No Runs, Still Traveling: Athletics 5, Tigers 1
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 2, 2009 12:45 AM EDT
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22 comments
I don't know how it was where you work and live, but in my business around town today, it sure looked like a lot of people had already checked out for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Should we include the Detroit Tigers in that group?
The Tigers' lineup appeared to already be on the plane to Minneapolis, thinking about what they'd do on their off-day, mustering just five hits against Dallas Braden. (This is the same Dallas Braden, by the way, whom the Tigers bombed for six runs and nine hits back in May.) The top four hitters in the Detroit batting order - Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera, and Marcus Thames - went a combined 1-for-14.
Look, we're fans of Adam Everett here at BYB HQ (and think he could be back next year), but when he's the Tigers' leading hitter for the day, going 2-for-3 at the plate, it probably wasn't a big day for the offense.
But Justin Verlander shouldn't be given a pass, either. He gave up four runs and six hits to an A's lineup that hasn't exactly been smoking the ball. And on some days, a strong effort by the Tigers' offense might bail him out. But let's consider that Verlander served up home runs to Jason Giambi and Jack Cust today. At face value, that might not seem so bad. Those are Oakland's big boppers, right?
Well... Giambi came into today's game batting .197/.339/.366. Cust had been pushed down to the seventh or eighth spot in the A's batting order. Yet both of them hit two-run homers off Verlander this afternoon. And that was pretty much the difference in the ballgame. Cust's gave Oakland a lead it never surrendered, and Giambi's just piled on from there.
At this point, do we just have to accept that the Tigers' offense runs hot and cold? (They've scored one run in each of their last three losses.) Are they just a bad road team right now? (20-23 overall isn't terrible, but they've lost eight of their last 12.) Neither question bodes well for the Tigers as they travel to Minnesota with just a three-game lead over the Twins.
Whimper:
Marcus Thames looked like the ideal man for the cleanup spot when he hit two home runs against the Brewers on June 19. Since then, however, he hasn't hit another homer in his last 10 games, driving in only one run during that span. And his batting average has plummeted 40 points to .256, and his slugging percentage has dropped nearly 200 points. Have the Tigers already gotten the best out of him? Or is he just in a cold streak?
Comment of the Day:
fail. this game was sposed to improve my day
not make it worse
by allikazoo
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Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Not Appearing in this Ballgame
That’s how this Tigers offense feels sometimes. I think all the squandering has finally gotten to me.
by 13194013 on Jul 2, 2009 12:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I feel so loved and accepted
also this is where I go back to referring to them as the Detroit “no run support” Tigers. bleh
by allikazoo on Jul 2, 2009 1:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The power of Inge!
No Inge, No runs!*
*i’m not sure how this explains the previous two one-run losses!
by MackAveKurt on Jul 2, 2009 1:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Maggs is killing this team right now, but Raburn’s playing well…
Future full time replacement for Maggs?
http://lifeondumars.com/
by wennington on Jul 2, 2009 2:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I am terrified that on Monday we have a 0 game lead in the division.
by explosivo2k2 on Jul 2, 2009 7:48 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Never Happen.....
……..Tigs will at least take one and return with a 2 game league.
by BennieBladesFan on Jul 2, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Theoretically...
We could actually be a half-game back, since the White Sox play tonight while Detroit and Minnesota are both idle. Hopefully, that doesn’t happen, but the White Sox are super hot right now.
http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com
by SabreRoseTiger on Jul 2, 2009 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Patheticons rise again!
"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
by densogirl on Jul 2, 2009 9:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Experiment Over
I think it’s time to shut magglio down. Previously, I had no problem with him being in the lineup as long as he was batting 7th or lower. However, having him behind anyone that can get on base is giving away 2 outs. Maggio is a double play machine, he has lost all of his bat speed and cannot pull the ball, not to mention he gives you nothing on defense. I would rather see Raburn take over his spot, at least he will give you a solid defender and the occasional power, not to mention the ability to run out an infield single. It’s really too bad to see magglio drop off so much so quickly, but I can’t stand to watch him kill rallies with a weak ground ball to 2nd or ss anymore.
by Grandy237 on Jul 2, 2009 9:29 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but...
