2013 Season, Playoffs

Game 2013.Playoffs 9: Red Sox at Tigers

153 Comments

Wrong side of 2-1, 7 games left to go.

So, my intention was to just post a “short and sweet for the W” and then let the chips fall. It worked pretty well back in the day (meaning 2011 – 2012).

Well, I’m glad I put something up last night. There has been (understandably) so much chatter pre-game on the Relaxing post from last night, that even if I did want to get into things, there is not much to cover.

I have noticed that the DTW is calmest between the hours of 11 pm and 1 am central, which are prime reflecting hours for me. It gets a little lonely,I must admit. Refresh. Refresh. MLB network is too painful, so I pass the time on the Golf Network. Their late night show is actually pretty awesome.

Then I step into one little meeting during the day, get back to my desk, and bam, T Smith and KW have already dealt Prince Fielder. Interesting topic. That and Max Scherzer. But we’ll discuss that in November.

For those of you who haven’t yet seen it, Jim Leyland has made some radical changes to the lineup. Not only did he bump the leadoff hitter, a surprising move for loyal Leyland, though not surprising in light of the situation, but he also moved up everyone else in the order. I LOVE the move. Leyland recognizes that this is win or go home (basically) and that it is imperative to have his best hitters hit more often, conventions be damned.

1. Hunter, RF
2. Cabrera, 3B
3. Fielder, 1B
4. Martinez, DH
5. Peralta, LF
6. Avila, C
7. Infante, 2B
8. Jackson, CF
9. Iglesias, SS

Beyond the relief to Jackson, this also it presumably gives one of the guys at the top an extra AB. And if anyone can handle leadoff in a crucial game like this one, it’s Torii Hunter.

Honestly, I don’t know what to expect, other than thrilling baseball between two of the best teams in the Majors. It’s hard to fault the hitters while we reap so much praise on the starters. Shouldn’t we acknowledge how dominating two of Boston’s starters have been? And Uehera? Good night. He’s throwing golf balls to guys trying to hit with pencils out there.

I will readily admit that I expected a deep playoff run this year. In fact, I felt entitled to it. What I forgot was the anxiety, heartache, and frustration that comes with it. I know, I want to scream “it’s just not fair” as badly and as loudly as you do.

But this is the playoffs. We’re all in this together.

I’ll be back here for game 7.

153 thoughts on “Game 2013.Playoffs 9: Red Sox at Tigers”

  1. I think the lineup is an improvement. I think our best hitters right now are Peralta and Martinez. This moves them from 5-6 to 4-5. I’d rather see them 2 and 4. At any rate, I have a feeling the Tigers will hit Peavy. Let’s score early!

  2. Just back from the Dodgers game. A few hits makes everyone relax. Lets hope Tigers ca do the same.

  3. Smokey has completely lost his marbles ….. fielding this line-up, especially batting Miggy second .The line-ups suggested by our fellow bloggers in the RELAXING post and in other previous posts are much more potent. I would also put Fielder at DH and VMart at 1st.

  5. After yesterday’s game, I am live and prime time with Dan and Jim and Joe and Tim muted. Yesterday I forgot the Red Sox were playing and only extended my DVR one extra hour…silly me…I needed at least two hours as it kaputed in the top of the ninth. Gaux Tigers!

    1. Looks like Cabrera is glad to have a visitor at third and is social networking with Napoli.

  8. Peralta–not Cabrera, certainly not Fielder–is the bat they fear, and they will pitch around him hear on out. He should be batting 2nd.

  11. Buy those fans on the third base some Stroh’s for not going for Torii’s hit! Well done Fans!

    1. You couldn’t buy someone a Stroh’s at Comerica if you wanted to. Its Budweiser and Labatts products (at least in the concourse). Maybe they carry it in the beer hall, but not likely.

      1. …but yeah, regarding the point of your post it was great to see such knowledgeable fans occupying those seats and not touching the ball to give Iglesias the opportunity to score from first base.

  16. Ok…the I-J-I-H Express is coming up! I like this as we can get some speed on the bases.

        1. I believe that is my first “choo-choo” this season. However it worked as we say goodbye to Peavy!

        1. Here comes da Cabose! BTW, Peavy is officially out of the MLB Man’s Club by drinking from a bottle with his name on it!

