87-63, x games up on whoever. (Actually 6 games up on Cleveland…. with 12 left to play.) Can the Tigers make it to the elusive 25 over mark? Might they actually be able to sneak into home field advantage for the ALCS or ALDS, by and by? Stay tuned.
Last night: Detroit 4, Seattle 2. It took 3 innings before Porcello found his A-game, and nearly 3 more before the Tigers really got to Joe Saunders (Joe Saunders!), but in the end, nearly everyone chipped in a bit, with Martinez, Hunter, and Infante deserving special mention. Porcello got his win (#13, plus 10 strikeouts), Benoit got his save (#20). Smyly pitched nearly 2 innings, like he should, and gave up a run, like he shouldn’t. I like you at 1B, Prince, but throwing the ball at Porcello’s shoulder is an error. No glove there, though it’s an idea.
A recent quote from Prince Fielder, courtesy of mlb.com:
“I’m over stats,” Fielder said. “I’m into playing hard, and if I’m healthy, that’s my main stat. I’m out there playing every day and I think that’s all you can ask for.”
I like that. There’s the world of exaggerated fan talk, and then there’s the world of playing baseball for a living. Win or lose, the Detroit Tigers put on a good show. I’m satisfied, even as the fan in me will never run out of things to analyze and criticize and second-guess.
That being said, let’s get back to stats. Or not. It’s late, I’m tired. Maybe tomorrow.
News and notes on Rondon, Bonderman, Worth.
Anibal is on the mound and Miggy’s bat is full of unspent home runs. Could the Tigers be doomed to yet another victory? I’m thinking… yes. And I guess they won’t have to face Felix Hernandez this series after all. That practically reduces the magic number by one all by itself.
Comments
53 responses to “Game 2013.151: Mariners at Tigers”
on Loon’s leading questions regarding home field advantage in ALDS or ALCS, the first two things that pop into my mind are:
1) cold weather, ALCS is scheduled for 10/12 – 10/20… having to play a few more games in Tampa or Arlington might be all that bad
2) the way OAK played in DET a few weeks ago, home field advantage might be over-rated if playing OAK
PS: World Series scheduled for 10/23 – 10/31 – the Farmer’s Almanac predicts a cold winter this year http://www.farmersalmanac.com/long-range-weather-forecast/midwest-great-lakes-us/
Texas won’t get home field against anyone, in fact I will go out on a limb and say that they will not make the playoffs.
they certainly are in a tailspin rivaling the Red Sox collapse from two years ago
in my opinion, JL and TX Mgr/Washington seem to be both cut from the same “old school” cloth… and they are both ‘players mgrs’ and rarely do you ever hear a player have anything bad to say about either of them
…and both Mgrs have been stocked with some talent the past few years – and some would argue, both teams have under-performed under their leadership…if losing in the WS can be considered ‘underperforming’
Yeah, one could call it a tailspin:
Sept 01: 79-57 1st, up 1.
Sept 16: 81-68, 2nd, down 6.5
That’s a 2-11 run, in which they were swept an entire 6-game home stand (when was the last time the Tigers were swept 2 consecutive series at home?)
Last year wasn’t great for them either:
Sept 20: 89-60, 1st, up 4
Oct 03: 93-69, 2nd, 1 out
That’s a 4-9 run, in which they lost 5 games in the standings (and then went on to lose the wild card round).
So yeah, if I had to bet, I’d put my money on Cleveland overtaking them. I can’t imagine there won’t be a head or two rolling in Arlington…
I love that quote by Prince Fielder and I think it touches on what blue collar Detroiters take pride in: hard work. Although Prince’s numbers are down after surpassing .300 for the first time in his career and first time in a Detroit uniform, Prince is still out there everyday giving it all that he’s got. That’s one thing anyone from Detroit can stand for: never giving up.
Agree, I think if anything his horrible slides endear him to the Tiger fans. He may not know how to slide, but dammit, he is going to try! He certainly is willing to put his body on the line for the team (ahem, take note, Mr. Jackson).
