Norris pitches tomorrow…
TIGERS (numbers against Gausman)
Late start today. More on the Cespedes deal later.
2016 starts as soon as Norris gets here.
1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Iglesias, SS
3. Cespedes, LF
4. Martinez V, DH
5. Martinez J.D., RF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. McCann, C
8. Romine, 1B
9. Davis, CF
It’s not confirmed, but it looks like the Tigers are getting Daniel Norris and Anthony Alford. Norris is a flat out stud.
Here is the Freep story.
We’ll keep this thread open for deadline deal talk.
Despite long balls from Cespy and JD, both of which should have been home runs, the Tigers were again lackluster at the plate, this time matched by bad pitching, even from the normally stellar Price. That’s just how it’s going right now.
Will today feature another good outing from Justin Verlander, with no hitting? Or will the bats come alive, only to be done in by an implosion on the mound? The suspense is killing me.
Today’s They’re Due! Lineup:
Now that Iglesias is having a little cold streak, Brad Ausmus finally moves him to the top of the order. Romine rides the bench in favor of the potent bat of Alex Avila.
Here we are at game 100. The first 80 went by fast; the last 20 seem to have taken all summer.
David Price should feel right at home on the Tampa mound, in his last start before the trade deadline. The word now is that the Tigers are not going to be selling off anything, and may be buyers. Of course that may just mean that Dave Dombrowski is holding out for better offers. We shall see.
Today’s Price-Is-Pitching-Who-Needs-Runs Lineup:
Iglesias batting 7th only lasted a day; he is bumped back down to 8th to make way for Avila.
Yes, I know they are just the Rays now. But I reject the name change.
All the Tiger brass are in Tampa to huddle together and figure out what to do. Hmm, maybe sell, maybe buy, maybe change our names and become captains of some sailing vessel with a really good Jimmy Buffet cover band.
The Tigers did obtain a new bullpen arm. Oh wait, it’s Buck Farmer. No, no never mind, Buck is a starter, and Shane “I look SO sad” Greene is relegated to the bullpen. C’est dommage.
Today’s At-Least-One-Run-What-More-Do-You-Want? Lineup:
Ol’ Smarty Realized the best contact hitter on the team shouldn’t be batting 8th or 9th. So he moved him up to…7th. Romine in at 1st, since Krauss isn’t available. McCann back to the bench, since he’s only batting .395 in July. That’s .395, as in best on the team. But his OPS is only 1.004, which is also best on the team. Unfortunately, there is a Right-Handed Pitcher tonight, and McCann is struggling against righties with a mere .268 BA, so Avila is the choice here, with his .216 BA against righties.
Yes, I’m officially irritated.
So is Ian Kinsler, who has been playing the last week like it’s the World Series, and has officially flipped me 180 degrees on how I feel about him. Ian, where was that all year? When the chips are down though…Ian wants to blow things up.
No movement on the trade front, but everything is pointing that way. Price’s agent told MLB Network radio that he’s not optimistic that Price will be in Detroit much longer.
If you didn’t see it yet, the Royals (who are 10.5 games ahead of the Tigers, yes 10.5), picked up Johnny Cueto. Not that we were going to catch them, but they are the odds on favorite to win the AL now (even more so). I doubt we would have traded Price within the division, so no harm there, but we really should deal him before every contender makes a move.
1. Davis, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cespedes, LF
4. Martinez V, DH
5. Martinez J.D., RF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. McCann, C
8. Marte, 1B
9. Iglesias, SS
I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but if Alfredo Simon gives up less than 4 runs today it will be the first time since a miracle. His ERA over his last 7 games is 8.64, which somehow ranks him behind Verlander, Feliz, and Rondon, who could maybe combine to keep the LL WS team to under 5 runs in 7 innings, give or take a few runs. Lineups aren’t out yet, and I’m headed out on one of those group bicycle/drinking tours, so someone please update.
Look guys, let’s call it what it is. 2015 is not going to be a championship year and unless the Tigers make moves now, 2016 won’t be either. Ken Rosenthal is reporting today that David Price is unlikely to sign with the Tigers in 2016, and the Cubs are high on the list to sign Price in the off-season. So why not get some young talent in return for moving baseball’s best pitcher off of one of baseball’s worst staffs. The Cubs are flush with prospects, btw.
Now, one idea to salvage the season would be to fire Ausmus. Patrick O’Kennedy of Bless You Boys makes a compelling case, as he eloquently describes what we’ve seen all year. O’Kennedy cites awful bullpen management, keeping Iglesias at the bottom of the order, and lethargic play as reasons enough. I can’t disagree.
Verlander v. Porcello in a matchup of two of the AL’s worst statistical starters tonight.
1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Cespedes, LF
3. Martinez V, DH
4. Martinez J.D., RF
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Avila, C
7. Krauss, 1B
8. Iglesias, SS
9. Gose, CF
Last night was our turn to feast on a main dish of grand slam, with a tasty side of Mariner clown show. Today we get Price, and a decent shot at a two-game winning streak. He might need to go 10 though.
The win last night went to everyone’s head, and Brad got all crazy and put McCann in against a right-handed pitcher for today. What the heck, if he can do that, I can push my luck with the lucky Game Post Picture, right?
Today’s trade rumors: Cubs are interested in Price (who wouldn’t be?), the Angels are interested in Cespedes (who wouldn’t be?), the Giants are wanting Rajai Davis (hmm), and the Twins are considering Alex Avila (sell! sell!).
Today’s One-Game-Winning Streak Lineup:
Brad Ausmus wonders “what was I thinking, batting Krauss 5th?” Then he takes a deep breath, and moved him down to…6th.
Last night could have been one of those wins; instead, it was just one more blowpen special. A nice time to change the channel would have been after the majestic JD Martinez home run, a 467 foot shot to center. JD, Iglesias, and McCann have been fun to watch this season.
Today’s No Lead is Safe Lineup:
The clairvoyant Iglesias, who was ill before last night’s game, returns tonight.
