Category: Game Post

Smokin’ September continues. as the Tigers extend their win streak to 8 games, the longest September win streak since the magical 1984 season.

The last time through the Tiger rotation Fister, Porcello, and Scherzer were all better than Verlander, and with Alburquerque back the pitching staff looks in top form right now.

Tonight Doug Fister takes the mound with a fist full of broom as Detroit goes for the Three-Sweep. It’s too bad the Royals aren’t up next.

Magic Number:  9
Division Series tickets go on sale Monday 10 am.

Player of the Pre-game: Brandon Inge. Inge has the best walkoff to home run ratio in the majors.

Today’s Avila-Gets-A-Day-Off Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Ryan Raburn, 2B
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Brandon Inge, 3B
9. Omir Santos, C

Leyland’s plan to use yesterday’s game as an opportunity to practice the comeback worked to perfection, thanks to the mighty bat of Ramon Santiago, and the Tigers remain on track for the Three-Sweep.

Today Max Scherzer tries to keep pace with Kid Rick for the 3rd spot in the playoff rotation, and bring the Tigers’ magic number into the single digits.  You couldn’t blame him if he expects a lot of run support:  Detroit has a 7-game win streak going, in which it has averaged over over 9 per game (65 runs).

Anthony Swarzak has only pitched against the Tigers this season in relief, allowing 2 runs in 6 innings.  He may find the going a bit tougher today.

Magic Number:  10

Division Series tickets go on sale Monday 10 am.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Ramon Santiago.

Rockin’ Ramon gets another start after a big blast yesterday.  If he keeps a hot bat to go with his good glove at 2nd, it could make for some difficult lineup decisions down the line.

Today’s Back-to-Back-Ramon Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Andy Dirks, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

The Tigers have roared into September with consecutive series sweeps against their closest division rivals, and now head back to Comerica with a chance for the Three-Sweep against the struggling Twins.

Tonight’s game features the epic pitching matchup of Slowey and Slower.

The Tigers, perhaps in the spirit of sportsmanship, will lead off the series with Brad Penny, who has given up 15 runs (and 5 HRs) in his last 10 innings. At least they are finally using him in a night game.

The Twins go with Kevin Slowey,  making his 4th start after missing 2 months with an abdominal strain.  He had a good last outing against the Angels, giving up only 2 runs in 7 innings, but got the loss, because that’s life on the Twins right now–Slowey has gotten just 3 runs of offensive support in his last 4 starts.

And just for fun,  ESPN’s Aaron Boone’s power rankings has the Tigers as the #2 team in MLB right now, behind the Phillies.

Magic Number:  12.  Division Series tickets go on sale Monday 10 am.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Austin Jackson.

Since I last put the pre-game focus on Jackson, he has gone 2-for-16.  This constitutes an un-jinxing. In games in which AJax scores a run, the Tigers have a .730 winning percentage.

Today’s Three-Sweep Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Wilson Betemit, 3B
9. Ramon Santiago, 2B

A few numbers for you guys…

14, .5, 10, 3.  Answers at the end.

JV takes on Masterson for the sweep.  Is there any question that it’s going to happen?  I can actually see the momentum.  It looks like this – Phil Coke throwing breaking ball after breaking ball for 4 strikeouts in 5 batters.   Delmon Young working a walk.  AJax ripping a double in the 8th.  Rick P recording 13 out of 19 ground outs.

Chris Singleton on MLB tv postulated last night that perhaps the Tigers are peaking too early.  I don’t buy that because they’ve had extended winning streaks this season, and Porcello, Scherzer and Fister all have track records of outstanding pitching ability.  I think the real difference is that the lineup chaos has been thwarted.  The Tigers are getting production from the least productive spots, and that in turn allows Cabrera, Martinez, Avila and Peralta to be even more productive.  I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but it seems like Ordonez, Inge and Guillen have seen the least number of at bats during this win streak relative to everyone else.

