Game 2016.8: Tigers at Pirates

Today the Tigers finish off their 4-game set with the Pirates, as they take the field at the unfashionable early time of 12:35, which may have caught some napping.

The Tigers have an opportunity to get to 4-0 already against National League teams in National League parks. (Last season they went 6-4).

Is it too soon to worry about Cabrera’s hitting? (Yes. But still). The light .423 slugging % and swinging at bad pitches both seem uncharacteristic. I am still waiting to see how much fun it is when the streaky Justin Upton gets hot while Cabrera is in characteristic form.

Today’s Early Bird Lineup:

  1. Kinsler, 2B
  2. Upton, LF
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. JD Martinez, LF
  5. Castellanos, 3B
  6. Collins CF
  7. Wilson,  C
  8. Romine, SS
  9. Zimmerman P

The hot-hitting Saltalamacchia takes the Castellanos seat on the bench today, as the Tigers give newly-acquired Bobby Wilson a shot at catching. Andrew Romine gives Iglesias the day off at shortstop. Jordan Zimmerman takes the mound hoping that the top half of the order can give him some runs.

31 thoughts on “Game 2016.8: Tigers at Pirates”

  1. What is a throw away game? Isn’t it one where you have clinched your playoff berth and want to rest your players? Bit early for that.

    If the Pirates can’t beat Zimm fear not Brad can. Zimm is not sharp today and he looks like about 5 innings today. Iggy’s error extends the inning (OH, it’s lettuce man filling in.)
    Zimm is over 60 pitches in 2 innings. Have you noticed how few first pitches the Pirates swing at while we keep swinging at EVERYTHING? TIGERS RULE is right even Miggy is starting to swing at everything. Not good.

  2. Unbelievable! Casty still doesn’t get it! You’re not as great as you think and you have to keep your head out of your (oh well). Looks like Gibby has a life time coaching job. But, he did get two RBI’s in spite of his goof. Another hit and he can rest tomorrow.

  3. Two DP ground balls to Iggy in the same inning….oh oops Iggy isn’t playing…Gee thanks Brad!

  4. Zim that was some serious pitching to two good hitters with the sacs full thanks to “no range” Romine…in fact playing Romine and Casty at the same time is like putting I-94 between them!

  5. On a day he wasn’t really sharp, Zimm has turned in a great game pitching in a lot of stress. Hope our pen holds the victory for him.

  6. CASTY….I can’t even comment on that move!!!..wow!

    How long before Victor retires cause Casty is a DH!
    Romine should be at third late in the game anyway…oh thats right he is doing nothing at SS today. Thanks Brad….by the way did the Tigers fire Avilles???.

  7. Not good, but not awful. Verhagen could have gotten himself out of the jam by fielding the comebacker cleanly. He also had another infield hit add to the misery. If we get out of the 7th, we’ll need to add to our slim lead.

  8. A clown in the field, but a Tiger at the plate! We needed that. (I guess Aviles will be playing 3rd tomorrow).

  9. Casty is auditioning for that DH spot….in all the reading I have done he has hit like this his whole life, with the exception of last year….I guess he makes up for his lack of defense with this kind of hitting!…future DH for sure. Meanwhile we will take his offense and then some!

  10. How come I want to put $20 in the mail and send it to Jaso with a note…Get a haircut!

  11. And Romine goes to third where he belongs and makes a great anti- clown right back at ya!….and the first thing you think is well Casty is out of the game finally on D…..haha!

  12. All wins are good wins!…this is a really good win on the road in a give away lineup day!

  13. winning 3 of 4 from PIT was impressive… i’ll take 6-2

    as for the next 3 games in HOU, the pitching matchups (Pelfrey – Keuchel; JV – McHugh & Sanchez – Fiers) seem to point to trouble for DET… might be fortunate to win one of the three

  14. Ok, leaving tomorrow morning at o’dark thirty for Houston for the upcoming 3-game series. My bro’s and I will be sitting behind the Tiger dugout. Sure wanted to see Fister match up with the Tigers but will see the Tiger bats go after Keuchel.

    1. Hopefully you will wear something with the Tigers Logo so we can spot you on FS-D. It should be a good series and I’m hoping for at least 2 out of 3. GO TIGERS!

  15. Dallas Keuchel has not been sharp so far this year. He has already walked 10 batters in his starts. (Walked 11 all last April.) It would be nice if the Tigers would take some pitches to see if he has regained his control. Of course I don’t expect that and I’ll predict he’ll get out of the first on about 9 pitches. Meanwhile Miggy needs to step up a bit since he is off to (for Miggy) a horrible start. Tough spot for Pelfrey but if he can keep his pitches down, we might stay in the game. Tomorrow will be a test for JV after his last start. If he isn’t sharp it could be a very long season for us. Hopefully Brad won’t allow him to get hammered like he did last time.

    1. The Tigers have tended to have trouble with pitchers who have trouble with walking a lot of guys.

  16. Drove by MinuteMaid en route to my brothers and the roof was open. I will be wearing an all orange Tiger hat with a blue D along with a Blue Tiger road jacket. Also I will be the one wearing number 42! Happy J. Robinson Day!

    1. Been watching the new Ken Burns PBS Documentary with my grandsons ( who are multi racial )… it has sparked some frank and thoughtful discussions with them about how brave a man he was and how they can deal with some of the crap they get on a regular basis ( and how Gramps is willing to have a word or two with the parents of the offenders )

      1. When considering all the abuse and extreme emotional pressure JR had to endure, and the fact that he was still able perform at the (HOF) level he did…is nothing short of exceptional. I doubt there are many players (any color or nationality) in the history of MLB that could have performed as well as he did under the same circumstances.

        Branch Rickey and some of the other supportive MLB leadership at the time, also deserve some credit for charting a long-overdue course for our society.

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