This afternoon the Detroit Tigers have a chance to do something they have yet to attempt in 2014: pass another team in the standings.
They will be doing it without Evan “Charges Pending” Reed, who got the DFA boot in favor of reliever Chad Smith. Smith, from USC, was a bit of a gamble pick in the 2011 draft–after the draft he had Tommy John surgery, then sat out a year. The gamble seems to have paid off, with Smith progressing smartly through the Tiger system. Smith brings a good sinker ball that can reach the low 90’s, and had a 1.87 ground ball to fly ball ratio at Toledo. It’s a bit of a departure from the high heat approach of an Evan Reed, but right now departures are good.
Hopefully Drew Smyly can depart from the starter trend in this series; I’ll take 4 runs in 6 innings. Otherwise we get to listen to Mario and Rod rave about how the Royals offense is hot and clicking on all cylinders like they have the past 2 days (funny how Verlander runs into “hot” offenses every start). Another dose of that and Jeremy Guthrie–Jeremy Guthrie!–pitching like Cy Young, and there will be rending of garments.
Troubling stat of the day: over the last 7 games, Miguel Cabrera has a higher OPS (.641) than Don Kelly and Austin Jackson, and that’s it.
Note: Jason Beck tweets that currently Verlander is throwing a side session in the bullpen, with Ausmus and others looking on. So they are working on stuff.
Today’s We Try Harder Because We’re in Second Lineup:
- Davis LF
- Kinsler 2B
- Cabrera DH
- V Martinez 1B
- JD Martinez RF
- Avila C
- Castellanos 3B
- Kelly CF
- Suarez SS
Torii sits again, as the hot JD Martinez tries to stake his claim on the 5 spot. Alex is bumped up in the lineup to 6th. Ausmus is playing the matchup here: Avila was 4-for-9 with 2 HRs against Guthrie in 2013. Kelly subs for Ajax to add another lefty bat.
Comments
24 responses to “Game 2014.68: Royals at Tigers”
Rod Allen just said Sparky Anderson will not be at the reunion of 84 World Series champions. That’s must be breaking news. I hope he knows Sparky died four years ago
Just as feared, it’s Cy Guthrie in the house.
Assuming this is Smyly’s last inning, do we see Smith-Chamberlain-Nathan to finish up?
I think he’ll go one more. May not matter, 2 runs might be enough for the mighty Guthrie.
I was surprised, since Smokey Jr has been taking it kind of easy on him. But with the bullpen “short” I guess it needed to be.
I think the current slump Cabrera is in is worse than the earlier one.
Assuming KC sweeps the series, this will be the Central standings after Thursday’s game:
CHI 16-15
KC 15-15
CLE 14-14
MN 12-12
DET 15-16
Winning the division almost always goes to the team with the best record within the division, as the inter-divisional and inter-league battles will likely even out. Totally up for grabs.
JD to the rescue!
Today’s lineup features 5 starters who were not on the team last year. I wonder how much that plays a part in the team’s batting woes.
Hits today: Kinsler, Castellanos, Martinez (2). New Guys only!
I was thinking of the “teamwork” angle. Does working together for a while help the offensive unit “gel”?
At least under Jim Leyland the team didn’t quit. He got them to play hard….this team led by Miggy absolutely quits in games. And on a regular basis!!! You can count the nimber of guys on one hand that play hard all the time
Miggy wasn’t a “leader” when Leyland was manager, why would he be one now?
Eh, I don’t think you can say that. There were many times over the course of Leyland’s tenure that the team looked like absolute lazy garbage. However, I will say that Ausmus’s cool-headed demeanor is wearing thin with me. I’m not asking for a full-on Leyland-esque flip out, but it would be nice if he should some personality once in a while.
Well, he tried a bit of that in the post game today, didn’t go so well.
Moving Wade Davis to the bullpen this season was apparently a smart move.
End of June
2008 DET – 42-40 – finished 74-88 5th place in AL Central
2011 DET – 44-40 – finished 95-67 1st place
the 2008 team’s pitching staff melted down (JV 4.84 ERA, TJones 5.60) – 12th in league in team ERA
how is the ’14 team going to close out this season? I haven’t a clue.
So that is what a closer looks like.
OK Royals, let’s see how you like the pressure of being in 1st place.
…so KC clearly opens up a can whoop-azz in DET’s house
…continuing to get man-handled by AL Central cannot continue if DET has any playoff aspirations… they’ve been one hot mess since starting 27-12
Oh boy, it’s starting to get ugly: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140618/SPORTS0104/306180104/Tigers-manager-Brad-Ausmus-apologizes-joke-about-beating-wife
Brad’s foray into standup comedy fell flat. My advice to Brad is don’t quit your day job.
On second thought, maybe you should quit your day job.
Ouch. Ol’ Smarty stepped in it today.
Ausmus made a joke about beating his own wife. Not yours or mine or all wives. I don’t think he beats his wife. I get the joke. I think it’s funny. The majority of those who rush to be offended by such are “me too, oh how awful” folks who would have to admit they have no experience with the reality of the subject.
Jeez-Louise. Get a life, America. If this was more than posturing, no one could earn a living as a standup comedian in this country.