Alex Avila tightened the screws and launched one, and the Tigers are again in first place today. If the playoffs began today, KC and Oakland would be playing the wild card game, and Detroit would be going to Baltimore.
Justin Verlander gets another chance to contribute to the rotation, as the Tigers have the brooms in hand.
Even though it is the dreaded Sunday day game after a night game, Ausmus can smell the straw bristles and is going with the same lineup as last night.
The Tigers and Indians will be hiding out on TBS for those few who won’t be watching football at 1:00.
Today’s Hey-It’s-Still-Baseball-Season Lineup:
- Kinsler, 2B
- Hunter, RF
- Cabrera, DH
- V Martinez, 1B
- JD Martinez, LF
- Avila, C
- Castellanos, 3B
- Romine, SS
- Davis, CF
Another bomb to center by JD “The Man” Martinez!
Hwey JV do you have to give up a run immediately following getting a run everytime?
Hardy, Not so good. Hope the bats can come back.
JD comes through again! Time for Alex to step up again.
Hard to be mad at Hardy bc he’s been so good all year. But he screwed JV there. WP, BB, Single, HBP.
He’s been slipping a bunch lately. Command has deserted him.
Still a good move to yank JV there. Good to see the decisiveness.
Yep. When he is not on (most of the time) it is good to yank him early. There is too much at stake to leave him in just because of the Ace label, which is certainly not the case this year.
Yes! Ian!
Rajai Davis is having himself a game.
Now that’s some playoff baseball!
First time 17 over, right?
KC down 4 in the top of the 9th. Could be 1.5 here soon (2 assuming KC loses that suspended game).
Yup, high water mark, not a moment too soon.
The Tigers are playing great baseball. I’m not sure if it’s so great that I’m comfortable with a 3-run deficit, but 2 isn’t as depressing as it used to be. That’s progress.
Ausmus +1. Anybody else think there a good chance Castellanos wouldn’t have turned that 9th inning DP?
Right here. There is no way Castellanos turns that DP. None. Maybe it’s circumstances, maybe it’s Ausmus, maybe a bit of both – but the super-utility of DK is showing this season like never before.
Casty is showing how hard it is for rookies to go 162…his abats are getting worse and D is suffering. Kelly stepped up like he usually does…maybe Hardy and Suarez are in that young player getting tired from the long season also….all three have basically done well!
I don’t think Nick’s at bats are getting worse. J.D.’s are actually getting worse lately, but he’s such a great mistake hitter. Home runs to dead center tend to silence my criticism of the last chasing, swinging strikeout. Not to mention all the other extra base hits, and all the clutch singles, too. The guy just won’t slump.
8-2 in the division in September. Good trend, considering the rest of the games are AL Central match-ups. Good way to close it out!
Sloppy Joe Blow should not pitch in consecutive games ever again.
All’s well that ends well. Nathan may not have been “as advertised” this season, but he hasn’t blown too many saves.
He’s got 6, and a -.1 WAR. I think you’re giving him too much credit, SL. 6 is tied for 2nd most in MLB among all relievers.
Stat of the day:
Casty OBP: .312
Kinsler OBP: .311
I’m not arguing that Casty should be leading off.
Jim Johnson: charged with 10 runs on 6 hits, 10 walks in 10 IP.
I am arguing no more J. Johnson (unless blowout).
Just when you thought it was safe to go in the clubhouse: http://www.freep.com/article/20140914/SPORTS02/309140168/Dress-up-day-for-Tigers-rookies
…unfortunately just viewed that myself… and wished I had not.
Lots of towel-snapping going on in the shower too I bet.