I’d like to start with a few thoughts on the first week.
First of all, we got shorted by two games. Opening week off days are kryptonite to my baseball superman.The rain made things worse.
Secondly, day games are awesome. Props to the Tigers’ scheduling powers that be. I love following as much as I can during the work day, knowing that I can re-watch at night.
Thirdly. 4-1 to start the season is fantastic. The starters were fantastic, the hitting was good enough, and the late inning wins can mean a lot for a team with some new key pieces. This is going to be a great season.
Finally…the bullpen. Oh boy, this is going to be a problem.
Bullpens are curious creatures. Often morphing on a weekly basis. What you look for from your bullpen is consistency, and we have had very little of that over the past few years. Rondon going down didn’t help, but let’s be honest, he was far from a sure thing. I know that Nathan hasn’t been sharp early, but he’s earned a long leash. Coke has used up 8 of his lives. Al Al has had an abundance of opportunities and continues to disappoint. I don’t see great things from Krol, Chamberlain, or Reed, so any setup help we’re going to get is likely going to come from outside the 25 man roster.
It’s early, but a 6.08 K/9 from the pen isn’t gonna get it done. This will be an ongoing topic.
Stat of the Pregame – the Tigers as a team have struck out 26 times this season. The Upton brothers have struck out 21 times in 47 ABs.
Puig out tonight. Interesting NL style lineup moving the speed guy from 9 to 1.
1. Rajai Davis, LF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Torii Hunter, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
5. Victor Martinez, 1B
6. Austin Jackson, CF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Andrew Romine, SS
9. Max Scherzer, P
And moving Cabrera back to 3B with Martinez going to 1B instead of catcher. Romine starts to help the left side defense. Interesting lineup with Davis #1 and everybody else dropping a notch.
These home runs from Torii are taking the bat right out of Miggy’s hands. What happened to table setter?
– Disappointed in Detroit
Yes, it is an interesting lineup. Would have batted Scherzer #7 myself. (Seriously, though… there is something strategically interesting about that.)
I like this batting order (the one below, that is) – see if you don’t agree:
Kinsler
Martinez
Cabrera
Jackson
Hunter
Castellanos
Davis/Collins
Gonzalez/Romine
Avila/Holaday
Call me wildly unconventional, but there’s something about a .300 career hitter who walks a lot batting AHEAD of Cabrera that appeals to me. Batting with men on more often would be a good, no, GREAT thing for Hunter and the team. #9 should go without saying. Might have the same effect as AJ dropped from the leadoff spot last postseason, who knows.
Interesting idea, although Martinez’ foot speed might be a deterent on the New Tigers (last year not so much). Having Jackson batting cleanup is kind of odd though, and might mess with his head. I’d like to see how he adjusts to hittiing 5-6 for a while first. And I kind of like having a guy with some pop in his bat hitting 9th 😉
We should have brought Davis in from 3B with less than 2 out ….. but I guess old habits are tough to break.
AJax goes yard! We should really smoke this Haren ….. it looks like all he can throw are batting practice pitches!
Far from it. His cut fastballs are murder.
Romine stinks at the plate ….. Gonzo should get most of the time at SS.
Some glove/range/arm, though.
Why would you put the shift on for Avila…you only need a second baseman a pitcher and a catcher to get him out 100% of the time
Pitcher and catcher should do it. Bringing in a second baseman would constitute the “shift” in this case.
Maybe Avila should try batting from the right side. It couldn’t hurt.
Uh-oh, Donkey in for Hunter. Hopefully Hunter’s okay. Tomorrow would be a good day for an off-day.
Tigers vs. starting pitching at this moment: 36 for 135. .267. Sounds OK. Until you consider that 18 – half – of the hits were against Gonzalez and Norris. Bit o’ feast or famine going on, I’m afraid.
First 2: 10 for 48
Next 2: 18 for 40
Last 2: 8 for 47
Bodes well for the next two, maybe.
TIGERS had two nights in Los Angeles before they played a game…this performance is identical to practically every trip the Tigers take out here….
CABRERRA 3 AT BATS….200 FEET ADDED TOGETHER
Nothing like two whole runs in support of the last two Cy Young winners to make your week!…and I didn’t mean Cy Tillman and Cy Heran!
Chris Perez warming up! There’s hope.
The only thing worse than Jackson’s throw was the attempt at catching it.
Good point. Maybe not fair to hand Jackson that error. I could be wrong, but what’s wrong with a cut-off guy on a play like that? Never easy for a CF to make that play alone, seems to me. Even shallow.
A leadoff runner! OK, Ausmus, make it happen.
Sure glad we kept Collins instead of Worth or Perez….
Rally time!
GOOD SAC BUNT !
VICTOR!!
Victor it was stupid to try that against the Orioles over the weekend and even more stupid to try that here….
It was close. I like it.
Joba……Excellent!
Coke in…I am out…..goodnight!!!!
why does phil coke have to ruin everything
I came back….Fire DD…Fire Asmus….Fire Millen and fire Iilitch…and fire Leyland! For Coke being in a uniform of a major league team!