Monthly Archives: July 2014

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.105: White Sox at Tigers

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Baseball Reference Game Preview

John Danks vs. Drew Smyly

Another hilariously unlikely game last night, one that fell our way this time. What novelty will today bring?

The first 5 innings worth of Drew Smyly’s last outing against, oh, who even remembers, because they were invisible, was far and away the most stunningly dominant performance of 2014 for any Tigers starter. Can he possibly come close to that today? If the law of averages makes us cautiously pessimistic in that regard, the good news is that Detroit only has to score 3 to reach 14 for the series and assure themselves of a series win. That’s the plan. It has the benefit of disallowing more than 2 for the White Sox, which could mean – no, must mean – that our savior Joakim Soria will finally pitch a clean inning as a Tiger. I’ve got it all worked out, except for how the Tigers will score. I’ve got it! Something really bizarre, like a three-run homer for Miguel Cabrera. I know, I know… but the scouts do report that the guy has shown flashes of power and could, over time, develop into a 20-25 HR guy.

So, what do you people think? Does Detroit need to make a deal before the imminent trade deadline? Another interesting twist on the speculation comes from Jason Beck.  I suppose I should have known better than to think that the idea of moving Smyly to the bullpen had completely gone away, though I still wish it would.

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.104: White Sox at Tigers

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Baseball Reference Game Preview

Hector Noesi vs. Max Scherzer

Let me offer the following radical theory as to why the Tigers lose when they lose: The players didn’t play well enough. I know I’m going out on a limb to suggest that players on the field are responsible for making the plays, getting the outs, and scoring the runs, but I’ve decided to make this my bully pulpit for such outlandish, unheard of, and totally wild speculation.

Another game coming up. Another chance to knock ’em dead. I wouldn’t get too carried away with dire assessments. Baseball fans are a study in confirmation bias slanted toward the negative. I’m no exception. But I try to resist.

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.103: White Sox at Tigers

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Baseball Reference Game Preview

Jose Quintana vs. Anibal Sanchez

Would you trade the boom and bust of a typical MLB offense for something more consistent? The Detroit Tigers have scored 476 runs. They did not but could have done so by scoring (in any order) 5, 5, and 4 runs in any consecutive three games, consistently and without fail. Would that have been better?

There are two answers, the simplified one and the more accurate one. First: Yes. Second: No.

“More than the other team” is still the best plan I’ve heard. Not easy to pull off when you’re scoring 1, 0, and 1. A noble experiment, but it doesn’t add up to 14. 14 every 3, the key to .600. It’s The Baseball Diet.

 

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.102: Tigers at Angels

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This series sure did turn quickly.

Baseball-Reference Game Preview.

Prediction: if the Tigers don’t score more than 1 run, they will not win.

Avila and Hunter with the day off vs. the lefty Santiago.

Go get us a win, Jud.

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, DH
4. Victor Martinez, 1B
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Eugenio Suarez, SS
8. Bryan Holaday, C
9. Rajai Davis, LF

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2104.101: Tigers at Angels

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Tonight’s game is the kind that you imagine used to make Justin Verlander salivate with anticipation. Road game against a potential playoff foe, opposed by a hittable rookie out of Eastern Michigan.

Unfortunately, the way things have gone this year, I think we’re all hoping JV is concentrating on his arm angle, or release point, or landing point, or some other what we thought was a habit, so that he can get through the first unscathed.

Matt Shoemaker started the year in the pen, but has had great success as a starter for the Angels, posting a 6-2 record. His ERA as  starter is 4.37, but it looks like that is a result of some bad luck, as his FIP is 3.82 (for the year) and his WHIP is 1.30. He strikes out 9.3/9 and has a 4.80 K/W ratio this year. He gives up a lot of hits, doesn’t walk many, and likely won’t pitch deep into the game.

Baseball-Reference Game Preview.

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Quick shout out to Austin Jackson. Lost in the time difference on Friday night was an outstanding play to rob Kole Calhoun of extra bases. Moreover, since Jackson was inserted into the leadoff spot for good, he is hitting .348 with a .935 OPS and a 5.05 RE24.

In other news – the Hall of Fame changed the player eligibility timeline from 15 to 10 yeas, which shortens the lifespan of the Bonds, Clemens, Sosa and McGwire ballots. Alan Trammell will get two more shots at it before turning over his fate to the Veterans committee.

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LAA lineup note – Josh Hamilton out tonight with a sore knee.

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, LF
6. Torii Hunter, RF
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Eugenio Suarez, SS

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.100: Tigers at Angels

15 Comments

Outstanding win last night. It felt great to get the opener on the road in Anaheim.

Like many of you not named Jud, I did not stay up for the entire game. I fell asleep with the Tigers up 6-3, but the Angels threatening with a 1st and 3rd no out situation in the bottom of the 8th. Remember that, 1st and 3rd, nobody out.

Around 1 am I was woken up by one of my freeloaders (my wife calls them “children”) screaming in her sleep. Perhaps she was still distraught over her “french fries being too crunchy” at dinner, or because the dog “touched her side.” Anyways, I was a little anxious to check the final, and, based on the state of things when I last checked, I prepared myself for a rare Joba bad outing, and a typical Nathan one.

