Not much time to celebrate last night’s walk off

Paulino is a late scratch with back-spasms, so Nate Adcock takes the ball for the Royals. Adcock is on a pitch count limit of about 50 pitches, and then some guy named Everett Teaford will man the mound.  This actually does not bode well for the Tigers, as the Royals pen is touting a sub 2 ERA against the Tigers this year.

Porcello was pretty good his last time out, but he’s been pretty bad over the past three months. At this point in time, I’ve got to think (hope) that he’s not quite a lock for the playoff rotation, and every start is an audition.  That plot will really thicken tomorrow between innings 1 and 6.

– Avila’s streak of 18 consecutive games at C is tops this year, says Freep.
– Who knows when Boesch will be back, if at all…as Gage reports that he needs surgery.
– That same article says Al Al has been cleared for baseball activities.  Get better soon Al Al.

Today’s Lining Up for a Series Win Lineup is:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Santiago, SS
3. Young, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Betemit, 3B
8. Raburn, 2B
9. Kelly, RF

Ignoring the last two games…

There’s a great debate brewing over Verlander’s candidacy for the AL MVP.  MLB.com weighed in with a yay and a nay, and Buster Olney recently wrote that JV would get his vote if he had to vote today (you’ll need insider).  One of the key contentions is that pitchers should not be considered with hitters because pitchers only pitch every 5th day.  In fact, even Ol’ Jimmy argued this a few days ago when he said “I’m not looking for arguments or controversy I just think when a guy goes out there 158 times or 155 times and has a big year, an MVP type year I don’t think the guy that goes out there 35 times should be named over that guy.”

Well, Olney responds to the every 5th day argument with a clever # of plate appearances argument.  “But here’s a number worth thinking about when considering how integral a great starter can be to success: Verlander has been involved in 830 plate appearances this year; the AL leaders, among position players, are at about 600.”  The problem with this argument is that it does not take into account the defensive value of a hitter. It would be interesting to see how many fielding plays a pitcher is involved in versus each of the other positions.

FanGraphs weighed in yesterday and argued that while JV’s core stats lead the league, his WAR is marginally ahead of Weaver and Sabathia, and thus perhaps he has not been as dominant as perceived.  Their argument is that in a year when he’s not head and shoulders above the rest of the pitchers, how can he be considered for MVP?

Perhaps the strongest argument for JV 4 MVP is his value to the Tigers.  The Tigers are 21-8 on days when he climbs the hill, and 52-53 on every other day.  You take out Granderson or Gonzalez, and the Yankees and Red Sox are most likely not any worse off record wise.

Oh yeah, Fister looks to be the new stopper tonight at CoPa.

Tonight’s Regular Lefty Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B

The Tigers return home from a rather memorable road trip on the heels of a rather forgettable loss to the Twins.  I found this in an MLB.com story today:

“Despite the loss, the Tigers still finished 5-2 on the trip.  Over seven games, the Tigers’ pitching staff posted a 3.16 ERA, while the starters went 5-1 with a 3.37 ERA. Entering Sunday’s game, the Tigers had a 1.84 ERA through the first six games of the trip, including the starters with a 2.15 ERA.”

The Royals come to town for 4, and open up a Tigers homestand in the middle of a 19 game AL Central only stretch.  The White Sox will round out the homestand this weekend.

Hochevar has been pretty good as of late, posting 4 QS in his last 6 outings.  This is his 4th start against the Tigers this season.  He’s 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA, including 6 earned in 3 1/2 in early July in Detroit.  Cabby is a lifetime .480 hitter off of Hochevar with 2 bombs, I’m looking for him to get to 5 today.

Max Scherzer toes the slab in an effort to get his ERA below 4.20 for the first time since May.  Scherzer has had two streaks of 5 QS this season, let’s get one started tonight to carry us through September.

A few notes:

– Jacob Turner is going to get a “spot” start on Thursday so that JV can get an extra day of rest.  I’m guessing that this is an audition for the “5th spot”.
– Did you know that a recent SI poll of ML players ranked Leyland as the 3rd skipper on the list of managers that they would like to play for?
– Guillen will start a rehab stint in Toledo tonight.  Not sure if this is a good thing.
– Raburn and Boesch are still day to day with sore fingers.  Boesch needs to get healthy soon before JL gets any ideas.

