Well today is the first day of the Al Avila era, wasn’t expecting to be saying that. It is also a chance for Justin Verlander to try for a third straight dominant outing. If he does it will be a pretty exciting sign that we have at least one dependable starter in the rotation. I wasn’t expecting that one guy to be ol’ JV.

The Tigers have also announced that LHP Matt Boyd has been called up from Toledo and will start Wednesday’s game.

And congratulations to Med Hen Mike Hessman, who has set the record for most minor league home runs with his 433rd.

More on the Dombrowski story can be found here and here. Of note is the information that Avila was offered the job the day after the trading deadline.

Today’s Aw, C’mon Dad Lineup:

1. Rajai Davis, LF
2. Jose Iglesias, SS
3. Ian Kinsler, 2B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. James McCann, C
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B
8. Jefrey Marte, 1B
9. Anthony Gose, CF

Breaking news, Dave Dombrowski has been “released from his contract” as General Manager and Team President of the Tigers. This was unexpected, I figured he may be allowed to move on after the season, but not now. Al Avila is the new GM. It’s not clear yet whether this was a move initiated by Dombrowski, Illitch, or was a mutual parting.

Here are more details.

Update: Al Avila has spoken on Brad Ausmus: “He’s our manager for the rest of the season. He’s done a good job.”

He also seems to have read Jud’s comment: “You know how you go back to Little League and the dad is the coach and the son is batting fourth? That’s not gonna happen.

I made the mistake of looking at the standings this morning. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Daniel Norris gets the start today, and if he somehow throws a no-hitter, we still won’t be in the playoff hunt. So let’s all temper our enthusiasm and expectations. It’s going to be a real crummy last 57 games, but this may be that excuse you’ve been looking for to get caught up on a few TV shows. May be easier for Coleman and I to just put up one post per series. I still like checking in on what everyone is saying, but it’s hard to commit time each day to a team who looks like it doesn’t care as much as I do.

Anyway, here are some good links on Norris. One of the contributors on Bless You Boys wrote a piece about knowing Daniel Norris personally, and another broke down the three Blue Jays prospects. Fangraphs posted scouting reports on Norris, Labourt, and Boyd, as well as projected WAR through age 28.

George Sipple used the influx of players as a reason to update his list of the organization’s top 15 prospects. You can peruse it here. It’s not pretty. Especially when people are starting to wonder if Steven Moya, our #2 prospect, has peaked.

Norris pitches tomorrow…

TIGERS (numbers against Gausman)

1. Anthony Gose, CF (1-for-1)
2. Jose Iglesias, SS
3. Ian Kinsler, 2B (1-for-6, 2 K’s)
4. Victor Martinez, DH (1-for-6, double, K)
5. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-2, double, K)
6. James McCann, C
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B (0-for-1)
8. Alex Avila, 1B (0-for-3, K)
9. Rajai Davis, LF (0-for-2, walk, K)

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

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:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Jose Iglesias, SS
3. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. JD Martinez, RF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Alex Avila, 1B
8. James McCann C
9. Anthony Gose, CF

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:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
3. Victor Martinez, DH
4. JD Martinez, RF
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B
6. James McCann, C
7. Alex Avila, 1B
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Anthony Gose, CF

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:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
3. Victor Martinez, DH
4. JD Martinez, RF
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jose Iglesias, SS
8. Andrew Romine, 1B
9. Anthony Gose, CF

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.