What’s the best way to cure a struggling offense? Sit Miguel Cabrera, says Brad Ausmus.
1. Davis, LF
2. Carrera, CF
3. Kinsler, 2B
4. Martinez, DH
5. Martinez, RF
6. Kelly, 1B
7. Castellanos, 3B
8. Avila, C
9. Romine, SS
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Game 2014.111: Tigers at Yankees
Fun win last night. I listened to the last 7 innings on the radio. Lots of constructive criticism flows from our respective keyboards, so let’s give some credit where it’s due. Joba/Soria/Nathan were brilliant last night, and we don’t win that game without Alex Avila. We don’t even get to extra innings without him.
Last night’s effort shows you what you get from David Price on an okay night. Wait till next turn.
Torii Hunter out with a contusion on his hand.
1. Rajai Davis, LF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Bryan Holaday, C
8. Andy Romine, SS
9. Ezequiel Carrera, CF
Game 2014.110: Tigers at Yankees
On paper, it looks like Max Scherzer kept up the trend of dominant starting pitching, allowing only 2 runs in 7 innings.
In reality, three spectacular defensive plays with runners on base kept the game within reach. Ian Kinsler made two fine plays dashing to his left, fielding the ball into right field, spinning, and making a strong throw, once to second to start a double play, and once to first. Then, Ezequiel Carrera, in his first start in the bigs, made a bid for play of the year on a diving catch sprinting to his right in deep centerfield. The play was phenomenal for a number of reasons – his read on the ball, the distance covered, and most importantly, the game situation. The bases were juiced with none out. Carrera’s snag allowed Max to limit the damage to a single run that inning.
For the game, Scherzer allowed 9 hits, 3 walks, and struck out only 4 in 7 innings. But Scherzer made enough pitches to give his defense a chance, which is what good pitchers do.
Avila had a really bad K with the bases loaded and one out. And then Robertson made him look silly in the 9th, but Robertson does that to a lot of people.
The Tigers are now 8-10 since the break.
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And so begins the David Price era. In case you’ve been without internet for the past seven years, David Price is good. Like really good. He’s been an All-Star 4 times, won the Cy Young in 2012, and finished second in 2010. For his career he’s 82-47 with a 3.18 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 10 K/9, and 8.22 K/BB. He hasn’t posted an ERA above 3.50 since 2009. His .636 career winning percentage ranks him 9th among active leaders with at least 100 decisions, just behind Max Scherzer, and right ahead of Justin Verlander.
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– The Tigers sign 2012 and 2013 AL Rolaids Relief winner (is that still a thing) Jim Johnson to a minor league contract.
– Here’s what David Price will do for you. Tigers are #2 in the latest USA Today MLB power rankings.
– John Sterling’s idiosyncrasies drive me nuts, but he’s about as complimentary of the other teams as it comes. Suzyn Waldman knows her stuff too.
– Avila is…a good game manager. Let’s all understand that.
Game preview here.
No love for Carrerra as Davis gets the start.
1. Rajai Davis, CF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Torii Hunter RF
6. J.D. Martinez, LF
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Andrew Romine, SS
Game 2014.109: Tigers at Yankees
On April 29, Justin Verlander pitched 7 innings of 3 run ball, and started a run of 7 quality starts in 8 games, during an 8 game Tiger winning streak. “Quality Start” is not descriptive enough, as the Tigers’ staff allowed 3 runs or less in 6 of those 8 games.
On May 12, Porcello turned in a 6 inning, 5 hit, 1 ER performance which launched a 6 game winning streak which saw the staff allow a total of 10 ER, and 5 of those were in a single Verlander victory over Baltimore. Five of the 6 starts were quality.
Here are the starting pitching lines over the last three games:
8 IP, 8 H 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
8 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 10 K
7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 K
That’s a .74 WHIP and 13.5/1 K/BB. Yes, it was Colorado without three of their top offensive players, but you still gotta make the pitches. I’m pumped to see what Max brings tonight knowing that Price debuts tomorrow.
(Interesting to note that the Tigers have also had two winning streaks of 5 or more when they did not get too many quality starts)
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Tigers in New York to take on Jeter and the Yankees. If you haven’t yet seen the Nike Derek Jeter tribute video, you’re missing out. Some kid is starting in centerfield for the Tigers.
1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Ezequiel Carrera, CF
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Torii Hunter, RF
6. J.D. Martinez, LF
7. Don Kelly, 3B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Eugenio Suarez, SS
Game 2014.108: Tigers 4, Rockies 0
The Tigers roared load and often last night, scoring in every inning but the 9th, which hasn’t happened since 1912. For a while it looked like they might get a chance to bat in the 9th also, as lefty du jour Pat McCoy made an inauspicious debut, giving up three runs without recording an out, but Phil Coke bailed him out. Starter Rick Porcello was a different story though, as he threw his 4th consecutive strong start, allowing only 7 base runners over 8 innings. With last night’s game in, Porcello has quietly taken over the team lead in ERA at 3.18.
This afternoon Anibal Sanchez is the broom man as the Tigers go for the home sweep.
The Rockies trot out yet another lefty today, Jorge De La Rosa. The Tigers sometimes struggle against lefties, but this isn’t a strategy for Colorado; it’s all they’ve got right now. This will be the 19th consecutive lefty start for them.
