If you need a reminder of how a manager can galvanize a team and what that can mean to a W-L record, look no further that the Texas Rangers. This team was written off by everyone, trust me, everyone, in May.

Now the Rangers are strong favorites to win the division.

And on the other side of the diamond the Tigers are bringing back Brad Ausmus.

Goodness.

Here’s a picture of Verlander in a Rangers hat.

Also, has anyone noticed what a slump Miggy is in? .202 with 0 HR and 8 RBI over the last month. This has been a trend…last few years it was the injuries. Hopefully he will still win the batting title.

It’s the home stretch, and the last home series. 9 left to go. The Twins can stay alive for a wild card with a sweep. The next series, at Texas, could be very big…for Texas. There is a game 162 that will not be played this season.

It would be nice to see JD make it to #40.

Jim Leyland with some nice words about Yogi Berra.

Iglesias may be done for the season. I’d shut him down. Slow down Miggy as well.

There was a point this season where many of us might have had this three-game home series pencilled in as a huge series. Luckily, it was in pencil.

Key Series for the Twins as they are 1 game behind Texas for the 2nd wild card spot. Texas starts a 4 game set with the Astros, only 2 games behind the ‘Stros for the division. September baseball is fun for other teams.

Tonight’s lineup:

1. CF Anthony Gose

2. 2B Ian Kinsler

3. 1B Miguel Cabrera

4. RF J.D. Martinez

5. DH Victor Martinez

6. 3B Nick Castellanos

7. LF Steven Moya

8. C James McCann

9. SS Andrew Romine

Today’s Let’s Play Two Lineup:

1. Rajai Davis, CF
2. Tyler Collins, LF
3. Miguel Cabrera, DH
4. JD Martinez, RF
5. Victor Martinez, 1B
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Dixon Machado, SS
9. Andrew Romine, 2B

Update: We will try again tonight, same lineup. Yesterday’s game has been re-scheduled as a double-header on Sunday (an old school double-header, not the day/night variety).

Jason Beck has a bunch of quotes from Brad Ausmus about the premature reports of his demise.

*****

It looked like it was time for this season to quietly fade away, then start something different for next season. It got a little noisier yesterday though, with multiple reports that the decision has already been made to fire Brad Ausmus. He is pre-fired, in other words. Which makes the last few weeks of the season rather awkward.

Chris McCosky (Detroit News) tweeted that the planned firing was leaked by the Illitch camp. It has also been made known in other sources that Illitch was not sold on hiring Ausmus in the first place. There are other explanations for the rumors I suppose, but it sounds like a public owner tantrum.

Poor Al Avila, left scrambling at damage control, says that no decisions have been made, and that “It’s unfortunate this happened the way it happened, Puts us all of us in a very awkward position.”

There may be a game today, a rainy one. Steven Moya gets another look in left. Why not? No word on when Iglesias can return, but nothing wrong with seeing some more Dixon Machado. The Staff Ace takes the soggy mound.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Anthony Gose, CF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. JD Martinez, RF
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Steven Moya, LF
8. James McCann, C
9. Dixon Machado, SS

OK Alfredo, we’re going to give you a little more sauce every scoreless inning you pitch (yes, I know that’s not Alfredo sauce. Don’t be so pedantic).

I seem to get all the Alfredo Simon starts. I’ll try the lucky pasta picture again. It is likely that tonight Simon will throw a shutout. it is also likely he will give up 6 runs in the first 3 innings. A solid, 3-4 run start? Highly unlikely, which is why that is my prediction.

Hmm. That’s actually making me hungry. The picture, not the anticipation of the game.

Reason to watch: Rajai Davis is hot right now. Also I am appreciating the professionalism that Andrew Romine brings to his backup role.

As mentioned in my comments on yesterdays threads multiple inside sources have yet to deny my rumor that Jim Walewander will be the new Tiger manager. Other unnamed sources are also silent.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Rajai Davis, LF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. JD Martinez, RF
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. James McCann, C
8. Andrew Romine, SS
9. Anthony Gose, CF

1. Anthony Gose, CF

2. Ian Kinsler, 2B

3. Miguel Cabrera, DH

4. J.D. Martinez, RF

5. Nick Castellanos, 3B

6. Tyler Collins, LF

7. Jefry Marte, 1B

8. Alex Avila, C

9. Dixon Machado, SS

The only suspense left in the season is whether the Tigers can improve their draft position.

Fun fact: hitters are batting .417 off of Matt Boyd when he’s ahead in the count.

Career numbers off Erasmo Ramirez

1. Anthony Gose, CF (1-for-3, walk, K)
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (1-for-5, double, walk, K)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. J.D. Martinez, RF
5. Nick Castellanos, DH
6. James McCann, C
7. Dixon Machado, SS
8. Andrew Romine, 3B (2-for-2)
9. Rajai Davis, LF (0-for-3, K)

In years past I planned my Labor Day around the game.

Career numbers off Drew Smyly

1. Rajai Davis, LF (0-for-1, K)
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (3-for-7, HR, walk, K)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. J.D. Martinez, RF
5. Nick Castellanos, DH
6. James McCann, C
7. Dixon Machado, SS
8. Andrew Romine, 3B
9. Anthony Gose, CF