Miguel Cabrera

Thoughts on Miggy

Crippy Baseball , , , , , , , ,

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.

BIG WIN! Tigers 3 Blue Jays 2

Crippy Baseball, Dailies, Detroit Tigers , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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?

Here we go again…

Crippy Baseball, Detroit Tigers , , ,

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.

The Miguel Cabrera Show

Crippy Baseball, Dailies, Detroit Tigers , , , , , , ,

Jose Miguel Cabrera put the Tigers on his back and carried the them to a 5-4 win over Philadelphia.

Miggy was 3 for 3 with two more Conniption Shots, a double, a walk, 2 RBIs and 3 runs scored. Perhaps the Phillies should have considered walking him after his second conniption shot?

Honorable mentions got to J.D. Martinez and Nick “The Quick” Castellanos for chipping in with home runs; Victor Martinez for going 3-4 and driving in Miggy with the winning run and Mark Lowe and K-Rod for pitching clean 8th and 9th innings.

Speaking of Francisco Rodriguez, perhaps reports of his demise were greatly exaggerated.  If I’m not mistaken, this is his 6th save conversion in a row.

FYI: Jose Miguel Cabrera is that damn good!

Detroit 9 Rays 4

Crippy Baseball, Dailies, Detroit Tigers , , , ,

Well, it appears that Miggy’s demise was greatly exaggerated. The Mighty Miggy has four homers in the last three games, including two conniption shots, and has his batting average up to .315 with an OBS of .925.

More importantly, after losing 11 of 13, the Tigers have now won 6 of their last 7 and are within a game of the .500 mark.

I am concerned with the injuries to Zimmerman and Miggy.  If either one misses an extended period of time, the Tigers could be in a lot of trouble.

Tigers 9 Twins 2

Crippy Baseball, Dailies, Detroit Tigers , , ,

Well the offense seems to have woken up.  The Tigers have won three in a row, four of five and Miggy hit a ball into a conniption.  I don’t think I’ve seen power like that from Miggy in over year.

Oh yeah, you still have to pitch to win and Michael Fulmer did a pretty good job.  He lasted five innings, allowed two earned on seven hits.  He struck out four and only issued one free pass.

Royals 8 Tigers 6

Crippy Baseball, Dailies, Detroit Tigers , , , , ,

Twelve games into the season the Tigers are 7-5. The offense is better than I expected, the pitching, however, is a hair shy of an abomination.

Shane Greene and Blaine Hardy were not good last night, as Sanchez was not good on Sunday in Houston.

While the offense is humming along nicely, I am little concerned about two things.  First, the outs made on the base paths, it will come back to haunt them.  Second, I love Miggy.  I really do.  He’s probably the best hitter I’ve ever seen but I’m beginning to wonder if he is on the downside of his career.  His bat looks slow and he didn’t look good against Herrera in big spot with the bases loaded. That being said, if you score six runs, you should be able to win.

I hope I’m wrong about the Mighy Miggy.