Anibal Sanchez

Tigers 1 Pirates 0

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WOW!  The Tigers got their second straight shut out win over the Pirates and took the three game series, in a place they historically don’t play well, 2-1.

What can I say about Alfredo Simon, he was SMOKIN’ BALLS!

I wasn’t expecting much from this series.  The Tigers struggles in Pittsburgh have been well documented and I wasn’t sure what they’d get from Simon.  I didn’t think he looked that good in his first start.  I surely wasn’t expecting an eight inning, two hit, shut out.

Going into this series I figured the Tigers would have a chance in the first two games, with Sanchez and Greene pitching, but not much with Simon going tonight.  I thought this was a throw away game.  I was wrong and glad for it.

Is it too early to say I might be wrong about Soria as well?  I hope so.

Nebraska, to answer your question, “Someone remind me tomorrow why we let the pitcher lead off the eighth inning with over 90 pitches and a day off Thursday?” I think you answered it yourself. BULLPEN! Remember, with this bullpen, less is more.

I like 8-1.

The perfect season is over…

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and the Nebraskadamus prophecy unfulfilled.  The Tigers fell to the Pirates 5-4 for their first loss of the 2015 season.

Anibal was not good.  He gave up 5 runs in 6.3 but the offense nearly made a top of the ninth comeback to bail him out.

If not for a 1 pitch, rally killing at bat, by Nick Castellanos that resulted in a double play, the Tigers may have forced extra innings.  That would have been no guarantee of a better outcome given the bullpen but hope does spring eternal.

I won’t whine too much about being 6-1 but it would be nice to get a win in Pittsburgh.  It seem like the Tigers never play well there.

Tigers 7 Twins 1

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Nebraska’s prediction of a 162-0 season got one game closer as the Tigers completed the sweep of the Twins.

Shane Greene was smokin’ balls!  One game into his Tigers career he looks like the guy we saw last year.

And looooky here, the Tigers offense put up 7 runs one game after scoring 11.

Three games into the season we’ve seen some good signs.  First, Anibal didn’t implode in the 6th inning yesterday and second, the offense didn’t go into hibernation after an explosion the game before.

I’m not making World Series plans but I’ll take 3-0.

On a different note, did anyone see the Red Wings game last night?  I’ve never felt so shitty about clinching a playoff spot. Jimmy Howard is an abomination.  In an important game like that, when his team is fighting for a playoff spot and gets him three goals on Carey Price, he gives up three goals that go right through him, two, from ridiculous angles.

And I don’t want to see Brendan Smith in a Red Wings uniform after this year.  In fact, after the stunt he pulled to put the Wings two men down late in the third, up by a goal, I don’t want to see him period.

Tigers 4 Rockies 0

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There was a lot to like about this game and series.

  • The Tigers won three in a row and swept the series at home, a place they’ve struggled all year.
  • All three pitchers, Verlander, Porcello, and Sanchez had good outings.
  • The offense was good.
  • Sanchez made it through seven complete today and didn’t surrender a run.
  • Miggy and Vmart look like they are getting their power back.
  • Davis is looking good at leadoff.

Keep in mind, this series was a small sample, against a bad, depleted team but there really wasn’t much to complain about all weekend. I hope they can keep it up.

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

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Tigers 11 Diamondbacks 5

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Despite not getting a quality start from Anibal Sanchez the Tigers were able to take the rubber game of their three game set in Phoenix.

Joba bailed Anibal out in the seventh by getting a double play on the only pitch he threw. At the time, the Diamondbacks had cut a 7-0 Tigers lead to 7-5 and had runners on first and second, with one out.

Blaine Hardy pitched scoreless eighth and ninth innings.

Eleven runs is an offensive explosion I just hope they don’t go another five games with two runs or less.

Miggy had two hits including his 15th home run and RBIs, 78, 79, and 80.

Congratulations to Alex Avila on his 100th double. I still don’t think he should be playing every day. He struck out three more time today giving him a total of 95 for the season. Ninety-eight games into the season and Alex Avila has Kd 95 times. I hate to say this because I was his biggest supporter, he needs to relegated to the backup role. I’m not saying Holaday is the answer, but how much worse can he do?

Austin Ajax Jackson had two more hits and three RBIs this afternoon. He has quietly brought his batting average up to .270.

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

Tribe 9 Tigers 3

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Ok. What’s going on with the seventh inning? The last two games, Verlander on Sunday, Sanchez today, Tigers starters have smoked balls for six innings, then blew up in the seventh.

Tonight, Sanchez was dealing for six innings. He was tossing a shut out, striking out seven and walking one. He couldn’t record an out in the seventh. He was charged with four runs.

Did I mention, the bullpen didn’t help him out any?

  • Ian Krol was charged with a run and didn’t retire anybody.
  • Everyday Al, got two big outs then gave up two bombs.
  • Phil Coke pitched an inning, didn’t give up a run, but walked two.
  • Chad Smith pitched an inning and gave up two runs.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise but this might be the worst bullpen in history. They suck.

If the starters can’t give the Tigers seven innings, I don’t like their chances.

Double header tomorrow.

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

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

Huge Win!

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This might be the best win, by far, of the season!

After falling Behind 4-1, Rajai Davis, hit a walk off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th.

This is big for a few reasons. First, the Tigers haven’t played well at home. Second, they got to a closer who has been lights out this year. Third, it was against the A’s, probably the best team in the AL this year. Fourth, Rajai has kind of sucked recently. Fifth, BIG WIN!

On another note, Eugenio Suarez better go on a Miggy like tear for the rest of the season because he plays short like Tommy Brookens coached third.

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

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Tigers 8 Rangers 6

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The Tigers were able to win their sixth straight game despite not getting a quality start from Anibal Sanchez.

Sanchez lasted 5.1 innings, allowing 4 runs on 6 hits. He struck out 5 and walked 1.

One thing that I’ve really like about the Tigers lately, is that they have scored early, during the first three innings of the game. It might be a hangover from the hockey season, but scoring first / early, seems to give the game a better feel than falling behind early.

On another note, Tigers, third base coach, Dave Clark, is trying to unseat Tom Brookens as the worst third base coach in baseball history. During the last two games, Clark has gotten runners thrown out at the plate by 30+ feet. It hasn’t cost the Tigers a game yet, but I don’t like to play with fire.

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