Detroit Tigers

Tigers 8 Indians 1

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The Tigers didn’t exactly get to Corey Kluber but they touched him for two runs, including another monster blast from Jose Miguel Cabrera, and the rain did the rest. Both starters, Kluber and Simon, only lasted five innings thanks to a two hour rain delay.  The Tigers then beat the Indians pen into a conniption.

J.D. Martinez got some redemption with a three run homer to break the game open after the rain delay that extended the Tigers lead to 5-0.

It is one game, one series, but we’ll take it.

The Reds come to town tomorrow and we’ll welcome Nebraska back.

Tigers 4 Indians 0

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With two on and one out in the bottom of the sixth inning of a scoreless game at Comerica Park, we saw something that we used to see fairly frequently, but haven’t seen much of this year.  Jose Miguel Cabrera beat the first pitch he saw from Indians pitcher Danny Salazar into an absolute conniption.  The ball went into the camera well that hovers above and behind the center field wall.  It had to travel at least 450 feet from home plate.

Miggy’s monster mash was huge for several reasons, not the least of which was that it came when the Tigers needed it most.  Up until that time they really hadn’t done much off of Salazar.  Second, it came in a night game and for whatever reason, he hasn’t been hitting well at night this year.  Third, he hit the first pitch of the at-bat.  He usually jumps on first pitches but not so much this season. I know it is one game and one at-bat but we haven’t seen a lot of vintage Miggy this year.

David Price pitched his second consecutive complete game shutout.  I was surprised when Dan Dickerson said this was only the third shutout of this career.  In any case, I believe our old friend Freeway Ricky had back to back complete game shutouts last year.

I realized something else today, I like when the Tigers turn double plays a lot better than when they hit into them. I believe the Tigers turned four to the Indians one this evening.

One last thing, Iggy, Kinsler and Miggy have been flashin leather and really look like a good double play combination.  Don’t shove it down my throat tomorrow guys.

Tigers 7 White Sox 1

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I’m not jumping back on the band wagon but it’s nice to score some runs and end the eight game losing streak.  Given this team’s history, I’m not expecting much offense for another couple of weeks, but at this point I’ll take what I can get.

The Tigers had 18 hits and everybody got in on the fun, including Kinsler who had two.

Price had an impressive night, pitching a complete game and striking out 11.

It’s only one game and for now the Tigers are a game over .500.  Let’s see what happens tomorrow.

Angels 8 Tigers 6

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Well a loss is a loss. But the Tigers didn’t quit after Shane Green threw batting practice for an inning a two thirds.  They chipped away and made a game of it  And they did manage a week’s worth of offense, six runs on 13 hits, including Kinsler’s first home run of the year. They still couldn’t get the big hit or the big inning but six runs matched what they produced in the previous five games.

Let’s see if they can salvage one tomorrow.

Alex Wilson was smokin balls out of the pen.

Angles 2 Tigers 0

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Have I mentioned how much I hate attempted steals of third base?  In the case of Rajai Davis, however, I can’t complain.  Somebody, has to try something. Had he been successful, I couldn’t have complained had he tried to steal home.  There is no sense waiting around for something that rarely comes, clutch, a run producing hit.

Watching Yoenis Cespedes hit in the clutch reminds of the Tigers – A’s playoff series.  He did nothing against the Tigers then and he’s doing nothing for the Tigers now. He swings as hard as he can on every pitch, every at bat, and hopes he connects.  Hope is not a strategy.  Kinsler nothing. Castellanos takes strikes and swings at garbage.  Even though Miggy is not as good as his numbers, nobody is going to pitch to him.  Why would they?  There is nobody else that is even going to have a good at bat.

Five road games, six runs scored.

Sanchez look good for a change. But pitching isn’t the problem is it.

Angels 12 Tigers 2

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I’m not sure what to say other than, I hate them. I’m tired of watching them. They have scored six runs in four games on this road trip. Granted they weren’t going to win this game giving up 12 runs but six runs scored in four games? Here are some observations:

Miggy doesn’t look as good as his numbers suggest. He rarely seems to drive in meaningful runs, with two-outs and the game close.

Nobody else, besides, Gose and Davis seem like they have a chance of reaching base.

Cespedes didn’t hustle after the ball hit in the corner in the fifth.

For a few innings I thought Farmer was going to settle in.

It has become very hard to watch this team every day.  They seem like they don’t care.  I need a few weeks off.

Tigers 1 A’s 0

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Not exactly an offensive explosion but I’ll take the win.  David Price was smokin’ balls. So was the pen.  I’m not sure what to say about the offense that I haven’t said 50 times already this year.  They blow. I’m glad to see Kinsler got the day off and with Romine leading the way with two hits give him another one.

Iglesias is starting to worry me.  He is very fragile.  Even the slightest contact sends him to the bench. I guess it is what it is.

A’s 4 Tigers 0

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You could feel the lack of energy from the very first at bat.  It became a matter of which pitcher was going to break first.  Unfortunately, Shane Greene imploded in the sixth and surrendered four runs.  But it didn’t really matter.  This game was over before it started. It could have gone 20 innings and I doubt the Tigers would have scored even with the A’s defense trying to help them out with three errors.  Nope, every time the A’s made an error the Tigers gave it back with a double play. How many double plays are they going to hit into this year?  It was an odious display of offensive ineptitude. Not only was there not a hard hit ball, I don’t think there was a good at bat, or at least too few to remember. It is games like these that make me wonder if this team is good enough to finish at .500

Astros 10 Tigers 8

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Sanchez can’t be allowed to give up the tying home run. I’m not saying things would have worked out any differently because on queue, just as I start to praise them, the pen collapses. But Ausmus has to take some blame for leaving Anibal in too long. I know he looked good in innings two through six but look at his season in total.  Pitching against any team other than the Twins he has been an abomination.  And his home runs allowed have been staggering.  This was was a tough loss to swallow.

I’m willing to bet that this is the worst four game series of Ian Kinsler’s career, all things considered.  At the plate he finished 1-17, including a triple play and a least one couple play. On defense he did make a nice play or two but was also responsible for two unearned runs. But looking at more than this series he still doesn’t have a home run and I’m beginning to think he needs to move down in the lineup.  Someone hitting in the second spot needs to get on base in front of Miggy, to state the obvious.

Astros 3 Tigers 2

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Ian Kinsler has had two games which can only be described as a nightmare.  Yesterday, he made an error that cost the Tigers two unearned runs and took an 0-4. Fortunately, J.D Martinez was able to bail him out. This afternoon, he wasn’t so lucky. He made a nice defensive play early but then completely demoralized the team by grounding into a game killing triple play in the fifth.  That’s right.  A TRIPLE PLAY!

Kinsler has been very disappointing this year.  It is time for the big money guys to start earning their money.

Speaking of big money, where in the sam hell is Verlander? How pissed would you be if you were paying a guy $30 million a year to do nothing? Every time I see hime in the dugout I want to puke.

It is time for me to tip my hat to the Amazing, Everyday Al. Nobody has been harder on him than me.  But he has been fantastic lately. He pitched an inning an two thirds and struck out four.

The pen is smokin’ balls!

It would be nice to get a series win tomorrow.