Game 2015.101: Tigers at Rays

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.

Game 2015.100: Tigers at Rays

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.

Game 2015.99: Tigers at Devil Rays

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.

Game 2015.98: Detroit at Boston

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

Game 2015.97: Detroit at Boston

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.

 

Game 2015.96: Detroit at Boston

Look guys, let’s call it what it is. 2015 is not going to be a championship year and unless the Tigers make moves now, 2016 won’t be either. Ken Rosenthal is reporting today that David Price is unlikely to sign with the Tigers in 2016, and the Cubs are high on the list to sign Price in the off-season. So why not get some young talent in return for moving baseball’s best pitcher off of one of baseball’s worst staffs. The Cubs are flush with prospects, btw.

Now, one idea to salvage the season would be to fire Ausmus. Patrick O’Kennedy of Bless You Boys makes a compelling case, as he eloquently describes what we’ve seen all year. O’Kennedy cites awful bullpen management, keeping Iglesias at the bottom of the order, and lethargic play as reasons enough. I can’t disagree.

Verlander v. Porcello in a matchup of two of the AL’s worst statistical starters tonight.

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Cespedes, LF
3. Martinez V, DH
4. Martinez J.D., RF
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Avila, C
7. Krauss, 1B
8. Iglesias, SS
9. Gose, CF

Game 2015.95: Mariners at Tigers

Last night was our turn to feast on a main dish of grand slam, with a tasty side of Mariner clown show. Today we get Price, and a decent shot at a two-game winning streak. He might need to go 10 though.

The win last night went to everyone’s head, and Brad got all crazy and put McCann in against a right-handed pitcher for today. What the heck, if he can do that, I can push my luck with the lucky Game Post Picture, right?

Today’s trade rumors: Cubs are interested in Price (who wouldn’t be?), the Angels are interested in Cespedes (who wouldn’t be?), the Giants are wanting Rajai Davis (hmm), and the Twins are considering Alex Avila (sell! sell!).

Today’s One-Game-Winning Streak Lineup:

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

Brad Ausmus wonders “what was I thinking, batting Krauss 5th?” Then he takes a deep breath, and moved him down to…6th.

Game 2015.94: Mariners at Tigers

Last night could have been one of those wins; instead, it was just one more blowpen special. A nice time to change the channel would have been after the majestic JD Martinez home run, a 467 foot shot to center. JD, Iglesias, and McCann have been fun to watch this season.

Today’s No Lead is Safe Lineup:

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

The clairvoyant Iglesias, who was ill before last night’s game, returns tonight.

Game 2015.93: Mariners at Tigers

It was nice to see a win for a change. Kinsler smashed a bat Sunday then swung a mean bat Monday, with the under-used James McCann providing the rest of the firepower needed. Alfredo Simon wasn’t good, but he wasn’t a disaster (sell high! well, relatively high), and the bullpen was, dare I say, good.

After the game Kinsler put in his plea to not give up on the season. Chris Iott says it’s a done deal: the Tigers have already decided to unload, regardless of what happens in the next 10 days.

Fangraphs says not so fast: with the current roster the Tigers are projected to be within a game of a wild card spot, and should upgrade the team and not sell.

[Update: via Jason Beck tweet, Tigers have closed their clubhouse for a team meeting.]

[Update 2: Iglesias scratched with “illness.”]

Today’s Grouse ‘Bout Krauss Lineup:

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

And…we get Krauss batting 5th again. That’s worse than Avila batting 5th, at least Avila gets some walks. But he’s left-handed, you say.

2015 BA/OPS vs RHP

.143/.468  Marc Krauss

.297/.733  Andrew Romine

.221/.732  Alex Avila

.265/.686 James McCann

Not to mention James McCann had one of the big hits of the game last night. But hey, keep trotting Krauss and Avila out there, eventually it might work. But if you have to have one of them batting 5th, I’d go with the guy with the OPS .264 points higher. But that’s just me.