Miguel Cabrera

Miggy’s Approach…

Crippy Baseball ,

Loyal reader and contributor, and all around good guy, Nebraskaknows, sent me a link to this article about Miguel Cabrera.  It is basically an interview with Miggy regarding his approach to hitting..

For what it is worth, I’ve watched a lot of baseball, I like to say I’m married to baseball but hockey is my girlfriend but I digress, and Miggy is the best hitter I’ve ever seen.  Even though he’s a righty, his swing is still pretty.

This is an opposite field, solo shot, Miggy hit in Tampa Bay, on June 28th of 2012.

Here is a link to My Approach: Miguel Cabrera, the aforementioned article.

Thanks for another solid Nebraska!  You’re aces Pal!

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

Random Thoughts

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Did you know Miggy’s real first name is Jose?  Here‘s a link to his bio on MLB.

Former Tiger prospect Jacob Turner is pitching well for the Marlins.  He has started 8 games.  He is 3-1 with a 2.33 earned run average.

Did anybody else find it comical that Luke Putkonen didn’t look the least bit worried or frightened when Ramirez acted like he was going to charge the mound?

This is the image of Reggie Jackson that in ingrained into my mind.  When I think of Reggie, this is the picture that appears.

Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson Home Run Swing

I’m hoping for a better game tonight against the Rangers.  The White Sox series made me sick.

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

A Pulse?

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The Tigers rallied tonight beating the Blue Jays 7-6 on an 8th INNING, MANUFACTURED RUN.

It didn’t look good early.  The Blue Jays ambushed Doug Fister and the Tigers for 6 runs after their first 13 batters.

The Jays scored 4 runs in the bottom of the first and it looked like a short night for Fister and the Tigers.  But the Tiger offense stormed back with 6 in the top of the 2nd to to take the lead, a lead that was short lived.

Doug Fister gave up a two run homer to Colby Rasmus in the bottom of the 2nd and it was looking like the same old story.  However, Fister settled down and shut the Jays out for the next 4 innings.  His final line doesn’t look good, but he was able to go 6 and give the Tigers a chance to win.

And, finally, in the 8th inning the Tigers did something they rarely do.  Not only did they score after the 6th, they actually manufactured the run.  Infante singled and went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Alex Avila.  Infante then went to third on a long fly ball off the bat of Austin Jacskon.  Torii hunter then beat out an infield single and the Tigers had manufactured the go-ahead, winning run.

Alburquerque, Smyly and Benoit pitched the 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively, allowing no runs and giving the Tigers a much needed win.

A loss would have been their 4th in a row and 7th out of 8, but it was not to be.

Thump Thump.  Thump Thump. Do you feel a pulse?

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

Just About Unwatchable…

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that’s what the 2013 Tigers have become.  This team BLOWS!

Rick Porcello started, went 6, and gave up 3 earned.

After Miggy tied the score at 1 in the top of the 4th the Rays came right back with 2 in the bottom to take the lead for good.  I hate to blame coaching, especially at the major league level, but I’m wondering what in the sam hell Jeff Jones says when he visits a pitcher at the mound.  Does he offer any useable advice?  It sure doesn’t seem like it.

After 3 straight singles loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the 4th, out comes Jones for a confab with Porcello.  It was obvious, Ricky was trying to induce a ground ball for a double play to end the inning.  Ricky was pounding the bottom of the zone but Lobaton and Escobar weren’t biting and Ricky wasn’t getting the strikes called.  It seems obvious to me, who knows nothing, that Ricky needed to change the eye level or move the hitters off of the plate, but no, he just kept throwing the same pitch in the same location.  When Lobaton finally got one that caught the strike zone he singled in a run.  Escobar drove in the second run by walking and seemed to have no intention, whatsoever, of swinging the bat.  During Jones’ visit what was he saying, “we need to get a ground ball here Ricky”.  Did he have anything productive to say?  I guess perhaps he did but Ricky wasn’t listening.  Luckily, Porcello got Matt Joyce to line into an inning ending double play.

Next it was the offenses turn stink up the place.  They loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the 7th and couldn’t score a single run.  Apparently, the Tigers are now the worst hitting team in baseball, in terms of runs scored and batting average, from the 7th inning on.  This shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody that follows them regularly.  Even Cabrera and Fielder don’t look like they have good at bats late in games, and if they don’t do it, rest assured, nobody else will.

The 2013 Tigers suck.  They are now either tied, or percentage points behind, the surging Indians who just finished a 4 game sweep of the White Sox.