  24. Why didn’t Leyland just let Porcello pitch three innings and save the short relievers for tomorrow? This man is beyond lost in managing a bullpen.

    1. Why didn’t he just let Smyly pitch 3 innings? Porcello out of the bullpen isn’t going so well.

      1. I agree with Smoking Loon and Jason to varying degrees. Let Porcello work at least two of those innings and save Smyly and Al-Al for when you really need them in a close game. I will be gritting my teeth tomorrow if I hear that Smyly is unavailable after using him for 1 2/3 innings in a five run game. I didn’t have a problem getting Benoit some work because he needed it since he hadn’t pitched since Sunday night. Benoit also needed to regain some confidence (not sure if that was accomplished) and he may have done so after a rough beginning to the inning. It had to feel good to him to get Ortiz for the final out tonight.

        1. I get what Leyland was doing with Benoit, but Ortiz missed a 3-run home run by a fraction of an inch…and that would have been a disaster, even if Detroit held on to win. Playing with fire there. I think the potential downside was bigger than the upside.

  25. And why is Smyly pitching to Ortiz instead of Coke, with Ortiz’s 2-for-19 record against the latter?

  26. This is just as thoughtless as Game 2. Odds are still in the Tigers’ favor, but it’s the same obtuse and idiotic process at work.

  29. Another note: the lineup was a wise and original move from Leyland. I just hope he’ll stick with it for the rest of the series.

    I like:
    1) batting Cabrera 2nd (recommended by sabermetrics)
    2) the natural AJax/Iglesias/Hunter/Cabrera series running 8-9-1-2

    He may have to demote Prince Fielder, though.

  30. 6 outs left. One pitcher per out. I would go:

    Porcello
    Veras
    Benoit
    Dotel
    Coleman
    Paws, with Fister and Kelly warming up.

    1. Actually that reminds me–Rondon they say may be ready for the World Series.

      And they should save me for a pinch-hitter, because I can pitch equally well with either hand.

      1. I would put in Stephanie of Detroit Fox Sports South Gals before Paws. I believe she is a left-hander!

      1. He has a knack for making it a save situation. Nothing wasted but our time and the occasional game.

  37. Leaving AJax in the lower third of the order permanently may be best, but it presupposes picking up another leadoff hitter in the off season. Since they don’t run anyway, speed probably won’t need to be as much a consideration as OB ability and contact. With Infante possibly on the way out, are there any secondbasemen out there that could fill the bill? A trade using surplus starting pitching would be the way to go. If no 2B, I guess the next option would be a corner OF. I’m not sure about Hunter, due to his age and all. On the other hand, there is a saber argument for loading up the top of the batting order with your best hitters (JL seems to be leaning that way tonight, although I doubt his reasons are based in that kind of logic), so maybe just putting another slugger in there would work. It will be interesting to see what happens this winter regardless of the outcomes of the rest of this season.

    3. What is it with the ALCS and our closers looking very ordinary. Third year in a row where our closer looks like he is fighting it in the ALCS.

      1. I think that is because 1) our closers ARE very ordinary. And 2) MOST closers are very ordinary. I don’t have the stats on the tip of my keyboard here, but someone ran the numbers and when you are winning by 2 runs or more, you win like 80% of the time, and with a top closer it’s like 90% of the time…so how many games a year is that? Closers make much less of a difference than people think.

          1. Yes, but closers would be more accurately rated based on how nervous fans are when they pitch.

  47. Ok, so it’s a best of three series now. Gotta make the most of the non-existent home field advantage tomorrow.

  49. I think I’ll toast Austin Jackson right now. I feel relieved right now–I know I’m not alone here. But can you imagine how HE feels? Cheers!

        1. Du skål
          Jeg skål
          Til alle de vakre flicker vi skål
          Alltid en Tiger

            1. No worries, all PG so far, although it does present possibilities.

              So, Only Tiger Fan, I’m not quite sure. Perfectly comprehensible, but is that Danish, maybe? It’s *almost* Swedish.

              Dags för Fielder att slå till, eller hur? För oss och alla de vackra flickor, för att inte nämna nachos från publiken.

              3. It was pretty obvious from the syntactical use of…OK, actually I think I remember him posting as Only Tiger Fan in Norway earlier this year.

              4. No, I think it was Iceland. I thought Iceland was a Danish territory originally, but now I think that was Greenland. Iceland is more closely connected with Norway. Unless I’m wrong again. I like Björk a lot, in any case.

