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:
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Yoenis Cespedes, LF
- Victor Martinez, DH
- J.D. Martinez, RF
- Alex Avila, C
- Nick Castellanos, 3B
- Marc Krauss, 1B
- Anthony Gose, CF (0-for-3, 2 K’s vs. Taijuan Walker)
- Jose Iglesias, SS
Comments
43 responses to “Game 2015.83: Tigers at Mariners”
Avila batting 5th again. Looks like Brad didn’t get my memo from last night.
Luckily Joe Maddon isn’t managing Seattle tonight, or JD would have 4 walks.
Interesting fantasy thought: All other things equal, what if a “baseball-smart”, creative manager like Maddon or Buck Showalter had been at Tigers helm since start of season. Ausmus not in system at all, & DD gives full freedom. Where would we be now?
My guess = 10 to 12 games added to win column.
10-12 is a ton, but I’m having a hard time arguing with it. I think Ausmus has stolen a L from the jaws of a W at least 2-3 times this year. Which is 2-3 too many.
OK, well maybe my 1st statement was a bit extreme. More realistically, probably 10-12 per season “L’s stolen from the jaws of a W”.
Kinsler picked off. That’s never happened before, right?
Don’t worry —-by the time he gets out of Little League, he’ll learn how to be smart while on base.
Nick stays hot!! He’s for real?
And newbie Krauss—–can you believe it? First swing of bat!! I thought this guy was a .133 hitter.
Is #56 Ryan’s 1st name Nolan? He’s thrown 14 pitches and gotten thru 2 innings —–great work so far!
No, Kyle Ryan’s name is not Nolan…..
I think that Brad should pitch the rest of the game tonight. Why do we have to use a Rookie Pitcher in our starting rotation? Are we trying to lose the AL Central on purpose?
Comon, Mr. Dembrowski, get us a starting pitcher rather than intentionally giving up a minimum of one game out of every 5.
Dumb move, taking Ryan out here. How many innings can Wilson go? Should have let Ryan get 3rd out, then see if he settles back down next inning, instead of destroying his confidence.
But I agree, Dan —-DD should get us someone, so rookie’s not in starting rotation.
Brad is managing this like it’s a playoff game. Which it is, in a way. You know, that buyers vs sellers thing. Brad doesn’t want to be managing a seller. Tigers won’t be a seller if they win this series and split or win the next.
Hmmm……I’m with you on that last part. Still think I would’ve stuck with Ryan for a bit more in this one.
And our boy Alex punches one out! He wants to keep that 5th spot!
Avila? OK, just delete that memo Brad.
Iggy’s PO saves Kins embarrassment of another HIDP.
Hey, at least Kinsler leads the league in something.
Yes. And little bad luck that last inn. JD needed just a bit more under his, and Avila —-he hit it hard, just bad luck.
Austin Jackson taketh away; Fernando Rodney giveth back.
Yeah, 2 of our ex’s.
Since Rod’s not there tonight: “I see you Blaine Hardy!”
And now it’s all up to Ian Krol…
4 or 5 runs in our half should take care of it…
nice running , victor. but now he’s out of the game.
I wonder if Ausmus realizes he better sac-bunt here?
Avila against a lefty? That’s where you pinch hit that other guy, McCann or something.
That’s one solution. And the other is what I’ve said a hundred times = this team needs to spend hours and hours practicing bunts.
This one’s all but over now.
By the way, McCann has the best pinch-hitting stats on the team. Very small sample and all, but still beats Avila against a lefty.
Brad Ausmus is really bad at picking when and who to pinch-hit.
Copy that!
There are 2 reasons in the AL to pinch-hit: you have a guy on the bench who hits better than the guy due up, or you have a lefty/righty on the bench who hits better than the lefty/righty at bat hits against the lefty/righty pitcher. At any rate, the idea is to have an advantage over who was due up. Which means your pinch hitters should hit better than, you know, they guys they are hitting for.
Tigers pinch hitters: .163 average, .456 OPS. That doesn’t even cut it in the NL, when you’re batting for the pitcher.
.132 average, .321 OPS. Those are the NL pitcher splits.
Man, I miss Gates Brown!
He was the key to the 1968 pennant. His stats as a pinch-hitter: .450 BA, 1.392 OPS. Are you kidding me?? And this in the Year of the Pitcher, where the average BA was a measly .230.
Actually, the most amazing Gates Brown stat I saw when I just looked them up: he’s listed at 220 pounds. Hahahahahaha.
I don’t know what Gator’s actual weight was, Coleman, but you’re right: in the year of the pitcher, those were truly amazing stats —-he was the Poster Boy for pinch-hitters. And how many of his PHs sailed into the seats in late-innings of a game at Tiger Stadium? Many a thrill.
What else did we expect?
This bullpen is not built for 11-inning games. I’m encouraged by the hitting though.
Ditto. Back here later today for W C day game.
Assmus ineptitude as a manager was in full display when Avila a non bunting, non hitting, non everything hitter was asked to bunt with the game on the line vs a LH pitcher when he had McCann a good bunter, good hitter lately, RH batter sitting on the bench. …….ball game..Assmus man love for Avila shows itself again!!!!!!
And the fans have to suffer thru all this……all year.
http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/07/08/detroit-tigers-bet-over/29865917/
18 straight games…not always a good thing …and speaking of DET pitching of late