55-50, 2nd place, 2.5 games behind CWS
Your rested Tigers begin a 7 game home stand tonight against the Indians. The Indians have dominated the Tigers this year, as they hold a 7-2 series lead. But the Tigers have been nearly unbeatable at home as of late, having won 11 out of their last 12. Let’s hope that the home cooking tips the scales in our favor.
Anibal Sanchez makes his 2nd start for the Tigers tonight. His first start was rather forgettable, as he allowed a career high 3 HR in a 6 IP 5 ER performance. Sanchez was uncharacteristically wild last time out; the 3 walks allowed was only the 6th time in 20 starts this season that he walked more than 3. Maybe it was nerves, maybe it was just an off game.
Or maybe Miami outsmarted DD.
After a 7 IP 3 hit performance on May 29th, Sanchez was 3-3 with a 2.57 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. Since that May 29th win, Sanchez is 2-4 with a 5.82 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. His K/9 is down to a 6.86 from 9.04 and he is issuing over 1/2 a walk more per 9.
Not to mention that Infante has actually been worse than our previous 2B band-aids (.167 and 3 errors in 8 games).
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A few notes:
– Dirks is back, Dirks is back! Kelly down.
– Alburquerque is moving on up to Toledo. Should be back with the big club soon.
– Indians let Johnny Damon go earlier today.
Tonight’s Lefties Do It Better Lineup:
1. Jackson, CF
2. Berry, LF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Boesch, RF
6. Dirks, RF
7. Avila, C
8. Infante, 2B
9. Santiago, SS
I see they are foregoing the DH tonight, and instead giving Boesch extra help by having Dirks help out in RF. Leyland truly is a genius.
I just put up the lineup card that Leyland faxes over to me. I can’t explain his rationale.
Leyland called MLB Headquarters to see if it was legal to bat Prince, Boesch, Dirks, and Avila in arow without a RH hitter or two in there
For those who think that perhaps Dirks isn’t quite ready, well, neither are Raburn or Kelly.
unbelievable! they designate Kelly for assignment?????…….is the Bastard Child gonna stay with us forever?………..ugh……… 🙁
I have a feeling that Raburn will get about as much playing time now that Dirks is back as Kelly did after Berry came up. He is taking up a valuable roster spot for sure, but they need another RH bat for that spot and the system is bare. Apparently the cost was too high in any potential trade before the July 31 deadline. Maybe (hopefully) they pick somebody up off of the waiver wire between now and Sep 1. The sooner the better.
Good post…Hope you are right..Mumbles certainly won’t play Rugburn at home where he will get boo’d out of the place
The the dirt that Rayburn must have on both Mumbles and DD..that keeps him in the big leagues must really be something….maybe he should use what he has on the on the Pizza man to get ownwership of the team….
Damon cut…222, 4HR….19 RBI..gets cut…..Rayburn probably looking at a raise….
I think I could grow to like this lineup vs. RH pitching.
Delmon who?
If Gameday can be trusted, it appears that Sanchez is leaving a lot of his pitches up in the zone.
Watching him on tv his sinker almost appears like a curveball it breaks so much..he does go up with 2 strikes alot but he is down most of the time
yeah, you can’t really trust Gameday to put the ball where it was actually pitched
Yeah, I have been wondering about that. The umps can’t be giving the wrong calls as often as it looks. I thought it used to be pretty dependable.
An OK outing for a #4 I guess. 10 baserunners in 6+ innings isn’t great, but at least no homeruns. We’ll see.
Greinke got hammered for 4 runs in the 1st inning vs. WS tonight, but fortunately Humber is going for the Pale Hose. 5-4 LAA in the 4th.
Miggy looked a little gimpy at the end of his last run to first …… and the next inning he his taken out? I sure hope that there is nothing wrong with him!
With Alburquerque, this bullpen could be among the best. On the other hand, Schlereth will be ready to return soon also…
A lot of responsibility on Avila and Boesch who had to carry on for the non hitting 4….with only half of the non hitting 4 playing Avila and Boesch come thru with 4 hits..1 run and 2 RBI….wow..
And how about 5 and spot tonight…now theres a wow