The Boston Red Sox have given Freeway Ricky Porcello a $82.5 million extension.
Readers know I’m a huge Freeway Ricky fan. I was sad to see him go and I was worried about how he would fit in with the Red Sox. There are still a few players left that witnessed a very young Freeway Ricky beat Youk into a conniption.
Apparently my worries were unfounded.
Bravo Freeway Ricky!
After absolutely sucking for eight innings, the Tigers offense, behind J.D. Martinez’s three run homer, rallied to take the lead in the ninth.
The turd came on in the ninth and blew the game but did he? Readers know how little I think of Joe Nathan, and he deserves to be chastised for giving up a one out walk in the ninth, but WTF Ezequiel Carrera? If he holds Suzuki to a single there’s a chance the Twins don’t score at all.
I think this loss is the chickens coming home to roost. The turd has been getting away with walks and bad pitching for about a month. It had to catch up with him. Also, Brad Ausmus’s stupid substitutions came back to bite him as well.
I understand pinch running for Miggy but Carrera didn’t have to go in for defense. But BA insists on emptying his bench at the first opportunity.
And why take J.D. out of the game? You have a one run lead going into the ninth and you take two of your three best hitters out of the game? Are you that confident in Nathan? If you are, you’re the only one.
FYI: Since the all-star break, Freeway Ricky has a sub three ERA and a 3-6 record.
Freeway Ricky was bad.
The offense was bad.
The Tigers are now 1.5 games behind the Royals
They only good thing from this game is that Miggy had two doubles and a walk.
I just hope they don’t get swept. I thought today was a must win game. I don’t like their chances tomorrow or Sunday.
One more thing, up yours Nathan you shit bird!
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Put this one on BA. If he doesn’t know this team by now, he’ll never know them.
The Tigers only strength is starting pitching. Their offense is horrible. Their bullpen is an abomination.
Joe Nathan is horrible. Joba is returning to the guy that the Yankees gave up on. Soria, all though he was good today, has not been good in a Tigers uniform.
That being said, let the starters win or lose. Max had only thrown 106 pitches. Send him out for the ninth inning. Add this game to the game in Arizona, when he pulled Freeway Ricky in the eighth for a pinch hitter, and Ausmus is directly responsible of two loses in the last three weeks.
This team isn’t going anywhere.
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Somehow, the numbers say the Tigers have the best offense in baseball. This defies logic.
The Tigers could manage only one un-earned run tonight, same as Monday. Even in the top of the eighth, when Chase Headley tried to give them a run, the offense refused to take it.
I’m disgusted. Like I’ve said a hundred times, you can’t pitch well enough to win with an offense so inept.
The Tigers are hard to watch right now.
Good luck to Freeway Ricky tomorrow. I hope he’s not expecting any run support.
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
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You can’t pitch or play defense well enough to win when your high priced offense can only manage 2 runs in 3 games.
Freeway Ricky was smokin balls. You could blame the loss on Joba who gave up the go ahead homer in the eighth, but the offense only scored ONE run.
Here’s a team rule that needs to be instituted immediately if not sooner. No Tigers pitcher should be allowed to throw to any base other than first. For whatever reason, starting with the 2006 World Series, when pitchers put on a Tigers uniform, they can’t throw to second or third.
The unearned run tied the game, but again, the offense scored one run.
WTF is going on with Miggy. All of the sudden the can’t take a walk anymore? In an average season he walks 77 times. Through 101 games he has taken 37 BBs. This year he’s on pace to walk just 59 times, which is why is hitting .309, which is good, but not $30 million good.
I know a lot of people don’t care about batting average but I do. A high batting average and OBP means that even when you don’t have a chance to drive in runs, you are still getting on base for someone else to drive you in. I know that’s not saying much on this team, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Through 7 complete, Ricky had given up three runs, struck out 5, walked none, thrown only 77 pitches and trailed 3-2.
Somehow, through a comedy of miscues and a timely Hunter single, the Tigers took a 4-3 lead in the top of the eighth. With the bases loaded and two out it was Ricky’s turn to bat. Then the unthinkable happened. Brad Ausmus pinch hit Rajai Davis for Freeway Ricky.
I don’t have the words to describe Ausmus’s lunacy. After 96 games you know what you have. Regarding the Tigers bullpen, you don’t have much.
For Ausmus’s edification, you have one reliable arm in the bullpen, Joba Chamberlain. You decided he wasn’t available tonight. That leaves you with nothing. And that’s what you got.
After Davis failed to deliver, Phil Coke came in to “relieve” Ricky in the bottom of the 8th. He retired the first batter on a line shot into his stomach then walked the next two batters.
In comes The Amazing, Everyday Al. Al gets a fly ball for out number two then walks the bases loaded.
In comes Ian Krol who surrenders a two run single and game over.
Did I mention Freeway Ricky had only thrown 77 pitches?
You (BA) child.
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
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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
lead the Tigers to their 7th consecutive victory and series sweep of the Texas Rangers.
Freeway Ricky, pitched his second career complete game. This time it was a shutout. Ricky is 10-4 on the year with a 3.41 ERA.
The Tigers are running well right now. I know they can’t win out the rest of the season but I’d like to avoid another .333, 30 game run.
It’s off to Houston for three with the Astros.
On another note, if you’ve been reading the comments, you might have noticed trade rumors. In fact, the one most mentioned is with San Diego for Huston Street and Joaquin Benoit. I would like to go on record right now as opposed to this moved. Benoit was already here and Street is too old. Well, I guess I’m wrong on that, Street is only 30 but I’m still against it. Unless the Tigers can Street only for a humpty dumpty. Dirks perhaps? 🙂
“God I love baseball.’ -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
The Tigers got great starting pitching and timely hitting and halted their four game losing streak by beating the Rangers 7-2.
Anibal went seven innings and was very good. He allowed only two runs on five hits, struck out five and walked zero.
Ian Krol pitched a scoreless ninth but he doesn’t make me feel comfortable. I can’t put my finger on it, and his line looks good, but I get an odd feeling when he toes the slab.
The Good News:
Freeway Rick is pitching tomorrow’s game.
The Bad News:
I can’t go. I’m still having back problems and can’t sit upright long enough to make it through the game.
Such is Life.
I’m expecting Ricky to be smokin balls tomorrow afternoon.
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Flashin' Leather 