Alex Avila

Tigers Dust Phillies! Scherzer 15-1!

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The Phillies are down and Tigers had no problem kicking them tonight at Comerica Park.

With Hunter and Cabrera back in the lineup, the Tigers jumped on Cliff Lee’s replacement, Raul Valdes, by putting up a 8 runs in the first two innings.

Miggy started the onslaught with a solo shot, his 32nd, with two out, in the bottom of the first. Fielder, Martinez and Peralta followed with singles and Mat Tuiasosopo capped of the 5 run inning with a 3 run homer, his 7th of the year.

Max Scherzer pitched 6 innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 7 and improves his record to 15-1.

It might be too early to tell but Alex Avila shows signs of getting right.  He had two more hits today and brought his batting average up to .193.  Let’s hope .200 and above are right around the corner.  Alex has struggled mightily and I’d like to see him come out of it.  He showed so much promise early, it would be nice if he could return to his 2011, regular season form.

There was really nothing to complain about tonight, which is odd coming from me, but the Tigers seemed to click on all levels.

Let’s get Infante healthy and keep this wagon rolling.

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

Tigers Win 4th In Row on Road

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Courtesy of their 6-2 victory this evening over the Chicago White Sox, the Tigers have now won four in a row on the road and assured themselves of winning this four game series in Chicago, regardless of what Verlander does tomorrow.

Anibal Sanchez pitched 6 complete allowing six hits, 0 runs, walking 1 and striking out 5.  The offense was powered by a Prince Fielder 3 run shot, solo home runs by Jackson and Hunter, and would you believe it, an RBI single from Alex Avila

As Avila walked to the batter’s box for his third at bat, I was thinking of how bad he’s been struggling.  I haven’t researched the numbers but he seems to get caught looking an awful lot.  And when he does, he walks away with a blank look that seems to be saying, ‘I don’t have a clue’.  Fortunately, he singled and drove in the 6th run.

The last few games I’ve been impressed with Hernan Perez.  He had two more hits tonight and was robbed of a third on a great play by White Sox third baseman Conor Gillaspie.  If he keeps this up, the Tigers might have a hard time sending him down when Infante gets back and keeping Santiago on the bench.

I was also impressed with Bruce Rondon.  Even though he gave up a run on two hits I thought he showed some composure.  The single that drove in the run was a bloop hit off the end of the bat.  Instead of getting flustered, Rondon got the next batter to ground into an inning ending double play.

Benoit was brought in, again, tonight to get the final two outs in a non-save situation.  I didn’t get it yesterday.  I still don’t get it today.  Is he the closer or not?  As Sark commented yesterday, he probably won’t be available should he be needed tomorrow.

On a different note, the White Sox look horrible.  They look a lot worse than they did a few weeks ago when they took 2 out of 3 at Comerica Park.  I’m wondering if they have quit on Robin Ventura.  Let’s hope we see more of the same tomorrow.

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

Another Gem By Rickey

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Rick Porcello turned in another quality start going 7 innings, striking out 5, walking none, and allowing no runs as the Tigers downed the Twins 4-0.

Fielder again showed his dislike for teams walking Cabrera in front of him as he got the Tigers on the board in the 6th.  After a walk to Cabrera put runners on first and second.  Fielder promptly lined a double, the first of three consecutive Tiger doubles, to score Jackson and Cabrera.

Alex Avila continues to struggle mightily at the plate.  He went 0-3, striking out twice and dropping is average to .166.

Porcello threw 94 pitches through 7 and lowered his ERA to 4.37.  I would have liked to see him come out for the 8th but it appears that only JV is allowed to go much more than 100 pitches.

Valverde pitched a scoreless 9th rebounding a bit from his blown save in KC.

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

Tigers, Valverde Hang on in KC

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The Tigers scratched out a run in the 8th and Valverde pitched around a 9th inning lead off single and stolen base to move Max Scherzer’s record to 9-0.

Donny Kelly got the the scoring started in the 2nd on a line drive to left that scored Victor Martinez.

