Game 2017.101: Astros at Tigers

I was hoping there would be a trade or something before tonight’s game, because I certainly don’t want to talk about the last game. Or the Keuchel vs Zimmermann matchup. But hey, we’ll see some good baseball this weekend, just like we did last week. And as a bonus we also get to see the Tigers!

That Game 100 though, it really felt like the last game of the season.

Today’s Lineup:

  1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
  2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
  3. Justin Upton, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Mikie Mahtook, CF
  6. Victor Martinez, DH
  7. James McCann, C
  8. Andrew Romine, CF
  9. Dixon Machado, SS

Pitching: Jordan Zimmermann vs Dallas Keuchel

Mikie Mahtook has been, improbably, the best hitter after the break, and moves up to 5th in the lineup. And yet he is not in the Faces of WAR? What is up with that? I demand a recount.

I was really hoping to see Adduci in right. They should be saving The Lettuce for the bullpen.

At least Miggy will get some pitches to hit, with the fearsome Mikie Mahtook batting behind him. Over the last two weeks he is hitting .381 with an OPS of 1.092.  (Mahtook, that is), although James McCann is closing in, and gets the start again at catcher.

Wait, what? That surprised me. McCann is on a quiet hot streak: .400 with an OPS of 1.024 for his last 25 AB. Plus, Alex Avila in the 2nd half: .111/.330, even worse than Miguel Cabrera (.217/.543).

Wonder how long Brad will continue to trot out a .217/.543 guy in the cleanup spot every night? I’m guessing all season.

19 thoughts on “Game 2017.101: Astros at Tigers”

  1. The makings of a real ugly weekend. I am taping. If
    good I will watch.. I will also check in periodically.. Or less depending… Have a great weekend guys and gals

  2. 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and Miggy up. And they pitch to him. And strike him out. Then pitch around Mikie.

    This is how bad Miggy is right now.

  3. In the old days they would have walked Miggy to set up the DP. Today, they go after Miggy and pitch around Mikie. Speaks volumes about our year.

    1. And then Brad hands it over to Rondon. Maybe Avila can get a dozen really cool t-shirts for him.

  4. For all of you that love Brad, please thank him for this. Why Zimm had to come out is not certain (definitely not pitch count) but to bring out Rondon after the way he reacted against KC is kind of unbelievable. Bruce should be headed back to Toledo in the morning. Brad, well we’re just stuck with him it appears. Was the crowd booing Bruce or Brad?

  5. Another move that doesn’t make sense to me. Why bring Greene into a game you are losing? Perhaps we’re just shopping him.

  6. After watching Miggy and VMart carry us for years. This is really sad… And no matter who gets traded we are stuck with both of them for more than this year!

  7. Brad. “I talked to Rondon before the game about pitching the 8th inning.. ZIM IS ONLY AT 80+PITCHES….OUT HE COMES…. UNFRICKIN BELIEVABLE!!!!

  8. I don’t have a problem with Zimm coming out…I don’t have a lot of trust in him going thru that line up again… Greene then JWill…thank you…
    Maybe it was auditioning the new 8th …9th sequence when JWill gets traded soon…Jimenez has pitched 15 straight scoreless in Toledo…He will be up soon…

    1. Zimm should have at least started the 8th with Greene (or even JWillie) ready to come in. While the top of the order had hit him earlier in the game, he got the 1-2-3 hitters the last time up. If anyone gets on, you bring in Greene who has excelled in high leverage situations. You do not audition in games you can win. If they were thinking Rondon was going to be the set up man, they missed reading his stats. If Bruce is the 8th inning guy, might as well bring Frankie back as the closer.

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