2015 Season, Game Post

Game 2015.62: Indians at Tigers

32 Comments

I’ll be glued to the radio for today’s broadcast. Of course I’d like for the Tigers to win, but I’m much more interested to see how JV pitches. If we can get 6 innings and 3 or less runs, I’ll be pleased. Getting through the first two innings will be crucial. Chris Iott of MLive did a story today which explained that one of JV’s biggest problems last year was pitching behind in the count. OPS in these situations ballooned in 2014 relative to his career. I can’t help but wonder if this is b/c hitters could, for the first time, sit on his fastball.

Back in February I did some comparisons between JV and other similar pitchers in an attempt to forecast what the rest of Verlander’s career might look like. There is still a very good chance for him to be dominant, but we all need to understand that the fastball velocity is likely never coming back. As a result, he has to be better early in at bats, and the curve and change have to be better. He’ll still have days where he strikes out 10+, but I don’t think he has the arm strength to throw fireballs forever like a Ryan or Clemens.

Are you guys following what’s going on with the All Star game voting? Currently 7 Royals for the AL, and 4 Cardinals for the NL, are leading their respective positions. Technology has enabled teams and fans to legally rig the system. If anything, I wish they would get rid of the dumb home field advantage rule. It’s an exhibition, no one cares. In fact, the All Star game is upsetting to me b/c it means nearly a full week of no real baseball. I’d be more interested if they would let the mascots play each other.

Lineups: (career numbers off Carrasco)

  1. Rajai Davis, DH (3-for-12, double, triple, 2 K’s)
  2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (7-for-19, 3 doubles, walk, 4 K’s)
  3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (8-for-21, double, HR, 3 walks, 5 K’s)
  4. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-3, walk, K)
  5. J.D. Martinez, RF (4-for-13, double, HR, 2 K’s)
  6. Nick Castellanos, 3B (3-for-8, 2 walks, 4 K’s)
  7. James McCann, C (0-for-2)
  8. Jose Iglesias, SS (2-for-3, K)
  9. Anthony Gose, CF

32 thoughts on “Game 2015.62: Indians at Tigers”

  2. I agree about the All-Star game. Although as far as you mascot idea goes, you know there’d be ringers in those costumes.

    1. …i have not cared much about an AS game (or team) for quite some time. Personally, i’d rather have my team’s pitchers NOT make an AS team, and instead utilize the 3-4 add’l days of rest…and the same with any position player that’s nursing any type of ailment or injury (no matter how minor). Players not making the AS team also helps in a team’s contract negotiation leverage, since agents put a lot of into their client being ‘an All $tar”.

      i’d be OK with KC having the starting 9 – plus 3-4 other pitchers in the bullpen for AL, this would likely prompt a reassessment of the whole fan voting system and ‘WS home advantage’…plus it put some add’l miles on KC players, that might be better spend in late September or October.

  3. The whole idea about 35 votes per person is by far the dumbest thing I have ever heard of!!!!!

  4. Vintage JV….bunch of different speeds, good location…and Brantly rips him just like usual…then Gose saves the early day….I am pumped!!!

  6. Raja led off in the 1st inning with a triple in Game 19 against Carrasco.

  7. Interesting how they load the bases just to face the whiff man…Casty!…and McCann who has been following Castys lead a lot!

  9. How bout Raja Davis…we don’t talk about him a lot ,BUT…6 triples, 7 doubles, stolen bases…SOLID!

  11. Hardy throws a high curve ball it gets ripped by Brantley. Hardy throws a high curve ball ot gets ripped by Moss. So Hardy trys a high curveball again and gives up a triple…4 pitches…H.E.L.L.O!!!!!!!WTH!!!!!!!

  12. Going to Ian Krol —–this is fatal mistake.
    Again, hoping I eat my words…..

  13. Hey ….blowpen..thanks for nothing!..Hardy how can you lose a game on less than 2 minutes! Plus gas cal Al about his 10th straight game with a run!

  14. Nick C shouldn’t even bother bringing a bat with him to the box.
    I think Tigers seriously need to consider giving him some time down on the farm….

  15. Iggy batting .330 but our great leader, every game, bats him after Casty and Mc Cann. He might as well bat after the bat boy and the water boy!

  16. I hardly ever like the idea of bringing in another COLD arm. And what’s Tom G’s track record? We prob need 3 runs now to tie……

  17. I think Castellanos will get the whole season, but there’s not much room for a guy who can’t field and can’t hit.

    I’m feeling good about our chances in the 9th. Gonna go ahead and crack open a beer for good luck. Who’s with me?

    1. Well I’m a bit late, but I’ll have one anyway. For good luck. For tomorrow.

    1. Excellent base running by Miggy to get to 3rd on the bloop single. That would have been huge if JD had managed a fly ball.

      1. Yes. JD comes thru sometimes, but not on this one. Imagine our other Martinez, 100% healthy, in that situation ——VMart would have taken that 1st pitch, then battled, fouling off pitch after pitch ’til he got what he liked and then——BOOM! A deep fly ball at least!
        …….Ahhhh…… I dream about the day he comes back in full health.

  19. I wonder if Gas Can Al leads the AL in inherited runners scored, it seems that he gives up that run every single game. JD runs into one once in awhile but he is like Casty and McCann can’t be counted on. Kinsler batted 5 times may not have made an out on a strike all day. Same with Casty and McCann….swing batter batter!!!!! SWING!

  20. Same old same old….put 16 runners on and score 4…been doing that since ….the entire Leyland/Ausmus era began!

  21. Good outing by Verlander though which is probably the most important thing that happened today.

  22. Yes. And the fact that Tigers DID battle back and NEARLY sent it into extras…….

  23. This is almost amusing The Tigers actually hit into a DP to lose, gee whats the chance of that happening!!!!

  24. To me, it’s unfathomable how a MLB professional, Casty in this instance, can walk to the plate in a situation where 47 million fans know that the very last thing you want to do is hit into a DP, with apparently NO plan how to avoid doing just that. (And did I mention, the game is on the line?). SO many things you could do —–shorten up your swing, stick your bat out, punch the ball over 2nd baseman’s head, hell, even bunt down 1st base line, or, jeez —–if you don’t feel confident trying any of that, then leave the bat on your shoulders and pray for a walk!
    This is why I brought up VMart before. He was so intense, so focused. I can’t imagine him ever DPing with a man on 3rd, to end a game.
    @jud = I heard you say you’ve coached at intermediate levels, and you’ve probably played a lot more ball than I have.
    Q = If you really want it, how difficult is it to NOT hit into DP in that situation? In box, isn’t that the #1 thought on a hitter’s mind??

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