Yearly Archives: 2014

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.122: Mariners at Tigers

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Gotta win series’ at home.

A few thoughts on last night’s game (repost from yesterday’s thread)

A few questions about the Vince/SL exchange from last night [regarding Nathan coming out for the 9th].

1) If Price doesn’t struggle in the 8th, does Ausmus bring him out in the 9th? Let’s say he’s at 100 pitches after a quick 8th. I feel that the right move would be to bring him back out, but based on Ausmus’ brief managerial history, I’m pretty sure he would have brought in Nathan regardless b/c “the 9th is the 9th.”

2) Assuming the 9th is the 9th, at what point in time does Ausmus bring in someone else. If Soria is healthy, does he get a chance? How many more lives does Nathan have? Statistically, I think Nathan is the worst regular reliever in the majors (no research done prior to asserting that claim). I mean, objectively, how can this be our answer? Are DD and Ausmus sharing a drink every night praying that Jim Johnson or Soria or Hanrahan are ready to take a shot?

Other thoughts:

1) Who pitches game 163? Price or Scherzer?

2) Holy cow is anyone watching the Angels? Do the Tigers have a streak like that in them? They’ve done it before (albeit 4 months ago). The Royals, Angels, and Mariners have done it.

3) Sick as Felix is, is it a relief getting to that bullpen? Tigers hit tonight like we expect them to.

4) I’ve been meaning to say this before, I don’t get ever pulling Castellanos late. Is Kelly that much of a defensive upgrade considering our bullpen liabilities? Wouldn’t it be smarter to keep that bat in the lineup?

5) The ads in between the MLB.com highlights kill me. I pay for the subscription, I should be able to skip those.

6) How awesome is beer?

Robbie Ray versus the resurgent Chris Young in the rubber match today. Game preview here.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Ezequiel Carrera, CF
3. Miguel Cabrera, DH
4. Victor Martinez, 1B
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Andrew Romine, SS
9. Rajai Davis, LF

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.120: Mariners at Tigers

14 Comments

(“I got this”)

The scorching hot Mariners roll into the D tonight, winners of 4 in a row and 8 out of their last 10. In fact, the Mariners are 9-3 in the Austin Jackson era, and he recently accounted for all 4 RBIs in a 4-2 Mariners win.

The Tigers counter with an impressive streak of their own, having won 2 in a row, 2 out of their last 6, and 3 out of their last 9.

What looked like an innocuous Austin Jackson returns series a few weeks ago (and should have been), is now a crucial one, as the Tigers maintain a scant .5 game lead on the Mariners for the do or die playoff spot. In fact, every game from here on out is going to be critical since the Tigers, well, you know, aren’t in first place.

There was a lot of buzz yesterday surrounding the fans booing Joe Nathan after Nathan walked the first two batters he saw on Wednesday night. I think the easiest way to appease everyone but Joe Nathan would be to release Joe Nathan, but I don’t think that is going to happen.

Nathan did not take kindly to the booing, as he Corleone-d a fan or the fans in general on his way off the mound after closing out the game. Nathan apologized Thurs morning, but I find his chin flick to be immature and indicative of a lack of focus and confidence.

Victor Martinez commented liberally on the boos after the game on Wednesday. I only heard Dan D’s recap of Martinez’s comments, but it sounded like Victor was disappointed, though understanding of the fans’ reaction. Victor, in case you haven’t figured it out, the fans are incredibly disappointed and are not understanding of the team’s sub.500 performance over the past 3 months.

I firmly believe that paying the price of admission gives any fan the right to cheer or boo, in a reasonable manner. Athletes, like CEOs, celebrities, and public figures, are well compensated (in pay or power), and absorbing frustration from constituents is part of the job. I applaud the fans that gave Nathan what he deserved, and only hope that they booed Ausmus as well. Neither have been performing to an acceptable level as of late and that type of reaction is warranted. When players and the team perform well, we cheer.

Praise needs to be earned. The players shouldn’t be surprised by the boos given the struggles over the past three months. Expectations are high because, on paper, this is the most talented team in the Majors. By a long shot. We have the past three Cy Young winners and Miguel Cabrera for goodness’ sake. Ausmus should be able to win with this team, no matter who he has in the bullpen. Other managers have made lesser bullpens look much better.