Here’s what I don’t understand: How is it that you lose all batspeed and power in the span of a mere five months? I know Magglio is 35, but there are plenty of guys older than him still producing well, and I’ve never seen a dropoff that dramatic. Is it bad offseason regimen, or some sort of mechanical issue with his swing, or what? I don’t get it.
http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com
by SabreRoseTiger on Jul 2, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Several things
He may have been taking something that he can’t take anymore. That is not an accusation, but let’s face it, it wouldn’t shock me. We don’t know how serious his wife’s illness is. His power has declined so dramatically, ‘ya gotta wonder. There are lots of other guys in MLB, whose power stroke seems to have disappeared, also. I can’t believe at 35, his decline would be so fast. I love Magglio and hate seeing him go out this way.
"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
by densogirl on Jul 2, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you
I don’t know how it happened and I hate to see it happen. I’ve always been a fan of magglio’s, but it’s gotten to the point where he is hurting more than he is helping. If it is a personal issue with his wife, then he should definitely take some time and deal with that. Maggs needs to get himself straightened out before we can put him in the lineup. As I said though, right now he is bringing the team down with him.
I’ve also though that maybe its time for Legendary Lloyd to go…I don’t blame him for magglio specifically, but he has to take some blame for the fact that our offense has gotten progressively worse since 2006.
by Grandy237 on Jul 2, 2009 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know Magglio is 35, but there are plenty of guys older than him still producing well...
It is a particularly dramatic drop off, but hitting production drops dramatically as players hit their mid 30s. Not sure what you mean by plenty but…
Players this season that have a minimum of 250 plate appearances (roughly – a regular starter that has missed about a dozen games)
39 that are 33 or older
23 that are 34 or older
17 that are 35 or older
5 that are 36 or older
by ExtinctSpecies on Jul 3, 2009 12:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here's something else I don't get...
I’m not usually a big fan of small ball, but when your offense isn’t doing much, you’ve gotta find ways to manufacture (bunt, steal bases, hit and run, etc), and early in the season, the Tigers WERE doing that with a remarkable rate of success. Now, they’ve seemed to have gotten away from that. If they’re not gonna mash the ball, they gotta do something, and that may be a good strategy to have at the Metrodome. Beat the Twins at their own game, so to speak.
Also, should we be interested in this piece of information? I remember the guy from the WBC and he throws hard, which definitely fits DD’s profile.
http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com
by SabreRoseTiger on Jul 2, 2009 10:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I saw that, too!
I don’t know if the Tigers would be his first pick. Probably depends on the $$$$. It’s hard to play small ball when you’ve got Maggs and Thames in the lineup. I liked the team much better a few weeks ago. They were hustling. Big decisions for the Tigers.
"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
by densogirl on Jul 2, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I did read somewhere...
…that the Tigers had the strongest scouting presence in Cuba of all the major league teams (I can’t find the article now, though). However, for some reason, the White Sox seem to gobble up all the Cubans, which isn’t a very pleasant thought in this situation.
http://tigersamateuranalysis.blogspot.com
by SabreRoseTiger on Jul 2, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
someone in the comments under your link said his style reminded them of Dontrelle Willis…not exactly high praise in the eyes of Tigers fans…
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
by ahtrap on Jul 2, 2009 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Morneau been kneecapped yet?
Time’s a wasting, people! :-)
"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams
by Baroque on Jul 2, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Don't forget Mauer and Crede.
Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.
by Detroitchik on Jul 2, 2009 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT
Now, if this link works, you can watch “The Detroit Tigers Snuff Film.” Actually I picked it off The Harbal Times, but I’m sure you Detroiters and Michiganders will appreciate the emotion.
http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/—217252205
"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
by densogirl on Jul 3, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Nice. I like Eminem.
both the train station and he old stadium are in my neighborhood.
Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.
by Detroitchik on Jul 3, 2009 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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