51-44, 1st place, .5 games up.
On July 21, 2011, Justin Verlander threw 8 innings, allowing 1 ER and 5 hits to beat the Twins as the Tigers took over sole possession of 1st place; a position they never relinquished. Exactly 1 year later, Rick Porcello threw 8 innings, allowing 1 ER and 5 hits to beat the Chicago White Sox and the Tigers have now taken over sole possession of 1st place.
Apparently, someone read the memo. Porcello was dazzling. He had only allowed three hits through the first 8 innings – on 94 pitches. He was pulled after 2 singles in the 9th. Jackson came up huge with 4 RBI and Boesch tagged Sale with Sale’s first HR allowed to a lefty all season. All Tiger runs were scored with 2 outs, making that 11 runs in a row with 2 outs, and 35 out of 48 since the break scored in that fashion.
Though the White Sox have had trouble scoring runs as of late (2 runs or less in 6 out of their last 7), Jacob Turner has had problems not giving them up, so something may give today. Philip Humber has been one of the worst starters in the AL this year, and that includes a perfect game on April 21st against Sea. I’m hoping that we can score a few runs early to get Turner some confidence, and then turn it over to a well rested pen (other than Phil Coke) in the 4th or 5th. The top of the 1st will be key.
Latest Trade Rumors:
– The White Sox added Astros closer Brett Myers just hours before Saturday’s game.
– The Tigers had scouts watching James Shields‘ last start.
– Carlos Quentin looks to be close to signing a 3 year extension in San Diego; though Berry and Boesch have waned the Quentin rumors over the last few weeks (remember that Dirks is back in a few weeks as well).
– The Tigers have asked Seattle about lefty Jason Vargas, reports the Boston Globe.
– A Stephen Drew for Peralta deal looks to be a “long shot” according to sources quoted by Jack Magruder
– Still interested in Dempster, tweets Morosi.
I think that something will be done this week, even if it’s just getting Omar Infante back. Though I expect it to be more. I think that Mr. Illitch is committed to winning it all in the very near future, and has instructed DD to do what’s necessary to accomplish that.
Today’s Series Sweeping Lineup:
1. Jackson, CF
2. Berry, LF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Young, DH
6. Boesch, RF
7. Peralta, SS
8. Avila, C
9. Santiago, 2B
How is Raburn going to keep going if he doesn’t play?
Who does Leyland have warming in the bullpen?
I think we need a Turner vs Below pool: who will pitch more innings? (Hoping to jinx Turner into a good outing).
In the best of all possible situations Turner gets hammered, putting paid to the forlorn hope that he is qualified to help this year, and prompting some quick action on obtaining a decent starter, followed by another come-from-behind win by the Tigers.
i don’t think there’s anyone in DET that feels that Turner is anything but a stop-gap until Smyly gets healthy, or DD acquires a quality starter via trade.
the problem with the ‘trade market’ for DET this year, is there is one more wildcard team, which creates a lot more ‘contenders’ that are shopping… the teams holding the prize catches are going to weigh the offers right up until the trade deadline (7/31)
True enough, but I question the wisdom of counting on Turner to be that stop-gap. I just get the sense that there is a certain amount of stubbornness that crops up in management which ends up being counter-productive. You know, the doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result meme.
agreed… but a recurring theme from the JL school of management
A deal with Tampa for Shields might be a good try. They are in a more tenuous spot than the Tigers are for making the playoffs, which should give DD the edge in any trade talks.
There goes the shutout.
Jacob Turner can single-handily get the Sox out go their batting slumps. Leyland really should have started this game with his well-rested bullpen.
Another non-solo homer AND with less than two outs. Things ARE looking up.
and hopefully that also helps diminish the possibility of seeing Raburn in LF anytime soon
Leyland is most probably committed to the Rayburn vs LHP plan. Sad to say.
you’re right on both counts…especially the ‘sad’ assessment
Humber pitching better BP than Turner so far.
