Justin “Yeah But The First Couple Innings Were Good” Verlander got bombed, the Tigers dropped under .500, and now we have an Alfredo Simon start to look forward to.

There’s not much more to say about Verlander’s pitching, so Steve Shrader reports that Kate Upton has been turning down Justin Verlander proposals, and things have gotten rocky there as a result. Looks like Kate may be selling also.

Castellanos, who has had more than his share of fielding woes, took a ricochet off of his hand then face, but both appear to be OK. Although if he were ball-shy before, as it seems he was, he should be positively ball-freaked out there now.

Of course Castellanos was supposed to have the day off, and was only out there because Ian Kinsler had a bat-breaking meltdown and had himself thrown out of the game. I must say though, between the Kinsler meltdown and Victor Martinez looking like he wanted to bite an umpire’s head off, I think it isn’t fair to say that these guys don’t care out there. They are obviously frustrated also.

Today’s It’s All Right Lineup:

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

No lefties today; Iglesias back down to 9th to make sure he doesn’t get enough bats to go 5-for-5. Since Kinsler batting leadoff was working, he’s randomly bumped back to the #2 spot.

Last night’s loss was a great microcosm of why this team isn’t going anywhere. The O gets shut down way too often, and the bullpen is awful. Had it not been for an uncharacteristic first 6 weeks of the season, the bullpen would be the worst in the majors. I think this is equally on DD (lack of talent) and Ausmus (lack of management). It’s not going to get any better anytime soon.

I could get behind trading Price and Cespedes and getting some young talent in here. Otherwise, it’s going to be difficult to stay interested.

Gonzalez v. Verlander today.

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

Good all around win last night. Sanchez was okay, don’t let the final line fool you. He gave up 10 H+W and benefited from a 1-14 RISP day by the Os. The Tigers only had 4 ABs with RISP, but when you hit 3 HRs, you’re gonna score a lot of runs.

Tillman v. Price Tonight.

Tigers Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (4-for-18, double, HR, 2 walks, 2 K’s)
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-8, 3 K’s)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (5-for-12, double, HR, 2 K’s)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (1-for-5, HR)
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (1-for-5)
6. Alex Avila, 1B (1-for-8, HR, 3 K’s)
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS (2-for-9, double, 2 K’s)
9. Anthony Gose, CF (6-for-12, double, triple, 5 K’s)

Well, the All Star break has come and gone, and the Tigers unfortunately find themselves in limbo, as they are not so far out of the race that it’s apparent to everyone that they need to sell, but this team simply isn’t going to compete with Kansas City, or much of the other elite AL teams for that matter. There’s a lot of talk about the next 10 days being crucial, and if they win 10 straight I might get excited. But let’s all be honest here.

Krauss on paternity leave, Dixon Machado up for a 2nd stint.

Tonight’s Lineup (career numbers v. Ubaldo Jimenez)

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (4-for-17, 3 doubles, 3 walks, 3 K’s)
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (3-for-7, HR, 2 walks, K)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (8-for-24, double, 3 HR, walk, 4 K’s)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-4, walk, K)
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (0-for-2, K)
6. Alex Avila, 1B (5-for-23, double, HR, 8 walks, 8 K’s)
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-3, walk, K)

Normally I find the All-Star break irritating. Four days with no Tiger baseball! This year I think we could all use the break right now, after watching the Tigers get simonized yesterday.

Today’s Worst Hitter Bats Fifth Again Lineup:

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

James McCann had 2 hits, 2 RBI, and 2 runners thrown out, but sits for Alex Avila, because…left-handed!

The Eskimo languages, they say, have about 50 different words for “snow.” Tiger fans are going to have to coin some new words: “blowpen” alone is no longer sufficient to cover the myriad variations of ways the Tigers blow games this season. Last night’s version was literally unique: over the last 2 seasons teams went into the 9th inning with a deficit of 5 or more runs 1,058 times–or about 6 1/2 complete seasons of baseball games–and last night’s game was the first time the team ahead lost.

I said before the game yesterday that Verlander would have to be good, and, lo and behold, he was not only good, but dominant. Then, blow and behold, the bullpen came in.

The Tigers have picked up Neftali Feliz to help out the bullpen, since when the bullpen falters the thing to do apparently is to go look for a Texas Rangers guy. Call me cynical, but this move just makes me shrug.

Today’s Worst Hitter Bats Fifth 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. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Rajai Davis, CF

Rajai gets the start in Center, because Phil Hughes has reverse splits (RH hit him better). So wait, why is Krauss at First?

A little technical difficulty tonight. Let’s hope Justin Verlander is over his technical difficulties. Is JD Martinez’ hand really OK? Maybe Ian Kinsler is really back to normal (the failed home run trot swagger seems normal, unfortunately. Gose, though, c’mon man, that’s not your game).

Tigers are 4-2 now post-Miggy. This one will need a good Verlander performance, not a “I had really great stuff for 2 innings, so I’m happy” Verlander.

Today’s Same Lineup Again Lineup:

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

The Tigers continue to keep their noses about the surface as they float along treading the .500 line. The did just have a good series though–they took 2-of-3 on the West Coast, and were an extra-inning loss away from a sweep. On top of that they did it without their best player, and are now 3-2 without Cabrera. It’s what good teams do. Are the Tigers a good team? They are supposed to be, but haven’t really showed it yet. Perhaps they are showing it now. They have 4 games with the 2nd-place Twins that will go a long way toward how that conversation veers over the break.

