Detroit Tigers

Weekend Debacle…

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The Tribe completed their sweep of the Tigers on Sunday with 6-3 thrashing.

The Tigers are struggling mightily, perhaps non more than the Mighty Miggy.  Although Miggy always starts slow, the start to this season is exceptionally so.

There were two things from Sundays game that really annoyed me. First, having Miggy pinch hit with the bases loaded.  I know he was the go-ahead run but he is only hitting .210 and expecting his slow bat to produce a big pinch hit, late in the game, I think was more hope than anything else.  What does Nebraska say, “hope is not a strategy”?

Second, BA’s complaining about the the tape on the ring finger of the Indians pitcher was more desperation and frustration than anything else.  I was irritated, I thought it was un-called for and just another sign of the funk this team is in.

 

Royals 8 Tigers 6

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Twelve games into the season the Tigers are 7-5. The offense is better than I expected, the pitching, however, is a hair shy of an abomination.

Shane Greene and Blaine Hardy were not good last night, as Sanchez was not good on Sunday in Houston.

While the offense is humming along nicely, I am little concerned about two things.  First, the outs made on the base paths, it will come back to haunt them.  Second, I love Miggy.  I really do.  He’s probably the best hitter I’ve ever seen but I’m beginning to wonder if he is on the downside of his career.  His bat looks slow and he didn’t look good against Herrera in big spot with the bases loaded. That being said, if you score six runs, you should be able to win.

I hope I’m wrong about the Mighy Miggy.

Tigers 6 White Sox 0

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The Tigers ended a miserable season on a positive note by taking the season finale 6-0 over the White Sox. Daniel Norris and the much maligned bullpen combined on a three hit shutout.

The 74th win of the 2015 campaign was good for a last place Central Division finish and will provide the Tigers with a top 10 draft pick next season.

Here is my Good, Bad and Ugly for the 2015 season:

The Good:

  • James McCann finishes the year without making an error.  He has taken over the #1 catcher position
  • J.D. Martinez followed up last year’s impressive year with another one finishing with 102 RBIs, not bad for a guy the Tigers got for virtually nothing.
  • Justin Verlander looks like he will come back and be the Ace of Tigers staff in 2016
  • Nick Castellanos had a good year at the plate.  Remember this was only his second year.
  • Drew VerHagen, Alex Wilson, and Blaine Hardy look like they will be competent arms out the pen
  • Miggy won is fourth batting title

The Bad:

  • Victor Martinez’s injury riddled season
  • Miggy’s injury ridden power numbers
  • Castellanos’s play at third base
  • The inability to play as a team.  No part of the team “picked up” the other
  • Finishing in last place in the AL Central

The Ugly:

  • The base running – leading baseball in runners thrown out at home plate and just the overall incompetence on the base paths.
  • Hitting into the most double plays in baseball
  • Pitching – 28th in ERA 4.64
  • Bruce Rondon being sent home

The season in over for the Tigers but I’ll still be posting throughout the post season.  I’m predicting a Mets | Blue Jays World Series.  I’d like to see Granderson get a WS ring.

A big Flashin’ Leather Thank You to everyone that reads and comments!  I really appreciate your support!

White Sox 4 Tigers 3

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Here’s the good news:

  • JV struck out nine, walked one, and allowed only two earned runs in six complete innings.  It looks like he could be the Ace of next year’s staff.
  • Miggy had three hits including his 18th HR of the season.  Perhaps he can be healthy for next year.
  • VerHagen looks like he can be an arm out of the pen next year.

The best news is that the 2015 Detroit Tigers season will end later this afternoon.

I’m looking forward to the playoffs and the start of hockey season.

White Sox 2 Tigers 1

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The Tigers lost their third game in a row.  This is not the way I was hoping they’d close out the season.  I guess this was no surprise.  They usually don’t do much against Chris Sale.

On the bright side, Alfredo Simon pitched a gem.  He threw an eight inning complete game allowing only two earned on five hits.  He only struck out one and walked one but he pitched more than well enough to win. Unfortunately, he got little help from the offense.

Notes: Chris Sale set a White Sox single season strikeout record when he Kd James McCann for his 270th in the second inning.

Rangers 6 Tigers 2

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Matt Boyd wasn’t good but the story of this game was plenty of hits but none in the clutch.

The good news is that the bullpen looked good. I have to say Jeff Ferrell and Kyle Lobstein were smokin’ balls. They pitched 5.1 shutout innings and only allowed a hit and a walk apiece.

The highlight of this game however, was, brace yourself; this is something I’ve never written before, Nick “The Quick” Castellanos flashin’ leather.

If you didn’t see the game, this is not a mistake.

Rangers 7 Tigers 6

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If you score six runs off of Cole Hamels you probably had a pretty good night.  Not last night.  The Tigers were charged with four errors and probably should have been charged with six. This was a cacophony of nonsense redux.

J.D. hit a two-run homer giving him 101 RBIs on the season. That’s about all I can stomach to write about this one.  It was disgusting. I felt bad for Daniel Norris who struggled but was kicked in the stomach by his pals playing the field behind him.

Tigers 7 Rangers 4

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The Tigers opened their final road trip of the 2015 season with a win over Texas.

The turning point of game came in the bottom of the fourth.  With the Tigers leading 1-0, Prince Fielder leadoff with a solo-shot off of Justin Verlander.  The next three Rangers then reached base loading the bases with nobody out.

For the second game in a row, however, J.V. gave us a glimpse of the Cy Young winning pitcher of prior years.  He was able to retire the next three Rangers without surrendering another run. He retired the side on a pop up to second and two strikeouts.

The inning did take its toll on JV.  He needed 30 pitches to get through the fourth.  He lasted six complete and gave up just the single earned run, striking out five and walking two.

The Tigers scored five in the top of the fifth, three of which came on a conniption shot off of the bat of Tyler Collins.

Game notes:

  • J.D. drove in his 99th run of the season.
  • Victor left the game with what appeared to be a leg injury.  They might as well shut him down for the rest of the season.
  • With their 73rd win, the Tigers will avoid a 90 loss season.