The whole team needs to look out into that sold out stadium tonight and realize that playing for such loyal and passionate fans is a blessing. They need to look at each other and recognize that playing with the teammates, and for an owner like Mr. Ilitch, is an opportunity. At the professional level, oftentimes the difference between winning and losing is effort. Not talent, not circumstance, but effort. If this team goes out and gives all the effort they have, they’ll get all the cheering they want.

****

–  Grantland recently rated Ausmus 25th out of 30 in a “manager meddling index.”

– Tigers lost 2/3 in Seattled May 30 – June 1

Baseball-Reference Game Preview here:

Rick Porcello v. M’s lefty James Paxton

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. Bryan Holaday, C
9. Eugenio Suarez, SS

Game Post

Game 2014.119: Pirates at Tigers

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It was a heartwarming scene as young Buck Farmer, almost fresh from A ball, took the mound last night with friends and family cheering him on. Buck did a reasonable job, keeping the Tigers in the game through 5 innings.

After the game Farmer was optioned to Toledo, and RHP Melvin Mercedes was recalled. You’ll remember that Buck was brought up from AA Erie, so the demotion to Toledo was really a promotion. It also led to a Jason Beck headline–Farmer Swapped For Mercedes–that sounds like the title of a missing episode of Green Acres.

A less heartwarming scene occurred after the game, as closer Joe Nathan got a double-play ball to get out of a jam and close the game. Nathan, apparently upset about fans jeering him when he began the inning with back-to-back walks, “flicked off” the fans not once but twice. The following link contains NSFTFWATJN video (Not Safe For Tiger Fans Who Are Tired of Joe Nathan.)

**Update**  Joe Nathan has apologized: “Both sides were frustrated,” he said. “I have 2 kids. I need to be a better example than that.”

Today’s One-Game-Winning-Streak Lineup:

  1. Davis, CF
  2. Kinsler, 2B
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. Hunter, RF
  6. J Martinez, LF
  7. Castellanos, 3B
  8. Avila, C
  9. Suarez, SS
Game Post

Game 2014.118: Pirates at Tigers

48 Comments

Tonight it’s young Buck Farmer who takes the mound and tries to stop the bleeding.  Farmer began the season with the West Michigan Whitecaps (A) and put together a 10-5 record with 2.60 ERA and a 1.109 WHIP. He was moved up to Erie recently and had two starts there (1-0, 3.00, 1.167). Farmer throws strikes: he has struck out 127 this season against only 28 walks.

The news on Justin Verlander is tentatively good. His MRIs showed no damage, although they are being sent to specialists for a second opinion. He may miss as little as one start.

Here are today’s roster moves:

  • Kevin “Way Over His Head” Whelan was optioned back to Toledo.
  • The Tigers purchased the contract of RHP Buck Farmer from AA Erie.
  • Eric catcher Ramon Cabrera was designated for assignment by Detroit to make room for Farmer on the 40-man roster, and was claimed off waivers by the Pirates.

In the meantime, Torii Hunter thinks that maybe having to fight for first will be good for the team in the long run.

Tonight’s Carrera-Leads-Off Lineup:

  1. Carrera, CF
  2. Kinsler, 2B
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. Hunter, RF
  6. Kelly, LF
  7. Castellanos, 3B
  8. Avila, C
  9. Suarez, SS
Game Post

Game 2014.117: Tigers at Pirates

35 Comments

OK, looks like even Nature has our number; the hoped-for rainout was not to be. As far as what happened afterward, Verlander couldn’t make it past the first inning, the new guys did what new guys do, and the pitching staff–supposedly the strong point of the team–is in full freak-out mode, though the skipper remains calm. I watched all 19 innings of the Toronto game, but couldn’t stay awake through that one.

