Freeway Rick Porcello

Tigers 11 Rockies 5

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Freeway Ricky lasted eight innings, gave up two runs, struck out 10 and got his 13th win.

The key to tonight’s game was the first inning. It looked like a rare Kinsler error kind of made Ricky uncomfortable. He walked the next batter and had runners on first and second with two out. But the runner at second, Corey Dickerson, tried to steal third. Avila threw him out to end the inning. I was at the game. At the time, I had a bad feeling like this might be a short night for Porcello. Dickerson did him a favor.

After the second inning, when the Rockies scored two runs, Ricky had no trouble setting down a depleted Rockies lineup.

A few game notes:

  • Miggy hit a 455 foot home run in the bottom of the third. Perhaps his power is starting to come back?
  • After scoring 11 runs, I hope the Tigers offense doesn’t go into hibernation for the next two weeks.
  • The ninth inning was another disaster by the bullpen. I guess the hope is that the starting pitching will be good enough to get the Tigers into the playoffs. Once the playoffs begin, a current starter can go to the pen and become Sark’s fireman. I don’t know but this pen is an abomination.

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

Angels 2 Tigers1

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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

Rays 7 Tigers 3

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The Tigers dropped their third in a row to the Rays and this game was just like the last two.

The starting pitching was terrible.

The offense was an abomination.

The fielding sucked.

Is anyone going to step up or are the Tigers going on another 9-29 run?

Eugenio Suarez falling on his way to the plate in the bottom of the seventh was a perfect representation of the last three games, a carnival of asses.

Maybe the day off tomorrow will be good?

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

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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

Freeway Ricky Porcello…

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is the new ace of the Tigers staff. He pitched his second consecutive complete game shutout as the Tigers beat the A’s 3-0 at Comerica Park.

I think the most impressive part of the game was that Ricky needed only 95 pitches to get through all 9 innings.

One interesting / odd thing about FR’s line is that he didn’t walk or strike out anyone.

Ricky’s last two starts reminded me of JV, vintage 2012, except that Ricky is a ground ball pitcher and JV tends to get more fly outs.

In any case, Ricky has to be in the CY Young discussion, at this point in the season, at least.

The Tigers go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon with a former ace on the hill.

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

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Freeway Ricky Porcello…

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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

Whew!

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The Tigers survived another miserable performance from Ian Krol to take the first of a nine game road trip.

Despite Krol giving up four runs in 2/3 of an inning, the eighth, the Tigers beat the Indians 6-4.

I was at a restaurant, celebrating my birthday, so I was watching the game with the sound turned off. There are a few things that I wished I had an explanation for.

First, why was Don Kelly trying to steal third base in the third inning?  Was this some kind of missed hit and run?  He led off the inning with a double.

I’m a DK fan but WTF?

Second, why did Ian Krol come in to pitch the eighth inning?

Third, why did Ausmus leave Krol in after he gave up back to back singles to lead off the inning?

Fourth, why did Ausmus leave Krol in after Cabrera hit a three run homer?

Fifth, why did Ausmus leave Krol in after Santana cut the lead to one run?

Ausmus is beginning to worry me.  While Krol threw batting practice to the Indians, Ausmus had the deer in the headlights look?

Didn’t he go to Dartmouth?

On the bright side:

  • The Tigers have won back to back games.
  • Freeway Rick was great for six innings.  I would have liked to get at least seven out of him but you can’t complain about six scoreless innings.
  • Victor and J.D. Martinez continue to get it done and carry this team offensively.  I’m not sure how long the ride is going to last with J.D. but I hope the Tigers ride it for as long as they can.
  • Miggy FLASHED LEATHER in the sixth, he started and finished, a 3-6-3 double play.  The finish was sweet.  He dove for the ball but kept his foot on the bag just long enough to get Asdrubal Cabrera called out at first.
  • The Amazing Al pitched a clean seventh.
  • Joe Nathan got his second save in a as many games by pitching a scoreless ninth.

One more thing, at the beginning of the season, I was on the DD band wagon proclaiming his genius.  I should have listened to my gut, my first reaction.  Dave Dombrowski traded Doug Fister for three humpty dumpties.  We’re reminded of this every time Ian Krol takes the mound.

The Tigers, for the second game in a row, were able to win in spite of themselves.

I hope the ship has turned in the right direction.

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

The Tigers Are In Trouble…

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After winning the first two against Boston I thought the Tigers were going to turn it around.  Instead they proceeded to lose two in a row.

The Tigers don’t have a closer.  Nathan hasn’t been good and Joba failed a test on Sunday, giving up three runs in the ninth to take the loss.

They followed that debacle up with a loss to the White Sox yesterday.  Ricky pitched horribly and I’m getting worried he’s not going to have the season I thought and hoped he would.

Perhaps today’s rain out is a good thing.  Maybe it will break the bad mojo.

The one thing that perplexes me is why the Tigers can never seem to find a closer.  In contrast, the A’s never sign a closer and always seem to find someone to pitch the ninth inning.  Maybe DD should take a look at what they do.

In any case, all we have now is to hope this team can somehow put it together.

Maybe it can start with a ball smokin performance from JV tomorrow.

We’ll see.

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

A Carnival of Assess…

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is what this Tigers team looks like.  This is the 12th loss in their last 16 games and they have found many different ways to lose.

The Tigers just seem hopelessly out of sync.  When they hit their starting pitching is terrible.  When the starting pitching is good the offense can’t score any runs.  When the starting pitching is good and the offense scores runs, the bullpen blows up.

Every night they find a way to lose.  It is getting frustrating and at this point it might be time to look at new solutions.

The left side of the infield is embarrassing and they have only one reliable arm out of the bullpen, that being Joba Chamberlain.

All of the sudden a team that was supposed to dominate the central is only four games up. This ship has a leak and taking on water quickly.

I hope someone can find a way to plug the holes and bail the water.

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

Tigers earn split with A’s 5-4

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Despite Joe Nathan’s best effort to blow his third save in the last 10 games, the Tigers found a way to squeak out a 5-4 victory and split the four game series with the A’s.

What makes this win more impressive is that they Freeway Ricky Porcello failed to provide a quality start despite winning his eighth game of the season.  Ricky’s performance was maddening. He pitched in and out of trouble all day long and gave up seven free passes, six walks and one HBP.  What was even more exasperating than the free passes was giving up a two run homer to Nick Punto. NICK PUNTO!?

The last two times through the rotation, Tigers starters, with the exception of Sanchez, have blown.  They better right the ship soon because like Peter Gammons says, “if you can’t pitch, you can’t win.”

With the exception of Joe Nathan, the bullpen was adequate.  However, the Amazing Al walked two in his inning of work.

That brings me to Nathan.  He has three blown saves and has a 5.23 ERA.  I hope Brad Ausmus has a plan B for the closer role.  Additionally, after his post game comments yesterday, I’m beginning to question his character.  I’ll be the first to admit that Castellanos is not good at third but he didn’t give up the home run to Donaldson.  So man up, JACKASS, and accept the fact that you’ve blown this year.  Instead of blaming the rookie start earning your money suck-hole.

On the flip side of the coin, this Tigers team has shown a type of resiliency that I haven’t seen for a long time.  They play for nine innings and on most nights, I get the feeling that they expect to win.  I guess time will tell.

 

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