Detroit Tigers, 21-24, 5 games behind Cleveland.

[Update: start of the game is delayed by rain. Tentative time for first pitch is 2:30 EST.]

Runs! And lots of them.  Alex Avila said after the game: “We have the type of offense that can make up for mistakes.” Um, let’s not get carried away here.

It still remains to be seen if the Tigers can extend a winning streak beyond one game.

Trying to make that happen is Mysterious Max Scherzer, who is himself trying to put together consecutive good outings, fresh off of a 15 strikeout gem. Trying to spoil the party for Detroit is a one-time nemesis, Carl Pavano. Pavano was 4-0 with a 1.48 ERA against the Tigers in 2009, but is 1-4 with a 6.00 ERA since then.

Today’s Player of the Pre-game:  Quintin Berry.  While he is no Austin Jackson, Berry has provided a spark at the top of the lineup, and can do that thing where he moves his legs really fast while getting from one place to the next.

Today’s Streaking Lineup:

1. Quintin Berry CF
2. Andy Dirks LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Delmon Young DH
6. Brennan Boesch RF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila C
9. Ramon Santiago 2B

Detroit Tigers, 20-24, closer to Minnesota in the standings than to Cleveland.

The last time the Tigers won 2 consecutive games their starting 2nd Baseman was Brandon Inge.

Things are not well in Tigertown.

Justin Verlander, for one, is not particularly pleased.

Even Chris Perez got his digs in, saying that “good teams win baseball games.”

It’s clear what the problem is (though not so clear how to fix it):  the Tigers just aren’t scoring runs.

The Tigers have scored 3 runs or fewer in over half of their games, in which their record is 6-17 (.261…somehow they have thus far avoided being shut out).  The 3-run mark is where losing teams stop–over the league as a whole, teams are 50-227 (.181) when scoring 3 or fewer runs (that record jumps up to 54-32 in games with 4 runs).

You’ll notice the Tigers have actually been outperforming the averages in their low-scoring games, thanks to some brilliant starting pitching. It could actually be much worse.

It’s clear Earl Weaver ball (waiting for the 3-run home run*) isn’t working. For one thing, the home runs aren’t’ coming: the Tigers need a home run from each hitter in the lineup tonight to reach league average.  And even when they do get one–like Avila’s the other day–that still only leaves them at that 3-run mark, unless they can do something else.

(*Weaver actually said that the key to winning was pitching, fundamentals, and the three-run homer).

Tonight Drew “No Run Support” Smyly (15 runs in 8 starts) looks to turn the tide. This looks like a good chance to do it:  Smyly will be facing the 0-3, 4.73 Anthony Swarzak.  And as bad as things have been, at least Detroit has yet to lose to a guy who believes that The Sasquatch (Bigfoot) exists, and intends to find one.

Today’s Player of the Pre-game:  Prince Fielder.  When Fielder steps into the batters box in the 1st inning, Swarzak yells, “I’ve found one!!” rushes from the mound, and attempts to tackle “Bigfoot” Fielder.  The Tigers pound the Twins bullpen following Swarzak’s ejection.

Tonight’s Return of Raburn Lineup:

1. Quintin Berry CF
2. Andy Dirks LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Delmon Young DH
6. Brennan Boesch RF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila C
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

20-23, 2nd place, 5 games behind Cle.

The Jim Leyland mediocrity meter is at defcon 6, as his career record is now 1,608-1,607. He’s .519 and .454 as Tigers Manager, good for a .533 winning pct. .533 for 2012 would get the Tigers to 86 wins, which may just win the Central. Did you know that JL is the 3rd winningest Tigers manager behind Sparky and Hughie Jennings? JL has a higher Tigers winning PCT than did Sparky. Just some fun facts.

JV on the hill today. You know the drill.

Today’s We Need a Win Berry Badly Lineup Is.

