for the next 4 innings.  His final line doesn’t look good, but he was able to go 6 and give the Tigers a chance to win.

And, finally, in the 8th inning the Tigers did something they rarely do.  Not only did they score after the 6th, they actually manufactured the run.  Infante singled and went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alex Avila.  Infante then went to third on a long fly ball off the bat of Austin Jacskon.  Torii hunter then beat out an infield single and the Tigers had manufactured the go-ahead, winning run.

Alburquerque, Smyly and Benoit pitched the 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively, allowing no runs and giving the Tigers a much needed win.

A loss would have been their 4th in a row and 7th out of 8, but it was not to be.

Thump Thump.  Thump Thump. Do you feel a pulse?

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