I have been paying moderate attention to the World Baseball Classic. When I remember, I turn it on. On Monday, Miggy hit a solo shot in the ninth, against Italy for Venezuela, that tied the game at 2. Venezuela went on to win the game.
Jose Miguel Cabrera
Thoughts on Miggy
Miggy has had two good games in Chicago and while I’m not saying, ‘he’s back’, his production has been nice to see. That being said, I have noticed a few differences in his normal demeanor. First, when he hit his home run yesterday, he put his head down and ran around the bases, foregoing his usual stutter-step before third base. Second, I haven’t seen him constantly clowning around with everyone at first base whether on offense or defense.
While the commentators play off his incessant clowning as ‘a love for playing the game, IMHO, he takes it to the extreme and this extreme clowning projects a lack of seriousness. Perhaps his lack of seriousness is understandable considering the amount of success he’s had and his success came immediately. The Marlins brought him up at 19, he hit the ground running, and never looked back. Maybe his recent struggles have humbled him a bit and forced him to refocus and take this craft a bit more seriously. Like I said, I’m not sure he’s back, but the last few games have been fun to watch him again.
On another note, I wasn’t a big fan of Jack Morris’ color commentary with Mario Impemba but I like him a lot with Dan Dickerson. They seem to have good chemistry. I don’t like Gibson period. The booth rotation has to get Rod on more and get rid of Gibson for good. He’s horrible.
Tigers 8 Mariners 7
Nice win and a needed win. After losing the last three to Kansas City the Tigers could ill afford to lose their first game in the home-stand.
Justin Upton came through with two home runs including the walk-off in the bottom of the 12th. If they Tigers are going to keep their heads above water they are going to need J-UP to stay hot.
Iggy scared me at short. He made an error and almost booted another ball in the 11th.
Did anybody else notice that Upton almost missed the plate on his walk-off?
JMC and J-UP both had CONNIPTION SHOTS!
I have to tip my hat to the bullpen. I don’t like the Tigers’ chances battle of the pens but they pitched well tonight.
Pelfrey was bad.
Tigers 4 Yankees 1
The Tigers have started this road trip off well. With Today’s 4-1 victory, they took a series in the Bronx two games to one.
Once again, Michael Fulmer was smoke balls! He hasn’t allowed a run in his last 28 1/3. Everyday Ian Kinlser had two more RBIs today giving him seven in the last two games.
This series win game without much help from Jose Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez.
It is off two Chicago for a series with the White Sox. Tomorrow the Tigers have a date with “Big Game?” James Shields.
Miguel Cabrera | Conniption Shot
This normally wouldn’t qualify as a Conniption Shot. However, three things make it so. First, I’m the editor of this blog. Second, the game circumstances. Third, Jose Miguel Cabrera is that damn good.
BIG WIN! Tigers 3 Blue Jays 2
I haven’t seen a comeback win like this in a long time.
For eight innings the Tigers could do nothing with Aaron Sanchez. He struck out 10 and allowed one hard hit ball, a double off of the bat of Justin Upton. That all changed in the ninth.
Iggy led off the ninth with a single. Kinlser doubled him in. Romine, playing in place of Maybin, IMHO a questionable move, bunted Kinsler to third. Then Jose Miguel Cabrera stepped to the plate. Miggy didn’t look good in his first three at-bats but when Jays reliever Osuna came up and in on the Big Man, I had a feeling the deal was done. Two pitches after the brushback, Miggy launched a one hop double off of the center field wall to drive in Kinsler and tie the game.
Hat Tips go to Ian Kinsler for driving in the first and winning runs, Tigers starter Matt Boyd and relievers Shane Greene, Blaine Hardy and Bobby Parnell for keeping the game close. Also, a huge Hat Tip to Nick “The Quick” Castellanos for flashin’ leather at third. I dare say, Nick has improved considerably in the field.
Five in a row!
Sweep tomorrow?
Tigers 11 Blue Jays 0
Michael Fulmer, again, was smokin’ balls! The offense did their part scoring 11 runs.
What is interesting about the Tigers’ offense is that it is scoring runs with little contribution from Jose Miguel Cabrera.
Miggy is slumping right now and I’m getting a bit concerned. He never seems to struggle this late in the season. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
It looks like Justin Upton and James McCann are perking up at the plate which is good news and Cameron Maybin and Ian Kinsler are doing what they do.
Right now, things look good, let’s see how the rest of this series goes and what they do on the road.
One game over .500 isn’t too bad right now.
Yankees 5 Tigers 4
What might have been;
- If Upton didn’t get thrown out at the plate in 8th?
- If J.D Martinez didn’t hit into a double play in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded and nobody out?
- If there was a fourth hit in Miggy’s bat?
But those things did happen and the Tigers start out their home-stand with a loss.
Here come the White Sox.
Update 1:03 am 6/3/2016; Ok, I don’t get it. The Tigers sent Kyle Ryan down to AAA. He pitched 2/3s scoreless last night and has a 3.10 ERA. What am I missing?
Tigers 3 Angels 0
The Tigers were able to salvage one game in Anaheim, and two on the road trip, thanks to Michael Fulmer and Francisco Rodriguez.
Fulmer was smokin’ balls and K-Rod finished off the game with a four out save.
Even if K-Rod couldn’t save the game I thought Brad Ausmus made the right move in bringing him in for an extended save. Really, what other option did he have, Mark Lowe?
The offense sucked, this game should have been a blowout but nobody could deliver the knockout blow.
Miggy looks bad, again. I’m not sure what his story is this year.
In other news, Anibal Sanchez has been removed from the rotation and sent to the pen. Although, I agree with Sark, I’m not sure what he’s going to do there.
Oh well, a win is a win, and they’re home tomorrow for the makeup game with the Yankees.
Here we go again…
Just when I thought the Tigers may turn this season around, they’re at it again. With yesterday’s loss to the Angels, they have now lost 4 of 5 after a nice home stand.
The problem hasn’t really been pitching, it is the damn offense, which refuses to hit. Everyone, including Miggy has SUCKED on this trip and I’m growing tired of it.
What is the problem and how much longer can they run Upton out there?
Also, BA needs to go. A neophyte baseball fan could see that JV was out of gas in the 8th. He was missing high in the strike zone and let the bottom of the Angels’ lineup hang a 4 spot on him.
It isn’t even June and I’m finding this team hard to watch this team.
Flashin' Leather 