  50. When Benoit got that 2nd strike on Ortiz, I thought that a bad start could actually end on a positive note if he could get Ortiz to strike out.

    Then when Ortiz barely missed another HR, I changed my mind and walked away with a sick feeling. Which is hard to do in a 7-3 series tying victory.

    I think that Benoit still closes, but Leyland is open to situational pitching at every point in the game.

  51. I feel the winner of tomorrow’s game will win the series.

    after tonight’s game, Fielder’s career post-season BA is .203 – it would be great if he could get hot, but history indicates that may not happen.

    1. We really just need one key swing. Guys are getting on base in front of him. 1-4 with an XBH could make all the difference.

      I’m very anxious about tomorrow night’s game, but it’s nice to know that Scherzer and Verlander follow Sanchez.

      Pretty sick.

      1. It would be nice, but I don’t see it happening.

        Fielder’s postseason OPS is a Kelly-like .649. And that is not a small sample size, that’s 152 plate appearances (this doesn’t include tonight’s numbers.

        By way of reference, Brandon Inge’s postseason OPS is .799. (Hi stephen!).

    2. Jackson had a good game. Congratulations Mr. Fielder, the hot seat is yours! Mr. October he is not. And I agree about tomorrow: I’m not seeing Detroit take two in a row at Fenway.

      1. I’m actually surprised Fielder didn’t have a better game. No pressure, huge lead. That’s usually when he decides to find the seats.

        Oh well. Maybe he’ll surprise tomorrow.

        1. I’ve been bullish on Martinez all year… even when he was in Mendoza territory pre-All star game. Never doubted. He’s just an outstanding, outstanding hitter. Only thing stopping him is age.

              2. Excellent. It even scans. Sometimes when you play the song game with people, they throw in all sorts of wrong accents and extra syllables, and you have to explain, “no, see, the idea is to…”

  53. How about the SB by Miggy? I was sooooooooo disappointed when Fielder struck out after that. That would have been one extremely demoralizing RBI (to the Red Sox, of course), had Fielder knocked Miggy in.

    Smyly was big, about time he came through with something convincing again.

    I was prepared to be elated after 7 runs, but the bullpen took care of that with the first batter faced. I ended up shaky-relieved. Note that the Tigers scored 0 on the Boston bullpen. That would seem to bring the total to… 0.

    1. Boston’s bullpen owns us, which is why I said “score early!” Clearly they read this stuff, and that is how they got the novel idea.

    2. Technically that is correct (all seven runs charged to Peavy), but Miggy did drive in a run (inherited runner) off of Workman. It doesn’t count against the BOS bullpen, but it was good to see Miggy greet Workman with that hit. It was an important add-on run to be sure.

      1. EVERY run is important! (Papi was at bat with 2 on and a 4 run lead. Without that add on run, we are looking at Groundhog Day). No lead is safe! No lead is safe! I hope that is in their heads by now.

        1. I stand corrected, Jerry, Just relying on memory, didn’t check my facts. I’m more concerned with who allowed the runs than the silly business of “charged to.” I’m relieved that the Tigers *have* driven in at least a run against the Boston pen.

          1. I still haven’t figured out if Sunday set some sort of postseason record: a grand slam where 4 pitchers (Veras, Smyly, Alburquerque, and Benoit) were each charged with 1 earned run.

            1. Yeah, I’m not sure how one would go about looking that up. The search tools on baseball-reference don’t seem especially robust in my brief experience with them. Must be some way. You’re always hearing these little factoids from Elias Sports Bureau, etc., about the incredibly obscure.

  54. I have been very vocal about Leyland’s shortcomings this series, but I will give kudos where due. Well done on the lineup tonight (except Fielder should not be in the 3 hole)…I didn’t think the ol’ curmudgeon had it in him to shake things up.

    Let’s consider this a momentum change going into tomorrow’s game. Best of three with Sanchez, Scherzer, and Verlander. Could be worse….

    1. I think a more or less set batting order is more of a convenience to the manager than a benefit to the team. I’d say the same for the matter of bullpen roles.

      Getting Jackson out of the leadoff spot was good. Nothing brilliant about the rest of the order, really.

