The number that pleased me most from last night’s game is “1”.
Not because Nathan only gave up 1 run, though that may be cause to celebrate.
Not because in what is being regarded as Coke’s finest outing all season he only gave up 1 hit.
But the number I’m thinking of is 1 walk issued by Verlander. After talking about Verlander’s location issues in yesterday’s pregame, he was a sniper last night, walking only 1 against 8 Ks in 7 innings. I too was initially perplexed as to why he didn’t go 8, but I think that Ausmus was protecting Verlander a bit, which I don’t have a problem with. Highlights here.
Scherzer climbs the hill looking for the sweep this afternoon against righty Josh Tomlin.
A few notes:
– Ian Krol was sent to the DL last night with “shoulder inflammation” which is otherwise known as “crappy pitching.”
– Hunter is available to pinch hit today, and is expected to start on Tuesday.
1. Kinsler, 2B
2. Jackson, CF
3. Cabrera, 1B
4. Martinez, DH
5. Martinez, RF
6. Castellanos, 3B
7. Avila, C
8. Romine, SS
9. Davis, LF
Comments
34 responses to “Game 2014.72: Tigers at Indians”
Jackson, Cabrera, and even Avila with two homeruns have spanked Tomlin. Meanwhile, V-Mart is 0-5 against him. Scherzer has controlled most of the Indians expect Swisher so this will be interesting to watch. Let’s get 4 in a row!
Kevin, your assumption that Ausmus was protecting Verlander by taking him out after 7 innings and ONLY (for JV) 100 pitches with only 4 hits and only 1 walk(!), may well be correct. The question is what was he protecting him from? I think it more likely Smokey Jr. was simply falling back on the old automatic 8th-inning Guy/9th-inning Guy routine.
Goodness I pray that Ausmus hasn’t already committed to the 8th inning guy 9th inning guy non-sense, though what we’ve seen certainly supports that.
Hopefully I’m right and Ausmus saw pulling JV early as an opportunity to give Verlander, the starters, and the whole team an emotional boost.
But the bullpen. Those guys need a rest, which would also provide an emotional boost, for them at least. Goodness, they’ve called up 3 new relievers in the last week or so. And remember, it’s not just the appearances that contribute to tired arm, shoulder fatigue, etc., but how many times do they get up and throw without entering the game.
Good point.
Though it may be such a carousel for a while that rest won’t really matter.
Miguel Cabrera HR in the 1st makes it 31 HR vs CLE since joining Tigers in ’08, which is 11 more than any other player over span
I think it’s safe to say Cabrera is out of his little slump.
Let’hope so, because we need to get Miggy going (too).
I agree with Kevin that if Asmus pulled JV to “protect” him, it was one of the few good decisions Smarty has made. JV did not deserve to lose a game where the Sluggos pounded out 2 whole runs for him. Especially after all the beatings Asmus has let JV take “for the team”. I thought it was a good decision at the tiime.
How can Avila swing and miss at sooooooo many pitches. Hitting is essentially catching the ball with the bat. And he catches Jv and Scherzer who have great stuff. Meanwhile anyone can make him swing and miss…just sayin
Maybe he’s trying to “frame” the pitches with his bat.
Do Smith and/or McCoy get to make their debut today?
Avila looking sad.
Can we just forfeit the Avila and Romine spots for the sake of moving them game along.
Romine actually got screwed on his strikeout. Avila earned his though.
Alekks needs one of those huge whiffle ball bats, at least it would cut down on his strikeouts.
Alekks is 12th in AL in Ks (68 in 202 PA before today). Surprisingly the league leader is WS Tyler Flowers (one would have expected Dunn) with 82 in 216 PA. And although Avila could catch him up with a triple golden sombrero effort (a plutonium sombrero?), it isn’t likely. So take heart Tigers fans, it could be worse. And Flowers is a catcher too, hmmm.
Atta boy JD. Nice to take advantage of a clown show.
CLE clown show. J-Mart comes through. I was beginning to worry he was going into a slump, he didn’t have any rbis yesterday.
Are we bullpen safe yet?
Francona stuck with Tomlin a wee bit too long. Yup, other managers do it too, not just Ausmus, but that doesn’t make it right.
+1
The Martinez Bros continue to Bash!!!
– Ian Krol was sent to the DL last night with “shoulder inflammation” which is otherwise known as “crappy pitching.”
I’m lovin’ it. So true. I’ve never seen the truth behind this ruse put better.
It would be nice to see Castellanos’ OBP go up (.300 now), but projecting forward, if he finishes @.270 with 60 RBI, I think that would be a fine rookie campaign.
Ingvila batting .133 over the last 7 days. Evidently, he now has the Upton girl’s phone number.
Ingvila is back to taking the first strike, fouling off the second….then he is toast…..as my old college baseball coach used to say all the time…” what we have here is a failure to learn”…..
Nothing like a 3 game set with rhe Indians to cure whats wrong with you!!!
That dude hit Avila right in the bat!….amazing accuracy!!
Ausmus decides to “protect” Scherzer after 6 IP and 114 pitches.
Looks like Tigers will go 7 and 6 in this stint against AL Central teams. More important is how they finished this stint.
POG: Ausmus for protecting Scherzer at just the right moment, judicious use of the bullpen (only 3 relievers and letting the newbies play) and bench, and morale building.
Seattle sweeps KC. No we are up by 2.5 again. I knew those guys wouldn’t be able to handle the pressure of being in 1st place.
The rest of KC month isn’t exactly a cake walk either…I am rooting for 90-82..Tigers…everyone else in the Central 80-82