The Eskimo languages, they say, have about 50 different words for “snow.” Tiger fans are going to have to coin some new words: “blowpen” alone is no longer sufficient to cover the myriad variations of ways the Tigers blow games this season. Last night’s version was literally unique: over the last 2 seasons teams went into the 9th inning with a deficit of 5 or more runs 1,058 times–or about 6 1/2 complete seasons of baseball games–and last night’s game was the first time the team ahead lost.
I said before the game yesterday that Verlander would have to be good, and, lo and behold, he was not only good, but dominant. Then, blow and behold, the bullpen came in.
The Tigers have picked up Neftali Feliz to help out the bullpen, since when the bullpen falters the thing to do apparently is to go look for a Texas Rangers guy. Call me cynical, but this move just makes me shrug.
Today’s Worst Hitter Bats Fifth Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes, LF
- Victor Martinez, DH
- JD Martinez, RF
- Marc Krauss, 1B
- Nick Castellanos, 3B
- James McCann, C
- Jose Iglesias, SS
- Rajai Davis, CF
Rajai gets the start in Center, because Phil Hughes has reverse splits (RH hit him better). So wait, why is Krauss at First?
Detroit….the place relief pitchers go to die!!!!..Feliz is a good signing..why..he doesn’t presently pitch for the Tigers. I am for trying any guy or Monique Davis off the street!
Aaaand……that’s how you do it: You lay down a beautiful bunt, and then you don’t even have to give away an out. Puts 2 men in scoring position, and essentially eliminates DP. Can’t always guarantee those 2 men will come around to score (like Twins did here), but % is better than a lot of other options. I’m explaining all this because someone wrote the other day, that they thought it was dumb to “give away outs”. More often, sacrifice is very smart baseball.
including today, Simon’s last five outings:
22.2 IP; 47 H; 29 ER
trade value = 0
We probably could get something by trading him to one of the guys in the Home Run Derby, but we’ll have to act fast.
Today’s Tiger Vocabulary word: Simonized.
Touche x2, Coleman!
Felt sick seeing Victor get tossed. He doesn’t beef with an umpire unless he feels it’s really just. He also has reputation, like Cabrera, for having good eye for strike zone. That’s sad; this contest just got a little less interesting…
The other thing (altho much more subtle) is seeing VMart that mad shows me that he was definitely planning on causing some damage that at-bat (before he got falsely called out, that is).
81-81….McCann did more today than Avila has done since coming back…hey James..good job..to bad you will be back on the bench tomorrow!
Feliz..good job!. I put in a call to Monique Davis!!!