I know that we had a 7 game lead around this time 2 years ago, but that was the Twins chasing us.  This year we have momentum.

The Freep has some really cool stats this morning regarding historical consecutive win streaks for Tigers pitchers, check out the absurd number of complete games those guys were throwing back then.

Magic number.  Games behind the Rangers for the #2 seed and home field advantage.  JV going for his 10th consecutive win.  Triple Crown.

Today’s Double Sweep Lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Rhymes, 2B
3. Dirks, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Betemit, 3B
8. Kelly, RF
9. Santiago, SS

The Tigers go for fatality tonight to the tune of MK’s “Finish Him.”  Ubaldo Jimenez was good yesterday, but just not good enough.  Doug Fister posted a career high 13 Ks leading to an 80 Game Score (matching a career best) as he dominated the Indians.  The Tigers, whom generally received a yawn from the pundits shortly after the trade deadline, are now regarded as the trade deadline winner.  I think it’s safe to say that Fister, Betemit and Young were all wins.

The buzz in Cleveland is that the season is already over and according to Cool Standings, Detroit’s playoff odds are at 97%.  But a win tonight would make me feel much better about things.

Rick Porcello auditions for the final spot in the playoff rotation tonight (assuming we get there). His last one didn’t go so well.

A few notes:

– MLB.com’s contest insurance company is sweating this one out…some guy may beat the streak.
– Danny Worth called up today.  Look for him to make an appearance in a key situation that he’s not prepared or qualified for.

Jackson is tonight’s pre-game player of the game, as I don’t want to believe that regular AJax is back just yet.  He’s 4-14 lifetime off of Carmona.

Tonight’s Series Clinching Lineup

1. Jackson, CF
2. Dirks, RF
3. Young, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Peralta, SS
8. Kelly, 3B
9. Santiago, 2B

I think it’s safe to say that it’s a two team race in the AL Central now, and with two wins by the Tigers in the next three days, the Indians may join the White Sox in scheduling their October tee times.  Heck, even a win may get the Indians to dust off their sticks.  MLB’s silly scheduling lands the Tigers in Cleveland for a day game following a night game (that was only 3:21, amazing)

The Indians picked up Ubaldo Jimenez to pitch against the Central, and he makes his third start against the Tigers today.  He picked up a W the first time out, allowing 3 runs over 8 innings, but got Buehrle’d his second time around when he was tagged for 8 runs in just over 3 IPs.  Jimenez is 2-1 with the Indians, but is sporting a 5.56 ERA.  They are 3-3 in games he’s started for them.

While the Indians were mortgaging their future staff to get Jimenez, the Tigers quietly snuck a deal for Doug Fister.  A guy who will likely be the #3 guy going into the playoffs in four weeks. Over six starts for the Tigers, Fister is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA.  He’s gone at least 7 in four of those, and he was pulled due to rain in one of those other two.  More importantly, the Tigers have won 4 of Fister’s starts, and he’s walked all of 2 batters in 36 1/3.  Michael Rosenberg didn’t hesitate to call Fister a better pitcher than Jimenez today. A little gravy on top – he’s striking out almost 8 per 9 innings over his past four.

I’m very curious to see how AJax’s first AB goes.  His last three yesterday looked disturbingly like many of his ABs from April through August.  When he gets on base, the Tigers offense goes into overdrive.

A few other notes:

– Sizemore back for Cle for the first time since mid-July.
– Santos was called up today, I’m sure he’d be starting if there were a lefty on the mound.  Look for him to start tomorrow or Wednesday.
– Al Al should be ready to go today if needed.

Today’s Could Santiago Be the Starter Against Righties? Lineup

1. Jackson, CF
2.  Dirks, RF
3. Young, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Peralta, SS
8. Betemit, 3B
9. Santiago, 2B

Brad Penny was daytime Bad, and surrounded by a bit of clown show defense, but the Tigers made an improbably comeback from a 7-run deficit to put the White Sox on the verge of a sweep, and an 8 1/2 game Central hill to climb.