Honestly, it is getting to the point where I can’t watch this team anymore.  The same shit for the last year and a half.

To really rub salt in the wound, The Crooked Hat came out and got the save surrendering only 1 hit in the 9th, a double to Omar Infante.

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

Tigers End Skid…

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using familiar formula, Starting Pitching + Cabrera + Fielder, beat Rays 6-3.

Max Scherzer pitched seven good innings, allowing three earned while striking out 9 and walking 1.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder provided just about all of the offense.  Cabrera was 4 for 4 with two home runs and 3 RBIs and Prince Fielder went 2 for 3, driving in 2 and smashing a majestic home run.  This was enough offense to win but it came from the usual suspects.  Besides Cabrera and Fielder, nobody else could deliver a clutch hit or even a productive out.

Victor Martinez dropped his average down to .225 as he went 0 for 4 leaving 3 runners on base.

The bullpen looked pretty good, Alburquerque, Smyly and Benoit pitched the 7th, 8th, and 9th respectively, without giving up any runs.

It was nice to stop the skid.  It was nice to get the win.  It was nice to move Scherzers’s record to 12-0.  It was nice to get good pitching again, but if nobody but Fielder and Cabrera is going to get a timely hit, the 29 year long World Series drought isn’t ending anytime soon.

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

Orioles Chase JV after 5

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Justin Verlander lasted only five innings tonight and gave up five earned runs as the Orioles evened the series beating the Tigers 5-2.

The bullpen came in and shut down the Orioles and gave the Tigers a chance to come back, and they had their chances, but couldn’t come up with a clutch hit.

After starting the game 2 for 2 Cabrera came up with two on and two out in the bottom of the 5th and grounded out.

In the bottom of the 7th the Tigers got a break.  After three consecutive hits from Infante, Pena, and Jackson cut the O’s lead to 5-2, Torii Hunter hit a ground ball to third baseman Manny Machado.  Machado appeared to tag Pena then threw to second to double up Jackson.  However, the umpire called Pena safe at third, I’m not sure why, but that break brought Cabrera up with runners on first and third and only one out.  Cabrera then fouled out to first baseman Chris Davis and Fielder followed with a pop out to Machado.

The Tigers had another chance in the bottom of the 9th.  With one out, Jackson walked and Hunter singled.  Cabrera stepped to the plate and grounded into a game ending double play.

Today’s game was a reversal of a normal Tiger game.  JV had a terrible start, the offense got no clutch hits and had few good at bats but the bullpen was solid pitching 4 scoreless innings.

I’m not sure what is wrong with JV but he needs to make some adjustments and fast.  It doesn’t seem like anybody fears him anymore.  His ERA is up to 3.72 which isn’t bad for a normal pitcher but horrible for JV.

Victor Martinez continues to struggle at the plate.  He is something like 5 for his last 33.  His average is down to .228 and he’s hit with little power.

I was willing to give Martinez some time to get his stroke back but this is nearing the end of June.

From what I see, the Tigers might have more to worry about then their closer.  They need more production from Martinez and JV needs to get his act together.

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

Tigers Waste Another Fister Gem

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Doug Fister pitched 8 innings, giving up three earned runs, and came away with his 4th loss of the season.  The Tigers could only get him two runs on a 3rd inning Miguel Cabrera two run homer.  That’s all the scoring the Tigers could muster.
In his last 3 starts the Tigers have scored only 2 runs.

Alex Avila continues to struggle at the plate going 0-3 with a walk.  How long can the Tigers let him hit under .200?  After tonight, his average is at .172.  I’m not sure the Tigers are doing Avila any favors by letting him go up there and struggle so mightily.

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

 

Mets Dust Tigers 14-6

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Not that it mattered by why did G-Money Laird bat second?

The Mets jumped on the Tigers early with 2 in the second and 8 in the third.  JV didn’t look good and left the game with nobody out, and two men on in the third, after a 58 minute rain delay.

The Tigers got on the board in the fourth with a one out double by Cabbie and a monster home run by B-Money Brennan Boesch.

The Mets came back with one run in their half of the fourth.

The Tigers had a chance to really cut into the lead.  They sent 10 men to the plate in the fifth scoring 4 runs but Ryan Rayburn got caught looking with the bases loaded to end the rally.

The Tigers tried to claw there way back but the bullpen was horrible.

Verlander was charged with 5 earned runs in 2 innings.

Back at em tomorrow.