Game 2014.104: White Sox at Tigers

Baseball Reference Game Preview

Hector Noesi vs. Max Scherzer

Let me offer the following radical theory as to why the Tigers lose when they lose: The players didn’t play well enough. I know I’m going out on a limb to suggest that players on the field are responsible for making the plays, getting the outs, and scoring the runs, but I’ve decided to make this my bully pulpit for such outlandish, unheard of, and totally wild speculation.

Another game coming up. Another chance to knock ’em dead. I wouldn’t get too carried away with dire assessments. Baseball fans are a study in confirmation bias slanted toward the negative. I’m no exception. But I try to resist.

10 thoughts on “Game 2014.104: White Sox at Tigers”

    1. I know I went off the deep end there. Eventually I’ll come to my senses and realize that Ausmus the Master of Puppets controls the trajectory of every pitch and batted ball. For now I’m under his spell and must defend him. He has hyp-mo-tized me.

    1. Negatively affected by the game that blew up or by the endless barrage of negative comments here? I used to defend the latter, but now I’m getting worn down myself. As for the 11-4 loss, especially the way it went from game to 2-9 in a heartbeat, after the initial shock and disappointment, this sort of thing just becomes funny to me. I was really hoping that Krol would load the bases and give up a grand slam to whoever, just to hasten his departure from the team. (That sounds negative, but I say it with a smile. Some losses are circuses that you just have to laugh off and write off quickly.)

  1. The only job a manager has that matters is to get your players to play up to their potential. Leyland could do that sometimes. His problem was if he couldn’t motivate you to play well he played you any way rather than hurt your feelings, plus his stubborness to refuse to do this.
    My feeling with Asmus is he doesn’t know how to get players to play up to their potention. Different than Leyland who wouln’t come down on you and hold you responsible for your play, I think Asmus is scared to. He has been preaching everything is great and everything is just “baseball” since the middle of May. Brad your team is playing under.500 for two months now, not just a few weeks. I think you are in over your head and things aren’t getting better then are getting worse. We are just lucky everybody in the AL Central are far worse…last I believe if Francona, Yost, or Gardinhire had the Tigers talent they would be up by 10+ by now.
    Maybe I am totally wrong….

    1. Players not living up to their potential was a big problem under Leyland. I don’t see it as quite as bad with Ausmus. However, his managing of the pitching staff has been mediocre at best, and his cool, calm, and collected personality is a bit worrisome to me. Does he have the killer instinct needed by a manager to light a fire under his team when necessary, or is slow and steady wins the race enough?

  2. “Cy Klubber” strikes again, 3 hit cg so against M’s tonite, thankfully over quickly. No more Masterson in the AL Central.

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