Category Archives: 2011 Season

Game 2011.149: Tigers at White Sox

When you look up and see Dylan Axelrod making his major league debut, you’ve gotta feel pretty good about #12.  Sounds like he should be leading a GnR cover band, not pitching against the hottest team in baseball.

On the other hand, the old Tigers have had problems against first major league start guy, and Brad Penny is likely making his 3rd to last appearance of the season, and likely his 3rd to last appearance in a Tigers uniform.

I’ve got a feeling that we the White Sox have given up, and it will show today.

I’ve gotta run, please help out with the pitching previews and lineups again, friends.

Game 2011.148: Tigers at White Sox

A little pressed for time over these next few days friends, so I’ll leave the majority of the commentary up to you.

But tonight’s game is brought to you by the number 11.  As in 11 straight for JV, and 11 straight for the Tigers.  And 2011, the year of the Tigers (year of the “Tiger” was 2010).

Pre-Player of the Game is Ramon Santiago – as I’m guessing he’ll be the 11th guy inserted into the lineup.

Someone please post the lineup when avail.

 

Game 2011.147: Tigers at White Sox

The D (for Domination) train rolls into Chicago tonight as the Tigers look win 10 in a row for the first time since 1968.  The Tigers now find themselves perched at number 4 in both the ESPN power rankings and the MLB.com fan rankings, and their 9 win streak matches the longest since 1984.  1968 and 1984 were good years.  Who was around in 1968?  Tell us a little about that season.

Porcello goes for this 14th win tonight in 28 starts.  A Porcello win would give the Tigers 3 14+ game winners for the first time since 1984 when the mustache brothers dusted batters and other things (Morris, Wiltcox, Petry).

John Danks takes the ball for the Tigers, and I can’t imagine that he’s too excited about this one. He was rocked by the Tigers 10 days ago, and they haven’t lost since.  He followed that up with 4 ER in 6 IPs against Minnesota last time out.  Interesting Danks stat – his worst innings statistically this year are the 1st and 6th.

We haven’t talked about it much over the past week because there has been so much else going on, but Alex Avila continues to hit and play superb defense.  It sounds ridiculous, but is he the best catcher in the Majors?  He’s overwhelmingly the first catcher taken in a recent ESPN fan poll.

A few notes:

– Injury Updates – Joel Zumaya, Brad Thomas and Brennan Boesch are injured.
– Division playoff tix went on sale today at 10am, and off-sale at 11am.  Did anyone get them?
– Great article on Grandy on ESPN.com today.  Hard to argue with the team’s success this year, but we can all still pine for the guy.
– This comes from Fangraphs’ latest power rankings: 10. Detroit: Last week – 10, WAR% – .556 (9), FAN% – .512 (12), TOTAL% – .551
Intriguing idea for the Tigers this offseason — take the $26 million coming off the books from Carlos GuillenMagglio Ordonez and Brad Penny, and give it to Jose Reyeson a four year, $100 million deal (with the idea that you pay more for less years given his injury issues). Then you move Jhonny Peralta to second base, stick Brennan Boeschand Ryan Raburn in the platoon that they’ve always been destined to share out in right field, and ka-boom! — championship offense.

Tonight’s Pre-Player of the Pre-Game

AJax – he’s riding a 15 game hitting streak against the White Sox, batting .403 with 3 HRs and 9 RBIs during that time.

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B

 

Game 2011.146: Twins at Tigers

Smokin’ September continues. as the Tigers extend their win streak to 8 games, the longest September win streak since the magical 1984 season.

The last time through the Tiger rotation Fister, Porcello, and Scherzer were all better than Verlander, and with Alburquerque back the pitching staff looks in top form right now.

Tonight Doug Fister takes the mound with a fist full of broom as Detroit goes for the Three-Sweep. It’s too bad the Royals aren’t up next.

Magic Number:  9
Division Series tickets go on sale Monday 10 am.

Player of the Pre-game: Brandon Inge. Inge has the best walkoff to home run ratio in the majors.

