The Rangers are hot, they’ve won 9 in a row. The Tigers are without Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera (Victor will miss the series on paternity leave. OK, there are 4 or 5 months a year where you wouldn’t have to miss games, there are ways to time this stuff you know).
No matter. The Tigers have Mighty Alex Avila to plug into the cleanup spot.
Today’s Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Tyler Collins, RF
- JD Martinez, DH
- Alex Avila, 1B
- Justin Upton, LF
- Nick Castellanos, 3B
- James McCann, C
- Andrew Romine, CF
- Jose Iglesias, SS
Pitching: Daniel Norris vs Nick Martinez
Curious move to put Tyler Crazy Fingers Collins in the field and JD at DH, although I guess it makes things easier on JD’s foot. His injury has left him struggling with only 5 home runs in 6 games. Hopefully with a little rest he can pick things up.
Nick actually has been struggling, and is dropped down to 6th in the lineup.
The Tigers are running all 3 of their catcher’s out there (including the emergency Romine). Managers usually don’t like doing that.
Comments
31 responses to “Game 2017.40: Rangers at Tigers”
McCann and Iggy and Casdty started the year off just fine. Now all three will swing at any pitch withing the zip code of Comerica. Teams know this and pitch the three of them anywhere BUT the strike zone. When pitches make a mistake all three make those pitchers pay… But with. .200 averages… Pitches aren’t making that many mistakes and it’s swing swing swing….
I am referring all three to McCanns wife, who I don’t know personnally, but she straightens James out once in awhile so maybe she can throw BP to all three……… And get them on track
Van-Man is in a self inflicted jam.
Bad news delivered with good rhythm.
Napoli is hitting .181 because everyone pitches him hard and up….not us Tigers we go breaking ball down and in…..results 425 feet
You see how cleverly Fingers fooled Lucroy into going for 2?
Am I the only one who thinks that Daniel Norris is classically average at best?
Tom , I think Norris is about where all the pitchers who end up really good were in their careers. He’s young, decent fastball,and good breaking ball. Very good change of speeds. Yes he is average you are right, but a really good upside, I think.
Time will tell!
+1 He is still young.
Tom, if you’ve been watching Norris pitch, and I get the impression you have been, perhaps you could elaborate on what you find average or perhaps overrated. I’ve got nothing firsthand, just what I read and gather about Norris’s potential and “high upside.” Seems like he has highs and lows that work out to average results so far. But Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer didn’t become what they became overnight, either.
Speaking of average, I would opine that at the MLB level like no other, the great majority of players are quite average, elite talent in a room full of it. Great is rare and hard to sustain, and awful is even rarer (and much shorter-lived). I think the baseball version of “I’d rather be lucky than good” is “I’d rather be lucky than great.”
This is gonna be a tough weekend, Darvish and Griffin to follow.
It’s gonna be a tough rest of May.
Swing batter batter batter.. Swing!
In my opinion today is exactly the reason this teams going nowhere. You have 5-6 guys hitting. 220 with very few RBI and they come up often and they do not get that run in. Tigers did very little until 2 outs in the
Ninth… 11 k’s
Unfortunately I agree, and our pitching is not good enough to carry the offense.
Kinsler.. Casty.. Iggy… McCann… Collins.(1game).. Romaine…. Basically accomplish nothing, game in and game out, and with Victor and Miggy out that leaves an entire offense of JD and Avila and 7 outs.. Today it was 8 outs Avila…… Pitching isnt going to matter unless they can throw shutouts…. Once a week the O comes thru…
This starting pitching staff is OK. Not that much different than any AL team. Today the Tigers blamed Norris, despite 11k’s and zero two out hits… Hmmmm!
“His injury has left him struggling with only 5 home runs in 6 games. Hopefully with a little rest he can pick things up.”
Lovin’ it.
He actually might be one of those guys whose numbers drop off when they are DH (there are a lot of them, Miggy included). Career as RF: .294/.896, career as DH .252/.733
Should be pretty obvious but Brad must want to take advantage of Fingers defensive skills in right field.
1st inning curley fries!
direct TV just picked up the game. I didn’t see the dingers.. Oh well keep hitting them!
the last time DET hit 3HRs in a row was 6/1/13 at Baltimore (V. Martinez/Peralta/Avila)
nice to see some big offense from the top of the order…I’m completely OK w/Avila in the #2 spot as long as he stays hot, and continues to get on base
Lets hope. This might kick start Kinsler and Casty.. The lineup can use more than 2-3 hitters. Sure good to see Miggy back.. Absolutely need his stick..
with that single in the 4th, McCann just crossed the Mendoza line…hopefully for the remainder of the season
Avila is unconscious… The only possible explanation!!!
Iggy first time up throws his bat at a pitch low and away. Pops to second. Second time up throws his bat at a pitch in the LH box and pops to second. Third tIme up throws his bat at a pitch low and away in the LH box and pops to second… This is not a recordinG… Hey Iggy… Hellllloooo!
Kevin will know this better than anyone. These two Ranger announces are excellent….
+1 Any chance of a trade for Gibby
+2
Proof that no one in the dugout is watching. Iggy throws his bat one more time trying for a pop to second sombrero but the pitch is sooo far outside he misses it. Lloyd u should watch… Please help him…