Bless You Boys - Game 83: Rays at TigersA detailed list of nope about the Detroit Tigershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47585/default.png2014-07-05T00:43:51-04:00http://www.blessyouboys.com/rss/stream/56355002014-07-05T00:43:51-04:002014-07-05T00:43:51-04:00Victor Martinez exits early for side soreness
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<figcaption>Duane Burleson</figcaption>
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<p>Victor Martinez departed Friday's game after re-aggravating a sore side when hitting an RBI single in the sixth inning. It is unlikely that Martinez will play until the series opener against the Dodgers.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">DETROIT — In the sixth inning <span>Victor Martinez</span> hit an RBI single up the middle to drive in the second run of the night for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">However, <span>Rajai Davis</span> pinch hit for Martinez in the eighth and the Tigers announced that Martinez had left the game due to re-aggravating his sore side.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">After the game Ausmus said Martinez's chances of appearing in Saturday's game are now "next to nil at this point" and Martinez will be day-to-day after that.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">"I tried to make that last at-bat, but I couldn't," Martinez said. "The way I feel now I don't think I'll be able to play until (at least Sunday). More like Tuesday, and we'll have to wait and see then."</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Martinez spent three days out of the lineup due to a sore side but was cleared to play Thursday night and performed favorably while batting from the right side. However, there was discussion on Friday whether to keep Martinez in the lineup for Friday because he would be batting left-handed.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Ausmus stressed caution because of the location of the injury, stating on Thursday that if the soreness wasn't handled correctly it could result in a long-term issue.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">"Two days ago if they had a righty pitching he probably wouldn't have started, but he didn't feel it as much from the right side," Ausmus said. "Today he said he felt good from both sides, BP was good, his first few at-bats were good, but I guess that single re-aggravated it so we're going to have to be a little more cautious now."</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Martinez said he initially injured his right side during a swing in the last game in Houston. While Martinez doesn't believe the soreness is anything to be concerned about long term, at this point he needs to feel like he was prior to the injury before returning to the lineup.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">In the fourth inning Martinez was also hit by a pitch in his right calf, however Ausmus said there wasn't anything to be concerned with and Martinez's leg was fine. Martinez said his leg was sore but otherwise OK and it did not impact his removal from the game in any way.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/5/5872159/victor-martinez-exits-game-early-for-side-soreness-ausmus-beingCatherine Slonksnis2014-07-05T00:20:34-04:002014-07-05T00:20:34-04:00Rays 6, Tigers 3: An all-around bad night
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<figcaption>Duane Burleson</figcaption>
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<p>Drew Smyly looked solid early on but lost his control later on and the Detroit Tigers offense was unable to produce more than a couple of ground ball runs against the Tampa Bay Rays.</p> <p>DETROIT — Not even early fireworks in the sixth inning were able to give the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Tigers</a> the catalyst they needed to do significant damage against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a>. The Tigers lost 6-3 on a night when <span>Drew Smyly</span> started strong but exited having been rocked for five runs.</p>
<p>"I couldn't really get the third out of an inning," Smyly said. "Two of the first three runs came with two out. I thought I pitched good, I just gave up a couple of two-out runs." (h/t Dave Hogg, FOX Sports Detroit)</p>
<p>An upper respiratory infection ended Smyly's last start after just 2 1/3 innings on June 29. Despite making it through 5 1/3 innings on Friday, seven hits, Smyly's difficulty with finding the strike zone in the later innings and only three strikeouts did little to contain the Rays.</p>
<p>"He did look like he was starting to get tired at the end," Ausmus said. "I don't know if it was related to the illness or not. But early on I thought he was good, his velocity was good and I thought his stuff was good. Towards the end he tired rather quickly."</p>
<p>Smyly, on the other hand, said that his difficulties in the last couple of innings were due to hung pitches and not the result of feeling fatigued. Whether Smyly's outing was the result of any lingering illness, Ausmus never considered skipping him in the rotation simply because of how short his last start was.</p>
<p><span>Victor Martinez</span> was hit by a pitch in the fourth inning, <span>Evan Longoria</span> was hit in the top of the sixth and <span>Ian Kinsler</span> was hit in the bottom of the sixth. Immediately following Kinsler being hit, warnings were issued by home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott and Rays manager Joe Maddon came out to argue the call.</p>
<p>After being told to remain in the dugout by both the second base and home plate umpires, Maddon walked onto the field and was ejected. Those fireworks led to an RBI single by Martinez and a groundout RBI by <span>Torii Hunter</span>, which scored Martinez, but nothing else resulted.</p>
<p>"I think it was a situation where three guys got hit but I don't think there wasn't any intent or malice," Ausmus said. "There was nothing vicious in it. I don't think anyone tried to hit anyone in this game, quite frankly. It was just one of those games where a three people got hit and there were some warnings issued."</p>
