2012 Season, Game Post

Game 2012.23: Royals at Tigers

13 Comments

11-11, tied for 2nd with Chicago, 1 game behind Cleveland.

One of the things going right for the Tigers so far this season had been the starting pitching, which has kept the team in games even as it has been unable to produce runs.

Over the last 10 games, that has all changed, with the starters going 2-6 with a 6.65 ERA.  Bad Max Scherzer was the latest victim, giving up 3 runs and a damaging 7 walks in fewer than 5 innings.  In fact there was even some speculation a trip to Toledo could be in Scherzer’s future, but Leyland has apparently put the lid on that conversation.

Tonight Duane Below will get his first start of the season and try to get things back on track.  Below has pitched 12 innings of relief so far this season, is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, and has yet to give up his first walk (0.58 WHIP), which could be a nice antidote to what we watched yesterday.

Meanwhile, sources say Delmon Young will be suspended by MLB, with an announcement coming as soon as tonight (duration unknown).  Andy Dirks has played capably in Young’s place so far, although the unaccustomed display of fielding prowess in left field that has come as a result has shocked Leyland into moving him back to the DH spot.

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In other news, former Tiger Brandon Inge will be making his debut as an athletic Athletic tonight.  The Tigers will see him in Oakland May 10-13.  Meanwhile the first-place Indians are unveiling the newest member of the tribe, Johnny Damon.

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Tonight’s player of the Pre-game:  Miguel Cabrera, who is 15-29 career against Royals starter Luke Hochevar

Today’s Best-Fielder-DHing Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson CF
  2. Brennan Boesch RF
  3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
  4. Prince Fielder 1B
  5. Andy Dirks DH
  6. Alex Avila C
  7. Jhonny Peralta SS
  8. Don Kelly LF
  9. Ramon Santiago 2B

13 thoughts on “Game 2012.23: Royals at Tigers”

  1. A rouge theory that I am sticking with is that Tiger’s, especially the relief staff, don’t like cold weather. Wait and see when the temps warm up.

  3. MLB suspends DYoung for 7 days – retroactive to 4/27. Turned out to be a very expensive night-out for Delmon… going to cost him $250K for just the missed games… and that doesn’t include any of the legal costs (civil suit?) he’ll incur… as well as the potential diminished value off his FA contract that this incident may have caused. http://www.freep.com/article/20120430/SPORTS02/120430056/delmon-young-arrest-anti-semetic-new-york?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

    Had the Tigers been getting better production (and fielding) from their corner outfielders, the Tigers might have considered voiding Young’s contract (for cause) – but that has not occurred, and he’ll likely be in the lineup May 4th against the CWS.

    1. I don’t know if he deserves to have his contract voided — innocent until proven guilty and all that — but I think it would benefit the Tigers if it was.

      I think he’s overpaid for being an average (or slightly below average) hitting, poor fielding left fielder whose ego they feel the need to appease by not DHing. We can easily replace him and not miss anything. (Especially with the hope that V-Mart may return by end of season.)

      He used to have some trade value, and packaged with somebody else might have gotten us a piece that we need. But his poor play to start the season and his recent problems have reduced that considerably I’d expect.

      Anyway, it looks like they won’t pursue the path of voiding the contract. So, I can only hope that Leyland decides to DH him and he starts hitting like 2010 again.

      1. Leyland may begin to DH Young alot more – now that last Friday’s misfortunes have almost certainly taken the Tigers out of the hunt to resign Delmon beyond this season.

        Besides, Delmon may not like to DH, but he does a good job as a DH. He’s one of only a few Tigers that hits well at DH.

        How does that effect Miggy. Prince and Ryan? … plenty! This team has too many qualified DHs. Now with Inge gone, expect Miggy to play 130 games at 3B. We can also expect 30 errors by the end of the season.

        Hopefully he will devote some time to outfield work in his Miami- bound winter. LF is likely where Miggy is headed in 2013.

    1. I just came here to post that same link!

      It is worth a read. We’re worst in the league for runs allowed, but it is mainly because of our gloves not our pitchers.

      1. But look at Baltimore who is much worse in fielding than Detroit, yet they are winning games?

  5. Coleman Quote:
    “…but Leyland has apparently put the lid on that conversation”
    ===================

    Leyland is too busy running from the sight of Mr. Ilitch these days. This last episode with Delmon makes three incidents involving drunk Tigers under his command. Mr. Softee Leyland needs to stop playing Mr. Nice-Guy Players Manager and install a Midnight curfew on game nights.

    I cannot believe how much Mumbles has changed since mid-July 2007. He went from Jekyll to Hyde almost overnight.

    1. That is “just baseball”. It sucks, but did you say “don’t sign Dotel; he’s gonna self-destruct early in the season”? Did you say “Don’t put Dotel in; he’s gonna blow the game”?

      I doubt it. This was a painful, painful loss, but Dotel has a pretty respectable track record, so you’re crazy if you think you’re gonna blame this one on the manager. You can’t expect a manager to avoid that kind of instant train-wreck. He got Dotel out of the game as quickly as he reasonably could. Unfortunately, the damage was already done.

      1. Wait, Jud. What game are you talking about? I just realized you posted to a really old thread.

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