Another game another day closer to .500.

Jason Beck had some interesting thoughts on Ausmus’ late inning decisions last night. He’s not quite calling them into question, but the fact that he’s writing about it…

Ryan down, Farmer up. Not sure if that helps or hurts one of the worst bullpens in the AL.

TIGERS (career numbers off Happ)

1. Rajai Davis, CF
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (3-for-13, double, walk, 5 K’s)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (1-for-2, walk, K)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-3)
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (2-for-2, double)
6. James McCann, C
7. Jefry Marte, 1B
8. Andrew Romine, 2B (0-for-4)
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Hello Friends –

Nice win last night. Baseball is a long season. We just happen to be over 1/2 way done and it’s not looking so good. There’s still a lot of hope out there and Lynn Henning wrote today that the Tigers could chase Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, or Jorge de la Rosa. I have no idea what we would give up in return for a guy like these, and it pains me to even think of depleting even further one of the worst farm systems in the majors. This will be a constant story over the next few weeks, and one worth following. I never want to “throw in the towel”, but let’s be smart about things. Cabrera will be an elite hitter for years to come, so let’s not go all-in in a year when we don’t have the cards.

Evidencing how awful the farm system is, the Tigers claimed some guy named Mark Krauss off of waivers from Tampa Bay yesterday, and he’s starting at first tonight. Krauss is posting a .595 OPS this year, which is slightly higher than Cabrera’s OBP.

Props to JD, Price, and Iglesias for their well deserved All Star selections. The little kid in me will cheer them on next week. Cespedes is still a candidate for the last spot as part of the “Final Vote.”

Tonight’s lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
3. Victor Martinez, DH
4. J.D. Martinez, RF
5. Alex Avila, C
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Marc Krauss, 1B
8. Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-3, 2 K’s vs. Taijuan Walker)
9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Is it just me, or is Justin Verlander way the heck out of touch with reality? Here’s a quote from him yesterday: “There’s two ways that you can approach this. You can look at the fifth inning and think negatively. Or you can look at the rest of it and think positively.” … “Felt really good about it. It’s a shame that I kind of feel out of sync there in the fifth, but it’s my fourth start. Gotta keep that in mind.”

The 5th inning was not a “negative.” It was catastrophic. He once went entire seasons without an inning like that. Last season Justin Verlander was one of the worst full season starters in the majors, He’s quickly working his way back into that form.

*****

So the Tigers finish the first half of the season 1 game above .500. And, other than Joba Chamberlain, no one has lost their job. Miguel Cabrera is on the shelf until late August, the only reliable starter (David Price) is also our biggest piece of trade bait, the bullpen remains a mess (as it has been for two years), and there are glaring holes at C and 3B, one of which should be a premium position in the AL.

I’ll say what everyone else is thinking but no one else has yet said. It’s time to become sellers. Let’s trade Price and Cespedes at the deadline for younger talent (hopefully a 3B), and shelf Cabrera for the rest of the year if we have to. We can build an offense next year around Cabrera, Martinez, and Martinez, and Iglesias can anchor an infield for years to come, but unless we get younger and cheaper, we’re going to be the Phillies soon.

TIGERS (career numbers off Iwakuma)

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (9-for-23, double, 3 HR, 2 walks, 5 K’s)
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (10-for-24, 5 doubles, 3 HR, 6 K’s)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (3-for-6, HR, 2 walks)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-3, 3 K’s)
5. Alex Avila, C (0-for-9, walk, 2 K’s)
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B (1-for-3, double, 2 K’s)
7. Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-2, walk, K)
8. Andrew Romine, 1B (3-for-7, K)
9. Jose Iglesias, SS (1-for-5, 2 K’s)

This team seems so uninspired. We may be beating a dead horse, but how long can this go on?

Baseball-Reference game preview here.

BTW – I have a friend who works for the Indians. I texted him last night after the 2nd out of the 9th to say “looks like you’ll be busy tonight.” Next pitch was a line drive single to right.

TIGERS (career numbers off Liriano)

1. Rajai Davis, CF (7-for-23, 3 doubles, HR, walk, 4 K’s)
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (3-for-20, 2 doubles, HR, 4 walks, 4 K’s)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (9-for-35, 3 doubles, 2 HR, 8 walks, 8 K’s)
4. Victor Martinez, DH (13-for-28, 6 doubles, HR, 4 walks, 6 K’s)
5. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-12, 2 K’s)
6. J.D. Martinez, RF (2-for-5, HR, walk, 3 K’s)
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B (2-for-5, K)
8. Bryan Holaday, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS (1-for-1, walk)

Last night’s loss is on the O, not the pen, or even Gorzelanny. Alex Wilson was at 50+ pitches and Gorzelanny was the last guy in the pen. Ausmus didn’t have any other options. A hit with a RISP would have been nice. 3-15 usually isn’t going to get the job done; unless of course you are Pittsburgh and get a W hitting 2-16 w RISP. Baseball is a funny game.

TIGERS (career numbers off A.J. Burnett)

1. Rajai Davis, CF (6-for-13, 2 doubles, triple)
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (5-for-29, HR, walk, 7 K’s)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (6-for-28, 2 doubles, HR, walk, 4 K’s)
4. Victor Martinez, DH (8-for-29, 2 doubles, 2 HR, 7 walks, 4 K’s)
5. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-3, double, K)
6. J.D. Martinez, RF (1-for-13, 3 K’s)
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B (1-for-3, K)
8. James McCann, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS (1-for-2, walk)

Let’s go JV, show us you’ve still got it.