Tigers It Worked Last Night Let’s Try It Again Lineup:
- Davis, CF
- Kinsler, 2B
- Cabrera, 1B
- V Martinez, DH
- Hunter, RF
- JD Martinez, LF
- Castellanos, 3B
- Avila, C
- Suarez, SS
Game 2014.107: Tigers 11, Rockies 5
Well, the first day of The New Tigers was a roaring success, with Rajai Davis doing a little bit of everything from the leadoff spot (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs, 5 putouts in center). For those comparing, Austin Jackson had an 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts and a walk leading off for Seattle.
Justin Verlander also had his best game in a very long time, spreading 8 hits out over 8 innings and only giving up 2 runs, mostly because: zero walks. He really only had one bad inning, the 7th, which was made worse by a play where Castellanos had to decide whether to go for the inning-ending double play or throw home, and made a high throw to the plate which didn’t give Holaday a very good chance at getting the out. It was a vintage-looking Verlander that finished business himself by striking out the next two batters.
One of the Tiger starters is going to end up in the bullpen for the postseason. Based on performance this season, that should be Verlander, unless he comes on strong the rest of the way. But does anybody really think that’s a possibility? I don’t. The most likely guy to draw the short straw is Rick Porcello, but he is really making that a difficult decision, as he continues compile the best season of his career. His last three starts have been stellar: while he has only come up with one win (thanks to lifeless bats and a blowpen), he has put up a 1.71 ERA and lasted 7 strong in each. He has also started adding the K to his ground ball repertoire, striking out 5 and 6 in his last 2 starts.
Tonight Porcello will benefit from a Colorado lineup that is not only missing Tulowitzki, but also Carlos Gonzalez, who re-injured an ankle making a brilliant catch of a foul ball last night.
Tonight’s Lineup–Los Nueve Tigres:
- Davis, CF
- Kinsler, 2B
- Cabrera, 1B
- V Martinez, DH
- Hunter, RF
- JD Martinez, LF
- Castellanos, 3B
- Avila, C
- Suarez, SS
Yes, it’s the old Alex Avila vs the lefty saga again tonight (and probably tomorrow). But until StorminNorman$ pointed it out in a comment last night, I didn’t realize that Avila is actually holding his own against lefties compared to Holaday:
- .185 BA .456 OPS Holaday
- .205 BA .535 OPS Avila
Hmm, who knew? I have a theory why the perception is so different: Avila has 32 strikeouts vs 3 walks in only 84 plate appearances. So there is making outs, and there is making outs haplessly flailing at strike three. Still, The numbers say that playing Holaday against lefties may not be the upgrade it seems.
Game 2014.106: Tigers 4, Rockies 2
Colorado Rockies (44-64) at Detroit Tigers (58-47)
Schedule and projected starters:
- Fri 8/1 7:08 Justin Verlander vs Franklin Morales (L)
- Sat 8/2 7:08 Rick Porcello vs Tyler Matzek (L)
- Sun 8/3 1:08 Anibal Sanchez vs Jorge De La Rosa (L)
Yes, you saw correctly. An entire series facing lefties, so it may be a while before we see either of the new faces, David Price (who should start Tuesday in New York), or left-handed hitting centerfielder
Ezequiel Carrera, who was called up from Toledo to take Austin Jackson’s spot on the roster. Dave Dombrowski said that Carrera and Rajai Davis will “share” centerfield, though whether it will be a left-right type of platoon or some other arrangement will have to be seen. Don’t be surprised to see Carrera introduced as a pinch-runner: he has already stolen 43 bases at Toledo.
Tonight’s Lineup:
- Davis, CF
- Kinsler, 2B
- Cabrera, 1B
- V Martinez, DH
- Hunter, RF
- JD Martinez, LF
- Castellanos, 3B
- Holaday, C
- Suarez, SS
Davis will try to match Austin Jackson’s recent success in the leadoff spot. Even more interesting will be to see how he does handling the centerfield duties. The Tigers’ pitchers gets a little bit of a break with the Rockies lineup, with Troy Tulowitzki on the 15-day DL.
Tigers Trade for David Price
The Tigers pulled off a three-team blockbuster trade that sent Austin Jackson to the Seattle Mariners, and Drew Smyly and minor-league shortstop Willy Adames to the Tampa Bay Rays for David Price. Tampa Bay also got Mariners infielder Nick Franklin in the deal.
In many ways the trade was classic Dave Dombrowski, who is not afraid to make the big deals, can work deals with multiple teams (Austin Jackson himself came to Detroit in the three-team Curtis Granderson deal), and can also at times fly under the radar–with all of the Price trade rumors flying around, the Tigers were never mentioned until an hour or two before the trade deadline.
This trade now leaves the Tigers with a bunch of guys named Cy: the last 3 consecutive Cy Young winners are now in the Tiger starting rotation. There is definitely an arms race on, as the Oakland A’s nabbed Jon Lester as their Lefty for the Playoff Run. The Tigers certainly matched them.
The Tigers haven’t been playing of late like a team ready for World Series contention though–they are only 5-9 since the All-Star break, with an inconsistent offense among other problems. And that is where Austin Jackson will be sorely missed in the short term–he has been a bright spot leading off the lineup since the break, hitting .362 with an OPS of .947.
For old times’ sake, here is Austin saving Galarraga’s “perfect” game.
What are your views on the trade?