<p>Maddon happened to disagree with Ausmus and stated Longoria was hit intentionally. However, Maddon said there would be no retaliation on Saturday. Despite being hit, Martinez did not believe that any of the hits were intentional. "I don't think that anybody in here thinks that there's any bad blood (between the teams)," Martinez said. "In a close game, you don't want to be hitting anybody."</p>
<p>The Tigers were handed just their third loss in 15 games, which evened the series. <span>Austin Jackson</span> and <span>Eugenio Suarez</span> both struck out in every at-bat and were a combined 0-7 for the night. In Jackson's case, Ausmus said it was more of an off-night than a continuing problem. Suarez, on the other hand, is a case where he may be trying too hard.</p>
<p dir="ltr">"(Suarez) gets into modes where he over-swings," Ausmus said. "I don't even know if he realizes it, I know (hitting coach) Wally (Joyner) has talked to him about it and we talked to him about it in Arlington about getting a little bit long, getting a little bit big. I don't think he's consciously trying to get long and big but it looks sometimes like he's trying to hit the ball over the wall rather than stay short and just hit line drives. Young players and veteran players alike have to be reminded of that sometimes."</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>ROARS:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><b>Torii Hunter: </b>Grounded out twice but those groundouts accounted for two of the runs, putting the Tigers within two of the Rays.</p>
<p><b>Victor Martinez: </b>Drove in the Tigers second run in the sixth inning after Kinsler was hit by a pitch and Cabrera walked.</p>
<p><b>J.D. Martinez: </b>Was the only Tiger with mulitple hits, finishing 2-3 with a single and a double for the night.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>HISSES:</strong></p>
<p><b>Tigers offense: </b>Was mainly cold with a few warm streaks running through it and a sixth inning mini rally, which scored two runs were all the Tigers could muster against the Rays. They went quietly into the night for most of the game apart from the fourth inning where they scored one run.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><b>Austin Jackson: </b>After going 5-10 in his last two games, Jackson struck out four times and was given the Golden Sombrero.</p>
<p><b><span>Alex Avila</span>: </b>Was 0-3 for the night with two groundouts and a flyout.</p>
<p><b>Eugenio Suarez: </b>Struck out swinging three times and is now 0-7 in his last two games.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>STREAKS AND STATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span>With his leadoff single in the first inning, Ian Kinsler has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games and is hitting .418 in that time.</span></li>
<li><span>Since returning to the leadoff position, Austin Jackson has gone 0-4 twice and 0-5 once, all occurring in the leadoff position. Both four strikeout games occurred within the same week; July 4 against the Rays and June 29 against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2014-07-04&team=Tigers&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span>Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2014-07-04&team=Tigers&dh=0&season=2014">FanGraphs</a></span></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>ROLL CALL:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
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<thead>
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<th colspan="2">Roll Call Info</th>
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<td width="150">Total comments</td>
<td>307</td>
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<td>Total commenters</td>
<td>22</td>
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<tr>
<td>Commenter list</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Bent82">Bent82</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ClevelandJames">ClevelandJames</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/DJ%20Screw">DJ Screw</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/J_the_Man">J_the_Man</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jacob30">Jacob30</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jeff%20Price">Jeff Price</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/JoeK5">JoeK5</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/LoganB">LoganB</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/NCDee">NCDee</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Nonsuch%20Ned">Nonsuch Ned</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SanDiegoMick">SanDiegoMick</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SpartanHT">SpartanHT</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Verlanderful">Verlanderful</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ellensaurus">ellensaurus</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/forthewin234">forthewin234</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jgrubbs">jgrubbs</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/knucklescarbone">knucklescarbone</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/lesmanalim">lesmanalim</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/mrsunshine">mrsunshine</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/stevenyc">stevenyc</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/subic%20sailor">subic sailor</a>, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/swish330">swish330</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>Story URLs</td>
<td>
<div><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871443/game-83-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm">http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871443/game-83-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm</a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871945/game-83-overflow">http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871945/game-83-overflow</a></div>