  55. DET showed some real spark, ran the bases very well and capitalized on offensive opportunities tonight, but if I had to pick one MVP for DET tonight, it would be Peavy…and I don’t mean any disrespect to Peavy, because I respect him and his approach to the game… but he was off tonight (that 4 pitch BB to AJ was a sign) and hopefully woke up the sleeping giant (DET’s offense)…but I guess we’ll see what LHP Lester (damn lefties) has to say about that tomorrow.

    1. Here’s a guy, who has been struggling, struggling mightily, almost historically. He dropped from leadoff to the 8th spot. Here is his 1st at bat in the 8th spot, all eyes are on him: will it help? will he strike out again? The first pitch is too bad for even Austin to swing at. 1-0, that should help. Oh, a quick 2-0. Surely, he has the take sign now? Oh no, or is Leyland having him swinging away, to give him confidence? No matter, hard to swing at that, even without the take sign. 3-0. Now it has to be take…this pitch is close, but no cigar, it’s a 4-pitch walk. Runs scores! RBI for Austin! Fans go wild! Pressure is lifted! That was a huge gift to Austin, and probably the At Bat of the Game, every bit as much as the Ortiz home run was the at bat of that game.

      1. All eyes are still upon him, of course, and will be until he smokes one for extra bases. Radio call had it that he still seems to be having trouble just picking up fastballs.

    2. Hunter, Infante, Jackson and Iglesias all ran the bases well because they (and only they) can. The trick is getting them on base to run the bases well. (OK, also tip of the cap to Cabrera: he can barely run now, but he is one of the smarter baserunners on the team).

      Who was the last Tiger starter who went from home to first as fast as Jose Iglesias? He is faster than Jackson, and I would bet faster than Granderson (nobody went from 1st to 3rd like Granderson though). I will exclude Quintin Berry as a non-starting player. What do you think?

      1. I can’t remember a Tigers regular as fast around the bases as Iglesias, but there are significant gaps in my observational history.

        1. The last guy I can remember that I would put my money on would be Gary Pettis. Man, he was fast! Ridiculously fast. I’m not sure who since then.

  56. BOS out-hit DET tonight 12-9, and every DET pitcher gave up at least one hit EXCEPT Smyly. Me, i’d have brought Smyly back out in the 9th, but it (Benoit) worked out…and DET fans might feel cheated if there’s not some late inning drama…;)

    I think DET should play Iglesias every remaining game at SS – his glove will likely make up for any drop-off in offense contemplated. Peralta is slow in LF, but adequate…as long as he keeps hitting, he’d be my LF.

    Also as suggested before here by others, VMart should get a start at 1st and DH Fielder…how about tomorrow? If Fielder is going to continue to bat 3rd or 4th, DET really needs something meaningful from him offensively, and maybe giving him a DH (day off) will help get him out of his funk.

    1. Yeah, like Martinez at first base. Hoping for an upcoming series where we’ll get to see him catch, as well.

    2. Remember what a spark Avisail gave us in the postseason last year? Wouldn’t it be nice if Castellanos turned out the same way? I saw nothing really from him in September that makes me excited…I almost wish we had sold high, but I believe that Tiger folk know more about this than I do. And I like the trade for Iglesias; no regrets. But man if we had a good young outfielder like that, wouldn’t it be great to have him in the outfield, and Iglesias at short, and Martinez at first, and Peralta at DH this series? (oh, and this scenario also requires T Smith and KW to trade Fielder).

      1. I’ll be shouted down here, but they could activate Tui for a possible spark. Nothing against Perez, but an entire roster spot devoted to pinch runner?

      2. Agreed that Castellanos did not show much in his September call up. Zero pop in the bat with an okay batting average. I don’t believe that Castellanos had a single extra base hit in any of his at-bats. Garcia showed some extra base power almost immediately last year. It would be nice if Castellanos showed the same. I don’t regret the Garcia trade at all though as we got ourselves a SS that should be plug and play for the next 10-12 years.

  57. is it me or did it seem that the last place Fieler wanted to be at the ballpark tonight…just like last night of zero effort!!!

  58. He looks like he has been staring into space for a while now ….. on a different planet ….. take your pick?

    1. Leyland needs to DH him, drop him to the fifth spot, and play Martinez at first. See if that shakes anything up.

      Oh, and did I mention it would even be an upgrade defensively?

