This is the sweep or get swept, and the season is changed series. Which is the real Anibal, the one last out or the one the two starts before?
Upton continues to play with a vengeance. If this continues, it defies my many decades of watching baseball. You can’t slump for literally months, then beat the cover off the ball the rest of the season. Pitchers are afraid to pitch to him now. Did not see that coming.
And JaCoby is replacing the spark that Oops Hurt Again Maybin provided. He should be back soon. The Tigers are close to full strength. If Kinsler re-ignites, these guys could score a few runs; he is the only one not really riding the new wave here.
Some great baseball minds were pondering why the Tigers can’t beat lefties. One big reason: Nick Castellanos. Nick inexplicably hit .207, .656 OPS against lefties. Oh wait, he’s out today! OK, Saltalamacchia has been even worse, .173, .574 OPS agains lefties (why even switch hit at that point?). Oh wait, Brad actually went against the Righty/Lefty thing and went with McCann tonight.
Today’s Let the Real Season Begin Lineup:
- Kinsler, 2B
- Iglesias, SS
- Cabrera, 1B
- V Martinez, DH
- JD Martinez, RF
- Upton, LF
- Jones, CF
- McCann, C
- Aybar, 3B
Castellanos and Maybin out, but the Tigers seem to be fielding a major league lineup every day now. I like Aybar at 3rd tonight. I predict a bunt single and a key RBI.
“You can’t slump for literally months, then beat the cover off the ball the rest of the season.”
You can if you start taking magic vitamins.
I don’t think magic vitamins make you see the strike zone better and stop swinging on balls a foot outside the zone (although, it’s possible if they give you confidence and bring you back to where you feel like you know what you’re doing). On the other hand, if anyone would be willing to take the risk, it would be someone in his situation. Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t think that’s the reason.
I’m pretty cynical about it. Earlier this year JV stunk and then tweeted that he was close to dominating again. Sure enough, he’s been dominant since then. That doesn’t usually happen to pitchers in their mid-30s, especially after a couple down years. Lots of guys seem to magically flip a switch these days, especially right before they become free agents.
My theory is there are a certain number of random drug tests every year. Once you’ve had all yours and know you won’t get called on again, you’re free to take whatever you want. It seems kind of taboo to talk about in baseball communities, but I would not be surprised if there are intentional loopholes in the PED-testing system.
Sure, maybe baseball is just a streaky game. I’m willing to bet it’s a combination of both.
+2.. I ain’t saying what hes taking…but its not Flintstone Vitamins!
I didn’t have internet because one of my sons was moving my router and modem from the basement and putting upstairs so I don’t kill myself trying to reset them. Now I come back and instead of a conversation on what is a good ball game between two contenders I run into a conversation about PEDs. Unbelievable. There are always people that abuse or try to work around the rules, but if it’s as bad as KW thinks what were the Tigers taking after the All-Star break last year. For now I’m happy that Sanchez is not pitching poorly and we’ve gotten 4 runs (at least) off Duffy.
Tony, exactly what we were talking about. Kinsler comes up bases loaded..new pitcher…he just throws his bat at the first pitch 6 inches off the ground weakly grounds out…no big deal to the Tigers, they do it all the time!
Drives me nuts!
Miggy!!!!
Get Wilson out of there already!
JW has been disappointing lately.
And jWilson pitches for what reason Brad.?..last 11 games scored on in 9….Ausmus -2 because he never learns!…
Thanks Ned.. That helped a lot!
Do not know what Hosmer was thinking but Iggy kept the runner at third while he ran him down. And what a job by Greene to bail JW and Brad out.
And a great read and throw by McCann
+1
Greenes doing fine and our “manager of the year” who says I don’t like the 4 out save…..Brad -4. ..-1 taking Greene out.. -1 Bringing Frankie in
Top of the order coming up, we have a chance. Need to win to keep up with the Indians and others.
Piece of cake! Keep adding on.
Iggy…Miggy…take your pick!
H°ll ya!
F-Raud makes a brief appearance and Miggy bails him out!
What a game!
And you want to talk about PED’s?
Not especially.
What’s wrong with a little speculation?
Miggy has come through tonight. Now it’s K-Rods turn.
KC had far fewer BB than any team in the MLB…why throw them strikes… They swing at more crap than the Tigers…now that is sayin somethin!!!!
Actually they did look a little like us.
Huge win…… because of 15 minutes ago when J Wilson entered the game!
WHAT A GREAT GAME AND WIN! Repeat again the next two days and KC can start playing their kids in preparation for next year.
That must have felt like a crushing loss for KC.
Is it just me, or do the last 2-3 innings of every Tigers game seem to last, you know, like a week or two?
+1
Great way to start September and in KC! Tomorrow The Streak tosses so I am feeling good! Meanwhile A. Willie was awesome while J Willie hurt us.
a couple of late inning comeback wins this week – this team is finally showing some grit
For what its worth, I dug out my old scorebooks to see how the Tigers have fared with wins/losses in August and September:
Year AUG SEP
2016 15/13
2015 10/17 14/16
2014 12/11 16/10
2013 18/11 13/13
2012 16/11 16/12
2011 18/10 20/6
2010 13/16 15/14
2009 16/13 17/16
2008 11/17 8/18
Looks like we have won as many as 20 games in September and as few as 8 games with a mean of 17 games and a standard deviation of 3 games. So roughly there is about a 30% chance of winning 20 games in Sept is . Such wins would have certainly have to include success against Cleveland which I believe our season has boiled down to.