So this was supposed to be a simple re-blog of a Detroit News post, H/T Nebraska and Sark, regarding Dirksburger’s rehab setback. But then I read the article.
This was the last sentence of the story:
“Dirks has hit .275 with 24 homers and 100 RBIs over 297 games with the Tigers, and was a finalist for a Gold Glove in 2013.”
with back surgery.
Here is a link to the story from MLB, H/T Nebraska.
Hmmmm does this mean Davis and Lombardozzi will be platooning in left?
This is a shame, I had Good Ole Dirksy slated for 40 HRs and 130 RBIs this year. It will be tough to replace his production.
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Forgive me for not immediately ordering a Davis home jersey.
The detnews is reporting, hat tip Nebaraska, that the Tigers have signed, former Athletics and Blue Jays outfielder, Rajai Davis, to a two year contract.
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. — The Tigers have struck — they just haven’t struck gold. (UNDERSTATEMENT)
According to a report from Sportsnet.ca’s Ben-Nicholson Smith, speedy outfielder Rajai Davis and the Tigers have come to an agreement on a two-year contract. The Tigers have yet to confirm the move, but The News learned late Monday night that the Tigers were zeroing in on adding offense, and were likely to strike soon — and perhaps at the winter meetings.
Davis is a right-handed hitter who is in line to be in a left-field platoon with the left-handed-hitting Andy Dirks.
Keep reading here.
I don’t get it. Another platoon player? Great, he has speed but his on-base percentage is .312. It is still impossible to steal first base, isn’t it?
This makes the Fister trade look even worse. What are the Tigers going to do with Lombardozzi? A three way platoon with nobody that can hit.
All this wheeling and dealing and the Tigers still don’t have anybody to play left field.
And, they’re down a pitcher.
I feel another Dirksburger episode flaring up.
Should this be posted under WTF? It seems that category is getting flooded this off season.
“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural
After three typically, pathetic innings, the Tigers offense woke up and scored single runs in the 4th, 6th, and 7th, then blew the game open with three in the bottom of the 8th to give the Tigers their 6th win in 7 games.
Sanchez was good tonight and the bullpen was even better. Anibal threw 125 pitches. He lasted 6 and 1/3, allowed 2 earned runs, walked two and struck out 10.
The Amazing Al did an excellent job of clutch pitching. Alburquerque relieved Sanchez with one out in the 7th, runners at second and third, and the game tied at 2. He got Abraham Almonte to pop out to Jose Iglesias at short, who flashed some leather making a nice running catch in shallow left. The Amazing Al then struck out Franklin Gutierrez to end the inning and keep the game tied.
In the top of the 8th it was Jose Alvarez’s turn to come up big. Phil Coke started the 8th and got Kyle Seagar to ground out to first base. Prince Fielder showed he can flash leather as he made a nice diving stop on the bullet hit off of Seagar’s bat. Coke then got into some trouble. He walked Raul Ibanez and got Justin Smoak to hit what looked like an inning ending double play ball to the left of second base. Unfortunately, the sure handed Jose Iglesias couldn’t handle the ball and everyone was safe. The last batter Coke would face was Michael Saunders who he walked to load the bases on five pitches. So in comes Alvarez to relieve Coke. Alvarez battled Mike Zunino in an 11 pitch at bat but finally got the Mariner catcher to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.
Phil Coke was booed as he left the field. I hate to see anybody get booed but tonight I felt it was really unwarranted. I can’t defend him for the walks he gave up. Walks are enough to drive anybody mad but his defense really let him down. If Iglesias makes the play on the ball hit by Justin Smoak, like I’m sure he’ll do 99 out of 100 times, Coke gets out of the inning having only faced three batters. But I guess that’s just how this season has gone for Phil. Very little has seemed to work for him this year.
Let’s talk about Alex A Squared Money Avila. It looks like he is getting healthy and his game is starting to show it. His batting average is up to .225, not bad considering it was down to about .168 as late as June. What really impressed me today was his triple. He hit a line drive to right leading off the 7th inning that made it all the way to the wall and left Avila standing on third. He’s never been a speed demon but he was running about as well as I’ve ever seen him. Alex also had two walks in this game. His second base on balls came in the bottom of the 8th. After falling behind Seattle reliever Carter Capps 0-2, he was able to work a walk and load the bases. For the last few weeks, Alex has been looking like the Alex we saw in the 2011 regular season. Let’s hope he stays healthy and continues playing this way.
JV is on the mound tomorrow.
Update: I forgot to include this in the original post, perhaps I was subconsciously blocking it out. In what can only be described as the most bizarre move I’ve seen in baseball, Jim Leyland, pinch hit Andy Dirks for Jose Iglesias with the bases loaded in the 8th inning. This move is insane on so many levels I’m not sure where to begin. I guess lets start with Dirks Blows! He’s having a terrible season. Iglesias is hitting .315. Dirks is hitting .257. Iglesias is the best defensive player on the team, something I thought was important to Leyland, especially in the late innings. Andy Dirks plays left field like Charlie Marcuse, the now deposed singing, hot dog, vendor. The only logical explanation for this asinine move is Dirksburger Syndrome. After lying dormant in the bowels of the Tigers manager for a few weeks, it was bound to flair up again and did.