Today’s Avila-Gets-A-Day-Off Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Ryan Raburn, 2B
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Brandon Inge, 3B
  9. Omir Santos, C

Game 2011.145: Twins at Tigers

Leyland’s plan to use yesterday’s game as an opportunity to practice the comeback worked to perfection, thanks to the mighty bat of Ramon Santiago, and the Tigers remain on track for the Three-Sweep.

Today Max Scherzer tries to keep pace with Kid Rick for the 3rd spot in the playoff rotation, and bring the Tigers’ magic number into the single digits.  You couldn’t blame him if he expects a lot of run support:  Detroit has a 7-game win streak going, in which it has averaged over over 9 per game (65 runs).

Anthony Swarzak has only pitched against the Tigers this season in relief, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings.  He may find the going a bit tougher today.

Magic Number:  10

Division Series tickets go on sale Monday 10 am.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Ramon Santiago.

Rockin’ Ramon gets another start after a big blast yesterday.  If he keeps a hot bat to go with his good glove at 2nd, it could make for some difficult lineup decisions down the line.

Today’s Back-to-Back-Ramon Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Andy Dirks, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Alex Avila, C
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
  9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

 

Game 2011.144: Twins at Tigers

The Tigers have roared into September with consecutive series sweeps against their closest division rivals, and now head back to Comerica with a chance for the Three-Sweep against the struggling Twins.

Tonight’s game features the epic pitching matchup of Slowey and Slower.

The Tigers, perhaps in the spirit of sportsmanship, will lead off the series with Brad Penny, who has given up 15 runs (and 5 HRs) in his last 10 innings. At least they are finally using him in a night game.

The Twins go with Kevin Slowey,  making his 4th start after missing 2 months with an abdominal strain.  He had a good last outing against the Angels, giving up only 2 runs in 7 innings, but got the loss, because that’s life on the Twins right now–Slowey has gotten just 3 runs of offensive support in his last 4 starts.

And just for fun,  ESPN’s Aaron Boone’s power rankings has the Tigers as the #2 team in MLB right now, behind the Phillies.

Magic Number:  12.  Division Series tickets go on sale Monday 10 am.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Austin Jackson.

Since I last put the pre-game focus on Jackson, he has gone 2-for-16.  This constitutes an un-jinxing. In games in which AJax scores a run, the Tigers have a .730 winning percentage.

Today’s Three-Sweep Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Alex Avila, C
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
  9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

 

Game 2011.143: Tigers at Indians

A few numbers for you guys…

14, .5, 10, 3.  Answers at the end.

JV takes on Masterson for the sweep.  Is there any question that it’s going to happen?  I can actually see the momentum.  It looks like this – Phil Coke throwing breaking ball after breaking ball for 4 strikeouts in 5 batters.   Delmon Young working a walk.  AJax ripping a double in the 8th.  Rick P recording 13 out of 19 ground outs.

Chris Singleton on MLB tv postulated last night that perhaps the Tigers are peaking too early.  I don’t buy that because they’ve had extended winning streaks this season, and Porcello, Scherzer and Fister all have track records of outstanding pitching ability.  I think the real difference is that the lineup chaos has been thwarted.  The Tigers are getting production from the least productive spots, and that in turn allows Cabrera, Martinez, Avila and Peralta to be even more productive.  I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but it seems like Ordonez, Inge and Guillen have seen the least number of at bats during this win streak relative to everyone else.

I know that we had a 7 game lead around this time 2 years ago, but that was the Twins chasing us.  This year we have momentum.

The Freep has some really cool stats this morning regarding historical consecutive win streaks for Tigers pitchers, check out the absurd number of complete games those guys were throwing back then.

Magic number.  Games behind the Rangers for the #2 seed and home field advantage.  JV going for his 10th consecutive win.  Triple Crown.

Today’s Double Sweep Lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Rhymes, 2B
3. Dirks, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Betemit, 3B
8. Kelly, RF
9. Santiago, SS

Game 2011.142: Tigers at Indians

The Tigers go for fatality tonight to the tune of MK’s “Finish Him.”  Ubaldo Jimenez was good yesterday, but just not good enough.  Doug Fister posted a career high 13 Ks leading to an 80 Game Score (matching a career best) as he dominated the Indians.  The Tigers, whom generally received a yawn from the pundits shortly after the trade deadline, are now regarded as the trade deadline winner.  I think it’s safe to say that Fister, Betemit and Young were all wins.