1. Berry, CF
2. Dirks, LF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Young, DH
6. Boesch, RF
7. Avila, C
8. Peralta, SS
9. Worth, 2B

20-22, 2nd place, 4 games behind Cle.

Short one today, but a few links of interest:

– How did we miss these Leyland smoking t-shirts?

– Some outside of our little site aren’t too worried about where the Tigers will end up this season. Others, on the other hand, think the Tigers dearth of role players justify an “overrated” tag for the team. The position by position comparison’s are pretty interesting.

– Spring Training sensation and my pick for the 25th guy Quintin Berry gets the start in CF and will leadoff tonight. No word on AJax’s injury.

– “Shocking, Leyland made the wrong move, again.” “Poor bullpen management and poor plate discipline.” “Oh, and it is time for the K-Burn experiment to come to an end. He has shown that he is not ready to be an everyday player.” Those gems were not from last night, but were comments from game 2011.42. History has a way of repeating itself.

Doug Fister climbs the hill tonight praying for a few runs. The Tigers have scored 5 while he’s been on the mound over his last 3 starts.

1. CF Quintin Berry
2. LF Andy Dirks
3. 3B Miguel Cabrera
4. 1B Prince Fielder
5. DH Delmon Young
6. RF Brennan Boesch
7. SS Jhonny Peralta
8. 2B Ramon Santiago
9. C Gerald Laird

20-21, 3rd place, 3 games behind Cle.

The Tigers roll into Cleveland to take on the division leading Indians tonight. Sounds odd but let’s not forget that the Indians were 7 games up on the Tigers one year ago, and then mostly held that spot until late July. I think it was Vince in MN who correctly predicted that the Indians would fade and the Tigers would surge in June based on matchups.

Well, we all thought that May would be a good time for the boys, but in a month where the best team the Tigers have faced is Oakland (who is 1 game above .500 right now), the Tigers are 9-10.  The next 10 to finish out the month won’t be easy, with 3 against first place Cleveland, 3 against a better playing Minny who swept the Tigers in a short series last week, and then 4 against the red hot Red Sox.

Rick Porcello climbs the hill tonight. After a great first two starts he had a rocky back half of April, but has been better over his last three starts, posting a 3.86 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in May. Porcello has been pretty good against the Tribe over his career, limiting them to 2 runs or less in 8 of his 12 career starts against Cle for a 3.86 ERA.

Raburn was placed on the bereavement list today, Danny Worth up for at least a few days.

Austin Jackson will…not…be batting lead-off tonight. He was originally in the lineup, only to be scratched a short while ago.

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

Detroit Tigers, 19-21, 4 games behind Cleveland, and tied with Pittsburgh.

So much for the theory that the Verlander performance would provide a big spark: the Pittsburgh McCutcheons evened the series with a 4-3 win, and added insult to injury by taunting them with Jason “Gas Can” Grilli.  It was all too much for Grilli, who is now listed as Day-to-Day on the Pittsburgh injury report.

Sparky Anderson once said, “You can’t tell anything about a baseball team until 40 games have been played.” Well, the Tigers now have 40 under their belt. What do you think?

This afternoon the Tigers look to take the series behind the arm of the enigmatic Max Scherzer.  The Pirates counter with right-hander Kevin Correia, who last won on April 15th.

After today’s game the Tigers get a long day off, then hop on the bus for Cleveland for a key 3-game series against the division leaders.

***

Random stat of the day: Baltimore leads the AL with 27 wins, and also leads the AL in GIDP with 46.  2nd most GIDP belongs to the worst team in the league, Minnesota, at 44.  Detroit is 3rd with 39.  Make of that what you will.

***

Today’s Player of the Pre-game:  Brennan Boesch. Delmon Young had another good game yesterday. We finally have something going from the 5-hitter. Now if we could only get something from the 6th spot. Boesch has quietly been heating up, and is in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak. Leyland bumps the struggling Avila down the lineup and moves Boesch up to 6th.

