Category: Game Post

Inge.  Binge.  Cringe.  Player of the Game.  Bane of stephen’s existence.  And soon to be Mudhen.  The demise of Brandon Inge is the hot talk of the town (and a sweltering town it is).  Inge has played more games at Comerica than any Tiger;  he has struck out more than any Tiger in history;  he has for better or worse represented the team through good times and bad;  he has gone from promising catcher to slick-fielding 3rd baseman to outfielder to clutch slugger to all-star to an automatic out who has lost a step in the field, all with those ingetangible qualities of hustle, fearlessness, conceit, stubbornness, and above all a real devotion to the Tigers and to the Detroit area.  His absence will be celebrated.  He will be missed.

And he will be back.  Likely when the rosters expand in September.  Still under contract for next year, he could easily re-emerge as the 2012 starting 3rd baseman.  Unlike a younger, less mature Inge who griped when replaced by both Pudge and Cabrera, Inge now seems to have one objective in mind:  being a Tiger for life.  A 10-year player being demoted may not be unheard of, but Dave Dombrowski couldn’t recall the last time it had happened. Most players in that situation would have refused the assignment and tried their luck as a free agent.  For better or worse, Inge seems to be wedded to the Tigers.(Athough, supposedly, The Marlins want Inge, and we know how the Tigers like to do business with the Marlins). He is, in the words of the legendary Billfer, the Eningematic One.

Well, tonight we get to see what Wilson Betemit can add to the mix.  Smokey has him slotted in the 9th spot.  Whether this is an automatic move (that’s where Inge batted), an assessment of his abilities, or an attempt to make his debut low-pressure, it seems like a good idea.

And Justin Verlander is on the mound, which is as good a way as any to forget the game Detroit frittered away last night.  With a solid debut performance by Duane Below and a 5-3 lead against the offensively hapless A’s, things looked good.  And then…Purcey.  Back-to-back-to-back-to-back walks later, Benoit came in to be dinked and dunked until the game was gone.  Purcey used to be an A.  He still knows people there.  I’m just saying…

The Tigers may want to pursue some bullpen help after all.  Unfortunately, the Pirates may have beaten them to the punch by snagging Jason Grilli for their improbable pennant run.

Verlander will be opposed by the old Tiger nemesis, Carl Pavano, aka Water Rat. Magglio could be the key to taking out Pavano:  he has a career .429 avg vs The Rat.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Justin Verlander

He had a rare rough start last outing.  Give the man some slack;  he can’t be Cy Young every night.  However, another rough outing tonight, and it’s official 2nd-Half-Collapse-Panic-Time.  Not that you should feel any pressure or anything, Justin. Judging by the look of concentration on his face in the game post photo, I think he is up to the task.

Today’s Welcoming Wilson Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Brennan Boesch LF
3. Magglio Ordonez RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Carlos Guillen 2B
8. Alex Avila C
9. Wilson Betemit 3B

We here at DTW may need to look into getting the game posts up earlier in the day.  It does a great disservice to our faithful followers to fail to get them the timely information they need to plan their days.  Yes, earlier today Ryan Raburn was the celebrity root beer float server at A&Ws in both Berkley and Dearborn.  We apologize to all of you who were unable to attend these important events.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have been busy working out the starting rotation:  tomorrow’s spot in the rotation, the Phil Coke spot, has been being staffed by the Toledo Temp Agency.  Tomorrow’s shift will be taken by Duane Below in his first MLB appearance.

In the meantime, a more permanent bolster to the rotation is still rumored to be something Dave Dombrowski is working on.  In addition to the Tigers’ interest in Hiroki Kuroda,  the Tigers are rumored to be also looking into Aaron Harang, Jeremy Guthrie and Derek Lowe, as well as the good-luck-with-that pursuit of Ubaldo Jimenez. (And yes, the Tigers are allegedly still in the list of suitors for Carlos Beltran).

In potentially related news, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports lists Tiger GM Dave Dombrowski in his “less than secure” category, although not quite yet on the hot seat.

Speaking of hot,  tonight’s hot evening game will feature Rick Porcello on the mound, who has historically performed worse in hotter temperatures.  The A’s will feature Guillermo Moscoso, who is from Venezuela and will hopefully pitch to his elder countrymen Victor Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, and Carlos Guillen with great deference.  Moscoso actually came up with the Tigers, but was traded to Texas for Gerald Laird.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Ryan Raburn

Sure, he is not in the lineup.  But on a hot July night, Ryan will keep the guys cool by serving root beer floats between innings.

Today’s AJax is Back Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Brennan Boesch LF
3. Magglio Ordonez RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Carlos Guillen 2B
8. Alex Avila C
9. Brandon Inge 3B

Tony Paul says it’s too early to worry, in today’s Detroit News.  So let’s heed his call and keep it short and sweet for the W.

Inge in, A Jax still out.  With an off day tomorrow, let’s hope that today is the last “rest the wrist” day.

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

Well, there are two ways to look at last night’s loss.