The 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup has six of the Tigers’ 11 hits. Infante had 3, Kelly had 2 and Garcia had 1.

Alex Avila went 0-3, striking out twice and walking once moving his batting average down to .169.

I’m not sure how long the Tigers can keep throwing him out there.  He is almost an automatic out.

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

Tigers Waste Another Fister Gem

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Doug Fister pitched 8 innings, giving up three earned runs, and came away with his 4th loss of the season.  The Tigers could only get him two runs on a 3rd inning Miguel Cabrera two run homer.  That’s all the scoring the Tigers could muster.
In his last 3 starts the Tigers have scored only 2 runs.

Alex Avila continues to struggle at the plate going 0-3 with a walk.  How long can the Tigers let him hit under .200?  After tonight, his average is at .172.  I’m not sure the Tigers are doing Avila any favors by letting him go up there and struggle so mightily.

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

 

Tigers Beat Indians 6-4; Another Good Outing for Rickey

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Saturday, June 8th, 2013

The Tigers beat the Indians 6-4 on Saturday with Rick Porcello pitching 6 strong innings giving up 2 runs but only 1 earned.

Porcello was solid but I was a little concerned early because a lot of his outs were in the air.  As a sinker ball pitcher it seemed like he was missing up but getting fly ball outs.

It doesn’t like Prince Fielder, aka PF Money, likes it when a pitcher walks Miggy in front of him.  In the 2nd inning Carrasco walked Miguel Cabrera to load the bases.  Fielder stepped to the plate and delivered a bases clearing double.

Papa Grande came in to close the game out and as usual, it wasn’t easy.  But to be fair, Santana hit a Texas Leaguer that dropped between Infante and Hunter.  It was a cheap hit but nothing is ever easy when Papa comes into the game.  Valverde walked Gomes but struck out Rayburn and Aviles to end the game.

I’m very concerned about Alex Avila.  I have been a huge fan of his since he came into the league but I’m not sure there is a place on any roster for a guy that hits under .200.  If he doesn’t get on a little roll in the next week or so, I’m wondering if sending him down to Toledo for a few weeks to work on his stroke might not be a good idea.

I’m not sayin’, I’m just sayin’.

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

Tigers 7 Orioles 5

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Armando Galarraga pitched around some shoddy defense in the first two innings.  In the first, Santiago made a two out error to extend the inning and Galarraga’s pitch count.  In the second, Brennan Boesch lost Adam Jones’s liner.  Jones was given a single but Boesch should have made the play.  Fortunately, Galarraga was able to overcome both miscues and shut the O’s down.

The Tigers got on the board in the second when Alex Avila drove in a run with a two out single driving in Carlos Guillen from third.

With two on and two out in the third, Don Kelly made a great diving catch in center field to take a hit and an RBI away from Ty Wigginton.

Johnny Damon singled with one out in the third for his 2,500 career hit.  Magglio Ordonez followed with a single to put runners at first and second with one out but Cabbie took a backwards K and Boesch flew out to end the inning with the Tigers failing to score.

Another runner in scoring position with less than two outs that the Tigers didn’t score.

Miguel Cabrerra made a fantastic play in the sixth.  Weiters lead off with a double.  Felix Pie hit a hard ground ball to first.   Cabbie fielded the ball and threw Weiters out at third.  Galarraga got Lugo to fly out but walked the ninth place hitter Izturis.  Luckily, he struck out Patterson to end the inning and preserve the one run lead.

The Orioles had runners in each of the first seven innings and finally got to Galarraga in the 7th.  Tejada singled to lead off the inning then Markakas hit a line drive over the right field wall to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.  Armando retired the next two hitters, but after a triple by Weiters, was relieved by Phil Coke.

Coke gave up a single to Pie to drive in Weiters.  Coke was then relieved by Gonzalez.

While pitching to Lugo, Alex Avila threw out his second runner of the night at second, Pie, to end the inning.

