Game 2016.42: Rays at Tigers

Smyly on the mound for the Rays this afternoon.

Fulmer brings his winning record and staff pacing 6.52 ERA to the hill.

Should be interesting. I’m lining up my lawn mowing/Skoal time with opening pitch. This hasn’t worked that well for me yet this year.

Baseball Reference game preview here.

Today’s lineup (career numbers vs. Drew Smyly):

  1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (4-for-10, HR, walk, K)
  2. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-3, 2 K’s)
  3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (0-for-3)
  4. Victor Martinez, DH
  5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (1-for-3, double, K)
  6. Justin Upton, LF
  7. Cameron Maybin, CF
  8. James McCann, C (2-for-2, HR)
  9. Jose Iglesias, SS (0-for-3, K)

37 thoughts on “Game 2016.42: Rays at Tigers”

  1. Its probably just me but does Gibby feel the need to talk non stop between every single pitch. I want to yell out..Gibby take a breath!

  2. as Coleman suggested a few days ago, Cameron Maybin should be batting either #1 or #2, moving JDMart down to 6th or 7th

  3. Maybin bats between Upton and McCann..that alone can’t be any more depressing!!!!.

  4. Pitch right down the middle..Iggy can’t bunt it…Not a fundemental in the Tigers instructional book!..

    ..no wonder they don’t bunt…they can’t!…..sad actually!

  5. A few notes about today’s pitchers. The common stats don’t tell the whole story.

    Fulmer’s ERA may have been in the 6s coming into the game, but his BABIP was over .400, and his xFIP for the year is currently sitting at 3.29 (including today’s innings). He’s striking out over 11 per 9 this year. the BABIP will come down (.350 or so is very high), and a K rate like that is VERY encouraging.

    Smyly is striking out over 10 per 9 and walking just over 2 per 9, so with a 2-4 record, he’s not getting much support.

    We’re seeing two very good young pitchers this afternoon.

  6. I don’t fault Maybin there. Iglesias missed the bunt.

    McCann and Iglesias are both ++ D, so I can handle the weak offense (McCann getting that guy at 1st yesterday was sick). But you would think that Iglesias can at least get the bat on the ball there. Oh well, the D is nice.

    1. See Iggy earns his keep. But on the bunt, it happens and the players you’re talking about are 7-8-9. Maybin has produced the only run, so what have our highly paid stars contributed today?

  7. Every once in a while we should listen to our elders and not assume they are senile. Today in the TV booth, Al Kaline (#6) said that J-Up’s problem is the outside pitches and that standing closer to the plate or leaning over might help. He said he hoped Joyner has worked with him on this. As I look at J-Up he does look like he can’t reach a strike on the outer edge.

  8. 7 innings of 1 run ball, can’t expect much better from your SP…nice outing for Fulmer… sure TAM is not an offensive juggernaut, but the way Sanchez has been pitching over the past year and two months, when (if) Greene gets healthy and can be reliable, DET may keep Fulmer in the rotation and put Sanchez on the DL for 15 days, to see if that helps…the team and Sanchez

    1. …BTW, other than a few starts by JV & Zimmerman, the ‘other’ starters have only made it through the 7th once before today (Sanchez on 5/4)

      Smyly could be out of gas, time to score

      1. …and that BTW was McCann’s first extra base hit of the year… out of 9 total.

        …couldn’t have come at a much better time

  9. Funny that Brads butt is on the line and suddenly the Tigs have 6 steals this week….hmmmm!

    1. JWilson walks the #9 hitter who was batting .183…who consequently scores… mind-numbing

      1. It’s crazy and with a 4 run lead. It should be here it is, hit it.

  10. Thats it…leave him in Brad he hasn’t given up 10 yet…Brad hasn’t a frickin clue!!!!!!

    1. …but, but, but Wilson is my 8th inning guy…and its still the 8th inning

  11. Justin Wilson initially had 11 scoreless innings as of May 1st, but in his last 8 outings = he’s given up 10 runs on 11 hits

  12. He did his job, we still have the lead. He just wants K-Rod to have a challenge for the save.

    1. KRod walks the #7 hitter batting .172 on 4 straight pitches…i’m not seeing the logic here

  13. Upton is starting to wear on Maybin..how would you like to bat behind a guy who K.K..K..K…K…Kkk.Kk..K…Kkkk….every time up. Then casually crawl back to the dugout!…then you have to bat!

  14. That last play Romine makes is how he earns the little $$ they pay hime..big time throw..Casty doesn’t come close …

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