Speaking of the break, JD Martinez got stiffed for the Home Run Derby. I am happy he won’t be participating: it may be more myth than anything, but the last thing we need is for JD to suffer from the Home Run Derby Effect. Still, I feel for the guy. He has 24 home runs and was passed over for Prince “13 Cheap Shots” Fielder. At least his hand seems to be OK. As Ausmus said when Martinez got hit, “my gut turned.”

The Home Run Derby, by the way, has a new format this season, in which the players will be timed instead of having a certain number of outs. I get why they are doing this, after watching players take 8 or 9 pitches in a row last season. That’s no fun to watch. However the additional rules made my head spin.

Josh Wilson cleared waivers and is going to Toledo. Same with Gorzelanny, who will be working on a new sidearm delivery.

Today’s It’s Price So We Only Need 1 Run Lineup:

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

Another game another day closer to .500.

Jason Beck had some interesting thoughts on Ausmus’ late inning decisions last night. He’s not quite calling them into question, but the fact that he’s writing about it…

Ryan down, Farmer up. Not sure if that helps or hurts one of the worst bullpens in the AL.

TIGERS (career numbers off Happ)

1. Rajai Davis, CF
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (3-for-13, double, walk, 5 K’s)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (1-for-2, walk, K)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-3)
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (2-for-2, double)
6. James McCann, C
7. Jefry Marte, 1B
8. Andrew Romine, 2B (0-for-4)
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Hello Friends –

Nice win last night. Baseball is a long season. We just happen to be over 1/2 way done and it’s not looking so good. There’s still a lot of hope out there and Lynn Henning wrote today that the Tigers could chase Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, or Jorge de la Rosa. I have no idea what we would give up in return for a guy like these, and it pains me to even think of depleting even further one of the worst farm systems in the majors. This will be a constant story over the next few weeks, and one worth following. I never want to “throw in the towel”, but let’s be smart about things. Cabrera will be an elite hitter for years to come, so let’s not go all-in in a year when we don’t have the cards.

Evidencing how awful the farm system is, the Tigers claimed some guy named Mark Krauss off of waivers from Tampa Bay yesterday, and he’s starting at first tonight. Krauss is posting a .595 OPS this year, which is slightly higher than Cabrera’s OBP.

Props to JD, Price, and Iglesias for their well deserved All Star selections. The little kid in me will cheer them on next week. Cespedes is still a candidate for the last spot as part of the “Final Vote.”

Tonight’s lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
3. Victor Martinez, DH
4. J.D. Martinez, RF
5. Alex Avila, C
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Marc Krauss, 1B
8. Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-3, 2 K’s vs. Taijuan Walker)
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Is it just me, or is Justin Verlander way the heck out of touch with reality? Here’s a quote from him yesterday: “There’s two ways that you can approach this. You can look at the fifth inning and think negatively. Or you can look at the rest of it and think positively.” … “Felt really good about it. It’s a shame that I kind of feel out of sync there in the fifth, but it’s my fourth start. Gotta keep that in mind.”

The 5th inning was not a “negative.” It was catastrophic. He once went entire seasons without an inning like that. Last season Justin Verlander was one of the worst full season starters in the majors, He’s quickly working his way back into that form.

*****

So the Tigers finish the first half of the season 1 game above .500. And, other than Joba Chamberlain, no one has lost their job. Miguel Cabrera is on the shelf until late August, the only reliable starter (David Price) is also our biggest piece of trade bait, the bullpen remains a mess (as it has been for two years), and there are glaring holes at C and 3B, one of which should be a premium position in the AL.

I’ll say what everyone else is thinking but no one else has yet said. It’s time to become sellers. Let’s trade Price and Cespedes at the deadline for younger talent (hopefully a 3B), and shelf Cabrera for the rest of the year if we have to. We can build an offense next year around Cabrera, Martinez, and Martinez, and Iglesias can anchor an infield for years to come, but unless we get younger and cheaper, we’re going to be the Phillies soon.

TIGERS (career numbers off Iwakuma)

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (9-for-23, double, 3 HR, 2 walks, 5 K’s)
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (10-for-24, 5 doubles, 3 HR, 6 K’s)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (3-for-6, HR, 2 walks)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-3, 3 K’s)
5. Alex Avila, C (0-for-9, walk, 2 K’s)
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B (1-for-3, double, 2 K’s)
7. Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-2, walk, K)
8. Andrew Romine, 1B (3-for-7, K)
9. Jose Iglesias, SS (1-for-5, 2 K’s)

The Tiger bats boomed again yesterday afternoon, which means that today they have a chance to be on the right end of the broom, which would be more than welcome after getting the business from Pittsburgh.

The Blue Jays are not exactly known for their pitching, but they can score a lot of runs in a hurry, so another offensive outburst today would be useful. Especially as the Tigers are sending out Justin Verlander, who may or may not be back to normal, whatever normal is for him now.

Did anyone else notice a strange encounter during the celebration following yesterday’s victory? Iglesias approached Kinsler and reached out to grab his arm and Kinsler turned on him and seemed to get in his face. What in the world could that have been about? Perhaps they were just clowning around, but nobody’s smiling.

Here is a clip, but these things don’t tend to stay up long.

Today’s Can I Borrow a Broom? Lineup:

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

Pretty much the same lineup as yesterday, with Iglesias stepping back in at SS. Although I’m not sure why Josh Wilson got to bat 8th, and Jose has to bat 9th.