If They Can't Score There, Can They Score Anywhere? Yankees 2, Tigers 1
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 19, 2009 7:30 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
Email
PrintFor the last line of yesterday's recap, I wrote "It's the same song the Tigers have been playing most of this season, and it's getting tiring to listen to." Yet here we were, listening to it yet again. And if the song was tiresome yesterday, it felt infuriating today.
A major league starting pitcher should be allowed to give up just two runs and still have a reasonable chance to win a ballgame. Yet in the last two games, the Tigers' top two starters have been jilted by their lineup. Justin Verlander allowed two tough-luck runs yesterday, but that was just enough offense for the Yankees to beat him. Today, Edwin Jackson wasn't great, tying a season-high with five walks, and he served up two deep home runs. But both of them were solo shots and shouldn't have been enough to win.
But when the Tigers could only muster one run themselves, on a Clete Thomas homer, the opposing lineup only has to do so much. Should we detail the squandering again?
- In the first inning, Detroit had two runners on with one out, but Marcus Thames hit a shallow pop-up (the Tigers' signature play of the weekend) and Thomas struck out.
- Curtis Granderson hit a one-out triple in the fifth, but Miguel Cabrera popped out to shallow right field and Thames chased a high fastball for strike three.
The Tigers managed only four hits today. How many teams are going to win doing that? In the three games this weekend, they scored only five runs. Sure, the Yankees had their two best starting pitchers going, but so did the Tigers. They deserved far better than the paltry support their lineup provided.
And somehow, Joba Chamberlain looks better against Detroit than against any other team. In two starts versus the Tigers this season, he's given up two runs and six hits, and thrown 14 strikeouts in 13.2 innings. If he got to face Detroit more often, there wouldn't be any argument over whether he should be in the starting rotation or bullpen.
At the risk of stating the obvious, this team really is in need of some help. Luke French, Verlander, and Jackson allowed just five runs between them this weekend. Against the Yankees. At Yankee Stadium. And if the Tigers got any kind of offense, they could've won two of three games. Some fantastic starting pitching is being wasted. And something should be done about it.
Comment of the Day:
The Official Hymn of the Tigers 2009 Season
We love to go asquandering
It’s been this year’s disgrace
No matter who is at the plate
We’re always left on baseTigerreeee Tigerrrah
Tigereeeee Tiger hahahahaha
Tigereeeee Tigerrahhhh
We’ll soon be in third place.by NCDee
And there was another hymn later on. I also liked this comment, which typified many of our feelings, I think.
30 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
testing out mobile commenting
Pitching was great this weekend for both teams. We’ve beaten this drum before, the Tigers need another stick in the lineup. It wouldn’t hurt for our current guys to take a little extra BP, either.
by Detroit4lyfe on Jul 19, 2009 7:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
tigers
What wrong with Cabrera? why is only have 18 home runs? Hes a bust with running on base. The money he’ s getting he’s not performing like a all star.
I hope your joking
He’s win above replacement right now is 3rd in the AL and 6th in the majors (let’s call the leader of the group by a mile Plbert Aujols)
The knock on M-cab (if you can call it that ) is that he always puts up great but not OMGWTF great seasons. only his 2006 season is somewhat close to being a MVP calibert season. but almost every except last year was all-star worthy.
speaking of which. he’s 2.7 WAR right now is already close to last year’s total 2.9 WAR.
by RollingWave on Jul 20, 2009 2:29 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
TEST. I am messing around with a photo editor and just trying it out, if it works...do you like?
"Stupidity has a certain charm - ignorance does not"
THERE IT IS!
And no, I am not a professional but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
"Stupidity has a certain charm - ignorance does not"
I'm staying at a Holiday Inn Express the next couple nights
I should be a goddamn genius by the time I get back.
+1
Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.
by Detroitchik on Jul 19, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions
As long as you are a genius on Tuesday
You can be a drooling idiot the rest of the week. As long as the same Tag we know and love is back to normal after a few days of moronicity. :-)
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -- Philo of Alexandria
OK Yall......
…..Stil just 3 games against a really good team….We played em tough…..Just had a fluke series at the plate.
by BennieBladesFan on Jul 19, 2009 10:11 PM EDT reply actions
True, but
remember how excited we all were to get the All Star game over with and get on with the season. The team seemed to be catching on fire and even Clete Thomas remarked that he hated to have to stop playing at the time because the momentum was so good. Well, look at us now. Cold as ice! It’s pathetic that we lost all 3 games. I’m real disgusted with the Tigers right now.
"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone". A. Bartlett Giamatti
Dont blame.....
…The hitting coach……These guys are big leaguers…..They should now how to hit by now.
by BennieBladesFan on Jul 20, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions
So what was thw excuse for pitching last year? Big League ptichers should know how to pitch. Right?
