9/14/2015 – No doubt, this ball was hit into a conniption.
Yoenis Cespedes
Twins 8 Tigers 6
Perhaps for only one game but Justin Verlander looked liked the Cy Young JV. He was, in two words, SMOKIN BALLS. Unfortunately, he turned over a five run lead to the bullpen in the ninth and they couldn’t hold it.
Despite the meltdown from Bruce Rondon and Joakim Soria there was a lot to like about this game. The offense scored six more runs, JV was on fire and Yoenis Cepedes made a nice catch in left to rob Joe Mauer of a double.
I’m trying not get upset at what the Tigers don’t have anymore. They haven’t had a bullpen for as long as I can remember so anything they get from them I’m gong to consider house money.
White Sox 8 Tigers 7
This game had to end this way. How could it end any other? When a mistake is so egregious, so odious, karmic law requires that the committer of said infraction is harmed by his own misdeed. That’s exactly what Brad Ausmus and the Tigers got today.
I’m a believer in liberty and the free flow of information. However, if there is a “book” that told Brad Ausmus he needed to pinch run for Victor Martinez, in the bottom of the ninth inning, when he was on first base, with two outs, that “book” is the first one in history that I want burned. Please. Every copy needs to be collected. Placed into a fire place. Doused with gasoline and set ablaze.
Brad. Didn’t you go to Dartmouth? Isn’t Dartmouth an Ivy League School? Aren’t we told that Ivy League Schools are elite (eyeleat) institutions? Don’t you have to be smart to get into those schools?
There was less than a 31% chance that Cespedes was going to hit safely? Much less than a 31% chance that he was going to hit for extra bases.
Where did you learn your trade?
For as mad as I am at Ausmus, did anyone hear Kinsler’s comments after the game? The little baby doesn’t like the fans booing the team. Generally, I’d agree with him, but it comes with the territory. Fans pay a lot of money to watch jackasses like him play. While I chose not to boo, because I think it is rude, it is classless for babies like him to complain about it. He should take lessons from Ryan Rayburn. Rayburn took a lot of crap when he was here and he took it with class. I’ll always have respect for him. Kinsler, on the other hand, is on the Joe Nathan list. Get your head out of your ass jackass, hit better than .257, come up with a clutch hit once in a while, the 10th inning today would have been nice, and maybe you won’t get booed. – Jackass!
This video is for Brad Ausmus and Ian “Diaper Boy” Kinsler.
Reds 5 Tigers 2
Kyle Ryan was cruising along until he wasn’t. Still, the only runs he gave up were courtesy of solo home runs. This seems to be an epidemic among Tigers pitchers this year. Once they give a long ball they can’t stop. It’s like eating one potato chip. It begins to snowball. Before you know it they’ve given up four bombs and the game is over or you’re 300 pounds but I digress. It is a very odd phenomena that I wish would stop, along with hitting into double plays.
It didn’t take Reds manager Bryan Price long to realize it probably isn’t a good idea to keep pitching to Jose Miguel Cabrera. I suspect he won’t get much to hit in Cincinnati either.
The Tigers caught a bit of bad break on the line drive hit by Cespedes that hit the Reds pitcher, Michael Lorenzen. That should have scored a couple instead of only one.
Back to the drawing board.
Angles 2 Tigers 0
Have I mentioned how much I hate attempted steals of third base? In the case of Rajai Davis, however, I can’t complain. Somebody, has to try something. Had he been successful, I couldn’t have complained had he tried to steal home. There is no sense waiting around for something that rarely comes, clutch, a run producing hit.
Watching Yoenis Cespedes hit in the clutch reminds of the Tigers – A’s playoff series. He did nothing against the Tigers then and he’s doing nothing for the Tigers now. He swings as hard as he can on every pitch, every at bat, and hopes he connects. Hope is not a strategy. Kinsler nothing. Castellanos takes strikes and swings at garbage. Even though Miggy is not as good as his numbers, nobody is going to pitch to him. Why would they? There is nobody else that is even going to have a good at bat.
Five road games, six runs scored.
Sanchez look good for a change. But pitching isn’t the problem is it.
Angels 12 Tigers 2
I’m not sure what to say other than, I hate them. I’m tired of watching them. They have scored six runs in four games on this road trip. Granted they weren’t going to win this game giving up 12 runs but six runs scored in four games? Here are some observations:
Miggy doesn’t look as good as his numbers suggest. He rarely seems to drive in meaningful runs, with two-outs and the game close.
Nobody else, besides, Gose and Davis seem like they have a chance of reaching base.
Cespedes didn’t hustle after the ball hit in the corner in the fifth.
For a few innings I thought Farmer was going to settle in.
It has become very hard to watch this team every day. They seem like they don’t care. I need a few weeks off.
Cardinals 2 Tigers 1
A sweep would have been nice but I’ll take 2 out of 3, on the road, against the Cardinals, any time. Although there wasn’t much offense to speak of Yoenis Cespedes flashed some leather. He made a nice running catch in the second. In the seventh, the made a good, one hop, throw to the plate to cut down Jhonny Peralta to keep the game tied. On the back end of the throw, James McCann made an excellent pick and tag. After the play I couldn’t help wondering if Avila would have made the play. Speaking of A Squared Money, does he still have a job?
Am I the only one that found John Kruk and Curt Schilling’s incessant Miggy worshipping too much to take? It was making his at-bats hard to watch. JMC is probably the best right handed hitter I’ve ever seen but enough already. They were acting like fifteen year old girls, in the 80’s, at a Rick Springfield concert. Hmmm, I’m showing my age.
Tigers 9 White Sox 1
The Tigers took the rubber game of a big early season series this afternoon by beating White Sox starter Jose Quintana into a conniption.
Yoenis Cespedes had a monster day. He had six RBIs on a grand slam and a two run homer. Today’s game was a mirror image of yesterday’s game, it was over by the time the Sox came to bat in the top of the fourth.
Shane Greene got his third win. The Tigers are 10-2 and right now I don’t hate them.
Here are a few early season observations:
- Iggy looks great at short and even though he swings at a lot of pitches he’s pretty good at making contact.
- Miggy looks very good, defensively, at first base.
- Nick Castellanos has been flashin’ leather at third.
- Despite his miscue today, J.D. Martinez plays a pretty good right field.
- Doesn’t Miggy usually start seasons slowly?
- Victor is still hurt.
Yankee are in town tomorrow.
Tiger 4 Twins 0
Well, this was almost a perfect game to start off the 2015 season.
David Price pitched 8.2 shutout innings and Joe Nathan got the final out, striking out Torii Hunter.
J.D. Martinez and Alex A Squared Money Avila went deep and Yoenis Cespedes was two for three with a double and a triple.
The Tigers flashed plenty of leather today as well. Cespedes, Iglesias, Kinzler Castellanos, and Miggy all had nice plays defensively.
I hope this is a harbinger of things to come for the 2015 Tigers but I can’t help wondering if Price and Cespedes are only here for half a season.
We’ll see.
Flashin' Leather 