Lo and behold, a 6-4 win, demonstrating another reason why we all love baseball. Merely 19 pitches after I left them, Joba and Nathan had shut the door allowing only one run in the process. Sac fly, double play, K, K, K. That was some postseason baseball.

A win tonight would really make for a swell weekend.

Baseball-Reference Game Preview here.

Headed to dinner with the fam, please post the lineups, friends.

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.99: Tigers at Angels

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56-42, 1st place, 6.5 games up.

The Tigers fly into Anaheim to take on the white hot LAAoA. If you haven’t been paying attention, the Angels are twenty games over .500, and have moved up to the #2 spot in the AL power rankings. Since starting the season 13-13, the Angels are 47 and 27, and are 13-5 this month. The Angels are 35-18 (.660) at home. The Tigers are the AL’s best road team at 30-13 (.638), but are 2-10 in their last 12 vs. the Angels.

Baseball Reference game preview.

Game 1 tonight, 10:05 PM ET – Max Scherzer v. Garrett Richards

Game 2 tomorrow, 10:05 PM ET – Drew Smyly v. Tyler Skaggs (L)

Game 3 Saturday, 9:05 PM ET – Justin Verlander v. Matt Shoemaker

Game 4 Sunday, 3:35 PM ET – Rick Porcello v. Hector Santiago (L)

J.D. Martinez has shaken the minor injury for the back to the AL lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, LF
6. Torii Hunter, RF
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Eugenio Suarez, SS

2014 Season, Trades

Tigers trade for Soria

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According to multiple outlets – Corey Knebel and Jake Thompson are headed home to Texas in exchange for Rangers’ closer, Joakim Soria.

Knebel has been underwhelming at the big league level, though he is striking out 11.4/9 in the show. The young kid from Texas (Georgetown HS – about 140 miles south of me, and fellow University of Texas alumni) did, however, put up some sick minor league numbers, posting a .855 WHIP and 11.8 K/9 over 2 years and 64 IPs.

Jake Thompson was a 2012 2nd round pick out of Rockwall-Heath HS, only about 20 miles from me. Thompson has been a starter in the minors (stats here), and is the real meat of this trade. He’s been ranked as high as second in the latest Baseball America list, and third in the BP prospect list, and BP projects him as a low 3 starter.


Jamey Newberg, who independently covers the Rangers like a hawk, wrote tonight that Knebel and Thompson are the Tigers’ #2 and #4 prospects, and the he thinks those two are more promising than the four that the Angels gave up for Huston Street.

I can’t imagine that Soria takes over the 9th right now, though Thompson is a high price to pay for a 7th inning guy. Knebel was on the big league roster, so no corresponding move is needed. I’m guessing that Soria is insurance for Nathan, and we’ll either see Nathan on the DL soon, or Soria in the 9th inning role in the near future. I just don’t think that Nathan has it anymore. I understand SL’s bad sample argument (a handful of games are muddying an otherwise average year), but 39 year old pitchers don’t lose it and then find it again. Joe Nathan, feel free to prove me wrong.

Update: DD said that Nathan is still the closer in the Soria presser.

Game Post

Game 2014.98: Tigers at Diamondbacks

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For those of you who could stay up long enough, you probably wish you hadn’t, although pretty much the whole game took place in the 8th inning.

In the top of the 8th, the Tigers blew not one but two opportunities with a runner at 3rd and less than two outs. The first was when Kinsler was caught in the dreaded Run On Contact play. I wish I had numbers for how often that fails; it seems to be a lot, not just with Detroit, but with other teams as well. It doesn’t help that the Tigers hit the ball so hard–the Martinez grounder got to first so fast Kinsler had only made it about a third of the way home. Kinsler valiantly got in an extended rundown, but Cabrera was having none of trying to get to 3rd.

Fortunately, Torii Hunter came through–again!–and put the Tigers back ahead, and gave them another opportunity with runners on 2nd and 3rd with one out. Unfortunately, Avila had to face a lefty, and I don’t think any of us were surprised at the weak strike out that followed. I’m sure Holaday wouldn’t have done any better, said no Tiger fan.

Then came The Decision: pinch-hit for Porcello, or send him back out for the 8th. Normally that is an automatic PH situation, but Porcello was only at 77 pitches, and had just breezed easily through the 7th. In addition, Joba Chamberlain (and maybe Nathan) were unavailable in the bullpen. Ausmus rolled the dice, and lost: Davis had a pinch-hit called 3rd strike, and Larry, Curly and Moe blew the lead in the 8th.

Well, today is another day and another game, which is one of the great things about baseball.

Today’s Did Not See That Coming Lineup:

  1. Jackson, CF
  2. Davis, LF
  3. Kinsler, 2B
  4. Cabrera, 3B
  5. V Martinez, 1B
  6. Kelly, RF
  7. Avila, C
  8. Romine, SS
  9. Sanchez, P

Following the ol’ Rest ‘Em While They’re Hot strategy, Ausmus sits Torii Hunter for The Donkey, who at least has a positive history against Cahill (4-for-7, HR). He tries something new with The House by the Side of the Road in the 2nd spot, bumping Cabrera-Martinez back to 4-5.

