951 replies to this topic

[Travis]

Chill, the DP ball was absolutely tattooed and he was lucky to get anything out of it. I do agree kinda with the last one, but Santiago was not getting to the bag fast enough, although any other base would have gotten an out. Had Betimit been in there, the game would have been over a lot sooner.

Anyways, we got one game tomorrow and already have enough for a split going into Minnesota, so it hasn't been a bad trip so far. Look at the positive, we have a 6 game lead.

Yeah, I agree with this overall.

That said, I listen on the radio so I didn't actually see it. Last play sounded like a tough play regardless.

Sometimes these losses just sort of happen. Ultimately, they're playing well and I'd rather take a random loss like this than an absolute beatdown or a shut out. Plus, let's be honest - Scherzer didn't have his best stuff, or even his okay stuff last night and the game could have (and probably should have) been a lot worse. Of course, a loss sucks - but I'm happy to like at the bright side, too.

[rwfan007]

Hopefully Leyland is seeing how well we are playing keeping Raburn the heck out of the infield. Santiago should start the rest of the way since they aren't going to make a deal for a 2B anymore this year. I think that they should take Guillen out back behind the barn once he comes back, because right now there is no spot for him and his knees. Who are they going to send down to get that guy playing time? They sure aren't going to sit Martinez to get Guillen AB's at DH, and he has no place playing defense anymore. He should just be put on the long term IR and cut loose after this year.

[rwfan007]

Good stuff taking 3 of 4 at the Rays, and with Cleveland and ChiSox both idle, we now have a 6.5 game lead over the Central. Heading off to minnesota to take on the slumping twins should be just what Porcello needs to get back on track.

[cusimano_brothers]

A grand (X 3) day.

[Travis]

A grand (X 3) day.

Unreal. Absolutely unreal. The A's staff should call Daniel Schlereth to see who he went with for their grief counseling.

Another strong win for the Tigers yesterday. I would have been happy with a split, a series win (and near sweep) is great.

Now we head to Minnesota where we don't have to face two of their most productive bats - since they're on different teams now. (Thome to the Tribe, Kubel to the Sox)

[cusimano_brothers]

"I could never play in New York. The first time
I ever came into a game there, I got into the
bullpen car and they told me to lock the doors".

[Travis]

"I could never play in New York. The first time
I ever came into a game there, I got into the
bullpen car and they told me to lock the doors".

Real tragic end. Especially reading that he talked to his wife a few hours beforehand and told her he'd talk to her later. Heart-wrenching.

[GoWings1905]

The Tigers are rolling right now. Bullpen has been lights out, offense has been steady like always and the rotation is improving of late. Not great, but better outings from both Penny and Porcello the past start each respectively. Fister has been nothing short of terrific since coming to the team. I think he's easily the number three starter in hopefully a playoff rotation. Young has been a really strong move as well. Driving in runs and getting big hits in front of Cabrera in the 3-hole. DD deserves some major credit for those additions without losing guys like Turner, Oliver and Castellanos. The Indians gave up their two best pitching prospects and Fister has definitely outperformed Jimenez so far.

I don't want Guillen back either. The Tigers are fine with some combination of Santiago/Raburn/Worth/Rhymes at second the rest of the way. Schedule shapes up quite well down the stretch... the Indians back at .500 exactly are the only team remaining at that mark. Big lead right now, but I don't want it to come down to the final week like 2006 and 2009. We need to be able to set the rotation so JV starts Game 1 no matter what.

[Travis]

To take a page from cusimano_brothers:



Verlander earns number 20. The first Tigers pitcher to do so in 20 years. He is something special. Even without his best stuff (far from it) he keeps the Twins' bats quiet enough for this offense. Nice that it was Delmon Young who gave the Tigers the lead for good, he's been an incredible pick up to this point.

Tigers move to 14 games over .500 and 7 ahead of Cleveland in the Central. Here's hoping the Royals can put some good swings on Carmona tonight; but either way - this Tigers team is a lot of fun right now.

[GoWings1905]

I love the consistency lately. Earlier in the year, you weren't sure what Tigers team was going to show up game-to-game. Right now, they are playing a lot of close games and you EXPECT them to come through and win. The bullpen has really rounded out nicely and will be even more deep when Al Al comes back. Only thing I really want in the last month is one or both of Porcello and Penny to step up and become a solid number 4 starter.

JV is the MVP. He means more to the Tigers than any other player in consideration. Are the Tigers even a .500 team without Verlander? The Yanks and Red Sox would still be in contention without Granderson, Ellsbury, Gonzalez although obviously those guys are all having incredible years as well. I can't include Bautista because the Jays are just an average team and voters definitely consider that or else Cabrera wins it last season over Hamilton.

[Travis]

I love the consistency lately. Earlier in the year, you weren't sure what Tigers team was going to show up game-to-game. Right now, they are playing a lot of close games and you EXPECT them to come through and win. The bullpen has really rounded out nicely and will be even more deep when Al Al comes back. Only thing I really want in the last month is one or both of Porcello and Penny to step up and become a solid number 4 starter.