Tonight’s Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Ramon Santiago, 2B
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
9. Don Kelly, RF

Before we complain too much more about “The Throw” last night, let’s remember that even had that play been made, we would have still had to score a run somehow (which requires hits), and then likely asked another reliever not names Benoit or Valverde to pitch a scoreless inning.

Today’s task doesn’t get any easier, as the Tigers run out Omir Santos and not Miguel Cabrera (congrats on the new kid big guy) against Jeremy Hellickson.  Oh, and Boesch re-injured his thumb last night (2nd degree sprain), so we’ll need the bench guys to step up.  No word on his return.

Today’s Series Winning Lineup:

1. A Jax – CF
2. Santiago – 2B
3. Young – LF
4. V-Mart – DH
5. Betemit – 3B (yeah, that’s 5th)
6. Kelly – 1B
7. Peralta – SS (I don’t get this)
8. Raburn – RF
9. Santos – C

Let’s give credit where credit is due…Ol’ Jimmy managed us to a win last night, and he’s been conducting the bullpen like a maestro over the last week.  Coke’s effort last night was tremendous, and may be the type of performance that defines a division championship (may).  He went 0-2 or1-2 on 6 batters, struck out the first 5 that he faced, and performed brilliantly in the face of extreme pressure after the IBB to put the winning run on.  The 10 pitch at bat to Zobrist had my stomach in knots.  And it’s not (get it?) even September yet.  WPs only bounce into the stands to save a run when a team is on a 5 game winning streak.  Overall, the bullpen has a microscopic 1.55 ERA and 58 Ks over their last 58 IPs dating back to August 4.

Brad Penny ate up 6 1/3 allowing only one run, and Ryan Perry maintained composure and got Longoria to fly out with the bases loaded in the 7th.

Avila’s Awesome August sees him leading the AL with a 1.338 OPS in 19 games.  His August slugging percentage alone would put him about 1/2 up the team leader board in OPS.  Oh yeah, and that was his 17th straight start.

Max Scherzer goes for the Tigers tonight against Wade Davis, perhaps the most hittable Tampa pitcher in the series.  Davis had one of his best starts of the season last time out (against the Mariners) but has carried a 4+ ERA for most of the season, and has a 1.41 WHIP.  Lefties hit .290 against him, and righties are batting .265 for the year.

Before you start checking your October calendars, remember that the Rangers were 7.5 games up on the Angels less than a week ago…that lead is now 3.5.

Lineups coming later.

First place by 5.5 games.  High fives all the way around.

– AJax DP to end the game on Sunday?  Been there, seen that, says Ol’ Smokey.
– Freep had a nice compilation of national articles on JV’s 19th win.

Tigers look for their 5th in a row, to go 12 games over .500, and hopefully to increase their lead tonight against David Price.  The Tampa lefty has only shut down the Yanks and Red Sox over his last two starts, allowing just 1 run in 16 innings.  Bad Brad Penny looks to eat up some innings as the Tigers run out 8 righties against Price.

Tonight’s Lineup

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B

Hello all – work is not really cooperating with the essay I’d like to write on the Catch & Throw alone, so I’m hoping that an early post will lead to some good pre-game chatter.  That link is great b/c you can hear the TV and radio calls.  Did anyone else notice that Inge was one of the first to congratulate Jackson?  (when he’s hitting) I love that guy.

– AJax has not registered a strike out in his last 8 games.  The longest such streak of his career (by 4 games).

Tonight’s lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

A Once Notorious Tiger Killer meets Newer Tiger Killer.

Pavano’s dominance over the Tigers has taken a 180 since 2009.  Since a 4-0, 1.69 ERA start covering 5 games in 2009 (still hurts), he’s 1-3 with a 7.12 ERA over his past 5 starts.  Several Tigers (avg/ABs Cabrera – .310/29, Ordonez – .375/24, Betemit – .333/12, Peralta – .417/12, Avila – .300/10, Martinez – .444/9, Santiago – .444/9, Raburn – .333/6, Young – .600/5, Kelly – .750/4) are ready to pounce on Pavano.

