43-37, 1st place tie with Cleveland.
The Detroit Tigers first went to 6 games over .500 on May 3 with a dramatic win over the Houston Astros. And here we are at 6 games over .500 again. Hmmm. Quite a few teams would be happy to say that. Hmmm. Tigers. Aren’t they that team with Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder and Justin Verlander? Hmmm.
A Monday day game seems a bit odd, but that’s what they’re doing in Toronto today. For that reason I won’t be able to post the starting lineup. Sorry.
Why the Sanchez picture if Alvarez is pitching?
Wishful thinking?
Vince:
A. Laziness.
B. It’s really Sanchez’s slot. I’m keeping it warm.
C. Superstition.
Mostly laziness.
And also wishful thinking.
Today’s Knuckleheaded Starting Lineup:
1. Jackson CF
2. Hunter RF
3. Cabrera 3B
4. Fielder 1B
5. Martinez DH
6. Peralta SS
7. Infante 2B
8. Dirks LF
9. Pena C
You’ll notice that Infante has been bumped up another spot in the lineup, with Dirks dropped back to 8th.
Ah, Infante 12-for-25 against Dickey. I’d have moved him all the way down to 5th.
If it were not for Houston, what would the Tigers record be?
We’d only be 38-36. By the way, we had 6 games against Houston this season; Cleveland gets 7 (and still has 4 left).
We had 7 too. We went 6-1 versus the ‘Stros. Swept them in 4 in HOU, then took 2 of 3 in DET. Of course I attended the only game that we lost to HOU this year. Doubt that CLE does any better than 6-1 versus HOU. They aren’t as bad as they started. They will win at least 60 this year after many thought they would struggle to win 50 back in mid-May when they were really struggling. We played HOU at the right time this year, that is for sure.
I must have blocked out the one we lost.
If it were not for Houston, what would the Tigers record be?
A free swinging team like ours is going to have a very tough time with Dickey. This is not the time for us to have to deal with a pitcher like him, especially with our bats being in hibernation recently.
They should all watch Infante, he makes it look easy.
This team is unwatchable since the BOS series ended. I think I need to take some time away from watching the Tigers for awhile. My blood pressure and frustration level is thru the roof with these guys. Another chance to score runs in the 3rd goes a glimmering. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I keep expecting different (read: better) results with this lineup and so I think I may be going insane.
I am with you, I was excited to be able to watch them play live on the big TV, but I think I will go mow the lawn before the temp hits 100 here today.
The difference in the AL central will be Francona. Jim Leyland has lost the ability to motivate this team.
I read Tito’s book this winter and realized he really knows how to manage and his wins in Boston were not the flukes /career years I had thought they were. You are right, this Tigers team is sleepwalking and is flat as a pancake. Now I really am going out to the yard and do some yard work, you know like Reyes did.
This game is absolute torture for me in more ways than one …… because I live in Toronto!
Baseball certainly is a talking sport.
The malaise has settled in over me as well. But DTW gives me good reason to stay tuned in every night.
We’ll get through this. The 7-9th inning thing is just a freak circumstance that will correct itself. I mean, it has to. Right? Please?
Leyland, aware that Infante kills Dickey (+1), takes the bold move of moving him from 8th in the order down to 7th (I think that’s what people mean by “meh”).
Infante so far: 2 singles and a double, left on base 3 times.
At least Omar showed up today. I say bat him 5th tomorrow.
2nd place.
Joe Maddon on Miguel Cabrera: “I just wish he wouldn’t cry so much.”
Leyland on Today’s game:
“It is what it is,” Leyland said. “We’re in a little funk right now. We gotta get ourselves out of it. You gotta roll with that punch and try to do something about it. Hey, we play again tomorrow. We got a good pitcher. They’ve got a good pitcher. We’ll see. Hopefully we’ll break out and score some runs.”
Looks like the Alvarez experiment is over. Hopefully Sanchez is ready to come back?
I think Alvarez has some upside, but he is young and is probably a year or so away. He’ll be a good trade chip at the deadline when DD can use him to pick up an over-priced rental to get us into the playoffs.
the solution to all DET’s offensive struggles of late…
The Freep is reporting “Tigers bringing Alex Avila back up from Toledo”
http://www.freep.com/
😉
Avila is to the Tigers offense as yeast is to beer. Let the fermentation begin
Or something.
The Tiger offense is “a cold one.”
Porcello suspended for 6 games for throwing at Zobrist.
Considering Maddon’s comments, that TB took the series, and Porcello’s suspension, I’m pretty sure that Rodney is dominating Cabrera right now in this little playground battle. Dominating.
And this infuriates me. Man these guys need to win a game.