JV is the MVP. He means more to the Tigers than any other player in consideration. Are the Tigers even a .500 team without Verlander? The Yanks and Red Sox would still be in contention without Granderson, Ellsbury, Gonzalez although obviously those guys are all having incredible years as well. I can't include Bautista because the Jays are just an average team and voters definitely consider that or else Cabrera wins it last season over Hamilton.

The issue, though, that people keep bringing up is that a pitcher is only involved in roughly 35 games as opposed to an every day player.

That said, I think Cabrera should have won it last year and am totally on board with the Verlander argument this year. Unfortunately, it probably won't happen.

[rwfan007]

ESPN just put an article up that says that JV is on pace to pitch 18% of the team's innings, while Cabrera would get only 12% of the ABs. So thinking that way, who is contributing more to the team?

Here's the quote:
"Looking at Verlander’s 216 innings shows that he has pitched 18.6 percent of the Tigers' total innings (1161) while the team’s best offensive player and marginal MVP candidate, Miguel Cabrera, has logged 577 plate appearances, or 11.5 percent of their 5,001 total plate appearances. So who is really making a bigger contribution?"

[Travis]

ESPN just put an article up that says that JV is on pace to pitch 18% of the team's innings, while Cabrera would get only 12% of the ABs. So thinking that way, who is contributing more to the team?

Here's the quote:
"Looking at Verlander’s 216 innings shows that he has pitched 18.6 percent of the Tigers' total innings (1161) while the team’s best offensive player and marginal MVP candidate, Miguel Cabrera, has logged 577 plate appearances, or 11.5 percent of their 5,001 total plate appearances. So who is really making a bigger contribution?"

Bless You Boys was making a similar argument, which I think is really interesting. I do agree that Verlander has been easily the Most Valuable Player we have. He's a skid stopper, a streak starter, and an anchor for the whole team. Unfortunately, it's not up to us.

[cusimano_brothers]

Twenty wins is impressive. Twenty wins before Labour Day is more impressive. Twenty wins before the end of August, to me, is the most impressive thing. Detroit should shut him down, now that they have the Central Division all wrapped up (must be true, I read it right here!). Can't wait for 2015 to roll around.

Edited by cusimano_brothers, 29 August 2011 - 08:40 AM.

[GoWings1905]

The past two games are why I can't really have high hopes should the Tigers make the playoffs. 20 runs allowed to two horrible teams. Yeah, maybe in a short series JV wins twice and someone else steals a game but beyond that, where are the quality starts going to come from in a longer series? Max is usually either lights or gets absolutely rocked, Fister has actually been quite solid and both Penny and Porcello have ERA's exceeding five.

Which in the larger picture is another puzzling component for me regarding the Tigers. Everyone in the front office boasts about how the rotation (besides Penny) is under club control for the near future. Am I missing something or is that not as much of a positive as we are made to believe? It COULD be a good thing, but I personally don't ever see Porcello as reaching his massive potential. At least not with the Tigers throwing the defense they do on most nights out there. Turner looks to be can't-miss, but there's going to be an adjustment period for him just like JV.

[dropkickshanahans]

ESPN just put an article up that says that JV is on pace to pitch 18% of the team's innings, while Cabrera would get only 12% of the ABs. So thinking that way, who is contributing more to the team?

Here's the quote:
"Looking at Verlander’s 216 innings shows that he has pitched 18.6 percent of the Tigers' total innings (1161) while the team’s best offensive player and marginal MVP candidate, Miguel Cabrera, has logged 577 plate appearances, or 11.5 percent of their 5,001 total plate appearances. So who is really making a bigger contribution?"

That's a good point. Another one to add is how much rest and flexibility Verlander impacts on the bullpen for the following games because of how many innings he pitches.

[rwfan007]

I was listening to the game on the radio at work yesterday and I totally agree with what was said on the pregame show. The Royals are not a 24 game under .500 team. They can hit the ball plain and simple. The only thing they don't have is pitching. They can out-slug people for wins, their defense, especially the outfield are studs. This is not a team you can take lightly, as was seen last night.

Keep in your mind, however, that Porcello is only 22 years old and is still learning how to pitch in the big leagues. He is still very Raw and has not learned the art of pitching. His fastball has taken him up through the ranks quickly, but up here, these guys are professional hitters, and you need to pitch, not just throw hard. He will be good, he just needs some schooling.

[GoWings1905]

Santiago with the walk-off homer! Stay away for good please, Carlos.

Another terrific start for Fister too. Definitely the second best pitcher in the rotation right now.

[rwfan007]

Two scrappy victories in a row. I like the swagger we got goin here. We know we can score runs, and we know we are never out of it. Just play 9 innings and we have a chance to win.

[Travis]

Santiago with the walk-off homer! Stay away for good please, Carlos.

Another terrific start for Fister too. Definitely the second best pitcher in the rotation right now.

He certainly is. I would feel pretty good about a 5 game series that starts with Verlander and Fister right now. I wish Scherzer could find his 2010 form, because that would be a scary 3-man rotation in the playoffs. That is, of course, assuming the Tigers make the playoffs.

Twins win in Chicago, dropping the White Sox to 6 GB. I never thought I'd say this but, go Twins.