Tonight’s Return of Raburn Lineup:

1. Don Kelly CF
2. Andy Dirks LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Delmon Young DH
6. Brennan Boesch RF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila C
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

Detroit Tigers, 19-20, 3 games behind Cleveland.

Last season on May 7 the Tigers were 16-18, and a whole 7 games behind Cleveland in the Central.  Then Justin Verlander sparked the team with a no-hitter against the Blue Jays, they won their next 6, and improved their way to a Central Division title.

Could Verlander’s dominating one-hitter last night be the spark that turns the 2012 season around?

Leyland perhaps summed up the game best: “Everybody who was here last night probably saw one of the best games pitched in the history of baseball.”

Here are some reactions by Verlander, Avila, and Harrison to the one lone hit.

There are those who think that the Free Press jinxed Verlander.  Justin’s own reaction was much more reasonable.  “God that sucks,” he said of the hit. But he knows he will have other opportunities.

Verlander’s shutout lowered his ERA to 2.14, good enough for 2nd in the AL (Derek Lowe is 1st at 2.05).  The 3rd place spot belongs to tonight’s pitcher and Little Rock native, Drew Smyly (2.31).  Smyly will smile upon fellow Little Rock native A.J. Burnett, who takes the mound for Pittsburgh.

***

Random stat of the day:  Jim Leyland’s career managing mark is hovering right around .500, but he is 71-38 in interleague play.

***

Random stat of the day part 2: We all know that Nolan Ryan holds the record for most career no-hitters with 7.  But he also holds the career record for the most no-hitters broken up in the 7th inning or later, with 24 of those (Randy Johnson is 2nd with 11).  So including the no-hitters that’s 31 times he has gone into the 7th inning of a game with a no-hitter.

***

Today’s Player of the Pre-game:  Delmon Young. Young had a HR and a double last night; the Tigers need some production from the 5th spot in the lineup if they want any kind of offensive consistency.

Tonight’s Undefeated Interleague Lineup (Austin Jackson is “feeling better” and may be available from the bench):

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

Detroit Tigers, 18-20, tied with Pittsburgh Pirates.

Yeah, I know.

But Justin Verlander needs no introduction; Justin Verlander needs no bullpen; and Justin Verlander needs no Game Post photo.

Verlander by the way, is one of 4 pitchers who have gone at least 6 innings in 50 or more consecutive starts. The others are Bob Gibson, Steve Carlton, and Catfish Hunter.

Tonight is one of those great home interleague games, where the AL team has a huge advantage because of the DH rule.  Detroit runs out Delmon Young, who is putting up a .226 BA (.599 OPS), and the Pirates are stuck with Josh Harrison in the DH spot (.256, .711).  Haha, take that NL!

For what it’s worth, The Beekeeper says that Tiger fans have a right to be upset.

Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Prince Fielder. Fielder has broken out of his 0-23 slump in a big way, and is batting .489 lifetime against pitchers named Charlie.  (OK, I might have made up the last part).

Tonight’s Megatron (hands back, Calvin!) Lineup:

1. Don Kelly CF
2. Andy Dirks LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Delmon Young DH
6. Alex Avila C
7. Brennan Boesch RF
8. Jhonny Peralta SS
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

18-19, 2nd place, 3 games behind Cle.

Since April 17, the Tigers have won 10 and lost 16. They have played on every single day after they have won a game, and they have lost every game after a win in that stretch. It’s been pretty bad. The bullpen has been horrendous. Here are some team bullpen stats: ERA – 5.17, worst in the majors; WHIP – 1.54, 2nd to worst in the majors; BAA – .270, 25th; OPS against – .354, 2nd to worst in the majors. For all of the concerns about the offense, the Tigers are middle of the pack in the AL for most offensive categories (in spite of the 2B and DH holes). But the bullpen is the major culprit right now. You can get out and talk to a few of the relievers about it in person after the game tonight.