Max Scherzer  (13-8, 4.52) climbs the mound for the Tigers, auditioning for the Since-We-Can’t-Pitch-Justin-Every-Game role for the playoff rotation.

And speaking of Justin, after a rough outing by Jared Weaver he is now the pitching Triple Crown leader (thanks Kevin).  Verlander has 21 wins (2nd:  Sabathia 19), a 2.34 ERA (Weaver 2nd at 2.49), and 224 strikeouts (Sabathia 2nd with 211).

Mark Buehrle will be taking the mound for Chicago, and looking for a solution to the Austin Jackson problem.

Over the last week Jackson has been red-hot, hitting at a .552 pace (1.586 OPS), with more extra-base hits than strikeouts, and 2 stolen bases.  For most of the season Jackson has been a weak spot in the Tiger lineup, leaving the Tigers 12th of 14 teams in hitting with the leadoff spot in the lineup, and 11th in OBP leading off games with a tepid .266 On Base Percentage.  If Jackson can go into the last month of the season at even league average or above the Tiger lineup suddenly looks a lot more potent.

In case we get Bad Max on the mound today, it may be useful that the Tigers have recalled Al Alburquerque from his rehab assignment and activated him from the DL.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Austin Jackson (see above).

Today’s Bring-Out-The-Broom Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B

We all knew what it meant last night with Justin Verlander taking the mound following a Tiger loss, and he did not disappoint, becoming the first Tiger pitcher to record 21 wins since Jack Morris in 1986.  It was also a milestone for Ol’ Smokey, as Jim Leyland notched his 500th win as a Tiger manager.

Today features the odd 4:10 start time, which means we don’t quite know what to expect.  Is it a day game?  A night game?  Does it begin as a day game and end as a night game?  This is relevant because Brad Penny takes the mound for Detroit.

Penny’s day game stats have gotten worse since we last visited them, so to update:  Day ERA: 5.58, Night ERA 4.19, which makes Penny easily the worst day starter on the team (unless we count Turner’s one outing yesterday).  Which is why Leyland throws him out there in the daytime more than any other pitcher (Day starts:  Penny 17, Porcello 11, Scherzer 9, Verlander 8)–clearly, he’s due.

The Tiger hitters don’t seem to like the daytime much either–team BA/OPS for day games is .258 / .723, at night .278 / .769.  Maybe they should work on scheduling fewer day games next season.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Wilson Betemit

Wilson is the one Tiger starter with positive day game splits, hitting .323 (.848 OPS).

Today’s Return of Carlos Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Andy Dirks, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Carlos Guillen, 2B
9. Wilson Betemit, 3B

The Tigers lost yesterday and Justin Verlander  (20-5, 2.38) is pitching today, we we all know what that means.

Tonight will be Verlander’s 20th start of the season following a Tiger loss (which says something about the bottom of the rotation, doesn’t it?), and his record in those games is 14-3.

Verlander was a bit shaky his last start, but the Tigers pulled out a win.  Tonight the stakes are high, since Chicago has won 7-of-10 and pulled into a 2nd place tie, 5 1/2 games behind Detroit, with 6 games between the teams remaining (3 this weekend at Comerica and 3 more in Chicago in 2 weeks).

The always entertaining Ozzie Guillen has decided to celebrate the pennant race by demanding a contract extension beyond next year, has threatened to walk if he doesn’t get one, and by all accounts is openly feuding with his general manager.

Chicago has proved to be a bit tricky for the Tiger ace–he is 3-1 this season against the Sox, but with a rather unimpressive 4.03 ERA.  He does enjoy a bit of Adam Dunn though, who has struckout 9 times in 13 AB against Verlander.

The White Sox send out John Danks, who has been inconsistent, but when he is good he is quite good.  His last start was a 3-hitter with 10 strikeouts, beating Seattle 3-0.