It would seem to be time to trash the Jackson/Smyly/Price trade. Jackson was the hottest post-break hitter on the team, and the Tigers have struggled to score runs since the trade. Smyly meanwhile went out and had the Start of the Night last night, with 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball (with 9 Ks). On the other hand, with Verlander possibly injured (inflammation but not structural damage) and Sanchez out, the starting rotation is suddenly one of the team weaknesses (along with hitting and base running and fielding), and going down a playoff contention stretch you have to like Price vs. Smyly. And those of us who have been around awhile know Austin is a streaky sort (I was always skeptical of the narrative that explained Austin’s hot streak as being moved back into the leadoff spot…wasn’t his playoff hot streak explained as moving out of the leadoff spot?).  So I’m holding out on judging this trade for now.

Speaking of trades, Robby “You Got Me and Some Ham Sandwiches for Fister” Ray gets another shot at the bigs tonight, just one of many Tigers moves:

  • The Tigers placed Anibal Sanchez on the 15-day DL retroactive to August 9th. Ooh. Slick move. Thought he was already DL’d.
  • The Tigers recalled Blaine Hardy and Robbie Ray from Toledo
  • The Tigers optioned Justin Miller to Toledo.
  • The Tigers announced Buck Farmer–RHP, AA guy–barely, 2 starts out of A ball– will start Wednesday’s game (corresponding roster move to be made–somebody needs to be bumped from the 40-man roster. I am guessing Drew “Broke Back” VerHagen). I’ll admit I know little about him, but Buck Farmer is just a really good baseball name.

This is hard to explain, but the front office just pulled a good move.

You would think Hardy would not be eligible to return from Toledo yet, but you would be wrong. He can return to replace a player placed on the DL, which Anibal Sanchez just was. Yes, the Tigers announced he was going on the DL, but they didn’t actually officially DL him yet, which allowed them to bring back Hardy after 1 whole day in Toledo, since the official “cooling” time is waived to replace a player put on the DL. Score 1 for the front office.

Tonight’s Predicting-Zeke-as-POG Lineup:

  1. Davis, LF
  2. Carrera, CF
  3. Kinsler, 2B
  4. Cabrera, 3B
  5. V Martinez, 1B
  6. JD Martinez, RF
  7. Avila, C
  8. Suarez, SS
  9. Ray, P
Game Post

Game 2014.116: Tigers at Pirates

39 Comments

I don’t know about any of you, but I’m still exhausted from last night’s game, and the disappointing road trip as a whole. I can imagine how some of the players feel this morning.

The road trip finally comes to a close with two in Pittsburgh, the front end of an unusual 4-game home and away match up with the Pirates, as the Tigers cling to a dwindling 1/2 game lead over the red-hot Royals who have won 7 straight.

There were a whole host of moves made in the aftermath of the Sanchez/Soria injuries and burning of the bullpen arms last night:

  • The Tigers officially place Soria on the 15-day disabled list (left oblique strain) retroactive to yesterday.
  • The Tigers optioned the contracts of Blaine Hardy and Patrick McCoy (each of whom threw 3 innings last night) to Toledo.
  • The Tigers recalled our old friends Ian Krol and Justin Miller from Toledo (well, maybe not exactly friends, especially in Krol’s case. But fresh arms).
  • The Tigers purchased the contract of RHP Kevin Whelan from Toledo. Whelan, a career minor-leaguer, had a 1.85 ERA and 20 saves with the Mud Hens.
  • To make room on the 40-man roster for Whelan, the Tigers released once-heralded prospect Casey Crosby.
  • The Tigers announced Robby Ray will start Tuesday against Pittsburgh. Ray was originally scheduled to take the Sanchez slot in the rotation (Wednesday), but bumped up into Porcello’s spot after he finished off last night’s marathon.

Another spot on the roster has to be cleared before Ray pitches on Tuesday. If today’s game happens to get rained out (rain is in the forecast) and made up as a double-header Tuesday, Ray could be added to the roster under double-header rules without having to return any of the new call-ups to Toledo until later.

Tonight’s Pitcher-Gets-To-Bat Lineup:

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

For some reason Carrera, the only player with fresh legs on the team, starts this one on the bench. Cabrera moves over to the hot corner to keep Victor’s bat in the lineup.

2014 Season, Game Post

Game 2014.111: Tigers at Yankees

27 Comments

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