Game 2017.37: Orioles at Tigers

The Tigers have two quick 3-game series, before a long road trip, not the friendliest stretch of their schedule.

Today’s WAR What is it Good For? Lineup:

  1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
  2. Nick Castellanos, 3B
  3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  4. Victor Martinez, DH
  5. Justin Upton, LF
  6. JD Martinez RF
  7. Mikie Mahtook, CF
  8. James McCann, C
  9. Jose Iglesias, SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Wade Miley Cyrus

Mikie Wait I’m Still on the Team Mahtook gets a rare start in center.

Comments

61 responses to “Game 2017.37: Orioles at Tigers”

  1. StorminNorman$ Avatar
    StorminNorman$

    is Upton going to be ‘the man’ today?

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      At least he got the memo about Miley’s control issues.

      1. Smoking Loon Avatar
        Smoking Loon

        Stormin’, I’m going out on a limb and predicting retroactively that Upton will not be ‘the man.’

        1. StorminNorman$ Avatar
          StorminNorman$

          sadly, you are correct sir!

          glad i didn’t stay up for that drama and tragic (though w/KRod, a predictable) ending

  2. Smoking Loon Avatar
    Smoking Loon

    Tough day for Boyd. Any particular reason Ausmus was so slow with the hook? I mean, Bell and Sanchez are there to eat innings, and Boyd’s disintegration seemed pretty fast.

  3. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Well that one got away in a hurry.

  4. Smoking Loon Avatar
    Smoking Loon

    OK, that was fun, glad I checked in. Give me a holler when Romine comes in to pitch.

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Might want to check back in.

      1. Smoking Loon Avatar
        Smoking Loon

        He he. I didn’t leave. Morbid fascination compelled to see how the batters would fold in the bottom half after the devastating blow. Glad I was wrong. McCann sucks, though. If he doesn’t get a hit on the first pitch (.333 AVG), he’s dead meat.

  5. Tony de Florida Avatar
    Tony de Florida

    Bell did a nice job, will not be surprised to see him get a start later this month. AWillie kept it the same. Need bats to work.

  6. Tony de Florida Avatar
    Tony de Florida

    I am truly shocked! Not that JD hit it out but that our previous 3 hitters didn’t swing out of the strike zone and walked!

  7. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Mmmm. Curly fries!

  8. Tony de Florida Avatar
    Tony de Florida

    Personally, I would have put lettuce in CF even assuming I would have pinch hit for Mikie with the lead (I wouldn’t).

  9. Tony de Florida Avatar
    Tony de Florida

    Can’t fault JWillie, that’s a tough lineup he faced. We need a hat trick from JD.

  10. Tony de Florida Avatar
    Tony de Florida

    Alex is having a great year so far.

    1. jud Avatar
      jud

      +1

  11. Tony de Florida Avatar
    Tony de Florida

    Fingers working on an 0 fer 29.

  12. StorminNorman$ Avatar
    StorminNorman$

    Collins 0 for his last 30 AB’s

    guess Ausmus will have to use Sanchez or Krod… not a good choice to leave yourself with

    1. StorminNorman$ Avatar
      StorminNorman$

      …or Hardy

      1. StorminNorman$ Avatar
        StorminNorman$

        also a bad option

  13. jud Avatar
    jud

    JV has a better chance of getting a hit the 0 for May Collins

    1. Smoking Loon Avatar
      Smoking Loon

      Check out Upton’s last AB. There’s yer bum. Him and Hardy. And Romine. Not that I’m bitter.

      1. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        The BOG (Bum of the Game) has a chance at redemption here.

        1. Coleman Avatar
          Coleman

          At least he busted it to first.

  14. Smoking Loon Avatar
    Smoking Loon

    This game just won’t end, will it? All very dramatic and gutsy, nice try.

  15. jud Avatar
    jud

    With KRod.. Sanchez.. Collins taking up roster spots.. Tigers only have a 22 man roster… So who’s fault is that???

  16. jud Avatar
    jud

    Battle!!!!… Keep Battling!!!… love this stuff… JUp is due!

  17. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Alex is The Man.

  18. jud Avatar
    jud

    How and the hell can you bat Collins here.. Sanchez.. KRod.. Lamont… Kaline…. Anyone!!!!!

    1. Smoking Loon Avatar
      Smoking Loon

      Who else was left? At least he hit the ball. To the outfield.

  19. Smoking Loon Avatar
    Smoking Loon

    Maybe Justin Upton could exercise his option right now and leave. The Tigers have signed Matt Den Dekker,
    after all.

    1. Jim Eggers Avatar
      Jim Eggers

      In the who gives a rip department,Matt den Dekker is a cousin to Kevin Chapman, LHP who is now toiling in Rochester, after stops in Houston, Fresno and Gwinnet. Matt is leading all of baseball in electing free agency.

  20. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Ty “Abandon All Hope” Collins. On the bright side, he isn’t due up again for a while.

    1. Smoking Loon Avatar
      Smoking Loon

      Francisco “Abandon All Hope” Rodriguez. Sanchez must be injured.

      1. Smoking Loon Avatar
        Smoking Loon

        He is toast.

        1. Smoking Loon Avatar
          Smoking Loon

          $25 million (or so) could not be better spent than to have those two pitching somewhere else.

          1. Coleman Avatar
            Coleman

            A clever GM would eat the salaries and unload them on someone in the Central Division.

