2012 Season, Game Post

Game 2012.88: Tigers at Orioles

28 Comments

45-42, 3rd place, 3.5 games back.

They just keep winning and winning. The guys are playing some of their best baseball of the year right now, and have a lot of people thinking that the post season is a real possibility.

Unfortunately, those words could have been written about the Indians, White Sox, or Tigers. During this 6 game winning streak, the White Sox have only lost once, and over the last 10 games, the Indians and White Sox are both 7-3 to the Tigers’ 8-2. As a result, the Tigers have only been able to pick up 1 game since last week.

So we just gotta keep winning.

Max Scherzer gets the call  today, looking for his 6th straight QS. Over his previous 5 outings, Mad Max is 3-1, he’s allowed just 9 ER in 33 innings (2.45 ERA), and has posted 41 Ks against only 9 BBs with a 1.00 WHIP. Look for Leyland to scold Max for striking out too many.

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With the trade deadline approaching, there will be an increased focus on filling team holes. Even before Smyly’s most recent injury, another starter had to be on a shopping list that includes a 2B (is Infante much of an upgrade over Santiago?), and maybe a left handed bat since Boesch can’t seem to get anything going.

Problem is that there increased demand will increase prices (remember that there is an extra wild card spot this year) and the Tigers don’t have a ton of chips to begin with. Henning wrote a nice piece on Thursday which discussed some potential trade pieces.

A few notes:

– AJax hit streak is at a career high 16 games. Using WAR and wRC+, he’s a legitimate 1st half MVP candidate.
– Smyly to the DL retroactive to July 7th, Marte up. Turner likely to pitch on Tuesday.
– Tigers haven’t been shutout in 155 games now, the previous club record was 110.

Today’s Series Clinching Lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Santiago, 2B
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Young, DH
6. Peralta, SS
7. Raburn, 2B
8. Laird, C
9. Berry, LF

28 thoughts on “Game 2012.88: Tigers at Orioles”

  1. Turner to replace Smily for the time being. Why? Because there isn’t anybody else. The cupboards are bare at Toledo and Erie for SP as well as position players. DD needs to get some backup for the rotation, even if it is just a 3-month rental. 2B and/or a corner OF spot still need to be addressed, because although they are hitting right now, it could well be just a temporary thing. Even a Twins-caliber team can go on a six game winning streak in a 162-game season. It’s no time to get complacent, especially with baseball’s worst defense on the field.

  4. Yep bigtime. As good as we’ve played we haven’t made up all that much ground. Hope we don’t lose another game in the standing today.

    1. I think one day he read something about reverse psychology…he sends Fielder, Martinez, Avila, Boesch, Ordonez, etc, but holds Jackson and Berry.

  6. We need to put a scarecrow out there for Lamont.
    No way was Boesch able to score.

  7. We need a WAR rating on Lamont, I’m pretty sure he is worth at least a -10 runs per season.

  8. With Jackson, one of your best hitters coming up, it makes no sense. I know Leland will say “I don’t believe in momentum” but that killed some.

  9. Yep, that’s one of those things that makes these Tigers truly unique: even the utility players have no clue how to put down a bunt. So why do we waste outs trying??

    1. 2 Walks, a pop up, runner thrown out at the plate, single, and 2-base walk off error.

    2. I think Leyland was being a “player’s manager” there…not sending Berry, to give AJax a chance to keep his hitting streak going.

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