So last year when our pitching sucked why did everyone blame Chuck? Based on what you’re saying Coaches are just fixtures. Please explain to me why they bother to have any type of coaches at all. Coaching and honing a skill does not stop once they get to the bigs. If anything these players should always be improving. Listen. The hitting coach is as valuable part of the staff as the pitching coach.
Look at our pitching now as opposed to last year. The only additions are Porcello and Jackson in the starting rotation. So all of these coaches are just on a glorified payroll? Give me a break. Why bother having a manager?
These players are all big league – infielders, outfielders, sluggers; pitchers; shouldn’t they be able to manage themselves? I disagree with you, Bennie. Hitting coach is part of the staff and if these guys are not hitting, then it’s partly his fault. With the money he makes, all of these guys should be batting at least .280 or better. PERIOD. Accountability. Why is he there if he does nothing?
I will say it again. Lloyd McClendon. Partly his fault.
Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.
Every hitter gets thrown off during a season
You have a coach to point these things out. Maybe a leg kick gets too high, the hands lower in a stance, or the head moves a different way. Guys fall in love with pulling the ball or going to the opposite field. It could be any variety of things.
These hitters aren’t robots, with a motion that can be easily repeated every single time.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 20, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree, Ian
It’s the coaches job to pay attention to what’s working and NOT working at the plate and help the guys make the adjustments accordingly. It’s easy to fall into a specific pattern that could be affecting any at bat. Lloyd’s job is to pay attention to things that could be happening to cause bad at bats and/or good ones. One thing I’ve noticed is that, (and correct me if I’m wrong, please) I never seen McClendon jotting things down they way some of the other coaches do. I would think this is something he would be inclined to do, unless he has as memory like an elephant.
Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.
by Detroitchik on Jul 20, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
The good news is
That Chicago and Minnesota both lost. All three teams are pacing each other. :-\
How odd a game was it for Ian Kinsler? He hit a leadoff home run for the Rangers, struck out three times, and then hit a game-winning 2-run homer in the 12th inning.
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle." -- Philo of Alexandria
Joba Chamberlain looks better against Detroit than against any other team
Isn’t that true of just about every pitcher?
true but
he hasn’t been blowing 95-97mph gas that often this year. this is one of the notable exception.
Bat
looking at teams that are out of it….
O’s : Luke Scott? though I’d guess they want a ransom for a guy hitting over .900 OPS. Huff will probably come cheap but he’s hitting poorly.
Royals : bat and Royals does not exist in the same universe. i guess you could help them out and get Jose Guillen. thats helping them though.
Mets : Gary Sheffield… oh wait.
Marlins: I guess Gload / Cantu / Hermida / Ross would all be avalible. not that any of them is any sort of a difference making bat.
Nationals : Nick Johnson as a DH makes a lot of sense. Dukes. Williamham. Dunn , Harris all make different degree of sense.
just a few thoughts
+10
lmao
Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.
by Detroitchik on Jul 20, 2009 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Rios
is a guy that could potentially be had for nothing and be able to bounce back . he’s pretty young, the tools are there.
The risk (of his contract) is a bit high though
by RollingWave on Jul 20, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Rios's contract is obscene
From Cot’s Contracts:
7 years/$69.835M (2008-14), plus 2015 club option
* signed extension with Toronto 4/4/08, re-working 2008 deal signed 2/5/08 ($3.5M signing bonus remains, 2008 salary reduced from $1.335M to $0.735M)
* 08:$0.735M, 09:$5.9M, 10:$9.7M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M, 13:$12.5M, 14:$12.5M, 15:$13.5M club option ($1M buyout)
* full no-trade clause, 2009-10
* limited no-trade clause, 2011 – end of deal (may block trades to 6 clubs)
Rios is hitting .264/.321/.415 with 10 homers and 48 RBIs. That’s basically Clete Thomas type of production for $62 million over the next five years.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 20, 2009 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Is he even an option?
His ceiling is way higher than Clete Thomas’, but yeah there’s no denying he’s struggling and his contract is obscene. He steals bases, too, which Clete Thomas does not do.
He might be the type of guy who just needs a fresh start, especially seeing as Toronto probably now hates him for, not just his contract and poor play, but the expletive laced tirade he went on when a fan called him a bum on camera.
by Detroit4lyfe on Jul 20, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he's the type of option
where the Tigers don’t have to give up much of anything because the Jays just want to get rid of the contract. Far as I recall, I’ve read the Jays made him available too.
I am not sure what I think. I think he could step in as being the second best outfielder (defensively and offensively) on the team but with that contract I’m just a bit worried it could end up just another bad deal on the books.
by Kurt Mensching on Jul 20, 2009 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- The 10 best things about being a Detroit Tigers fan
- Surprise! A’s finally end the Yoenis Cespedes derby with $36 million deal for Cuban star
- The time Whitney Houston sang to Jim Bowden
- Pitchers and catchers! Mariners get early start in Arizona
- Photo: Padres fan regrets letting mother capture moment with Trevor Hoffman
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