The only thing that annoys me personally about Prince is his consecutive game streak (which I guess is also a blue-collar thing)–I think he would be playing better if Leyland dared to give him a day off now and then.
agree with both of you on all points…
…and on Fielder’s “slides”, if i were built like a nose tackle (like he is), i would make the catcher think i’m going to steamroll him and at the last second slide to (my left) the front-side of home plate and reach out and touch the plate with my right hand…past a cowering or confused catcher.
At least twice this year, i think a more deceptive slide would have resulted in Fielder being safe (instead of out) at home, including the other night against KC
Jackson steals second…Mumbles looks at Lamont and says..”was that legal???”!!!!
aat one time in the spring Texas was very interested in Porcello…bet they wish they had him now!!!
Garza was supposed to solidify that rotation, but he hasn’t won in about a month, and he’s 3-5 as a Ranger w/ERA up around 5
WIll someone smarter than me please explain WHY Don Kelly bats higher in the order than Omar Infante?
Since no one smarter than you is chiming in, I’ll take a shot: the lineup cards are pre-printed with the left-fielder in the 6th spot.
lol Thank you Coleman . At least that puts my mind at ease
(and as I type this Don Killy hits a HR….)
Jim Leyland is a much-maligned genius!
blame Kinko’s for todays lineup card!
Luckily I don’t get a Cy Young vote because suddenly I can’t decide if Max would get it, or Anibal.
Donkey Don…Heck Ya!…
meanwhile the Pussycat offense make another poor picher look like a $10,000,000 pitcher.
Don’t worry, The Donkey will get another couple at bats.
warning track power no longer…hopefully!
Someone woke up Much-maligned Genius.
Alburquerque did not walk in the winning run. Things are clicking tonight!
He’s been better lately, but I still worry about the wild pitch potential.
A runner thrown out at home? When does THAT ever happen?
you mean there are teams that don’t make perfect throws everytime….or only against the Tigers!
what are the odds of winning a game that AlbeqCoke both pitch in
Coke back in his 2013 form….ball..ball…shot…ball…get him the hell out of there Mumbles
He should be out of there had Iggy made the tailor-made DP.
Fire Lryland on the spot….just for being STUPID!!!!!!
it is physically possible gor Smily to pitch to lefties two days in arow….Mumbles
Oh yeah, that’s more like it!
WOW!!!!
Fantastic pitching management from MMG tonight.
MMG?
Much Maligned Genius.
I have a lot of acronyms for Jim Leyland.
That’s the COTN.
Alverez in ..in 2014…Coke out…but over Mumbles dead body only would it be allowed!!!
Don Kelly only has 2 sac bunts this season? Wow, OK, so he’s tied with Brayan Pena, Hernan Perez, Bryan Holladay, Doug Fister, and Anibal Sanchez for 5th on the team.
Donkeys should be able to bunt. Just saying.
Donkey…have a day!!!!
Infante, again!
Infante has had some big hits this year
Oh c’mon Skip, that’s no fun–we wanted the squeeze, not the Dirks!!
Dirks must need glasses..no one goes out of the strikezone both up and down like him consistently
Or a pogo stick.
the Royal bullpen blows a 3-0 lead ..3-3…i find this pretty hard to believe!!!!
They should’ve left Coleman in.
Who’s the Frenchy pitching for Seattle, and how do you pronounce his name?
LaFramboise is pronounced “The Raspberry,” or on the East Coast “pfffffhhhhtttt!!!”
+25 over….not bad….rather win ugly than lose anytime!
Lets see .out of the pen…Alverez..Coke….Alverez…Coke…Alverez Coke….Alverez..Mumbles son……hmmmmm!
We get the M’s radio/TV stuff here. Was driving the grandsons ( who are now into tackle Football; I keep a Priest on retainer, just in case) and in the pre game “Blow” aka Mike Blowers said the Tigers bullpen is the teams weakness! Luckily I am a fully trained EVAP (Emergency Vehicle Accident Prevention) driver so was able to keep the family SUV upright!