80-57, 1st place, 7.5 games up.

Happy Labor Day Everybody! Hope your weekend has been as enjoyable as mine. We’re BBQing with friends today; they are slated to come over after the Tigers game ends. So there’s about a 50% chance that I’ll be in a really crappy mood when they get here.

Well, the Tigers/Indians series has come to a merciful end for the Indians, with the Tigers eeking out a 15-4 series win. Last night would have been the cream on the brulee, but you can’t win them all. And it sure looked like the Tigers might get a chance to make something happen in the 9th. That’s what good teams do.

Anyway, before we place all the blame on Benoit, the Tigers were 1-7, 0 RBI, with RISP. Is there any team that scores less from 2B than the Tigers? Can someone look that up?

As for JV – after a long first inning which had all of us reaching for the Tums (2 BB, 35 pitches), JV righted the ship and went on to pitch 7 brilliant innings of 4 hit 2 BB ball. In fact, over the final 6 innings he only allowed 4 hits on 81 pitches while striking out 5. He’s still got a long ways to go to reestablish himself as the ace of this staff, but yesterday couldn’t have gone much better for him.

There were a few rumblings regarding Benoit on the old DTW yesterday afternoon, and I’m here to say that I think those criticisms were awash in emotion and passion, but little cause for real concern. Last night was Benoit’s first loss of the season, and he’s still a perfect 17 for 17 in save situations this year. In light of the fleeting nature of the closer position, I’m incredibly pleased with where the Tigers sit.

On to the next series.

The Tigers head to Boston for a 3 game set before a much anticipated off-day on Thursday. Boston is currently 1.5 games ahead of Detroit and the only other team in the AL with 80 wins. This series will play an important role in determining home field advantage for the playoffs.

Fister and Lester matched up back on June 21st in Detroit. It wasn’t pretty for either. Fister was drilled by Boston to the tune of 11 H and 6 ER in 3 1/3; while Lester gave up 5 ER on 9 hits in 5 2/3, but it was enough for the win.

On paper, other than David Ortiz, the Red Sox lineup looks to be pretty ho-hum. But they can all hit a bit and is as a team, the Red Sox have the second best offense in the Majors behind Detroit. In fact, Detroit (.793) and Boston (.784) enjoy handsome team OPS leads over the next highest – Bal at .752.

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A few notes:

– The Tigers are now 3 games under .500 in games that JV starts.

– Has anyone else wondered just exactly what Nelson Cruz was on during his Reggie Jackson performance in the 2011 ALCS?

– Mike Aviles’ pre-swing routine makes me want to bean him from my couch.

– Dotel has been shelved for the season.

Cabrera is out of the lineup again today, and it’s not even clear if he’s avail to pinch hit. Though DD said that he expects Cabrera to return at some point in time this series. Rain in the forecast, but likely not until later today. We should be good for the 1:35 PM start.

Today’s All Out Of Sorts Lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Hunter, RF
3. Fielder, 1B
4. Martinez, DH
5. Dirks, LF
6. Infante, 2B
7. Kelly, 3B
8. Avila, C
9. Iglesias, SS

Detroit Tigers: 80-56, 1st Place (8.5 ahead of Cleveland). 

Well, this is it, that last Tigers-Indians game of 2013. The Tigers will finish the season series either 16-3 or 15-4 against Cleveland, depending on what Justin Verlander and the B Team can do this afternoon.  As the Indians leave the field toward that visitor’s clubhouse for the last time, I am sure there will be a wistful sigh or two from the Tigers. Then it’s off to Boston, in a match of two of the three contenders for the AL best record.

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10-5 looks like a pretty easy win, but the W came only after some late-inning excitement. After cruising with a lead that ranged from 4-1 to 6-3, Santana came up with one on in the 8th and hit a long fly to the wall in Center. Jackson seemed to have it played well and be there in time, but the ball bounced off of his glove, and Jackson bounced off the wall, seemingly hurt. Santana ended up with what was called an inside-the-park HR, which closed the score to 6-5 (is it just me, or did it seem to take Dirks a really long time to realize what was happening and back up Jackson?). Apparently Austin was OK, because he scorched a 2-run triple in the bottom of the 8th, and the Tigers were back to a comfortable lead.

But not before adding a run on another squeeze play–that”s two this season. And it was the same guy, Jose Iglesias. The Indians knew it was coming, and even tried a pitchout in an attempt to catch Jackson leaving early. And in fact the Indians’ Allen threw an unbuntable pitch, as Jackson streaked home. Except, somehow, Iglesias got the bunt down, getting the bat up above his head to do it, making Rod Allen look silly (“that was not a very good bunt”). If you watch the replay, at least one, maybe both feet were off of the ground when he made the bunt–the pitch was that high. Good stuff.

It’s not all good, though. Cabrera is still out, Jackson is out (“I’m just real suspicious that he’s going to be pretty sore,” says Leyland, “so I’m going to give him a blow today”), and we all have our fingers crossed that Justin Verlander is not going to struggle again on the mound. He will be facing the young phenom Danny Salazar, who looked good his first time against Detroit, striking out Cabrera 3 times before eventually getting Miggied.

September Additions:

• Nick Castellanos (will wear #30)
• Danny Worth
• Evan Reed

Phil Coke and Hernan Perez had been recalled to the team on Saturday, replacing Jeremy Bonderman and Luke Putkonen.  Word is that Putkonen will re-join the team on Monday, and Bonderman on Tuesday.

Octavio Dotel was a planned addition, but was taken out of his last rehab appearance with forearm tightness. He will be shut down for 2013. What that means though is that the Tigers get another injury exemption for adding to their playoff-eligible list (the other came when they put Marte on the 60-Day DL).

In other news: the Tigers fired–er, I mean, declined to extend the contract of–Toledo Mud Hens manager Phil Nevin. Dave Dombrowski said: “He’s worked hard. He’s a good man, been part of us for a while. Sometimes you just need to change the voice.”

*****

Today’s Player of the Pre-game:  Jose Iglesias / Omar Infante. I’m going for a 2-fer here. I’m predicting the I-Team bails out Justin Verlander with a key DP or two, and sparks the lineup (Jose will take the first half of the lineup, Omar the 2nd). The pair hit a solid .321 combined for the month of August. I was going to go with Brayan Pena if he had been in the lineup. BP closed out August with a mere 25-for-63 (.397).

Tonight’s Small-Ball Lineup:

1. Dirks, LF
2. Iglesias, SS
3. Hunter, RF
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Kelly, CF
7. Infante, 2B
8. Avila, C
9. Santiago, SS