TIGERS (career numbers off Gerrit Cole)

1. Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-3, 2 K’s)
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (0-for-6, 3 K’s)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (1-for-3, K)
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (2-for-6)
6. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-2, walk, K)
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B (1-for-2)
8. James McCann, C
9. Jose Iglesias, SS (0-for-2)

Still traveling, so I’m gonna make it short. Seems to be working.

My fault guys. Very limited picture options via mobile.

Well, that was a kick in the n*ts. I mean, do all the runs have to count?

The Tigers run the risk of a very bad 4 game series unless they can pick up a win tonight.

Report from our DTWer on the scene, Coleman, is that there is a lot of hail and rain in Cincy right now, so this thing may not get going for a while.

Bryan Holaday spells McCann after yesterday’s marathon.

TIGERS (career numbers off of Mike Leake)

1. Anthony Gose, CF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (0-for-4)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-3)
5. J.D. Martinez, RF (2-for-6, walk)
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. Bryan Holaday, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Justin Verlander, P

So, I’m posting this from a bar in Austin. Kinda slipped my mind. Go Tigers.

JV was okay yesterday. Not great, but not bad either. He only allowed 3 hits and 2 walks in 5 IPs, while surrendering 2 ER. His fastball velocity was okay, sitting at 92-94 and touching 97, and his command was decent enough for a first start. I am worried that he only got 5 swings and misses, this could be a harbinger of things to come.

Anyway, I said I’d be pleased with 6 IP and 3 ER, so 5 IP and 2 ER ain’t bad. The bullpen, however, was awful. Again. This is becoming an alarming trend, one that gave us nightmares late last season and that was outright terrifying in the playoffs. The pen is posting a 5.47 June ERA, and the Tigers are now 2-11 in their last 13 games decided by 2 runs or fewer. Much of this can be blamed on Ausmus. This smart guy on Bless You Boys points out that other than handing the ball to Soria in the 9th from time to time. Ausmus isn’t doing so hot with the pen. The gist of it is that Ausmus’ bullpen management WPA is below average, and if you remove Soria it’s flat out awful. Let’s all say it together now “he’s learning.”

Anyway, Tigers go up against Indians ace Corey Kluber in today’s rubber match. Don’t let Kluber’s 3-7 record fool you, he’s only getting 2.46 runs behind him per game. He’s actually throwing slightly more strikes, striking out more, and walking less than he did when he won the Cy Young award last year. His BABIP currently sits at .356, the highest for his career. So I hate to break it to you, but he’s likely pitching even better than he did last year. Though the Tigers’ big three do rake against the guy (see below).

The Indians are calling up highly touted SS prospect Francisco Lindor, but he’s not in the starting lineup.

Lineup (career numbers off Corey Kluber):

1. Anthony Gose, CF (1-for-3, HR, 2 K’s)
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (4-for-18, triple, walk, 4 K’s)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (19-for-33, 2 doubles, 4 HR, 2 walks, 6 K’s)
4. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (4-for-10, double, HR, 2 K’s)
5. J.D. Martinez, RF (5-for-12, double, HR, K)
6. Tyler Collins, DH
7. Bryan Holaday, C (2-for-6, 3 K’s)
8. Andrew Romine, 3B (1-for-4, walk, 2 K’s)
9. Jose Iglesias, SS (0-for-4)

I’ll be glued to the radio for today’s broadcast. Of course I’d like for the Tigers to win, but I’m much more interested to see how JV pitches. If we can get 6 innings and 3 or less runs, I’ll be pleased. Getting through the first two innings will be crucial. Chris Iott of MLive did a story today which explained that one of JV’s biggest problems last year was pitching behind in the count. OPS in these situations ballooned in 2014 relative to his career. I can’t help but wonder if this is b/c hitters could, for the first time, sit on his fastball.

Back in February I did some comparisons between JV and other similar pitchers in an attempt to forecast what the rest of Verlander’s career might look like. There is still a very good chance for him to be dominant, but we all need to understand that the fastball velocity is likely never coming back. As a result, he has to be better early in at bats, and the curve and change have to be better. He’ll still have days where he strikes out 10+, but I don’t think he has the arm strength to throw fireballs forever like a Ryan or Clemens.

Are you guys following what’s going on with the All Star game voting? Currently 7 Royals for the AL, and 4 Cardinals for the NL, are leading their respective positions. Technology has enabled teams and fans to legally rig the system. If anything, I wish they would get rid of the dumb home field advantage rule. It’s an exhibition, no one cares. In fact, the All Star game is upsetting to me b/c it means nearly a full week of no real baseball. I’d be more interested if they would let the mascots play each other.

Lineups: (career numbers off Carrasco)

1. Rajai Davis, DH (3-for-12, double, triple, 2 K’s)
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B (7-for-19, 3 doubles, walk, 4 K’s)
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B (8-for-21, double, HR, 3 walks, 5 K’s)
4. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-3, walk, K)
5. J.D. Martinez, RF (4-for-13, double, HR, 2 K’s)
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B (3-for-8, 2 walks, 4 K’s)
7. James McCann, C (0-for-2)
8. Jose Iglesias, SS (2-for-3, K)
9. Anthony Gose, CF