            1. Smoking Loon Avatar
              Smoking Loon

              If only. I can’t think of any team that would take them even for free, least of all Detroit’s AL Central rivals. Who’s having a horrible season? Miami, maybe? Then again…Pelfrey… White Sox… Avila last season… White Sox… hmmm.

  21. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    If only we had Mighty Jim Adduci!

    1. Tony de Florida Avatar
      Tony de Florida

      I’ve always thought DD should be here and Fingers in Toledo. But I also believe Jones should be the starting CF full time.

      1. Smoking Loon Avatar
        Smoking Loon

        I’m with you, Tony. Get back to the original plan. Sink or swim, take your lumps, learn on the job. The Tigers put Jones on the fast track. Follow through! Nicholas Castellanos is no superstar and may not ever be, but he’s much better off for having been set to the task a few years back without too much hemming and hawing.

  22. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    I have a great idea to speed up baseball games. This is way better than the automatic intentional walk. Instead of sending out Francisco Rodriguez, Brad could just wave a white flag and concede the game.

    1. Smoking Loon Avatar
      Smoking Loon

      I thought F-Rod *was* the white flag.

      1. Smoking Loon Avatar
        Smoking Loon

        Damn. I wanted Sanchez brought in just for spite.

      2. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        Yes but a very time-consuming one, much more so than the 4-pitchout walk.

        1. Smoking Loon Avatar
          Smoking Loon

          Deluxe version of the white flag. Baseball is very ceremonial.

          1. jud Avatar
            jud

            Wait KRod only gave up 2 and got 3 outs… It’s one of his better games of the year…. My bad!

            1. Smoking Loon Avatar
              Smoking Loon

              Yeah! Didn’t blow a save, either. Things are looking up. All a matter of perspective.

  23. jud Avatar
    jud

    Why not just forfeit… Frickin bat Collins… Bring in KRod… Fire your GM for this mess… Forfeit games like this. this is BS……
    AlAvila.. Ausmus.. KRod.. Sanchez.. Collins can all go!

  24. Smoking Loon Avatar
    Smoking Loon

    Really, though, we’ll all have to admit eventually that this was an exciting game that wasted many hours of our time.

    1. jud Avatar
      jud

      A reluctant +1

  25. jud Avatar
    jud

    Al Avila…. What are you actually paid to do??????… Nice gig!

  26. jud Avatar
    jud

    For one time and one time only I will agree with Brad when he whines after the game about what was he supposed to do with the players he had…..
    This one’s on Al Avila!

  27. jud Avatar
    jud

    Gee can hardly wait for Jimenez to make fools out of the Tigers hitters like he usually does… He will throw 25 strikes and 75 balls and O’s will beat the Tigers 4-1.not one pitch will be above 88……swing batter batter swing

  28. StorminNorman$ Avatar
    StorminNorman$

    there’s a big difference between wasting money on a player and wasting money AND a roster spot on a player.

    Ausmus/DET’s handling of KRod and Sanchez remind of the story of the guy who kept cutting the board, and each time it was still too short

  29. StorminNorman$ Avatar
    StorminNorman$

    Collins starting in CF…umm, OK?
    1. 2B Ian Kinsler
    2. 3B Nick Castellanos
    3. 1B Miguel Cabrera
    4. DH Victor Martinez
    5. LF Justin Upton
    6. RF J.D. Martinez
    7. CF Tyler Collins
    8. C James McCann
    9. SS Jose Iglesias

    DET wins tonight, tomorrow…doubt it

  30. Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi Avatar
    Only Tiger Fan in Mississippi

    Agree….Gonna be another Zimm struggle tomorrow.

  31. jud Avatar
    jud

    Me: hey Brad why are you playing Collins?
    Brad: because he bats left handed
    Me: Brad he is 0 for 30
    Brad: he is due
    Me: It doesn’t work like that. There is a better chance that at the end of tonight he will be 0-34.
    Brad: But he’s a left handed batter!
    Me: I suppose you will use KRod tonight also?
    Brad: Ya!.. Why Wouldn’t I?
    Me: thanks Brad….. 😨

    1. Smoking Loon Avatar
      Smoking Loon

      I’m disappointed in Tyler Collins for not seizing in 2017 what is going to be his last opportunity with the Tigers, but let’s be reasonable. When a guy who can actually hit (in stretches, hot and cold) is 0 for 30, it’s not an empty cliche to say he is “due.” He really is. That’s not why he starts, though. Matchup + he is the closest thing the regular CF.

      There is also a fair chance F-Rod gets the call at some point (wow did they burn the pen last night). The bad move isn’t bringing him in, but having him still on the team if he can’t get it done any more. Can he? I don’t know. It’s easy for me to kick him off the team, but that’s not real world. I’m always more disappointed with results than with decisions. It’ll be a drag to an almost comical degree if F-Rod comes in and blows yet another ballgame, but I find no comfort in blaming the decision. I blame the performance. Not that this is any more comforting. Just easier and less futile.

  32. jud Avatar
    jud

    Ubaldo threw exactly 6 strikes and 23 balls in the first inning..however the Tigers swung at 15 pitches in the inning… 0 runs 1 hit 2 BB…. Happens every time Jimenez pitches against the Pussycat batters

    1. Smoking Loon Avatar
      Smoking Loon

      Actually, the Tigers have tended to clobber Ubaldo, especially Ubaldo as Oriole.