The O’s picked up a run in the eighth but the Tigers responded with a 2 in the bottom of the inning.  Cabbie tripled and came home on a single by B Money, Brennan Boesch. Guillen struck out but I Money, Brandon Inge, tripled in Boesch.
 
Avila struck out, Santiago walked and then Austin Jackson pinch hit for Don Kelly. Unfortunately, Ajax grounded out leaving the tying run at third.

The Orioles picked up another run in the ninth on a one out single by Lugo but the inning was set up when Santiago missed a ground ball at short that could have been a double play but ended up putting runners at first and third with nobody out.

Damon led off the ninth with a walk.  Magglio struck out and Cabbie blasted a two run homer deep over the left field wall to tie the score.

Valverde pitched a scoreless tenth and Ryan Perry pitched a scoreless eleventh.

The Tigers ended it in the 11th when Ajax lead off with a single and then Johnny Damon slammed a 2 run homer to right.

With the Twins beating the Jay earlier, this was a huge win!

Indians 3 Tigers 2

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The Tigers blew another quality start by Bonderman.  Bondo went 8 innings and allowed only 3 runs, two of them on solo shots by Branyan and Choo.

The starting pitching has come around but the bats have gone to sleep.  Jake Westbrook had the Tigers off balance all night surrendering only 1 run in 7 and two thirds.

An encouraging sign comes from Alex Avila.  Avila had two singles yesterday and singled in a run in his only at bat in the 9th tonight with two outs.

It is time for Avila to play everyday.

Mariners 5 Tigers 4

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It was a tough loss for the Tigers today as the bullpen, Perry, couldn’t hold a 3 run eighth inning lead, and spoiled a gem by Bonderman.

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I was hoping Lelyand would leave Bondo in for the 8th.  He threw 94 pitches, gave up one run, and
struck out 6.  Instead he opted to bring in Perry.

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Today wasn’t Rick Perry’s day, although the Mariners did hit
some good pitches. 

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Sweeny homered off of a good pitch from Perry, a low slider and  Johnson drove in two off a slow slider as well.

The Tigers finished the road trip 3-4 and head home to face the A’s.

Although he had a single today, why is Laird playing everyday?  We need to find out what Avila can do.

Alex Avila – The Future of the Detroit Tigers

Crippy Dailies ,

I have seen the future of the catching position of the Detroit
Tigers.  His name is Alex Avila.  The sturdy 5’11”,
210 pound rookie Tiger catcher has impressed me so much, in limited
playing time, this season that I feel compelled to write this
entry.

Question – Why am I so confident about
Avila?

Answer – He’s a professional hitter that
gives the Tigers a professional at-bat every time at the
plate.

Avila is a left handed hitting catcher that
is going to hit for average and power.  It looks like he has
either read, or been instructed by someone who has read, “The Science
of Hitting” by The Splendid Splinter, Ted Williams.  He comes
to the plate looking of a particular pitch, in a particular zone, and
doesn’t swing until he gets what he’s looking for.  He can
also protect his at-bat with two strikes by fouling off good
pitches.

Once he gets more playing time he’s going
to be hard to take out of the lineup even against left handed
pitchers. 

He stands with his right shoulder tucked in towards
the plate.  This allows him to stay on the ball which is
normally a problem for left handed hitters facing left handed
pitchers.

What impressed me most about Avila is not
his hot start, five homers and 14 RBIs in 29 games and 61 at-bats, but
rather his 0-2 performance against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday,
September 30th, 2009.  He had three plate appearances in that
game, arguably the most important game of the 2009 season to that
point.

In his first at-bat he popped out on the
first pitch from Carl Pavano to shortstop Orlando Cabrera.  In
his second at-bat in the bottom of the 4th, he struck out on six
pitches.  However, in his third at-bat, in the bottom of the
6th, he worked a 5 pitch walk off of Minnesota reliever Jesse
Crain.  In that situation it would have been easy for the
rookie, having a tough night, in an important game, to go up to the
plate over anxious and get himself out.  Instead, Avila went
to the plate with his game plan and got himself on
base.

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Tiger fans, we
should hear a lot from Alex Avila in the future.

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