In other news Al Alburquerque has been cleared to resume pitching again, and is beginning a rehab assignment at Toledo.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Magglio Ordonez

Where did THAT Magglio come from yesterday?  2007?  And look at that:  Magglio is a career 15-for-29 against the Dank One.  Go Magglio!

Today’s Maybe-Magglio-Batting-2nd-Ain’t-So-Bad Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Ramon Santiago, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B

The comeback boys look to take an appended 4 game series with today’s make-up of a rain-out from mid-may.

Danny Duffy is a 22 year old lefty in his first season in the bigs.  He throws a low to mid 90’s fastball, and has had a strong minor league career, posting sub 3 ERAs with lower than .230 BAAs at every stop.  But, considering that his highlights on MLB.com are all pickoffs, he may not exactly bring the heat.  On the other hand, the Tigers have a knack for struggling against Unknown Rookie Guy.

Phenom Jacob Turner makes his 2nd big league start, as the organization’s top prospect auditions for the playoff rotation.  The expanded roster also now includes Will Rhymes (remember him?), Andy Dirks and Luis Marte, who posted some AlAl-ish K numbers at Erie.

Today’s Series Winning Lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Ordonez, RF
3. Young, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Peralta, SS
8. Raburn, 2B
9. Inge, 3B

Not much time to celebrate last night’s walk off

Paulino is a late scratch with back-spasms, so Nate Adcock takes the ball for the Royals. Adcock is on a pitch count limit of about 50 pitches, and then some guy named Everett Teaford will man the mound.  This actually does not bode well for the Tigers, as the Royals pen is touting a sub 2 ERA against the Tigers this year.

Porcello was pretty good his last time out, but he’s been pretty bad over the past three months. At this point in time, I’ve got to think (hope) that he’s not quite a lock for the playoff rotation, and every start is an audition.  That plot will really thicken tomorrow between innings 1 and 6.

– Avila’s streak of 18 consecutive games at C is tops this year, says Freep.
– Who knows when Boesch will be back, if at all…as Gage reports that he needs surgery.
– That same article says Al Al has been cleared for baseball activities.  Get better soon Al Al.

Today’s Lining Up for a Series Win Lineup is:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Santiago, SS
3. Young, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Betemit, 3B
8. Raburn, 2B
9. Kelly, RF

Ignoring the last two games…

There’s a great debate brewing over Verlander’s candidacy for the AL MVP.  MLB.com weighed in with a yay and a nay, and Buster Olney recently wrote that JV would get his vote if he had to vote today (you’ll need insider).  One of the key contentions is that pitchers should not be considered with hitters because pitchers only pitch every 5th day.  In fact, even Ol’ Jimmy argued this a few days ago when he said “I’m not looking for arguments or controversy I just think when a guy goes out there 158 times or 155 times and has a big year, an MVP type year I don’t think the guy that goes out there 35 times should be named over that guy.”

Well, Olney responds to the every 5th day argument with a clever # of plate appearances argument.  “But here’s a number worth thinking about when considering how integral a great starter can be to success: Verlander has been involved in 830 plate appearances this year; the AL leaders, among position players, are at about 600.”  The problem with this argument is that it does not take into account the defensive value of a hitter. It would be interesting to see how many fielding plays a pitcher is involved in versus each of the other positions.

FanGraphs weighed in yesterday and argued that while JV’s core stats lead the league, his WAR is marginally ahead of Weaver and Sabathia, and thus perhaps he has not been as dominant as perceived.  Their argument is that in a year when he’s not head and shoulders above the rest of the pitchers, how can he be considered for MVP?

Perhaps the strongest argument for JV 4 MVP is his value to the Tigers.  The Tigers are 21-8 on days when he climbs the hill, and 52-53 on every other day.  You take out Granderson or Gonzalez, and the Yankees and Red Sox are most likely not any worse off record wise.

Oh yeah, Fister looks to be the new stopper tonight at CoPa.

Tonight’s Regular Lefty Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
3. Delmon Young, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Alex Avila, C
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B