Oh, yea, true to form, Good Ole Dirksy struck out.
Hat Tip to Sark for reminding me of this abomination.
God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural
even series at 1.
The Tigers beat up on Yankee pitching early and often. The 1-2-3 hitters were on fire but the big hit came off the bat of Don Kelly in the top of the 5th. After a Victor Martinez double, Kelly came to the plate with runners at second and third with two out and delivered a 2 RBI single making it 6-0.
Miggy, Ajax, and Hunter each hit home runs today. Hunter’s 3 run shot in the 6th, effectively put the game out of reach.
Anibal Sanchez pitched well. He went 7 complete, allowed 2 earned, struck out 8, and walked only 1.
In the bottom of the 4th inning, Yankee Brett Gardner, went in to second base high and hard on Jose Iglesias to brake up a double play. He was successful. Iglesias threw the ball wide and Ichiro was safe at 1st. This may be considered an acceptable, hard, baseball play, but after what happened to Omar Infante in Toronto, I think the Tigers should have responded and sent the Yankees, Gardner and the rest of the league a message. In his next at bat, Gardner should have gotten a 95 mph fastball in the ribs but it didn’t happen. Perhaps tomorrow? Perhaps next year?
As far as I’m concerned, the Tigers have two scores to settle. The first is with the Toronto Blue Jays and Colby Rasmus. That little jerk should be given chin music in his next 3 at bats against the Tigers and his in his 4th at bat his ribs need to be light up with a Rondon 103 mph fastball. As for Gardner, one in the ribs should suffice, Verlander perhaps tomorrow?
Jose Iglesias and Victor Martinez flashed leather today. In the bottom of the 3rd, Iggy made a nice diving stop on a ball hit sharply, off the bat of Austin Romine, between short and 3rd and Victor made a nice scoop at 1st to complete the play and end the inning. Iggy also had two hits raising his average to .323. Not too bad for a guy the Tigers got for his glove.
Tiger manager Jim Leyland had a slight reprieve from his Dirksburger Syndrome. Andy Dirks was replaced in left field by Don DK Kelly. Kelly was 2-4 with 3 RBIs. What’s even more surprising is that Dirksy didn’t even come in as a defensive replacement late in the game.
“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Max Scherzer improved his record to 17-1 as the Tigers pounded the Indians and swept the 4 games series. Max pitched 7 innings, allowed 2 earned runs, struck out 5 and walked on to earn his 17th win of the season.
The Tigers offense exploded in the 3rd when Indians starter Zach McAllister couldn’t throw strikes. They scored six runs, 4 on back to back doubles by Fielder and Martinez. They added 2 runs in the both the 4th and 5th innings and cruised to their 12 consecutive victory.
After 5 innings, the Tigers led 10-1. I was expecting Miguel Cabrera, and possibly Prince Fielder, to come out of the game for some rest with the game well in hand but that didn’t happen. Both Fielder and Cabrera played the entire game.
I’m a little confused. Last night in a one run game, Jim Leyland pull Miggy out of the game for a defensive replacement and to rest his ailing hip. Tonight, with a 9 run lead, he’s left in to play the whole game. Perhaps, the thinking was that a defensive replacement in yesterday’s game might help preserve the lead and avoid extra innings? I’m not sure. But as it turned out, the Indians tied the game and Miggy missed at least 2 more at bats. If that is the thinking, I can understand not pulling Miggy for defensive purposes, but how about to rest his injury. Nothing seems to make sense but it’s hard to complain with the role the Tigers are on.
I guess the Important thing is that Andy Dirks started and played the whole game. I’m not sure if the Tigers could have survived if Dirksy didn’t play. He did have two hits and an RBI but they came when the game was well in hand. In the third inning, with no score, Dirksy came up with the bases loaded and nobody out and promptly struck out on three pitches, all fast balls, up in the zone.
I think I’ve diagnosed a new illness. It is very rare and only known to affect one person to date, The illness is Dirksburger syndrome. Similar to Assburger syndrome when the sufferer sees everybody’s behind as a cheeseburger, Dirksburger syndrome is more concentrated. Those inflicted have this nagging neuroses that requires them to insert Andy Dirks into the lineup of a baseball game no matter what the circumstances are. It is rare, never fatal, but could prevent the Tigers from ending their 29 year World Series drought.
In the 9th inning, Indians manager, Terry Francona, brought our old friend Ryan Rayburn in to pitch, and he looked pretty good, actually. He retired the Tigers 1-2-3 and got Tui for a swinging K.
On to New York City, the city so nice they named it twice. Hopefully Ricky can keep the wagon rolling.
“God, I love baseball.” – Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Flashin' Leather 