The Tigers still have yet to stop the plague called Ortiz; I guess they never will. I feel for Justin Upton, who can’t buy a break. He scorched one to the 420 mark in dead center, and it went 419 feet and 9 inches. But who here would have put money on the Tigers pulling it out in extras even if he did tie it, raise your hands. Anyone? Bueller?
This sporadic solo home run offense isn’t exactly working, is it?
Maybe the return of Maybin can bring a spark; yes, he’s back! Of course he returns to a Sunday lineup with no V-Mart and a salty first baseman, but maybe he can get something going.
Today’s Game of Inches Lineup:
- Kinsler, 2B
- Maybin, CF
- Cabrera, DH
- JD Martinez, RF
- Upton, LF
- McGehee, 3B
- McCann, C
- Saltalamacchia, 1B
- Aybar, SS
Walking Miggy to get to JD? Thank you.
That’s a Brad like move considering how Miggy and JD have batted in this series.
No almost on that one for Upton!
Welcome back, Mr. Upton!
Welcome back? Welcome do Detroit!
Upton’s ticked off from getting screwed last night. Hope he stays ticked!
The boys came to play today, and since I am on the 7 day concussion list, I can watch ! Was in a bad car wreck Thursday, with three of my grandbabies on I-5 in Seattle. We are all hurting, and my SUV is DOA.
Oh no! Sorry for the SUV, but glad you all came out of it.
This series has proved 3 things:
Even with this lineup the Tigers can hit minor league pitching.
DD still can’t put a really good ball pen together.
Unless the Indians collapse, Jud is right.
Happy for Upton..atta boy…but the back of my mibd says today was a blind squirrel day!…
40 games left,Tigers,and 20-20 won’t even get you close to a Wild Card…someone on the Team should be reading the standings for Brad!
CLE came back and won ‘again’ today (2R HR in bottom of 8th)…everything’s been coming up roses for CLE (Cavs + Indians) this year
DET scored 10 runs w/2 outs today & JUp had 6 RBI & 2HR’s – that same kind of production has been lacking over the past few weeks (or for JUp, pretty much all yr)…
barring any key injuries to a couple CLE players, i don’t see DET catching them – even w/DET having 7 games remaining w/CLE…and though i’d take a WC spot ‘if’ (and that’s a big ‘if’) DET ‘earned’ it, i’m not visualizing DET having what it takes to go very far in the playoffs
DET has MIN and LAA coming up – LAA has lost 14 of their last 16 games, and MIN has lost 9 of their last 12 games – DET “should” win at least 5 of those 6 games… though i wouldn’t bet on it.
+1
Wait…Stormin you listed the L…A…Angels as an upcoming opponent.. I don’t care what their record is, the Tigers will lose all 3 or at best 1-2…you read it here… Tigers are about 4-20 last 3-4 years home or away vs the Angels
The only way to the playoffs for Detroit is to win the Central, and for that to happen, a lot of things need to go right starting right now. The Top Two as far as I can tell:
1. Ian Kinsler needs to start hitting again. He contributes on the field every day, but that bat is an indispensable spark. Kinsler has been in a long, slow slump since June 10. Have a look. Half the season (more, actually). Hitless in 35 of 65 games. Doesn’t mean he’s to blame. Just that he could make such a big difference.
2. This is asking for a miracle, but the Tigers need a season-ending run of quality starts from a front line of three starters. All at once. The bullpen isn’t good enough to compensate, and the offense isn’t good enough to compensate. Yes, Detroit’s offensive talent should be enough to slug other teams into oblivion regularly, but it does not and will not.
1-11 against the Indians and 4-9 against the Royals. That hurts. Just a little better, a little more normal, and Detroit would be in a pennant race right now instead of on the edge of one. There are 13 games left to do something about it, but they might be nothing but grudge matches by the time they come around. The Indians hear footsteps, but it’s not the Tigers. If there’s one wild card that might put the Detroit over the top in ways tangible and intangible, it could be the return of Zimmermann, Castellanos, and Iglesias more or less at once..
For all the injuries this year, the Tigers seems to have coped with them just fine. I think that the most costly lost time has been that of Cameron Maybin.
The Tigers are last in the AL in doubles. What’s up with that? Miggy alone usually has more doubles than some entire teams do.
Nice to see you back again. Don’t worry, I won’t tell.
Thanks, Coleman. Not that I know what you mean, mind you.
A dearth of doubles, just toils and troubles.
Unfortunately the Tigers’ offense is unable to compliment any improvements in starting pitching. This last home stance demonstrates such.
Since the start of the season, I have been of the opinion that the only way for the Tigers to get to the playoff was to win the division. I have done some number crunching and for the Tigers to tie the Indians is for the tribe to go 20-20 (or worse) in their last 40 and for the Tigers to win at least 26 of their remaining 38 games (both unlikely). This is not going to happen but even if it did Brad wouldn’t know since he doesn’t look at the standings. Unfortunately, Francona does. See:
https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/
Article entitled “MANAGERIAL MENTALITIES”.
We have the start of a decent team for next year but desperately need a leader. Let the managerial hunt begin!
Tony…although I totally agree w/the premise of the “managerial mentalities” article, I doubt Ausmus “doesn’t follow the standings” a/o what division leader CLE is doing – I think that was just a lie from Ausmus, who wants to continue to convey his “chill-axed mgr” persona.
What Francona has done w/the CLE roster since he’s been there proves he’s a Mgr that gets the most out of his roster, and by the same token, what Ausmus has done w/his roster since he’s been in DET seems to point in the other direction.
looking at CLE’s schedule, CLE will likely go 22-18, which will put them at 93-69 and ALC champs. ‘If’ (big “if”) DET can win 7 or 8 of their next 9 games (against MIN, LAA & CWS), I see DET competing for a playoff spot. A LOT of winnable games left on DET schedule; best case for DET = 27-11 finish, but a more likely finish is 20-18 – good enough for 3rd place.
the “X” factor: the “superior mgr” Francona,(whom I fully believe is exponentially better than Ausmus) was at the helm for one of the worst collapses in MLB history w/’11 BOS. On 9/3/2011 BOS was in 1st place w/a 84-54 record, they won 6 of their next 24 games and finished 90-72 and missed the playoffs, but did eat & drink well during that collapse – if PBR & Popeye’s chicken qualify as “well”. Slim hope for DET? The next 9 games will tell (and the 7 games vs CLE).
Let the real games begin!…its do or die time in the next 10 games only because anything less than 7-3,8-2 and its over…Boston and Toronto and of course Cleveland are more consistent, if not more talented…and I won’t get in to Managerial ability..
Cleveland has got the tougher schedule coming up. They play Tampa, 1 at Oakland, Texas and St Louis. If they go .500 and we do go 8-2 or even 7-3, it makes the remaining games with the Indians very big. My problem is that I do not have a lot of confidence in our Tigers. Also, it’s 50-50 that Brad has the ability to blow 2 games on his own.
I am with Norman 20-18 seems right, in which case KC will pass us. In head to head KC will not go .500 the rest of the way, either.
The worst part is with a full healthy roster I am not confident that they would be consistent enough. Kinsler..Victor..Miggy. Too streaky and Upton, McCann, Salty, Romine not even that. Its hard to put your hopes on just Mabin and JD ,and maybe Casty offensively even if the pitching holds up.