The buzz in Cleveland is that the season is already over and according to Cool Standings, Detroit’s playoff odds are at 97%.  But a win tonight would make me feel much better about things.

Rick Porcello auditions for the final spot in the playoff rotation tonight (assuming we get there). His last one didn’t go so well.

A few notes:

– MLB.com’s contest insurance company is sweating this one out…some guy may beat the streak.
– Danny Worth called up today.  Look for him to make an appearance in a key situation that he’s not prepared or qualified for.

Jackson is tonight’s pre-game player of the game, as I don’t want to believe that regular AJax is back just yet.  He’s 4-14 lifetime off of Carmona.

Tonight’s Series Clinching Lineup

1. Jackson, CF
2. Dirks, RF
3. Young, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Peralta, SS
8. Kelly, 3B
9. Santiago, 2B

Game 2011.141: Tigers at Indians

I think it’s safe to say that it’s a two team race in the AL Central now, and with two wins by the Tigers in the next three days, the Indians may join the White Sox in scheduling their October tee times.  Heck, even a win may get the Indians to dust off their sticks.  MLB’s silly scheduling lands the Tigers in Cleveland for a day game following a night game (that was only 3:21, amazing)

The Indians picked up Ubaldo Jimenez to pitch against the Central, and he makes his third start against the Tigers today.  He picked up a W the first time out, allowing 3 runs over 8 innings, but got Buehrle’d his second time around when he was tagged for 8 runs in just over 3 IPs.  Jimenez is 2-1 with the Indians, but is sporting a 5.56 ERA.  They are 3-3 in games he’s started for them.

While the Indians were mortgaging their future staff to get Jimenez, the Tigers quietly snuck a deal for Doug Fister.  A guy who will likely be the #3 guy going into the playoffs in four weeks. Over six starts for the Tigers, Fister is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA.  He’s gone at least 7 in four of those, and he was pulled due to rain in one of those other two.  More importantly, the Tigers have won 4 of Fister’s starts, and he’s walked all of 2 batters in 36 1/3.  Michael Rosenberg didn’t hesitate to call Fister a better pitcher than Jimenez today. A little gravy on top – he’s striking out almost 8 per 9 innings over his past four.

I’m very curious to see how AJax’s first AB goes.  His last three yesterday looked disturbingly like many of his ABs from April through August.  When he gets on base, the Tigers offense goes into overdrive.

A few other notes:

– Sizemore back for Cle for the first time since mid-July.
– Santos was called up today, I’m sure he’d be starting if there were a lefty on the mound.  Look for him to start tomorrow or Wednesday.
– Al Al should be ready to go today if needed.

Today’s Could Santiago Be the Starter Against Righties? Lineup

1. Jackson, CF
2.  Dirks, RF
3. Young, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Peralta, SS
8. Betemit, 3B
9. Santiago, 2B

Whitecaps Interviews

For those unfamiliar with the Midwest League playoff race, the Whitecaps are neck and neck with Fort Wayne for the final playoff spot in the league. West Michigan and Fort Wayne shared an equal second-half record going into play on Saturday. That meant that the two teams squared off for a dramatic three-game series with the winner advancing to the post season and the loser packing it up for the year. After a season of evaluating box scores from afar, I decided to make the trip to Grand Rapids to see the Whitecaps battle it out.

On Saturday, West Michigan sent RHP Brian Stroud to the mound. The recently promoted 22-year-old looked strong over 6 innings as he held Fort Wayne to 2 unearned runs. Unfortunately, reliever Patrick Cooper couldn’t keep the Fort Wayne TinCaps at bay and allowed 4 ER in an inning of work while taking the loss.

Clay Jones (DH) provided offensive spark and went 3-4 from the plate. Castellanos was 2-5 with an RBI and Hernan Perez (SS) was 1-4. The Whitecaps trailed most of the game, but staged a valiant comeback with 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th. They fell a run short as Nick Castellanos was called for catcher inference erasing Hernan Perez who was attempting to steal second for the final out of the game.