One, this is a sign of the apocalypse.  With all of their recent 2nd half struggles, last night was a harbinger of things to come.

• Our ace was beat up for 4 ER in 6 innings, the first time in 10 games that he hasn’t gone at least 7 innings.
• Our bullpen posted a 9 ERA and 2.67 WHIP while striking out none in 3 innings.
• Raburn and Inge were a combined 1-5 with 4 LOB.
• Avila looked as confused as ever at the plate going 0-3 with 2 Ks.
• Raburn had a bad error which led to an unearned run.

On the other hand, it’s just one game.  Lots of baseball left, and the Tigers should be in the thick of a pennant race for the next 2 and a half months.  JV’s worst outing in recent history was a bloop single or squeezed strike call away from another dominant outing.

So which one is it?  I really liked JV’s reaction after the game – “It happens,” he said afterward. “It’s just one game. You shake it off and move forward.”  But it’s hard to ignore the  past, writes Bob Wojnowski.

On to the good news – Carlos Guillen and Al AlB were activated last night (Worth and Perry down), and Guillen will bat 7th today.  If he can hit for an average OPS+ and field the balls that come to him, that will be worth a win or two right there.

Apparently Ozzie Guillen gave this pep talk before the game last night –  “There are a lot of rumors out there you are going to get traded. Well if you don’t play well, of course you are going to get traded. This is baseball. This is a business. If you don’t play up to your potential … you’ll be out of here.”  It worked.

A Jax still out of the lineup with a sore wrist, I’ve seen DL mentioned in a few places.  Though at this point in time it would be retroactive to last weekend.  And Kelly starting again at 3rd.  Looks like Inge has officially lost that starting job.

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

Well, the Tigers start the 2nd half of the season tied for first place and with the most favorable schedule in Majors (yes that’s Majors – see ouchudied’s authoritative post) but with seemingly more roster questions that answers.

The glaring ones are at 3B and2B, where Inge and Raburn, respectively, have become post/text/email/twitter/headline trends, and not in a good way.  Though they represent the majority of the PAs at 2nd and 3rd, their combined OPS would only be 61 points less than that of Jose Bautista.  Raburn is what’s left of the lot of Sizemore and Worth, and is really just keeping the dirt warm at this point in time.  Inge may be the most polarizing player in recent Detroit sports history, but even JL’s once unbreakable loyalty to him seems to be fading.  But the Tigers also need another starting pitcher (they currently have 4 starters on the roster, though Furbush should be back soon), and some bullpen help.

Funny, because while there is little disagreement as to the vortexes at second and third, the Tigers seem fixated on a starter and potentially a corner outfielder.  Jon Paul Morosi is of the opinion that Hiroki Kuroda is a top the Tigers wish list (Buster Olney confirms the pitching search), and Olney recently tweeted that the Tigers may pursue Carlos Beltran (and maybe Ulbado Jimenez?), mostly because of the Tigers’ willingness to absorb salary obligations.

It looks like Guillen will be our starting 2B sooner rather than later (he’s hitting now), though there is no official time table for his return.

On to tonight’s game.  Due to masterful scheduling by the schedulers (and Ol’ Smokey), we get JV in back to back games.  The White Sox come in for the beginning of an AL Central heavy rest of 2011.  If we can continue to play above .500 ball against the Indians, White Sox and Twins, we likely win the division.

Tonight’s Ingeless Lineup:

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

Yeah, that was the fur game of the series.  Like the fur on the bottom of the strawberries that have been in the refrigerator a week too long, like the fur on your tongue at 7 am after a long night of drinking, like…well, you get the idea.

So here’s a fun one to keep you occupied over the break:  when is the last time the Tigers gave up 8 unearned runs? (I mean, after that ambushing, Furbush still has a 4.03 ERA).  And when is the last time Detroit scored 6 runs in the first 3 innings and lost?  Even the bullpen, which gave up 4 runs, was only on the hook for 1 earned run.

They say that there is no such thing as an ugly win.  Certainly, though, there is such a thing as an ugly loss.

At any rate, Charlie Furbush was optioned to Toledo after the game.  Danny Worth was recalled.

Luckily this afternoon brings The Antidote (no, I didn’t enter this in the Free Press official Let’s Make Up Some Nickname for Justin Verlander contest).  JV From the D (also not entered) looks to make it 3 of 4, and take the Tigers into the break on a winning note.  Which is a good thing, since I think Don Kelly is about 3rd on the bullpen depth chart at this point.

The Royals will counter with some guy who is not Justin Verlander.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Justin Verlander

For obvious reasons.

Today’s Ghostly Leadoff Lineup:

1. Casper Wells CF
2. Brennan Boesch LF
3. Magglio Ordonez RF
4. Miguel Cabrera DH
5. Victor Martinez 1B
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Ryan Raburn 2B
8. Alex Avila C
9. Brandon Inge 3B

Well, Rick Porcello did his part, the bullpen held on in roller-coaster fashion, and the Tigers head into the fur game of the 4-game series only 1/2 game behind the Indians in the Central.