+1
Cabrera definately suited up with his ‘big boy pants’ today
Chris, still talking smack about Turner, eh? Dif you decide how much you want to bet?
Boesch Basch!
Went over to South Side Sox to watch for jumpers. Found this gem:
I’ve been scouring the video looking for clues on Humber, and I think I’ve noticed a change in his delivery between this game and his perfecto…….
It’s hard to catch, but if you look carefully you can see that during his perfect game he was throwing the ball overhand, as opposed to what he’s doing now.
Yep, throwing underhanded doesn’t work well at the major league level. We have seen this in the past with some of our own less successful pitchers.
OK, with the meat of CHI’s order coming up in the 6th and the third time through the order, it may be a good time to pull Turner, leaving him with a lot of confidence for a job well done. On with the rested bullpen.
Although not for power, Boesch hitting for better average vs LHP this year.
HUGE outs/K’s there by Dotel!!!
Dotel has his Mariano Rivera cutter working for him today.
With the Potato slated to pitch the ninth, we could use some insurance runs here.
Benoit!?!? Whoa, what is going on here!
SWEEP, BABY……..now, on to Cleveland, where we are 0-3 so far. we gotta win some games there……..
The next two weeks schedule may actually be a bit better for the Tigers than the WS. We face CLE for 6, TOR for 3 and BOS for 3. The Sox have MIN for 6, TEX for 3 and LA for 3. We could pick up a couple of games on CHI before playing at home vs NY on Aug 6 for an important 4-game set. I don’t think we have to worry about the Indians as a divisional threat, since they are now playing at their true mediocre level. Unless the Sox suffer a complete collapse, they should still be a threat. I don’t think they have the resources to make major improvements like the Tigers do. Despite Turner’s nice outing (for five innings anyway), a 5th starter is still a priority in my view. And a secondbaseman, if for no other than to upgrade our platoon possibilities at that position. The outfield question seems to have resolved itself, provided Boesch continues to hit and Dirks come back(?) in form, but a bench of Raburn, Kelly, Santiago and Worth is really pathetic. Whatever happened to the Chris Getz rumors? He seems to be hitting fairly well since coming off the DL after the AS game.
Good analysis Vince. Great job Boys…take tomorrow off!
The Central Division since June 1:
Tigers 22-12
White Sox 14-17
Twins 13-18
Indians 16-23
Royals 12-21
Maybe things are finally going the way they were supposed to.
Nice weekend…Bless You Boys!!!
As one of Ol’ Smoky’s biggest critics, I will give him credit for setting up the rotation perfectly out of the All-Star break. Pitching Verlander last Sunday in BALT was a stroke of genius. If he throws Verlander out there last Saturday for the FOX national matchup with BALT, then Verlander doesn’t pitch in the White Sox series. If he holds JV back until the opener of the Angels series, then JV misses the CLE series. By pitching JV last Sunday in BALT he was able to get JV to pitch in both of these huge divisional series (the one we just completed and the one coming up in CLE).
Well played Ol’ Smoky, now if we can get you to PROMISE to NEVER hit Raburn 2nd in the lineup again I might (well……………probably not) begin to believe the baseball talking heads that claim you are among the best managers in the game.
Oakland sweeps NYY, thanks in part to an Inge HR…
8 teams in the AL are withing 4 games of the last WC spot.
Whwn I first started reading this blog and the posts I was impressed by how many of you knew so much about the team and the skipper and coaches. Now that things are turning around for the better, your comments are still clever, and right on the money. I know this Italian dude, Tom Lasorda, who used to tell me there are 162 games in a season; you will lose 54 and win 54. It is what you do with the other 54 that make the difference.There are only 3 times that this equation was not acheived, the Tigers lost more than 108 and the Mariners ( a LONG time ago ) won more than 108. I don’t remember who the other one was, maybe someone smarter than me can “look it up”.
Yankees went 114-48 in 1998. I guess the 1962 Mets were the other team to win less than 54, but I am not sure they were the only ones.
