These last few days have been fun. It’s exciting to watch the new kids perform. Daniel Norris on the mound tonight.

The Tigers added some assistant GMs to the fold.

Tonight’s Lineup

1. Anthony Gose, CF
2. Jose Iglesias, SS
3. Ian Kinsler, 2B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Tyler Collins, LF
7. Nick Castellanos, 3B
8. Alex Avila, 1B
9. James McCann, C

I made the mistake of looking at the standings this morning. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Daniel Norris gets the start today, and if he somehow throws a no-hitter, we still won’t be in the playoff hunt. So let’s all temper our enthusiasm and expectations. It’s going to be a real crummy last 57 games, but this may be that excuse you’ve been looking for to get caught up on a few TV shows. May be easier for Coleman and I to just put up one post per series. I still like checking in on what everyone is saying, but it’s hard to commit time each day to a team who looks like it doesn’t care as much as I do.

Anyway, here are some good links on Norris. One of the contributors on Bless You Boys wrote a piece about knowing Daniel Norris personally, and another broke down the three Blue Jays prospects. Fangraphs posted scouting reports on Norris, Labourt, and Boyd, as well as projected WAR through age 28.

George Sipple used the influx of players as a reason to update his list of the organization’s top 15 prospects. You can peruse it here. It’s not pretty. Especially when people are starting to wonder if Steven Moya, our #2 prospect, has peaked.

Norris pitches tomorrow…

TIGERS (numbers against Gausman)

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

Late start today. More on the Cespedes deal later.

2016 starts as soon as Norris gets here.

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Iglesias, SS
3. Cespedes, LF
4. Martinez V, DH
5. Martinez J.D., RF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. McCann, C
8. Romine, 1B
9. Davis, CF

No movement on the trade front, but everything is pointing that way. Price’s agent told MLB Network radio that he’s not optimistic that Price will be in Detroit much longer.

If you didn’t see it yet, the Royals (who are 10.5 games ahead of the Tigers, yes 10.5), picked up Johnny Cueto. Not that we were going to catch them, but they are the odds on favorite to win the AL now (even more so). I doubt we would have traded Price within the division, so no harm there, but we really should deal him before every contender makes a move.

1. Davis, CF
2. Kinsler, 2B
3. Cespedes, LF
4. Martinez V, DH
5. Martinez J.D., RF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. McCann, C
8. Marte, 1B
9. Iglesias, SS

I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but if Alfredo Simon gives up less than 4 runs today it will be the first time since a miracle. His ERA over his last 7 games is 8.64, which somehow ranks him behind Verlander, Feliz, and Rondon, who could maybe combine to keep the LL WS team to under 5 runs in 7 innings, give or take a few runs. Lineups aren’t out yet, and I’m headed out on one of those group bicycle/drinking tours, so someone please update.

Look guys, let’s call it what it is. 2015 is not going to be a championship year and unless the Tigers make moves now, 2016 won’t be either. Ken Rosenthal is reporting today that David Price is unlikely to sign with the Tigers in 2016, and the Cubs are high on the list to sign Price in the off-season. So why not get some young talent in return for moving baseball’s best pitcher off of one of baseball’s worst staffs. The Cubs are flush with prospects, btw.

Now, one idea to salvage the season would be to fire Ausmus. Patrick O’Kennedy of Bless You Boys makes a compelling case, as he eloquently describes what we’ve seen all year. O’Kennedy cites awful bullpen management, keeping Iglesias at the bottom of the order, and lethargic play as reasons enough. I can’t disagree.

Verlander v. Porcello in a matchup of two of the AL’s worst statistical starters tonight.

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Cespedes, LF
3. Martinez V, DH
4. Martinez J.D., RF
5. Castellanos, 3B
6. Avila, C
7. Krauss, 1B
8. Iglesias, SS
9. Gose, CF

Last night’s loss was a great microcosm of why this team isn’t going anywhere. The O gets shut down way too often, and the bullpen is awful. Had it not been for an uncharacteristic first 6 weeks of the season, the bullpen would be the worst in the majors. I think this is equally on DD (lack of talent) and Ausmus (lack of management). It’s not going to get any better anytime soon.

I could get behind trading Price and Cespedes and getting some young talent in here. Otherwise, it’s going to be difficult to stay interested.

Gonzalez v. Verlander today.

1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Gose, CF
3. Cespedes, LF
4. Martinez, V DH
5. Martinez, J.D. RF
6. Avila, C
7. Krauss, 1B
8. Iglesias, SS
9. Romine, 3B

Good all around win last night. Sanchez was okay, don’t let the final line fool you. He gave up 10 H+W and benefited from a 1-14 RISP day by the Os. The Tigers only had 4 ABs with RISP, but when you hit 3 HRs, you’re gonna score a lot of runs.

Tillman v. Price Tonight.

Tigers Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (4-for-18, double, HR, 2 walks, 2 K’s)
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-8, 3 K’s)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (5-for-12, double, HR, 2 K’s)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (1-for-5, HR)
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (1-for-5)
6. Alex Avila, 1B (1-for-8, HR, 3 K’s)
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS (2-for-9, double, 2 K’s)
9. Anthony Gose, CF (6-for-12, double, triple, 5 K’s)

Well, the All Star break has come and gone, and the Tigers unfortunately find themselves in limbo, as they are not so far out of the race that it’s apparent to everyone that they need to sell, but this team simply isn’t going to compete with Kansas City, or much of the other elite AL teams for that matter. There’s a lot of talk about the next 10 days being crucial, and if they win 10 straight I might get excited. But let’s all be honest here.

Krauss on paternity leave, Dixon Machado up for a 2nd stint.

Tonight’s Lineup (career numbers v. Ubaldo Jimenez)

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B (4-for-17, 3 doubles, 3 walks, 3 K’s)
2. Yoenis Cespedes, LF (3-for-7, HR, 2 walks, K)
3. Victor Martinez, DH (8-for-24, double, 3 HR, walk, 4 K’s)
4. J.D. Martinez, RF (0-for-4, walk, K)
5. Nick Castellanos, 3B (0-for-2, K)
6. Alex Avila, 1B (5-for-23, double, HR, 8 walks, 8 K’s)
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-3, walk, K)