Tigers 5 Royals 1

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Before the ninth inning I was going to start complaining about the offense the last two games. I was going to cry how they’d only scored two runs each, in the last two games. Fortunately, J.D. Martinez and Alex “A Squared Money” Avila, stole my thunder.

J.D. came through with a solo shot and A Squared hit a two-run homer to extend the Tigers lead to 5-1.

The lead extension was important because it kept Joe Nathan out of the game. I didn’t want to go through another ninth inning like they did the game before. Nathan and a one run lead is playing with fire.

As it turned out, Everyday Al came in and closed out the ninth. The Tigers won their fifth in a row, third straight over KC, Freeway Ricky got his 12th win, the lead is extended to 7.5 games, and today, the Tigers have a chance for a sweep.

Win or lose this afternoon and I’m going to feel good about the Tigers going into the break. However, a ball smokin performance by JV and a series sweep might give me a bit of the ’84 feeling.

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

Tiger 2 Royals 1

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The Tigers insured themselves no worse than a split, and no worse than a 4.5 game lead at the AS break, despite Joe Nathan.

Hmmm, ‘despite Joe Nathan’, I think I’ve written that more than once this year.

I guess I should give Nathan credit for nailing down the save but he made it a lot more ‘interesting’ than it should have been. He threw 27 pitches in the ninth inning and only 13 of them were strikes. In fact, of the five batters he faced, he fell behind 2-0 to three of them.

OK, I’ve complained enough for one post, especially after a Tigers win. But here’s a note to DD, you still need a closer.

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

Tigers Beat Royals Into A Conniption, 16-4

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The Tigers continued their offensive explosion yesterday in Kansas City.

It’s hard to single out one person, because offensively, most of the team was smokin balls.

And, there was some leather flashin too, specifically DK in the 8th(?) at first base.

The only downer is that Drew Smyly gave up four runs in 6.2 innings. I guess I should remember what Bob Feller said, only look at wins, and give Smyly credit for getting the win.

One other thing that concerns me, I hope the Tigers have some offense left for the rest of the series. Other than that, “How ’bout Them Tigers!!!!!!!!”

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

Tigers 4 Dodgers 1

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Impressive, is the best way to describe this win.  Not only did Max break the string of crappy starts, the Tigers beat a pitcher that has dominated them, Zach Greinke.

In yesterday’s post, I asked for at least seven innings with no more that two runs allowed.  Max did one better.  He pitched seven completed and allowed only one run.

Another thing that makes this win impressive is that neither Miggy nor Victor were in the lineup.  Victor still has an issue with his side and apparently, Miggy was just given a day off.

Nebraska told me that Brad Ausmus wanted to get DK in the lineup because he has hit Greinke well.  Coming into the game DK was 3-8 against Greinke, hardly a large enough sample, but Donny went 2-3 with a big RBI.

What I’m happiest about today is the pitching.  Max was great and Joba and Nathan were lights out.  If Tigers starters can go seven innings a lot of the deficiencies can be covered up.

The Tigers go to Kansas City for weekend set-to with Royals. Depending on what team shows, the Tigers could have a nice lead going into the break.

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

Tigers 14 Dodgers 5

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I’m not sure what to make of this game. I’m not sure what to make of this team.

Let’s be honest, JV blew. Again. I don’t care if he pitched five scoreless innings. He gave up five runs before the Tigers even got to bat. He got lucky today.

The Tigers got a break on the Hunter replay in the second and the offense exploded. But spotting any team a five run lead is a dangerous way to play.

JV got lucky as well because Chen Meing Ryu was worse than he was and couldn’t get straightened out.

Another thing that is concerning is that this is the fourth crappy start in a row for Tigers starters. They need a stopper and nobody has really stepped up to fill the role. That’s how you go on 9-20 runs.

All the above being said, it’s a win and I’ll take it.

Let’s see if Max can give the Tigers a good start tomorrow. I’d like to see seven innings with no more than two runs allowed. 🙂

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

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Rays 7 Tigers 3

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The Tigers dropped their third in a row to the Rays and this game was just like the last two.

The starting pitching was terrible.

The offense was an abomination.

The fielding sucked.

Is anyone going to step up or are the Tigers going on another 9-29 run?

Eugenio Suarez falling on his way to the plate in the bottom of the seventh was a perfect representation of the last three games, a carnival of asses.

Maybe the day off tomorrow will be good?

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

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Rays 7 Tigers 2

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Anibal was bad. The offense was worse. The result was a second straight loss to the Rays.

Sanchez was cruising through four innings, then blew up in the fifth, and didn’t make it out of the sixth.

The offense, except Avila and J.D. Martinez, was a joke. Starting the ninth inning, Rays pitcher Chris Archer, had only thrown 87 pitches. The good at bats were few and far between. That being said, it’s hard to win when the starter gives up seven runs.

I just saw a note on the MLB network. Miggy is hitting .187, in his last nine games.

Freeway Ricky will try to salvage a series split tomorrow.

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

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Rays 6 Tigers 3

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The Tigers fell to the Rays tonight, 6 to 3, evening the weekend series at one apiece.

The Tigers couldn’t overcome another bad start from Drew Smyly.  Add to the bad starting pitching, two rally killing double plays, and you have a recipe for a loss. That’s exactly what the Tigers got.

I’m a little worried about Miggy.  His batting average is .313, low for what we’ve been accustomed to from him, and he seems to be more streaky this year than in the past.  He’ll have a three or four hit game then go hitless for a few games.  I don’t think the Tigers are seeing the consistency at the plate that we’ve seen in the past.  That being said, he is still one of the best hitters in the game.

Also, Victor left the game in the 8th.  Preliminary reports say that he aggravated a strained back.  Let’s hope he’s not out for too long.

Sanchez is on the hill tomorrow against Chris Archer.

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