Prior to the game, I had an opportunity to talk with three top prospects at the A level: Nick Castellanos, Hernan Perez, and Kevin Eichhorn. Before I get to the interviews, I want to thank Ben Chiswick, director of media affairs and play-by-play man for the Whitecaps, and also, of course, the players who allowed me to talk with them in the heat of a playoff race. Finally, I’d like to thank Alex Burgos who lent his time and translated during my interview with Hernan Perez.

Nick Castellanos – 3B, 6’4’’ 195 lbs.

The 19-year-old righty was the 44th overall pick in the 2010 draft and spent that year in the Gulf Coast League. He has played at West Michigan for all of 2011 and has had a record-breaking season as his 158 hits represent the new franchise single-season record. He broke Robert Fick’s previous mark of 157. The third baseman has hit .313 and slugged .438 in 504 ABs.  Castellanos specifically did not want to address the record as he maintained his focus on the team’s critical three game series.

DTW: You’ve had a spectacular year, what have you learned in your first year at the A level?

Nick Castellanos (NC): How to be a professional on and off the field, how to be a good teammate, how to recognize certain situations.

DTW: Right now you’re involved in a three-game series which determines if you’ll make the playoffs, what kind of impact does that experience have on your development as a professional ballplayer?

NC: This is going to be the first playoff-type experience I’ll have as a pro baseball player, so I’m excited.

DTW: Jim Leyland constantly mentions that each game is just another game and stresses treating them similarly. Do you think that’s applicable or are you guys fired up over this series?

NC: Actually everyone’s pretty relaxed, you know, like Leyland said, it is another game. You can’t really go in amped up because it is just another game.

DTW: Your strikeout to walk ratio is a little bit high, is there anything you’re going to work on in the offseason to work on it?

NC: It’s not something that I’m going to stress out about. I’m still going to go up there looking to hit. It’s probably something that is going to happen as I develop as a player.

DTW: What is the main thing you want to work on this offseason?

NC: I want to work on everything.

DTW: What is your favorite aspect of your game?

NC: Hitting.

Hernan Perez – 2B, 6’0’’ 160 lbs.

Perez was signed as a non-drafted free agent in July, 2007. Since then, he has spent time in the VSL, BCL, and Lakeland. In 2010, he was promoted to West Michigan and has played there for the last 2 seasons. In his first three years of professional baseball, he hit .226, .239, and .235. This year, however, he has hit .259, including .306 in the first half. As a result, he was named a mid-season all-star. The speedy second-basemen has stolen 23 bases in 29 attempts.

DTW: The minor leagues is about individual development, but what does it mean to you to be playing in a three-game, do-or-die, series as part of this team?

Hernan Perez (HP): It’s definitely a team game, ultimately, but there’s no pressure right now I’m just doing all I can to help the team and hopefully we come out on top.

DTW: What did it mean to you to make the 2011 mid-season all-star team?

HP: I’m really proud of myself for making it. That’s always something that I’ve wanted to do. I give all the credit to my coaches for helping me prepare.

DTW: Your average is about 30 points higher than it’s been in the past. Is there anything you’re doing differently this year?

HP: Being more patient and only swinging at good pitches. Last year I didn’t really have an approach and swung at bad pitches.

DTW: What MLB player do you try to model yourself after?

HP: Robinson Cano

Kevin Eichhorn – RHP, 6’0’’ 175 lbs.

In 25 starts, covering 152 innings,  Eichhorn is 11-5 with a 3.61 ERA, 109 K’s, 33 BB’s and a .256 average against. He was acquired by the Tigers in January, 2011 from the Diamondbacks in the Armando Gallaraga deal. He was originally picked in the 3rd round of the first-year player draft in 2008.

DTW: This is, by far, the most innings you’ve pitched as a professional. How’s your arm holding up?

Kevin Eichhorn (KE): It feels really good. I think this is double what I’ve thrown before.

DTW: What pitches do you feature in a typical start?

KE: Usually a 2-seam and 4-seam fastball, changeup, and curveball.

