Game 2016.127: Tigers at Twins

Nothing like the Twins to get your post-season hopes up. The Indians start a four game set here in Arlington, so they’ll have their hands full. Tigers are 5.5 behind the Indians, and 3 games behind the 2nd Wild Card spot, tied with Seattle. The WC race is crowded (good work MLB), post-season hopes are alive, but not great.

Boyd was solid again yesterday and Miggy was a triple short of the cycle. Pull out your brooms today.

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B

2. Tyler Collins, CF

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

4. Victor Martinez, DH

5. J.D. Martinez, RF

6. Justin Upton, LF

7. Casey McGehee, 3B

8. James McCann, C

9. Andrew Romine, SS

Game 2016.124: Red Sox at Tigers

The Tigers still have yet to stop the plague called Ortiz; I guess they never will. I feel for Justin Upton, who can’t buy a break. He scorched one to the 420 mark in dead center, and it went 419 feet and 9 inches. But who here would have put money on the Tigers pulling it out in extras even if he did tie it, raise your hands. Anyone? Bueller?

This sporadic solo home run offense isn’t exactly working, is it?

Maybe the return of Maybin can bring a spark; yes, he’s back! Of course he returns to a Sunday lineup with no V-Mart and a salty first baseman, but maybe he can get something going.

Today’s Game of Inches Lineup:

  1. Kinsler, 2B
  2. Maybin, CF
  3. Cabrera, DH
  4. JD Martinez, RF
  5. Upton, LF
  6. McGehee, 3B
  7. McCann, C
  8. Saltalamacchia, 1B
  9. Aybar, SS

Game 2016.123: Red Sox at Tigers

It was inevitable that Fulmer would eventually have a bad outing. Not that anyone else was particularly good either. The Tigers are on the verge of dropping out of the playoff race.

But there is good news. There is? Yes there is. There is a new Stroh’s beer being brewed in Detroit. A bunch of that might help while watching the rest of this series. That and a nice big umbrella.

Today’s Van Norrison Lineup:

  1. Kinsler, 2B
  2. Aybar, SS
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. JD Martinez, RF
  6. Upton, LF
  7. McGehee, 3B
  8. McCann, C
  9. Romine, CF

Look who’s back, a new man no doubt. McCann has passed up Salty in the catcher’s batting race, by just sitting and watching.

Game 2016.122: Red Sox at Tigers

Well, how about that, Matt Boyd pitched another good one, and the Tigers improbably came back after falling behind 3-1 in the 8th. What kind of odds could we have gotten for betting on that comeback? And with a go-ahead bases-loaded walk at that, after Brad Ausmus oddly pulled both Cabrera and Martinez for pinch-runners. Extra innings would have looked a bit anemic, wouldn’t it have?

Boyd is now 4-0 since the All-Star break, with a 2.10 ERA and a nice 1.019 WHIP. He and tonight’s pitcher, Michael Fulmer, give a lot of hope for the future of the rotation.

The past of the rotation takes the mound for Boston, as Kid Rick Porcello brings a flashy 16-3, 3.30 back to Comerica.

Today’s Lineup:

  1. Kinsler, 2B
  2. Aybar, SS
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. JD Martinez, RF
  6. Collins, LF
  7. McGehee, 3B
  8. Saltalamacchia, C
  9. Romine, CF

Another day for Upton as a late-inning pinch-runner.

Game 2016.121: Red Sox at Tigers

Boyd pitched a gem last time out; then again, Sanchez did the same last night.

Things are starting to turn a little ugly as the fans, understandably frustrated with Upton, are starting to unleash the boos. Worst Tiger acquisition since Aubrey Huff?

Alex Presley called up from Toledo; hey, why not? Maybe Presley will leave the building. Bobby Parnell gets the DFA to make room for Presley on the 40-man roster.

Today’s Can’t Buy a Run Lineup:

  1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
  2. Erick Aybar, SS
  3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. JD Martinez, RF
  6. Casey McGehee, 3B
  7. Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
  8. Andrew Romine, CF
  9. Alex Presley, LF

 

 

 

Game 2016.119: Royals at Tigers

Tough loss last night, sometimes the other pitcher is just better.

JV on the mound tonight. Miggy with a biceps injury…things are getting lean. We really need Upton to hit for a bit.

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

2. 3B Casey McGehee

3. DH Victor Martinez

4. RF J.D. Martinez

5. LF Justin Upton

6. C James McCann

7. 1B Jarrod Saltalamacchia

8. SS Dixon Machado

9. CF Tyler Collins

Game 2016.118: Royals at Tigers

I was at Globe Life Park yesterday for as long as my three year old would let us stay; but it was long enough to watch Fulmer dissect the Rangers bats with surgical precision. There were quite a few hard hit balls (the Beltre single off the wall was spanked), and how that Choo ball stayed in the park while VMart’s found the wall is still beyond me, but let’s take a second to appreciate a real milestone in the kid’s career.

The fact that my brother and I called a handful of strikeout pitches (Odor’s swinging K on a high FB, and then a slider down and in come to mind), strengthens just how amazing the performance was. The Rangers hitters likely knew those K pitches were coming, and still were helpless against them.

Taking 2/3 from a very good Rangers team, with back to back shutouts to boot, is nearly enough to wipe away the pain for a 5 game losing streak.

Hey, it’s mid-August, and we are right in the middle of things. The AL East could swallow up three playoff spots, so let’s keep our eyes set on Cle.

Oh, and people can’t help but do a Kinsler/Fielder comparison down here. Safe to say that the move worked out for us. Pretty cool that Prince ended up with as many career HRs as big-Cecil. Prince’s retirement presser was a real tear-jerker; best of luck to what comes next for him.

Tonight’s game will be on ESPN.

Baseball-Reference game preview here.

1. 2B Ian Kinsler

2. CF Tyler Collins

3. 1B Miguel Cabrera

4. DH Victor Martinez

5. RF J.D. Martinez

6. LF Justin Upton

7. 3B Casey McGehee

8. C James McCann

9. SS Dixon Machado

Game 2016.117: Tigers at Rangers


You knew they would win one at some point on the road trip, but it was still a relief.  Casey McGehee had a career day, the Tigers left a buttload of runners on base (I mean butt in the sense of an old English unit of measurement, 1008 pints if you’re curious), when they weren’t getting picked off or thrown out (they only needed a runner out at 2nd for a cycle).  But Boyd pitched himself a game, and the Tigers now actually have a decent shot at taking the series.

Today’s Glass Half Fulmer Lineup:

  1. Kinsler, 2B
  2. Collins, CF
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. JD Martinez, RF
  6. Upton, LF
  7. McGehee, 3B
  8. McCann, C
  9. Romine, SS

I predict a big game from the two Macs and the Lettuce.

Game 2016.116: Tigers at Rangers

As we all looked forward with great anticipation to the return of JD Martinez to the lineup, I don’t think any of us expected he would be joining a lineup that looked like this. Dixon Machado is up to fill in for Jose Iglesias; Mike Aviles will take a stab at playing center, because hey, why not.

The less said about the Sanchez start last night the better. McCann had a good game and hit the ball hard every time up, including his 9th HR.

Today’s This is Not What We Had in Mind for the Pennant Chase Lineup:

  1. Kinsler, 2B
  2. McGehee, 3B
  3. Cabrera, 1B
  4. V Martinez, DH
  5. JD Martinez, RF
  6. Upton, LF
  7. Aviles, CF
  8. Saltalamacchia, C
  9. Machado, SS