 

Game Post

Game 2014.97: Tigers at Diamondbacks

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For those of you who couldn’t stay up quite that long, and who don’t read newspapers or internets or such, the Tigers started their trip out west with a 4-3 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, as Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter continue their torrid July. Torii just turned 39 and is doing it in style; leading the team in BA (.365), OPS (1.077), HR (5) and RBI (19) for the month of July. Austin Jackson has been thriving in the leadoff spot, hitting .357 so far this month.

Miguel Cabrera, who hasn’t seemed quite right lately (6th best team OPS since July 1), added a 420 ft. RBI single, and was thrown out at 2nd on a play he really thought was a home run: he admired it a few moments, and then after being thrown out on an ill-advised attempt to hustle to 2nd, was still giving the home run signal. On the replay the ball didn’t seem to come close, but the Tigers asked for a review anyway, and I’m sure it couldn’t possibly have been to make Miguel look better. Regardless, he absolutely crushed the ball to dead center, which warms the Tiger-fan portion of the heart.

Verlander pitched a good, almost better than good game, despite being tormented by Rajai Davis insisting on getting on base in front of him in the 9th spot. Verlander says it’s because he saw some old pictures of himself 10 minutes before he warmed up, and noticed a difference. I know the feeling. In Verlander’s case, it was a difference in his arm action. He knew what to do: “I went out and tried to throw the way that I used to throw,” which I guess inspired Joe Nathan to try to close like he used to close.

Tonight Rick Porcello gets his first start since the All-Star break, following up on a sharp 1-run, 7-inning outing against Kansas City. His counterpart, rookie Chase Anderson, has lost 4 in a row (with a 5.03 ERA) after a strong start.

In other news, Detroit rookie pitcher and possible trade bait Drew VerHagen has been placed on the AAA disabled list with a lower back strain.

Today’s Let’s Not Have the 8 Hitter Getting On Base So Much Lineup:

  1. Jackson, CF
  2. Kinsler 2B
  3. Cabrera, 3B
  4. V Martinez, 1B
  5. JD Martinez, LF
  6. Hunter, RF
  7. Holaday, C
  8. Suarez, SS
  9. Porcello, P

Miggy at the hot corner again. Porcello is due; after starting his career 2-for-5, he has gone into a 2-for-14 slump at the plate.

Game Post

Game 2014.96: Tigers 4, Diamondbacks 3

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Gear up Night Owls, the Tigers are off on a 7-day Western jaunt, starting with three in Arizona tonight.

Scheduled times/starting pitchers for the road trip:

Detroit at Arizona:

Mon Jul 21 9:40  Verlander vs Nuno (L)

Tue  Jul 22 9:40  Porcello vs Anderson

Wed Jul 23 3:40  Sanchez vs Cahill

Detroit at LA Angels

Thu Jul 24 10:05  Scherzer vs Richards

Fri  Jul 25  10:05  Smyly vs Skaggs (L)

Sat Jul 26  9:05   Verlander vs Shoemaker

Sun Jul 27 3:35   Porcello vs Santiago (L)

The Tigers have never fared well on the West Coast, but of course Arizona is not the coast, so hopefully this trip gets off to a good start. The Tigers do still have the best road record in the American League, which Scherzer and Cabrera should have thought about more before contributing to the AL All-Star game victory.

The big topic for the first leg of this road trip of course, will be the who-plays-where involved with the lack of a DH, and Ausmus opts to go with Cabrera at 3rd for the opener. A little more surprising is Holaday at catcher; yes, they are facing a lefty, but that usually doesn’t make so much of a difference. Even more surprising is Suarez being bumped up to the 6th spot. Hmm.

Bullpen help? The Nats just released Ryan Perry (kidding, I hope).

Hopefully at some point in this series we will see the Diamondbacks’ backup up catcher, because you can’t beat a name like Tuffy Gosewisch.

Today’s No-DH Lineup:

  1. Jackson, CF
  2. Kinsler 2B
  3. Cabrera, 3B
  4. Martinez, 1B
  5. Hunter, RF
  6. Suarez, SS
  7. Holaday, C
  8. Davis, LF
  9. Verlander, P

Austin Jackson has never really seemed a fit in the leadoff spot, which was never more apparent than in last postseason, where he couldn’t even put a ball in play until he was finally bumped down to the 2nd half of the order. So I didn’t expect much when Ausmus tried moving Austin back into the leadoff spot, especially after he earned a sombrero on July 4. But since taking over the leadoff spot, he is hitting .354 with a .928 OPS.

That should help Verlander in the 9th spot, having Jackson to protect him in the lineup.

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.95: Tigers 5, Indians 1

26 Comments

Baseball Reference Game Preview

Josh Tomlin vs. Drew Smyly for the Sunday day game.

Exactly two months ago, The Bad Times began with three losses in a row to the Indians. Astonishing losses, really. Just like the last three.

Offenses sputter. It happens. Big name, big money closers fail. This also happens. One situation is more dire than the other. What to do with Joe Nathan has become the question of the day.