Despite his winning record, Penny has been pretty bad this year posting a 1.49 WHIP and 4.99 ERA.  But has been above average at home, posting a 3.98 ERA in 81 1/3 at CoPa.  He also has reverse BAA splits, as lefties are only batting .250 against him this year, while righties are batting .339.  This bodes well against the lefty heavy Twins lineup which includes Thome tonight.

– Al Al had a CAT scan today.  If all went well, he could be ready to pitch this weekend.
– Chance Ruffin is on his way to Seattle as the PTBNL in the Pauley/Fister deal.
– Phil Coke has allowed 0 runs and only 3 hits over his last 5 2/3.
– Cabrera is batting .414 with 8 RBIs over the last two weeks.

Today’s player of the game – Bad Brad Penny gets on a roll heading into the stretch run.

Today’s Leyland has been reading Vince in MN’s platoon suggestion Lineup is:

1. Andy Dirks, CF
2. Brennan Boesch, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Don Kelly, 3B
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

Six consecutive two out hits last night, including Cabrera’s first HR since July 28th, turned the tables on Cy Guthrie and got the boys to a season high 9 games over .500.  Weather permitting (there is a 100% chance of rain in Baltimore today), the Tigers will look to go 10 games over .500.

Kudos to the pitching staff…despite severe troubles at the plate, the Tigers are 8-4 over their last 12, though only scoring 3.5 runs per game.  I did not know that it was this bad.  The Tigers look for their first win in over two weeks by more than a run.

Neat article in today’s Freep about Inge’s time at Toledo.  Though I don’t think the article will help him to hit a big league fastball.

Guillen to the DL.  Not necessarily a bad thing.  He’s not helping any in the lineup.  Rhymes up, Santiago to start today.

As Peralta, Avila and Betemit mash the ball today, just remind yourself, “Austin Jackson and his 85 OPS+ will get one additional potentially crucial AB in the 8th or 9th that these .300 hitters will not get.”

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Andy Dirks, LF
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Ryan Raburn, 3B
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

The Tigers managed only 5 runs despite 19 base runners in 42 PAs, and a respectable 4-12 RISP.  Benoit to Valverde has been nails as of late.

Mad Max goes for win number 12 (didn’t he have 8 wins in April or something) tonight against Jeremy Guthrie.

Perhaps the most important event yesterday happened before the game, when AlAl was beaned by an line drive during BP.  He spent the night in the hospital and his been placed on the 7 day concussion list.  He was released today, but no word on a return date.  Boesch is still day-to-day.

JLs let’s make sure our poorest hitters get the most ABs don’t argue with me we’re in first place lineup is:

1. Jackson CF
2. Dirks LF
3. Ordonez RF
4. Cabrera 1B
5. Martinez DH
6. Peralta SS
7. Avila C
8. Raburn 2B
9. Betemit 3B

Tigers look to get to .500 on the road.

7 IPs, 8 H, 0 BB, 2 ER.  Fist-bump for Fister.

Ryan Raburn has a 1.111 OPS Post All-Star game.

Tigers have welcomed the Rangers bullpen help with game deciding home runs in back to back nights.

Cle lost, CWS lost.

Tigers go for the sweep today.

It won’t be easy against Alexi Ogando.  Ogando went from the A’s farm system as a 19 year old outfielder, to the Department of Homeland Security detention center at age 22, to the Rangers farm system at 26, to pushing Neftali Feliz out of the closers role into the starting rotation, and then into the rotation himself.  And he’s flourished.  As a starter this year he’s posted a 2.88 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 2.12 BAA, with only 2 pitches.  A fastball that hits 96 and moves, and a devastating slider.  After a tremendous April and May which saw Ogando at the top of the leaderboards in ERA, WHIP and BAA, he was roughed up a bit in June.  But he rebounded with a strong July and will be looking for this 11th win of the season this afternoon.

Tigers send out Brad Penny with the janitor’s broom and hopefully a happy face, as he will likely be caught by VMart today for a day game with another game tomorrow.  If you will recall, Penny was blasted last week by LAA, and had a few choice words for Martinez as the two seemed out of sync all game.

Someone help us out with the lineup when it’s posted.