Game 2015.138: Rays at Tigers

The only suspense left in the season is whether the Tigers can improve their draft position.

Fun fact: hitters are batting .417 off of Matt Boyd when he’s ahead in the count.

Career numbers off Erasmo Ramirez

  1. Anthony Gose, CF (1-for-3, walk, K)
  2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (1-for-5, double, walk, K)
  3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  4. J.D. Martinez, RF
  5. Nick Castellanos, DH
  6. James McCann, C
  7. Dixon Machado, SS
  8. Andrew Romine, 3B (2-for-2)
  9. Rajai Davis, LF (0-for-3, K)

39 thoughts on “Game 2015.138: Rays at Tigers”

  1. Victor out with flu like symptoms….how could they tell. He has played with flu like symptoms all year…he runs and hustles like hes 85 years old…i hate that Assmus ALLOWS Miggy and Victor, Avila, Casty and anyone else to jog out ground balls.

  2. I’m a little amused over all the hand wringing being done about the return or firing of Brad Asmus. If you can bring Sparky back from baseball heaven to manage the Tigers, it wouldn’t make that much of a difference. The facts are we have more holes than Swiss cheese. It is, if not impossible, unlikely that we can fill enough of them this coming year to make us a genuine contender in 2016.

    Some of my thoughts are:

    Starting pitching: We need at least 2 more quality starters. Where will they come from?

    Relievers: Need I say anything? Unless of course you believe Joe Nathan will come back as the closer he once was. Even if he did, what would you do about the rest of them?

    Position Players: Infield and catching are set. Even Nick is acceptable at third.

    DH: Victor, if healthy, would be great. That’s the reason I think they should shut him down for the year and really address some of his little (hopefully) aches and pains.

    Outfielders: JD is only one that is set for me. Can you really picture Collins at left full time? I also am not in love with Gose as the full time center fielder and I think he is a liability as a lead off hitter.

    While I think Brad should be replaced, I think the problem is more of an organizational nature than a manager who doesn’t seem to have a clue. Perhaps Al Avila can set up an organizational mission statement that lets everyone know what the goals are and the methodology to achieve it throughout the entire organization. They need leadership that won’t gloss over all the mental lapses we’ve experienced this year. While Brad is bright enough to maybe learn how to become an acceptable manager, the fact is that DD really screwed up when he hired him. The majors is no place for on the job training.

    1. I agree that Nick has earned at least another year. He showed signs in the 2nd half that he has the potential still to be that 20HR .280 guy, in which case mediocre defense would be good enough.

      He is only 23.

      1. Good post Tony! Tigers need a manager that motivates and leads on a daily basis. Leyland once said that MLB managers can only impact the outcome of about 15 games over the 162 game season. Meanwhile somebody needs the job of keeping this team even keel and motivated. Has Brad ever conveyed his expectation of game play to the players?

        Meanwhile to me, Castellanos brings enthusiam to his game; over this season I have come to enjoy watching his play. At times he is ackward and to watch him run the base is even painful as he runs like Hank Greenberg. But he jukes out homers and hits and produces under pressure. I believe such play is infectous towards his teammates. To me he’s a keep and will become a fan favorite.

  3. Rondon is a total thrower…he has a ton of “stuff”….but has no idea where hes throwing it…..Jeff Jones isn’t the guy to fix this!!!!..

  4. I wish we could lend Rondon to Tampa for about 6 months then get him back. They seem to work wonders with pitchers. This is another reason to start fresh next year. Not so much because we can be great in 2016 but so that these young players can get some real help.

    In any case, these last two days will be good for Bruce, IF he makes it.

    By the way, I’m also tired of watching players (even Miggy and Victor) shuffle to first base on “sure” outs. They should all be busting it like Prince. It shows pride in what you do.

    1. No arguments, Tony, about the “I-give-up-it’s-a-sure-out” shuffle which almost the whole Tigers team is doing now. The fact that no one gets on them about it is a crime.

      1. That is strike out #26, in 59 AB, for Tiger pinch hitters. (Hint: that is worse than whoever it is you are pinch-hitting for, even Avila).

        1. JD went after 3 pitches out of the zone including strike 3 way out side, or this game would be over, Davis swings at his 10000 bouncing pitch of the season…it goes on and on

    1. Agreed. VerHagen and Wilson both, although Wilson may be showing some wear right now. And Hardy has been promising at times. And maybe too soon to give up on Rondon. So the BP isn’t necessarily going to be a disaster, if they can add a couple good new arms.

  5. Gibby is really growing on me. I don’t like his actual voice, and the way he speaks. But you can learn a lot about baseball listening to his commentary. And I like how he messes with Mario sometimes.

  6. The bullpen has done a great job…the Sluggos respond though with 16 K’s so far..most no where near the strikezone

  7. Being always out of the country, I miss some news. Can someone give me a quick fill-in on what happened with Rod Allen? Is it a friendly arrangement? Are he and Gibby sharing broadcast time, or is Rod out?

    1. I believe its a share. Rod is on Tiger live after each Gibby game. I think they contracted Gibby for so many games and he didn’t do many in the first half!

  8. Aaaaand………..that’s the ballgame, after 13 long innings. Thanks again, Rajai!
    Wanna hand out your plusses, jud? Brad gets at least 1 for calling for bunt just now.

  9. Well done!….and a sac bunt from the team dead last in all of baseball in sacs”’hahaha!..Kaline you watching!!!!!!!…Bullpen saves the game…Rajah with a winner !

  10. I actually though a lot of games would go like this all year. Not 13 innings , but the Offense covering for our poor bullpen, which we knew would be a problem. Tonight the late inning pen was excellent!.. The biggest shocker to me isn’t the pen Its 53 games 2 or less. And the fact that They have no clue on how to manufacture a run when needed. You tell me they couldn’t do what they did tonight to win games. Marte might have bunted on his own. I will be very surprized if Ausmus called for the bunt. He never does. 16 K’s didn’t get u the win…a bunt and a Sac did. Thats how you win!!!!..Gardenhire absolutely knows how to do this!

    1. I’m on board with you, and I think I can pull for Gardenhire.
      I understand what Tony was saying —–we need a lot of pieces, fill a lot of holes, to contend, not just at manager spot. But if we have a smart skipper in place, then I’m confident that he’ll also help higher management get the pieces we need. And then even if we don’t contend in ’16 (which I’m pretty sure will be the case), I can undergo the trials and tribulations with everyone else. And it’s not so hard to take, can even be an exciting ride, to get to where we want to be, however long it takes, seeing that there’s brains at work, not just pencils filling out line-up cards.

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      1. …and pray tell Coleman, what ‘pleasant knowledge’ did you glean from this website today?

        …Mr Ausmus (first time caller, long-time listener) asked me to check with you on that… as you’re aware, he’s trying to save his job and therefore, always looking for some pleasant knowledge

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