Buck Farmer

Rays 8 Tigers 0

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The Tigers failed to complete their first three game sweep since very early in the season.  The Rays absolutely mutilated Tigers pitching and the offense did nothing.  The game was pretty much decided when Miggy struck out in the bottom of the fifth with the score 3-0, with runners on second and third and two out. After that, the Rays added on and the Tigers never threatened again.

I heard a rumor.  Supposedly Ron Gardenhire will be the next Tigers manager. Again, supposedly, it is a “done” deal and will be announced shortly after the season is over. The comments are not too complimentary of the former Twins manager on the site the rumor is posted on.

I’m not sure what to think to think anymore.  Gardenhire was one of my favorite managers for a long time but Sark made me rethink that position. Paul Molitor seems to have done a good job with the same team Gardenhire had problems with. Also, I’m not really sure what to think about the job Ausmus has done. The Tigers have had horrible injuries to key players with no farm system. Ausmus can only call on who he has available.  What else is he going to do?

After the first two months of the season, the Tigers have had two reliable arms out of the pen, Wilson and Hardy.  They had 1.5 reliable starters, David Price and Alfredo Simon. After Price got traded, Verlander became serviceable but Simon fell from half a reliable starter to a quarter of a reliable starter.

The offense has been pretty much feast or famine.  I guess the one thing I could put on Ausmus is the atrocious base running.  The Tigers make so many outs on the bases that it is hard to stomach and it costs them especially in close games.  Also, Dave Clark might be the worst third base coach in the history of baseball. But it is hard to put this abomination of a season on the shoulders of BA.

This team is a mess and I’m not sure a new manager is going to fix anything.  This team seems to play hard for BA for whatever that is worth.

Tigers 10 Cubs 8

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I was listening to MLB radio yesterday afternoon, I guess like every afternoon, and they were discussing what went wrong with the Tigers in 2015.  One host said that basically it is starting pitching. It isn’t the bullpen because they have never had a bullpen. The difference between this year and the past few years is starting pitching.  I guess you don’t have to be a genius to figure that out. When you don’t have good starting pitching it taxes your bullpen even more, not good, especially when it’s weak, and it demands that your offense produce everyday, and produce a lot.  Tuesday night, the Tigers’ offense, despite a two hour and sixteen minute rain delay, produced a harvest and the pitching staff needed it.

Kinsler had five hits, Iggy had two and J.D. had a conniption shot in the first.  Kinsler has really turned a miserable season around.  Too bad it isn’t in the middle of a playoff run.

Can the Tigers afford J.D. now?

Indians 8 Tigers 2

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So the brief winning streak is over.  Buck Farmer doesn’t seem ready for the big leagues.  Hmm, I’m not sure JV is ready either. The only good thing is that J.D. stayed hot with another home run.

I’m beginning to worry about Justin Verlander and wonder what the Tigers can expect from him the rest of way on his contract. It could be ugly.  He shows no signs of paying any dividends in the near future.

When Price leaves, this once vaunted rotation will look rather modest. (He’s going to the Cubs.) I’m not sure what to make of Simon.  One start he looks great the next he looks like he’s throwing batting practice.  Sanchez is great when he’s on and not balking and not hurt.  I’m not sure what’s going on with Greene and Lobstein.  A lot of ifs and maybes and mights and Idontknows.  I’m rambling.

Let’s see what happens this weekend.

Angels 12 Tigers 2

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I’m not sure what to say other than, I hate them. I’m tired of watching them. They have scored six runs in four games on this road trip. Granted they weren’t going to win this game giving up 12 runs but six runs scored in four games? Here are some observations:

Miggy doesn’t look as good as his numbers suggest. He rarely seems to drive in meaningful runs, with two-outs and the game close.

Nobody else, besides, Gose and Davis seem like they have a chance of reaching base.

Cespedes didn’t hustle after the ball hit in the corner in the fifth.

For a few innings I thought Farmer was going to settle in.

It has become very hard to watch this team every day.  They seem like they don’t care.  I need a few weeks off.

Tigers 3 Yankees 2

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It would have been criminal to lose this game. After the last two call-up starts by Ray and Farmer, Lobstein comes in and gives you six innings and one earned run, you better win.

For a while it looked like the shitty offense wouldn’t come through but key hits from unexpected places, Avila and Davis, were enough to pull this one out in the ninth. Avila actually drove in two of the three runs. In the ninth, it looked like he was looking for the slider on the first pitch.

Is it as painful for anyone else, as it is for me, to watch Miggy this year? I feel bad for him. He’s just not his old self.

The substitutions have become a farce. BA pretty much emptied the bench today. I’m not sure what he would have done if the game went extra innings. Perhaps he would have had the turd catch. In any event, like Sark said, all these moves are just silly.

I’ll take the W.

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