Justin Verlander

Tigers 5 White Sox 2

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The Tigers completed the sweep of the White Sox on Sunday with a 5-2 win at Comerica Park.

This team seems to be Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde and it seems to coincide with whether they are at home or not.  They seem to play well at home and not so well on the road.

What I really liked about this series is that they beat Chris Sale on Tuesday afternoon.  Sale is a perennial Cy Young candidate but they found a way to beat him.

More good news, Zimmerman, Pelfrey and JV all pitched well.

Let’s see what happens with the Blue Jays in town.

 

Here we go again…

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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.

White Sox 4 Tigers 3

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Here’s the good news:

  • JV struck out nine, walked one, and allowed only two earned runs in six complete innings.  It looks like he could be the Ace of next year’s staff.
  • Miggy had three hits including his 18th HR of the season.  Perhaps he can be healthy for next year.
  • VerHagen looks like he can be an arm out of the pen next year.

The best news is that the 2015 Detroit Tigers season will end later this afternoon.

I’m looking forward to the playoffs and the start of hockey season.

Tigers 7 Rangers 4

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The Tigers opened their final road trip of the 2015 season with a win over Texas.

The turning point of game came in the bottom of the fourth.  With the Tigers leading 1-0, Prince Fielder leadoff with a solo-shot off of Justin Verlander.  The next three Rangers then reached base loading the bases with nobody out.

For the second game in a row, however, J.V. gave us a glimpse of the Cy Young winning pitcher of prior years.  He was able to retire the next three Rangers without surrendering another run. He retired the side on a pop up to second and two strikeouts.

The inning did take its toll on JV.  He needed 30 pitches to get through the fourth.  He lasted six complete and gave up just the single earned run, striking out five and walking two.

The Tigers scored five in the top of the fifth, three of which came on a conniption shot off of the bat of Tyler Collins.

Game notes:

  • J.D. drove in his 99th run of the season.
  • Victor left the game with what appeared to be a leg injury.  They might as well shut him down for the rest of the season.
  • With their 73rd win, the Tigers will avoid a 90 loss season.

Tigers 7 White Sox 4

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The Tigers earned a split in the four game series with the White Sox and they did it the hard way. After losing a doubleheader on Monday they won in extra innings yesterday and evened it up this afternoon in the finale behind another quality start from Justin Verlander.

JV lasted seven innings and allowed three earned.  He was impressive in the seventh. Knowing it was his last inning he left it all on the mound. He pounded Sox hitters with high nineties fastballs reminding us all he can still bring the heat.

More good news.  The offense showed up today and scored some runs. J.D. drove in two and brought is RBI total up to 98 on the season and Victor hit his 11th home run.

The Twins come to town this weekend and it is a big series for the Minnesotans.  They’re still in the wild card hunt.  Perhaps the Tigers can play spoiler?

Miggy rested a sore back today. I’m a little worried about him. He hasn’t hit with much power and I’m wondering if we’ll ever see the Mighty Miggy again.

Tigers 2 White Sox 1

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Daniel Norris was smokin’ balls for five innings. In fact, he had a perfect game going but was lifted after throwing just 62 pitches.  I’m not sure how I feel about that. I understand trying to protect a young arm but how many more times in his career will Norris be perfect through five complete.  Couldn’t they have extended his outing and then skipped his next start?

In any case, the Tigers were two outs away from completing their first combined no-hitter in team history until Neftali Feliz allowed a triple in the ninth and eventually blew the save.

Fortunately, they rallied in the 10th for the win. It was least the offense could do.  They have scored a combined four runs in the first three games of this series while they have pitched well enough to be 3-0. They will try for a series split tomorrow with JV on the hill.

Bruce Rondon was dismissed from the team. Brad Ausmus cited “lack of effort” as the reason but refused to elaborate. I wonder what his issue is?  I had heard he was upset about losing the closer’s role but can what he was doing be considered closing? He was atrocious.

Tigers 5 Royals 4

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Justin Verlander was smokin balls! He pitched a gem. He pitched 8.2 innings and allowed only one earned run. He didn’t get the win but that wasn’t his fault.

More good news, Jose Miguel Cabrera had two hits, a walk and a sac fly to break out of an un-Miggy like 0-20 slump.

I can’t blame BA for taking out JV. Unfortunately, Brad Ausmus is in an Impossible situation. Even when he makes the “correct” decisions his players rarely get the job done.

Nice win. Perhaps a series win? We shall see.

Labor Day Weekend Review

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My last post from was from last Thursday when the Royals beat the Tigers into a conniption.  It has been a hectic week for me.  I returned from San Diego late Wednesday night and then flew to London, England on Thursday to spend Labor Day weekend.

Although, London was five hours ahead I did listen to some baseball. I usually stayed awake for the first five innings.  Despite losing two out of three to the Indians, at home, over the weekend, I thought the Tigers would at least deliver free pizza with a nine run outburst on Saturday but they only mustered six in a shutout win.

In Sunday’s game, I guess they decided not to score any runs for JV who threw another quality start. He wasn’t great, but lasted seven innings, and gave the team a chance to win, but you know the story, when they get pitching, they usually decide not to hit.

Anyway, even after their win last night, the Tigers are in last place in the A.L. Central.  Without searching my early season posts, I believe I sounded an early alarm at the possibility that they could finish in last or at least third or fourth in the division.  Now, the Tigers are my team and I’m not one of those guys that starts cheering against their team when things go south, but this team is in last place and frankly, they deserve it.

I’m back home and I’ll be at the game tonight.

Tigers 5 Angels 0

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JV’s third no-hitter would have been a nice saving grace to an otherwise dismal season. It was no to be.  However, I think it is safe to say Verlander is back to being a legitimate ace.  He was smokin balls, all night. He had legitimate no-hit stuff.  He made one mistake to a .188 hitter and didn’t get any luck. That’s the way this season has gone for him.  The Tigers did get him some runs so got his second win of the season.

Yes my friends, Miggy is that damn good and for the last two seasons, J.D. is just a notch, maybe two below; he’s pretty damn good too.

Miggy, J.D. and Castellanos each hit conniption shots. Do you remember yesterday when I asked why would the Angels pitch to Cabrera in the eighth? Why would they pitch to him with first base open today? They must don’t know.  They got burned today.

I’d like to see Miggy win the batting title at .350 +. I’d like to see J.D. drive in 100+ runs. I’d like Castellanos to get to 20 home runs and JV finish with an ERA at 3.20 or less. These are the things that keep me watching.

Jose Miguel Cabrera is that damn good. Let’s hope he stays healthy.

Nebraska, I wish I could have joined you Pal. I miss you! You didn’t by any chance cough up $12 for 3 chicken fingers did you? 🙂

Angels 8 Tigers 7

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Seven runs should be enough to win a game but you know the story.  Basically, I’m tuning in to watch J.D. Martinez, James McCann, hopefully Miggy win a batting title, and perhaps JV return to an ace level pitcher.  Other than that, there’s not a whole lot to watch.

If the Tigers were getting anything out of Victor, this offense would be putting up numbers like the Blue Jays, but he’s is just a wasted spot in the order.  He is very difficult to watch. He’s doing nothing.

If I were Huston Street I wouldn’t have pitched to Miggy in the eighth.  I don’t care if he were 0-20 against me.  He’s hitting just under .500 since his return from the DL and Victor was on deck. No way. Actually, I don’t care who was on deck. The Angels are lucky Miggy didn’t burn them.

VerHagen looked pretty good tonight.

FYI: Nick Castellanos’s base running is exponentially worse than his fielding.

I wonder how playoff ticket sales are going?