Fur game because the performance of Furbush will be key tonight;  with Valverde done until the break and Alburquerque out until the break, the bullpen is a bit light right now, and Furbush is on a limited pitch-count.  If Furbush and the Tigers do come through tonight, they head into the first-half finale with none other than Justin Verlander holding the broom, and with 1st place in sight.

The Royals will turn to Luke Hochevar, who may look a bit nervous as the 5th inning begins–in his last start he gave up a 5-run 5th.

As noted yesterday, Austin Jackson will be kept out of the starting lineup for the rest of the series with wrist soreness (he will be available for defense and pinch-running).  Tonight Casper takes his turn haunting CF.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Don Kelly

They pitch around V-Mart to get to Kelly, and The Donkey makes them pay

Today’s All-Star Peralta Gets the Dhay Off Lineup:

1. Andy Dirks LF
2. Ramon Santiago SS
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Don Kelly 3B
7. Alex Avila C
8. Ryan Raburn 2B
9. Casper Wells CF

Last night Max Scherzer came through with a sparkling performance after falling apart the start before against the Giants.  Most impressively, he walked none, only getting to a 3-ball count 3 times.  This followed another solid outing by Brad Penny, who shook off a 4-run first to grind out a win.  Tonight is Rick Porcello’s turn to follow up the success of his last outing where he was wild but won.  Another good go by Porcello, and suddenly the starting pitching could begin to once again look like a strength of the team.

Porcello will by opposed by Kyle Davies, who has been having all sorts of trouble (1-7, 7.77), including rotator cuff inflammation.  In his April 13 start against Detroit he didn’t make it through the 4th inning.

And speaking of pitching, Jacob Turner, who began the season as Baseball America’s 21st ranked prospect, has jumped up to 11th in their midseason rankings. If the rotation continues to improve, and with Coke stabilizing the bullpen and Turner in the wings, is it possible the Tiger shopping list might veer away from pitching toward a position player?

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Andy Dirks

Austin Jackson will miss the rest of the KC series with a sore wrist.  Dirks will try to hold down the fort in CF and takes over leadoff duties.

Today’s They Must Be Saving Kelly for the Bullpen Lineup:

1. Andy Dirks CF
2. Brennan Boesch LF
3. Magglio Ordonez RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Alex Avila C
8. Ryan Raburn 2B
9. Brandon Inge 3B

The Tigers start a 4-game series tonight in Kansas City, which currently has the worst record in the American League, so now might be a good time to find out if the Tigers have actually been struggling lately, or have just run across some very good opponents.  Avila, Cabrera, Verlander, and Valverde get to wear special stars on their hats and jerseys for the series because they are special.

The Tigers managed to salvage the last game of the Angels series when Miguel Cabrera woke up from a week long nap (.130) in time to hit a 2-run home run, and after Bad Penny re-emerged in the 2nd inning as Shiny New Penny, after going Bonderman in the 1st inning.

Max Scherzer continues his quest to become the first Tiger pitcher ever to win 20 games with a 5.00+ ERA (9-4, 4.90).  His last outing he was bombed for 9 runs by the Giants during Rick Knapp’s going away party.

Detroit will be up against the dreaded Rookie Pitcher Guy, who has dominated them the past few seasons.  Tonight’s version is named Danny Duffy, and he brings a 1-3 record and 5.09 ERA into the game.  As if statistics matter when you are facing Rookie Pitcher Guy.

In other news, Carlos Guillen, who reportedly will re-join the team after the All-Star break, is hitting .176 (3-for-17) in his Toledo rehab stint.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Victor Martinez

Victor gets an All-Star vacation after finishing 2nd to Paul Konerko in the last-guy-in All-Star voting.  Tonight he takes it to Rookie Pitcher Guy.

Today’s Avila-Sandwiched-Between-2-Slices-of-Whiff Lineup:

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

Short and Sweet for the W.

Lineup coming soon (if one of you doesn’t beat me to it).

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

That’s five series in a row now where the Tigers have lost the opening game, and unless they win today, that will be four out of five series losses.  Not a good start to the 2nd half of the season.

JV looks to continue his dominance tonight.  I’d post the numbers, but you’ve likely already seen them.  In case you haven’t, 8 in a row would be big time.

He’ll be opposed by the formidable Dan Haren.  Actually, formidable might be downplaying it. Haren is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP.  He was roughed up for 6 ER in 4+ against the Mets 3 starts ago, but 14 of his 17 starts have been quality, and he has 6 starts where he’s allowed 1 or less runs and pitched at least 7 innings.  Now quality doesn’t necessarily get it done against JV, but we’ll need JV to really be JV tonight.

Kelly Gets the Nod at Third Tonight:

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

In my mind, this is a really, really big game for the Tigers.  A JV loss could turn a bad two week slide into an avalanche.  So JV is my pick to click tonight.  He’s gonna be filthy.