Detroit Tigers

Royals 4 Tigers 1

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Despite giving up four runs and 10 hits in 7.1 innings, I thought Kyle Lobstein pitched very well.  We has the victim of Eric Hosmer beating “the shift” with a bunt and a few seeing eye base hits.  I guess that’s what happens when you put the ball in play.  For a fifth starter, I’m not sure you can ask for more than Lobstein has given the Tigers this season.

The offense is maddening.  I know statistically they are in the top of every category but it is the same song and dance every year, inconstancy. Ten runs one game then nothing for a week.  Even tonight when they didn’t get a hit until the eighth inning, they had base runners courtesy of walks but couldn’t even put the ball in play to plate a run.  This team is striking out at an alarming rate.  The strikeouts combined with the double plays does not bode well for winning close games.  Again, it is the same old story.  Nothing changes.  I think it is time to clean house from Dombrowski all the way down. This formula is has not, is not, and in my humble opinion, will not work.

What is the story with hitting Chris Young?  Miggy is hitting under .200 for his career against him.  Ok, perhaps he’s got Miggy’s number but what about everybody else?  Is he suddenly Greg Maddux?  WTF?

Royals 8 Tigers 1

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This was the perfect storm. The Tigers could do nothing with Danny Duffy and the Royals beat Alfredo Simon into a conniption.

There were a few bright spots.  First, Victor had two hits.  Second, The Amazing, Everyday Al pitched a scoreless inning to bring his ERA down to 9.00.

Let’s see if the Lobber can give the pen a break tonight.

Tigers 10 Indians 7

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I’m not sure how many times I’ll write this in 2015 but the Tigers’ won a battle of bullpens this afternoon in Minnesota.  Everyone they called on, Hardy, Nesbitt, Gorzelanny, Soria got the job done.

Starter Shane Greene was cruising until he wasn’t.  He starting leaking fuel in the third then exploded in the fourth.

The Tigers could have blown this game by running themselves out of a rally in the fifth. I’m not sure sure but isn’t it taboo to make an out at third?  Well, with runners at first and second, one out, and Kinsler at the plate, Andrew “Wheels” Romine decided it was a good idea to steal third.  Like Miggy in game in one, he got nailed, rally over. Fortunately, the bats came alive and beat the Twins’ bullpen into a conniption after falling behind 7-4.

For all of my complaining, the Tigers got another series win.

Of note:

  • Miggy hit two balls into a a conniption.
  • McCann had his first career HR, an inside the parker.
  • Victor was 0-5 and doesn’t look good from either side of the plate.
  • Wheels Romine was 4-4 but 1-3 in steal attempts (WTF).
  • Kinsler flashed some leather in the 8th to turn a nice double play.

Off to KC.  I hope this series doesn’t turn into basebrawl.

Tigers 5 Twins 4

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The Tigers scored five runs in the first two innings then held off the Twins for a one run victory.  They had chances to add on runs but three more double plays and bad base running killed potential rallies.

Note to Miggy. You can’t or won’t run out ground balls.  Why do you think you have the wheels to steal third?  Don’t be asinine.

The double plays are really getting on my nerves.  Perhaps Brad Ausmus should consider sacrificing?

I’m rambling. David Price only lasted 6.2 innings today. If I’m not mistaken, didn’t the Twins beat him into a conniption last year at Target Field or am I hallucinating?

I’ll take the W.

Tigers 8 Indians 6

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At the time,  I thought J.D. Martinez’s 5th inning at-bat was the the decision point of the game.  He came up with a big two out hit that drove in two runs extending the Tigers lead to 5-2 after Miggy had struck out.

I thought Miggy’s subsequent sixth inning, two-run homer further extending the Tigers lead to 7-2 was insignificant, window dressing.  For a brief, delusional, moment, I forgot what was lurking in the Tigers bullpen.  They would need the additional runs.

Kyle Lobstein started and gave the Tigers a quality start plus.  He gave up three runs in seven innings. Nesbitt came in for the the eighth and gave up two runs in one third of an inning but was bailed out by Blaine Hardy. Soria came in to close the ninth and was shaky.  He gave up a run and was bailed out on a spectacular, back to the infield, basket catch, in shallow left field by Jose “Iggy” Iglesias.  Iggy’s catch salvaged the game and the series.  The Indians were coming and there was nobody to put out the fire.

I’ll take it.

Tigers 4 Indians 1

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Alfredo Simon, Rajai Davis, and Victor Martinez put a stop to the madness we saw at Comerica Park the past four games. Simon pitched 6.2 innings allowing only one earned run. Rajai scored three and Victor drove in three.

Indians manager Terry Francona walked Miggy every time he had first base open and Victor made him pay but I understand the strategy.

Forgive me if I’m not elated.

Lobstein pitches today.

Yankees 2 Tigers 1

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I’m not tipping my hat to Tanaka or the Yankees bullpen.  Sanchez and the Tigers pen pitched fine.  The offense has to do something other than bounce into double plays and hit weak fly balls.

Miggy’s last at-bat to lead off the ninth was a microcosm of the Tigers offensive performance this entire series.  He took to fastballs down the middle and swung and some piece of garbage for strike three.  In fact, the Might Miggy was a one man wrecking crew today.  He contributed nothing offensively and couldn’t field McCann’s ground ball cleanly enough to turn two in the eight to keep the game tied.

This team makes me sick.  The only two that didn’t have their heads up their respective asses were Gose and J.D. Martinez.

Yankees 13 Tigers 4

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It is outings like this that, if I were Dave Dombrowski and Mr. Ilitch, would nag me about offering David Price a big contract. These are not bad outings. These are Fukushima like melt downs that happen too often for a guy looking for $20 plus million a year.

Going back to last season, this is the second start in a row that the Yankees absolutely beat David Price into a conniption and if I’m not mistaken the Giants put a similar beating on him last year as well.

Oh, how much more of The Amazing, Everyday Al do we need to see?

The offense wasn’t much better. I realize you aren’t going to win many games when your pitching staff gives up 13 runs but the offense did nothing except hit into two more double plays. The four runs they got in the bottom of the first came courtesy of four walks and only two hits.

Ok, ok 13-4 isn’t bad and a split in a four game series will make me feel a little better but I’m serious about what I said about Price. His Fukushimas scare me.

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