Doug Fister takes the mound today still searching for his first win, despite only having allowed 1 ER in 16 2/3 IP (20 2/3 if you include Toledo). Fister hasn’t allowed a run at Comerica since last August.

A few notes:

– Villareal was recalled today and Worth was sent down to Toledo. Look for Villareal to appear in the first high pressure situation that arises.
– If the Tigers lose two more in a row, Leyland’s career winning pct will be exactly .500 (he’s currently 1,606 and 1,604).
– Luis Marte is scheduled to pitch in Lakeland today. We need him to get up here fast.
– AJax is day to day with an abdominal strain.

Today’s Jackson-less Lineup:

1. Kelly, CF
2. Dirks, LF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Young, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Boesch, RF
8. Peralta, SS
9. Raburn, 2B

Ryan Raburn can’t get no respect.

Raburn’s first home run of the year was the deadly blow in the Tiger’s 8-run, comeback 6th inning, which overcame a seemingly insurmountable lead built against Max Scherzer, jinxed by Kevin In Dallas.

And yet, in the account of the three 6th inning home runs, Jackson “belted” his, Cabrera “jackhammered” a massive shot, but Raburn merely “flicked” one over the wall.  No respect.

The Tigers are back in Detroit for another 2-day doubleheader, this one against their once-upon-a-time nemesis, the Minnesota Twins.

Rick Porcello, who has hopefully escaped jinxing, will take on Nick Blackburn, who doesn’t seem to like staying up late.  During day games Blackburn has a career 3.91 ERA.  Nick at Night is not so good though, putting up an ERA of 5.13.

If a closer is needed for these 2, it won’t be Valverde: his lower back strain will keep him out of this series; he is day to day after that.  According to Leyland, Joaquin Benoit will be the closer in the meantime. “Probably.”

Morneau returns from the DL for the Twins, but it has just been announced Tiger-killer Denard Span has been scratched from the leadoff spot (hamstrung), to be replace by Erik Komatsu.

Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Alex Avila.  Last night after Valverde gave up back to back singles and went to a 3-1 count on the next batter, Avila summoned trainer Kevin Rand to the mound and Valverde was removed.  Tonight Avila’s job is to summon Kevin Rand as soon as either Balester or Putkonen step on the mound.

Tonight’s Ramonburn Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Andy Dirks LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
4. Prince Fielder 1B
5. Delmon Young DH
6. Alex Avila C
7. Ryan Raburn 2B
8. Brennan Boesch RF
9. Ramon Santiago SS

17-18, 2nd place, 2 games behind Cle.

Don’t let the smile fool you, Mad Max is MAD.

He’s angry that Coleman jinxed Smyly yesterday. He’s upset that Putkonen pitched like a Mud Hen and not a Tiger. He’s furious that the Tigers are 0-9 in games following their last 9 wins. And he’s livid that we are in the middle of may, and Mad Max sports a 5.7+ ERA.

After a great start to the game yesterday which saw the Tigers plate three runs in the top of the first, the bullpen woes continued when Putkonen came in and gave up 3 ER on 4 hits and a walk while retiring only 1 in the top of the 6th. Leyland pulled Smyly after only 69 pitches because his pitches were high in the zone, (and he had to get to the bar to see Pacquiao), but why Putkonen wasn’t pulled after he loaded the bases wasn’t asked. This is just one of those Leyland let the rookie work it out quirks. Burned him last night.

Mad Max is looking for his 3rd straight quality start, and to boost his league leading 10.75 k/9. This will actually be Scherzer’s third start against the White Sox this season. He gave up 3 ER on 5 hits and struck out 11 in a loss on April 13th, and the allowed only 1 ER and struck out 9 just 10 days ago (no-decision).

Today’s back to .500 lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Dirks, DH (haven’t we established that Dirks is a better fielder than Kelly? Do we really need to rest a 26 year old?)
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Avila, C
6. Boesch, RF
7. Raburn, 2B (apparently a hit moves you down in the lineup)
8. Peralta, SS
9. Kelly, LF