DTW: Will you try to add anything during the offseason or just work on the pitches you already have?

KE: I might try to add either a hard curveball or maybe a slider.

DTW: Your strikeout to walk ratio is terrific, but your average against is .256, it seems like you have great control but hitters are able to put the ball in play a little bit too much. Do you think that will improve as you move through the ranks and maybe get a little bit tougher defense behind you?

KE: I’ve had really good defense here. I just need to fine tune the strike zone, maybe throw the ball a little bit further off the plate. Try to get more bad swings. Just control the zone a little bit better.

DTW: Have you noticed any major differences between the two organizations (Arizona and Detroit)?

KE: A lot of the same stuff, different climates in spring training. Just getting to know the new guys. Everyone’s been real nice.

DTW: What does this series mean to you as a  Whitecap?

KE: I really want to win, our team always wants to win, so, we’re going for the whole thing and we’re going to try to put a beating on them and play hard.

DTW: What are you planning to do this offseason that isn’t baseball related?

KE: See the family, rest the arm a little bit. I like playing music.

DTW: What kind of music?

KE: Reggae and rock with my brothers and cousin.

Game 2011.140: White Sox at Tigers

Brad Penny was daytime Bad, and surrounded by a bit of clown show defense, but the Tigers made an improbably comeback from a 7-run deficit to put the White Sox on the verge of a sweep, and an 8 1/2 game Central hill to climb.

Max Scherzer  (13-8, 4.52) climbs the mound for the Tigers, auditioning for the Since-We-Can’t-Pitch-Justin-Every-Game role for the playoff rotation.

And speaking of Justin, after a rough outing by Jared Weaver he is now the pitching Triple Crown leader (thanks Kevin).  Verlander has 21 wins (2nd:  Sabathia 19), a 2.34 ERA (Weaver 2nd at 2.49), and 224 strikeouts (Sabathia 2nd with 211).

Mark Buehrle will be taking the mound for Chicago, and looking for a solution to the Austin Jackson problem.

Over the last week Jackson has been red-hot, hitting at a .552 pace (1.586 OPS), with more extra-base hits than strikeouts, and 2 stolen bases.  For most of the season Jackson has been a weak spot in the Tiger lineup, leaving the Tigers 12th of 14 teams in hitting with the leadoff spot in the lineup, and 11th in OBP leading off games with a tepid .266 On Base Percentage.  If Jackson can go into the last month of the season at even league average or above the Tiger lineup suddenly looks a lot more potent.

In case we get Bad Max on the mound today, it may be useful that the Tigers have recalled Al Alburquerque from his rehab assignment and activated him from the DL.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Austin Jackson (see above).

Today’s Bring-Out-The-Broom Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Alex Avila, C
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
  9. Brandon Inge, 3B

 

Game 2011.139: White Sox at Tigers

We all knew what it meant last night with Justin Verlander taking the mound following a Tiger loss, and he did not disappoint, becoming the first Tiger pitcher to record 21 wins since Jack Morris in 1986.  It was also a milestone for Ol’ Smokey, as Jim Leyland notched his 500th win as a Tiger manager.

Today features the odd 4:10 start time, which means we don’t quite know what to expect.  Is it a day game?  A night game?  Does it begin as a day game and end as a night game?  This is relevant because Brad Penny takes the mound for Detroit.

Penny’s day game stats have gotten worse since we last visited them, so to update:  Day ERA: 5.58, Night ERA 4.19, which makes Penny easily the worst day starter on the team (unless we count Turner’s one outing yesterday).  Which is why Leyland throws him out there in the daytime more than any other pitcher (Day starts:  Penny 17, Porcello 11, Scherzer 9, Verlander 8)–clearly, he’s due.

The Tiger hitters don’t seem to like the daytime much either–team BA/OPS for day games is .258 / .723, at night .278 / .769.  Maybe they should work on scheduling fewer day games next season.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Wilson Betemit

Wilson is the one Tiger starter with positive day game splits, hitting .323 (.848 OPS).

Today’s Return of Carlos Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Andy Dirks, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Alex Avila, C
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Carlos Guillen, 2B
  9. Wilson Betemit, 3B