Drew Smyly

Yankees 8 Tigers 4

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David Price did his best Robbie Ray imitation. He lasted 2+ innings and gave up eight runs.

By the time the Tigers came to bat in the third the game was over.

I knew in the first inning that Price was in trouble. Like the Blue Jays, a few starts ago, the Yankees made Price throw a lot of pitches, around 30 in the first inning. This start was a nightmare and not good enough.

The Tigers have a rookie pitching tomorrow and in one of two games on Saturday. This weekend is probably going to get ugly again.

Has anybody noticed how Smyly is pitching?

If there was a bright side tonight, the pen threw seven scoreless innings.

Oh boy!

White Sox 7 Tigers 4

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Lost in all the excitement surrounding the acquisition of David Price is the fact that the Tigers lost the game and the series to the White Sox.

Although it’s hard not to be happy about getting a pitcher of the Price’s caliber I don’t exactly see how the weaknesses of the team were addressed.

Price replacing Smyly is an upgrade but what about the middle of the field? This might be one of the weakest teams up the middle in all of MLB.

Starting with Avila, the Tigers are weak at catcher, shortstop, and now center field. On top of that, the bullpen is still horrible.

Since the acquisition of Soria, the bullpen has gotten weaker. Soria, has been bad, Joba is now in a funk, or perhaps returning to who he is, and The Amazing Everyday Al has worn out his welcome. I guess on the bright side, if there is one, Nathan has been better and Blaine Hardy has been serviceable.

Who is going to play centerfield? DK? Davis? Maybe this was addressed but I just landed and haven’t had a chance to read everything.

On another note, I’m sad to see Ajax and Smyly go. I liked both guys. They seemed like decent people and Ajax has been on fire for the last six weeks or so.

I know it’s a business but I’m not sure the Tigers are a better team after the trade.

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

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Angels 2 Tigers 1

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This was a pitchers duel. Not only were the starters good, Smyly struck out a career high 11, but both pens got the job done as well.

This game was decided in the sixth. In the top, the Tigers had a 1-0 lead and the bases loaded, with two out. Unfortunately, Torii Hunter couldn’t deliver a hit. The Angels came back with two in the bottom and there you have it.

I can’t complain about Torii though he’s been hot for a month.

If the Tigers can get Victor going and get Avila out of the lineup they could go on a ball smokin run.

It would have been nice to get the first two.

JV tomorrow.

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

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Tigers 5 Indians 1

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I didn’t get to see a minute of this game.  I got on a flight at noon and didn’t arrive until the game was over.

From perusing the box score however, it looks the same tried and true recipe was used to salvage the last game of this four game debacle.

Drew Smyly pitched seven complete and allowed only one run.  Instead of relying on the bullpen for 3 or 4 innings, only two were required.

Joba continued to show that he is the only reliable arm out of the bullpen. He pitched a scoreless 8th, although he did walk two.

Joe Nathan pitched a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation.

It looks like the offense came alive, scoring five runs.  Miggy took an ofer but it looks like Ajax, Torii, and Costellanos had good games.

Although, I like him, he seems like a decent guy, I’ve been pretty critical of Austin Jackson.  But he seems be coming on a bit lately.  He had two hits today and his batting average is up to .264.

Off to the Valley of the Sun for a three game series with the Diamondbacks.

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

Indians 5 Tigers 2 (Game 2)

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Nathan is horrible but the offense was worse.

During this four game losing streak the Tigers have scored a total of nine runs. That’s putting a lot of pressure on the pitching staff.

The pitching hasn’t been good either.

Max was ok. He only allowed two runs but the Tigers needed him to pitch deep into the game but he couldn’t make it through six.

I was at the game and it was one of the most irritating that I could remember. Max stood on the mound and allowed the Indians to foul pitch after pitch off and drive his pitch count up. As a result he had to leave after five and two thirds.

High pitch counts have plagued the Tigers pitching staff for a long time. For some reason they have a religious aversion to throwing inside. They allowed hitters to lean over the plate and send their pitch counts through the roof. Now add in an abomination of a bullpen and you begin to understand why the Tigers haven’t won the World Series since 1984 and probably won’t win this year.

I’m disgusted!

Smyly is on the mound tomorrow. I’m not optimistic.

“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

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

Tigers Sweep A’s 9-2

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WOW! I never expected the Tigers to sweep the A’s.

This was a big three games series. (I guess as big as you can get in the first half of the season.) The Tigers were able to win the first game despite a sub-par start from Drew Smyly. In game two they got a lights out performance from Freeway “Pretty” Ricky. Today the Tigers got a good start from JV. I guess, as Sark always says, as the starting pitching goes, so goes the Tigers.

I’m getting a little fired up now. I hope I’m not treated to another 9-21 run.

The Rays come to town tomorrow Max v Eric Bedard.

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

Astros 6 Tigers 4

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It’s hard to complain about a 7-2 road trip.

The Tigers didn’t have the winning recipe today. Smyly was bad and Miggy and Victor were worse.

In fact, Miggy and Vmart were a combined 1-25 for the series. This is worst three game stretch I’ve ever seen from Miggy. The Tigers won’t be playing in November if he goes through too many stretches like this.

I hope it is just a short lived spell.

Don’t look now but Oakland is in town.

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

9-20…

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is the Tigers record over their last 29 games after their third straight loss to the Royals, 2-1.

Pitching wasn’t the problem this afternoon, Drew Smyly pitched 7 innings, allowed 2 earned runs on 7 hits, with 6 strike outs and zero walks.

No, today the Tigers offense decided not to show up, excluding J.D. Martinez.  This is actually starting to look like another bad trend.

The Tigers struck out 13 times including two by Davis, two by Kinsler, two by Victor, two by Avila, and two by Suarez.

At 29 games, this is way past a slump or a skid, I think this is who the Tigers are.

It looks like 2014 is going to be another disappointing season.

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