Since Brad Ausmus was hired, he hasn’t seemed to do all that well with the high-expectation, highly-paid team he inherited. Now he is beginning to show that he doesn’t quite know what to do with a rebuilding team. This does not bode well for his immediate future (which is not to say he won’t be a great manager at some point—he is still young and new at this managing thing).
I think a case in point is in today’s double-header lineup. Why, at this point in the season, is a struggling Ian Kinsler playing both games of a double-header, albeit at DH? I think Dixon Machado should be playing pretty much full time now, getting a lot of starts at 2nd, some starts at 3rd, and spelling Iglesias occasionally at short.
I also don’t like Ausmus taking the bat out of JaCoby’s hands in the 9th. Why bunt there? I think statistically there your chances are a tiny bit better for tying with a successful sacrifice (but lower for winning). But c’mon, play for the win, and give JaCoby a chance in a high pressure situation. It’s what a good rebuilding team would do.
Also no reason that Miguel is playing every day. Whatever happened to his suspension protest? Hopefully the suspension will be upheld.
Meanwhile Fulmer has been shelved, and is making a visit to Dr. Andrews, to be replaced by Chad Bell. The replacement has been announced for Justin’s spot in the rotation: let the Artie Lewicki era begin!
Today’s Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler, DH
- Alex Presley RF
- Miguel Cabrera, 1B
- Nick Castellanos 3B
- Mikie Mahtook LF
- John Hicks, C
- Dixon Machado, SS
- Andrew Romine, 2B
- JaCoby Jones, CF
Pitching: Buck Farmer vs Mike Clevinger
Kinsler hits a groundball deep in the 5-6 hole, goes on the grass.. Infield sin…. Nope Kinsler is jogging.. Out by 3 feet. He quit a long time ago!!!!
Miggy and Kins.. 1/16 it the DH… Thanks guys!!!
Justin Verlander is no longer a Detroit Tiger. That doesn’t even seem real.
I’ll be more and not less interested in the Tigers if Cabrera, Martinez, Zimmermann, Kinsler, and Castellanos are also gone before ST 2018. Oh, and Ausmus and his crew, too.
I anticipate a brutal September. The lame duck session… is in session. 2018 can’t come soon enough. Whatever travails are in store for the new team, it’s going to be like a refreshing breeze compared to the end for this one.
It was a fun run. This next week will suck like withdrawal sucks (so I imagine) but we’ll be clean after that. Next year will be much better than the past two have been. We won’t win much, but it will be fun watching players get better instead of worse for a change.
I’m thankful that college football is starting. Go Blue!
Yes, Kevin, it was a fun run, and a long one. I don’t know what the early days of DTW were like, but a reprise may be in store. The faithful will be tested. The day of reckoning is at hand.
I wish college football worked for me as a substitute, but I can’t take that stuff seriously any more. It’s hard enough to take the NFL seriously. I guess I need to find a team sport that is at least no more corrupt than professional baseball, which would would leave me with… well, how about individual sports like… well, how about weaning myself from silly distractions altogether?
Nope. Can’t do it. Detroit Tigers it shall be. More or less.
College football doesn’t do much for me either. I could get into the NFL if Detroit ever gets a pro team. I do like hockey. Even the stars are somewhat innocent compared to other sport. I’m hoping the Wings start another return to excellence this year.
I have to admit that if the Detroit Lions ever had a good team, I could get interested in the NFL again. (Fair weather fan.) The Red Wings have an unrivaled history of excellence among Detroit franchises, and hockey is fun to watch (most sports are)… but I guess there’s nothing to compare with baseball, for me, as a sport to follow closely and dive into and get fanatical about.