  59. Would Leyland “dare” to drop Fielder from the lineup if we get to the World Series in the away games where there is no DH? VMart has shown that he can adequately man first base (I’d say better than Fielder can) and I’d much rather have VMart’s bat in the lineup than Fielder’s. Or do we have VMart catch and sit Avila even though Avila has outperformed Fielder by a wide margin in this postseason offensively?? It would hurt us defensively at catcher while the VMart for Fielder move doesn;t hurt us one bit defensively at first base. It is something that I hope Ol’ Smoky gives some consideration to if we get to the WS.

    1. I wonder if his annoying consecutive game streak counts if he doesn’t play in the postseason?

      1. No. You could sit him down for the rest of the post season and he would still have everything to play for next year.

    2. Please. It pained him enough to start Max Scherzer ahead of Verlander. I’m sure labored over that decision for weeks before he finally announced the move.

      Two confrontational (and controversial) decisions regarding our under-preforming super stars in one post season? (my apologies to JV for lumping him in with Fielder — he’s been awesome since September)

      I don’t see it happening. He wouldn’t dare. He will sit Avila for one game and use VMart off the bench for the other game (and if a third game involved, it will probably be a coin toss as to which way to go — sit Avila or use VMart off the bench).

      Save for anything short of Fielder hitting the decisive walk off in one of remaining games of this series, however, he absolutely should do exactly what you suggest.

    3. BTW, this is why he hasn’t rested Fielder. He doesn’t want to offend him given the personal streak Fielder is on.

      I’m sorry, with all due respect to Prince Fielder and his skills, he is no Cal Ripken. It would have been better for the team if he was well rested for the playoffs.

  60. Now for something completely different. There’s been recent speculation that DET could try to trade Scherzer this off-season since he’ll be a free agent at the end of the ‘14 season AND since the salaries of JV & Fielder, + new extension for Cabrera, might make Scherzer (who as a FA will likely get Greinke [$26M per yr] money or more) unaffordable.

    Depending on how DET does this post-season… if they win it all, Mr. Ilitch (a/o the Ilitch family) having conquered that mountain, might take a different or less aggressive approach (?).

    Scherzer has been phenomenal and a huge steal for DET, but he’ll never have higher trade value than this (Cy Young) offseason; but with one year left before FA, the team that trades for him is going to want to also sign him to a long term deal. With all this said, where might Scherzer want to end up? …well he has family in MO and he grew up an avid Cardinal fan, that might be a perfect destination for him – and there are a few factors that could be in DET’s favor: 1) STL has some players and prospects that could/would greatly benefit DET, and 2) Beltran’s ($16M) salary might be coming off the books if he signs a FA deal with someone else.

    My suggested trade: DET sends ’13 Cy Young winner Max Scherzer AND perennial All Star Prince Fielder to STL for:
    Michael Wacha RHP SP – 22 yrs old making minimum salary
    Trevor Rosenthal RHP RP – 23 yrs old making $490K
    Matt Carpenter 2B Bats: R – 27 yrs old making $504K
    Kolten Wong 2B Bats: L – 23 yrs old #49 overall MLB prospect
    Oscar Taveras OF Bats: L – 21 yrs old #2 overall MLB prospect

    STL may not want Fielder and his contract, but if they do, DET would lose two great players but shed over $350M+ in contracts (assuming they re-signed Scherzer long-term + the $170M left on Fielder’s deal), but in return DET would receive a very good young SP (Wacha), an excellent young reliever (“closer”), a very solid starting 2B along with two great prospects that fill DET needs.

    DET could play VMart at 1B next season or continue to DH him and move Cabrera back to 1B and re-sign either Peralta or Infante to play 3B or possibly Castellanos (Carpenter has also played 3B)…either way, there’d likely be a net gain defensively

    1. I like. We could possibly ask for even more. If there is a 2013 Tigers/Cards rematch, and either or both players factor into a World Series ring for the Tigers, that package would be huge and be very valuable to the Cards.

      A Fielder/Scherzer trade would never be more valuable. We might even get more for it than your proposal.

      I’d hate to see Max leave, but it would be a very practical move–unless we could unload the Fielder contract for something of value and somehow sign Max.

      1. I think we could get more, but I like this line of thinking. Scherzer’s value will never be higher, and we won’t have to face them unless its the WS or the occasional intra-league game.

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