The Adduci Sanction continues. He has been sent down to Toledo by the gods of bullpen replenishment, and has been replaced by Drew VerHagen, who has been brought up for relief purposes, after seemingly winning out on insisting he is a starting pitcher type of pitching guy. Presley and Mahtook continue to be good though; I say this every day, fully expecting it to stop, but…pleasant surprise there.
The Adduci Sanction…hmm…pulling out old IBM Selectric….It was a dark and stormy night. Adduci reflexively reached for his cell phone, even knowing before his hand moved that he had tossed it on a moving truck to throw off any tracking attempts. Still, as he crouched alertly behind the dumpster, he wished he knew the time. He had never worn a watch since his wrist was broken during that whole Wheelock situation, but one sure would be useful right now…
Oh wait…where was I?
Oh yes, Miguel Cabrera has admitted he has been the victim of a body snatcher. Sorry, I meant to say Daniel Norris came out in the 1st inning in his rehab start, walked off by the trainer. Good thing that Boyd had a good outing, no?
Meanwhile trade rumors swirl. (If any of you are on the other side of the equator, they swirl in the opposite direction). The latest is a package deal with Kinsler and J Wilson to the Brewers, which made me go oh no, because that one could actually happen.
The Tigers are in salary hell right now—paying salary limit penalties, with a losing team—and all trades they make will have salary reduction as a primary goal. Wilson, is very cheap for what he gives and is under team control for another year. But if you want him, you also have to take ____, who we don’t want to continue paying. And the fact that Shane Greene is starting to look like a closer is probably figuring into the calculations.
There was actually even a rumor I saw that packaged Wilson and Zimmermann, to the Yankees (Oh, please!). The point is, this makes sense for the Tigers at this point, getting rid of someone they don’t want to trade, but only if you also take someone we don’t want to pay. The Marlins traded Cabrera to Detroit–but only if they would also take Dontrelle Willis off of their hands.
Of course the big rumor is Verlander to the Dodgers.
I still think there is ZERO chance Verlander is going to the Dodgers, without the Tigers paying a large portion of his salary, which they wouldn’t do, because that’s the whole point of trading him. The Tigers and Dodgers are the two teams with the biggest salary issues. They won’t be trading with each other. And if I am wrong, then you are all free to ridicule me mercilessly. (Verlander to the Yankees was supposedly a thing, with us swapping the overpaid Verlander for the overpaid Ellsbury, after JD was gone. But I suspect the unexpectedly good play of our outfield is making that look less necessary).
Today’s Lineup:
- Ian Kinsler, 2B
- Alex Presley, RF
- Justin Upton, LF
- Donald Sutherland, 1B
- Nick Castellanos, 3B
- Victor Martinez, DH
- Alex Avila, C
- Mikie Mahtook, CF
- Jose Iglesias, SS
Pitching: Justin Verlander vs Jason Hammel
Today’s lineup courtesy of an obscure Invasion of the Body Snatchers fan group.
Comments
36 responses to “Game 2017.98: Royals at Tigers”
Man is she beautiful. Remember, trading him is trading her. I’m dead set against it.
Mahtook and Presley are both making a case for thinking of them as more than 2017 fill-ins. I can see them in RF in 2018. The Tigers still need a CF, though. Badly. Teams (contenders) with very good center field – not just outfield, the Tigers have corner outfielders galore and an eye for bargain options – contenders with very good center field prospects are the teams to look at as potential trading partners before the deadline.
Center field, pitching (lots), and still more 2B-SS-3B. Those are the prospect needs.
Before anyone starts thinking Kershaw on the DL makes JV attractive to the Dodgers:
JV wouldn’t even be a #5 starter on THAT staff this season
The Dodgers have a 10.5 game lead
I’m with Coleman on this, and will blame him if it happens, even if that doesn’t make sense.
Poor sanctioned Adduci had the misfortune to get injured at just the wrong time and them return at just the wrong time. Not sure about the VerHagen call up, though. Because of a taxed bullpen? Shane Greene and Alex Wilson might be taxed, but last I checked, the Tigers had among the fewest IP of any AL bullpen. Maybe there’s some other reason for VerHagen being called up.
Come on, Tigers, Score some runs for Verlander. Stop being such a drag.
Avila = no drag!
Alex comes through! I couldn’t have been the only one thinking we were kinda screwed though (Avila up against a lefty, bench too thin for a PH, McCann against a righty not much more to get excited about even if was possible which it wasn’t).
You’re not getting a start like tonight’s from anyone but Fulmer or JV. No trade!
Alex Wilson? Gulp. Must we have a confidence-building exercise tonight?
OK, maybe it’s a Three Alex Night, then. Cool. Weird that they brought VerHagen up just so Wilson could pitch in his, like, 80th game already. Maybe extra innings were anticipated.
Alex Cabrera on deck. Fingers crossed.
Donald Sutherland seems a bit off lately. Not sure if anyone has noticed.
Nine well-pitched innings. By Detroit, that is. We don’t get to say that too often.
Eleven well-pitched innings. And a 5-4-3 double play. That’s insane.
Alex is due for one…
That’s not what I meant. He’s always due for one of those.
Drew is here to pitch us into the 18th inning.
Alex P. knows how to bunt. Not sure I like that move though, they’ll just walk Upton and get Sutherland to hit into the DP.
Casty tries to play blind squirrel.
Pitch no where near strike.
Did he complain about the called strike after swinging at the ball inside?
Cabrera and Castellanos. Make us an offer, Boston.
Speaking of blind squirrel, play of the game for Casty.
I want to get this in before our walk off win. The pen has been great. VerHagen impressive 2 inning. Even AWillie who has had problems laely was good.
I don’t see us losing this now–we’re burning their bullpen, and we still have three Alexes in the game.
Then again, I don’t see so well any more.
Yeah. You, me, and Miggy.
Ye olde Tiger killer.
You can’t play the Three Alex thing against the Royals. They neutralize one Alex with one of their own. Drat. But we even went with the Three Justin! Nothing works. Damn the Royals.
Seriously, the one thing VerHagen has going for him is not giving up the home run. Career-wise, everywhere at all levels. I was going to point that out earlier. Good thing I didn’t.
Oh well, at least Perry Mason hasn’t started.
Also, we didn’t have to watch Cabrera bat again. Almost as good.
Let’s see a team we have beat.. Let’s pitch the kid just got off the bus from Toledo in extra…. Thanks Brad.. For nothing… If I were JV.. Not only would I accept a trade, I would demand one….
+1 I would want to go anywhere as long as the team can make it to the post season.
JV’s audition went well.
Casty may be blowing a shot at rejoining DD.
JD’s 0-3 with 1 K so far tonight.
Casty 0-5, Victor 0-4 great production.
Miggy with seeing eye single but still looks awful.
Little Al with rare hit against a lefty.
Pen was good, results however remain the same.
The big guns go 3/25…getting old.. In more ways then one!
Jud remember we’re both grand fathers, tone down that old stuff!
+1