Justin Verlander

Angels 2 Tigers 1

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This was a pitchers duel. Not only were the starters good, Smyly struck out a career high 11, but both pens got the job done as well.

This game was decided in the sixth. In the top, the Tigers had a 1-0 lead and the bases loaded, with two out. Unfortunately, Torii Hunter couldn’t deliver a hit. The Angels came back with two in the bottom and there you have it.

I can’t complain about Torii though he’s been hot for a month.

If the Tigers can get Victor going and get Avila out of the lineup they could go on a ball smokin run.

It would have been nice to get the first two.

JV tomorrow.

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

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Tigers 4 Diamondbacks 3

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The same recipe yields the same results. Well almost.

JV lasted 6.2 innings, allowed 3 runs, and got the win. The normal recipe calls for 7 complete but The Amazing, Everyday Al, was able to get the third out in the 7th to preserve the lead and the win.

I’m happy JV got the win. I’m happy the Tigers got the win. But let’s not kid ourselves, JV wasn’t good tonight. The Diamondbacks hit a lot of balls hard but had little to show for it.

A little more honesty, The Amazing, Everyday Al is not good. I cringed when BA brought him in. Almost as much as I cringed when Nathan came on in the ninth. I can’t help wondering if the situation were the same, in a must win game, would BA ask Joba for four outs?

That being said, The Amazing, Everyday Al is as good, if not better, than any other option out of the pen, except Joba.

Freeway Ricky goes tomorrow and God willing I’ll be there again.

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

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Tribe 9 Tigers 3

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Ok. What’s going on with the seventh inning? The last two games, Verlander on Sunday, Sanchez today, Tigers starters have smoked balls for six innings, then blew up in the seventh.

Tonight, Sanchez was dealing for six innings. He was tossing a shut out, striking out seven and walking one. He couldn’t record an out in the seventh. He was charged with four runs.

Did I mention, the bullpen didn’t help him out any?

  • Ian Krol was charged with a run and didn’t retire anybody.
  • Everyday Al, got two big outs then gave up two bombs.
  • Phil Coke pitched an inning, didn’t give up a run, but walked two.
  • Chad Smith pitched an inning and gave up two runs.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise but this might be the worst bullpen in history. They suck.

If the starters can’t give the Tigers seven innings, I don’t like their chances.

Double header tomorrow.

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

Royals 5 Tigers 2

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There goes the ’84 feeling.

JV looked pretty good for six innings then blew up in the seventh.  He’s just running bad.  And when you’re running bad everything seems to go against you.  That’s what happened to JV.

In his defense, he only gave up one hard hit ball and didn’t get much help from his friends in the pen.  Ian Krol recorded the second out but Everyday Al gave up a two run single to Omar Infante.

I really need to look up the Tigers bullpen record on stranding runs.  The eye-test says they’re an abomination.  I wonder what the numbers say?

OK, Miggy is worrying me.  He took another ofer today.  He got a bunch of hits in the first game, as did everyone else, then I don’t think he got a hit in the final three games.  This seems to be a reoccurring theme, one game he gets 3 or 4 hits then disappears for a few games.  This is not what I expect for $30 million a year.

Between Verlander and Cabrera, the Tigers are getting $60 million worth of , not good enough. “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48(KJV)

This is the worst week of the summer.  After the ASG, not baseball for two days.

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

 

Tigers 5 Royals 1

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Before the ninth inning I was going to start complaining about the offense the last two games. I was going to cry how they’d only scored two runs each, in the last two games. Fortunately, J.D. Martinez and Alex “A Squared Money” Avila, stole my thunder.

J.D. came through with a solo shot and A Squared hit a two-run homer to extend the Tigers lead to 5-1.

The lead extension was important because it kept Joe Nathan out of the game. I didn’t want to go through another ninth inning like they did the game before. Nathan and a one run lead is playing with fire.

As it turned out, Everyday Al came in and closed out the ninth. The Tigers won their fifth in a row, third straight over KC, Freeway Ricky got his 12th win, the lead is extended to 7.5 games, and today, the Tigers have a chance for a sweep.

Win or lose this afternoon and I’m going to feel good about the Tigers going into the break. However, a ball smokin performance by JV and a series sweep might give me a bit of the ’84 feeling.

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

Tigers 14 Dodgers 5

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I’m not sure what to make of this game. I’m not sure what to make of this team.

Let’s be honest, JV blew. Again. I don’t care if he pitched five scoreless innings. He gave up five runs before the Tigers even got to bat. He got lucky today.

The Tigers got a break on the Hunter replay in the second and the offense exploded. But spotting any team a five run lead is a dangerous way to play.

JV got lucky as well because Chen Meing Ryu was worse than he was and couldn’t get straightened out.

Another thing that is concerning is that this is the fourth crappy start in a row for Tigers starters. They need a stopper and nobody has really stepped up to fill the role. That’s how you go on 9-20 runs.

All the above being said, it’s a win and I’ll take it.

Let’s see if Max can give the Tigers a good start tomorrow. I’d like to see seven innings with no more than two runs allowed. 🙂

“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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Astros 4 Tigers 3

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The Tigers seven game win streak ended at the hands of the Astros last night in 11 innings.

The Tigers, technically, got a quality start from Justin Verlander.  He pitched six innings and allowed three earned runs.  But that’s not a $30 million start.  I have no problem when players, or anybody else, make as much as they can, but “to whom much is given, much is expected.”  I expect more than six innings and three earned runs for $30 million.

JV struck out 8 and walked only 1 but had to throw enough pitches to get through 6 that he couldn’t come out for the seventh.  I guess he’s been better recently but not $30 million better.  His ERA is down to 4.80.

I’m hoping that the Tigers can take at least one game in Houston.  Remember the last road trip the Tigers started 6-0?

Let’s not repeat that.

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