By any measure, the worst team ever was the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics who finished the season 36-117 for a .235 winning percentage (or a .765 losing percentage if you will.)
Looks like Dempster is heading to the Braves.
No big deal. Hopefully DD is looking to pick up somebody who has a bit of upside and will stick around for a while. It would be too much to expect being able to pull off another Fister type trade, but we surely can do better than a 38-year old who will likely be no more than a two-month rental.
Dempster wanted to stay in the NL…in a contract year, his numbers would likely be better in the NL than AL… which would translate to millions in his next contract.
Guess Turner’s ‘success’ with the Tigers was shortlived.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
Tigers Acquire Omar Infante, Anibal Sanchez – for Justin Turner.
i always liked Infante, and Sanchez if working on his third consecutive 200 inning year (actually just shy of 200, w/195 (3.55 ERA) in 2010 and 196 (3.67 ERA) in ’11.
Two proven players for a highly touted, but unproven young arm (Turner) and two other prospects, Rob Brantly (catcher, AAA) and Brian Flynn (LH pitcher – AA) … in light of where the Tigers are and their current needs, on paper this is a good trade – especially in light of Mr. Illich’s push to ‘win now’.
Infante will likely start @ 2B, and Sanchez will be a 4th or 5th starter, which means they don’t have to rush back Smyly. Infante putting up respectable numbers this year, thus far, .287 BA, 8 HR, 33 RBI
would we be interested in signing Sanchez after the season?
the short answer i think would be ‘yes’…of course contingent upon: 1) the asking price, 2) how he finishes this season in the AL, 3) how well Porcello, Scherzer and Smyly finish out the year, 4) team chemistry, 5) other available starting FA pitchers
Tigers package ‘Jacob’ Turner, Rob Brantly (catcher, AAA) and Brian Flynn (LH pitcher – AA) for Marlins’ – Omar Infante & Anibal Sanchez
Interesting – Yankees Acquire Ichiro Suzuki – reportedly for two (very) minor league pitching prospects
Can barely process this trade (which I expected anyway)…trying to wrap my head around Ichiro to the Yankees.
Ichiro to the Tigers, batting leadoff, AJax moves to 2nd or 5th, either Young goes, or Boesch goes down, or RH/LH DH platoon, suddenly we have a true leadoff hitter and a plus defense in the outfield…could’ve happened, apparently…
And yes, I realize the cost would would be low in trade, but extremely high in salary, so it only works under a win at all costs now assumption.
Have you not seen Ichiro’s stats the past season and a half? There definitely wasn’t a place for him with the Tigers. He’ll probably hit 20 home runs out of Yankee Stadium though.
Will be interesting to see the other shoe drop, as they say…will probably mean Raburn is an ex-Tiger (unless he accepts an assignment to Toledo for the year).
Yes, with this trade they’ll need to option someone…likely Worth…though getting Raburn to accept an assignment to Toledo for ABs until the Sept expanded roster, would be my preference.
It will also be interesting to see what they do with Smyly if/when he comes off the DL… bullpen or log some innings in Toledo until the Sept call-up??? Don’t think JL would go to a six-man rotation, but if the plan is to make and go deep in the playoffs, having the starters get an extra days rest could help…if and only if, they maintain and expand a first place lead.
I’m guessing Worth to Toledo to make room for Infante. Downs probably gets sent out to make room for Sanchez. Smily to Toledo after coming off the DL. They will still be doing the Toledo Shuffle until Sept 1.
was DET still a player for Matt Garza? what are everyone’s thoughts on Garza vs Sanchez?
I think Sanchez is decent, but I would have preferred Garza, if we were giving up Turner.
Garza is signed through next year, so that’s a positive for him, but i believe he recently missed a start with a tricep muscle issue (pitching arm), which could be a concern an immediate need.
Plus, Epstein is probably asking much more than what the Tigers gave up for Sanchez…namely because Epstein doesn’t have to trade him this year (if he can’t or doesn’t want to sign Garza to an extension).