John Smoltz showed a wonderful statistic regarding Tony Gwynn during last night’s All-Star Game. Gwynn dominated the Braves’s HOF trio of Smoltz, Maddux and Glavine.
I guess that says it all!
H/T: William Wallace.
Despite giving up four runs and 10 hits in 7.1 innings, I thought Kyle Lobstein pitched very well. We has the victim of Eric Hosmer beating “the shift” with a bunt and a few seeing eye base hits. I guess that’s what happens when you put the ball in play. For a fifth starter, I’m not sure you can ask for more than Lobstein has given the Tigers this season.
The offense is maddening. I know statistically they are in the top of every category but it is the same song and dance every year, inconstancy. Ten runs one game then nothing for a week. Even tonight when they didn’t get a hit until the eighth inning, they had base runners courtesy of walks but couldn’t even put the ball in play to plate a run. This team is striking out at an alarming rate. The strikeouts combined with the double plays does not bode well for winning close games. Again, it is the same old story. Nothing changes. I think it is time to clean house from Dombrowski all the way down. This formula is has not, is not, and in my humble opinion, will not work.
What is the story with hitting Chris Young? Miggy is hitting under .200 for his career against him. Ok, perhaps he’s got Miggy’s number but what about everybody else? Is he suddenly Greg Maddux? WTF?
H/T William Wallace:
Greg Maddux, one of the finest pitchers of his generation, told the Washington Post earlier this year that he was convinced no hitter could accurately differentiate between the speed of specific pitches, comparing it to attempting to gauge the speed of a car a quarter-mile away.
“You just can’t do it,” Maddux told The Post. “Except … for that [expletive] Tony Gwynn.”
“God I love baseball.” -Roy Hobbs | The Natural
The Twins were able to even up the series with a 5-3 over the Tigers today. Anibal Sanchez started but only lasted 2 2/3. He had to come out of the game because of a blister problem.
The bullpen was a nightmare, Miggy was disappointing, the Tigers lost and it wasn’t pretty.
The Good:
The Bad:
The Ugly:
I’m actually not sure what to say about Phil Coke. His final line isn’t that bad. He pitched two and two thirds. He didn’t allow a run, struck out two, walked two, and gave up two hits. I guess twos were wild for Phil. Perhaps he was only half as bad as Ortega? I guess the problem with Coke’s pitching today is that he couldn’t strand any inherited runners. Like I said, I’m not sure what to say about Phil but he doesn’t past the eye test.
Miggy. It is hard to pick on the back to back MVP but I was horrified with his at bat in the eighth. He came up with bases loaded, one out, and the Tigers down by two. All the Tigers needed was one of his patented hits to right field. Instead, the suddenly pull happy Cabrera, hits a low, inside fastball, to third base. The Twins turned an easy double play and the inning was over. Again, I don’t have the words.
Let’s see what happens tomorrow.
“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Flashin' Leather 