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<p><strong>TOP TEN COMMENTERS:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
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<th width="20">#</th> <th>Commenter</th> <th># Comments</th>
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<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/knucklescarbone">knucklescarbone</a></td>
<td>68</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jgrubbs">jgrubbs</a></td>
<td>38</td>
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<td>3</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/SpartanHT">SpartanHT</a></td>
<td>24</td>
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<td>4</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Verlanderful">Verlanderful</a></td>
<td>23</td>
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<td>5</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/mrsunshine">mrsunshine</a></td>
<td>21</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>6</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/subic%20sailor">subic sailor</a></td>
<td>20</td>
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<td>7</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/stevenyc">stevenyc</a></td>
<td>19</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>8</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ClevelandJames">ClevelandJames</a></td>
<td>18</td>
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<tr>
<td>9</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ellensaurus">ellensaurus</a></td>
<td>17</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>10</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/NCDee">NCDee</a></td>
<td>13</td>
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<td><br></td>
<td><br></td>
<td><br></td>
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<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>TOP RECS:</strong></p>
<p> </p>
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<th width="60"># Recs</th> <th>Commenter</th> <th>Comment Link</th>
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<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jgrubbs">jgrubbs</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871945/game-83-overflow#243711016">How does Austin look so terrible, so often at the plate?</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>2</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/jgrubbs">jgrubbs</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871945/game-83-overflow#243709874">God bless America</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Jacob30">Jacob30</a></td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871945/game-83-overflow#243718750">Samardzija and Hammel just got traded for </a><span>Addison Russell</span>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/NCDee">NCDee</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871443/game-83-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm#243705366">EEEEEJECTED</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/ClevelandJames">ClevelandJames</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871945/game-83-overflow#243710562">Yeah that's going to haunt my dreams</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>1</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/NCDee">NCDee</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871443/game-83-rays-at-tigers-7-08-pm#243707780">Some of us never stopped.</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/5/5871619/rays-6-tigers-3-smyly-knocked-around-by-rays-handed-secondCatherine Slonksnis2014-07-04T21:37:06-04:002014-07-04T21:37:06-04:00Game 83 Overflow
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<p>Give me your tired, your poor...but mostly give me some runs, okay?</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5871945/game-83-overflowNCDee2014-07-04T12:20:27-04:002014-07-04T12:20:27-04:00Game 83 Preview: Rays at Tigers
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<figcaption>Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Tigers have not hit well against Rays starter Alex Cobb, making Drew Smyly's task even more daunting tonight.</p> <h4>
<a href="https://www.draysbay.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tampa Bay Rays</a> (38-50) at <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Tigers</a> (48-34)</h4>
<p><b>Time/Place:</b> 7:08 p.m., Comerica Park</p>
<p><b>SB Nation blog:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.draysbay.com/">DRaysBay</a></p>
<p><b>Media:</b> Fox Sports Detroit, ESPN, <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&affiliateId=mlbMENU#date=7/4/2014">MLB.TV</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/schedule/radioaffiliates.jsp">Tigers Radio Network</a></p>
<p><b>Pitching Matchup:</b> RHP <span>Alex Cobb</span> (3-6, 4.20 ERA) vs. LHP <span>Drew Smyly</span> (4-7, 3.57 ERA)</p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pitcher</td>
<td>GS</td>
<td>IP</td>
<td>K/9</td>
<td>BB/9</td>
<td>HR/9</td>
<td>WHIP</td>
<td>FIP</td>
<td>SIERA</td>
<td>fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Cobb</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>64.1</td>
<td>7.83</td>
<td>2.80</td>
<td>0.98</td>
<td>1.24</td>
<td>3.85</td>
<td>3.50</td>
<td>0.6</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Smyly</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>75.2</td>
<td>7.73</td>
<td>3.09</td>
<td>1.19</td>
<td>1.36</td>
<td>4.13</td>
<td>3.96</td>
<td>0.9</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Alex Cobb had a big breakout season in 2013, winning 11 games with a 2.76 ERA in 143 1/3 innings. He was particularly dominant down the stretch, allowing a 2.41 ERA in nine regular season starts and tossing 6 2/3 shutout innings in the AL Wild Card game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a>. Cobb's performance was one of the big reasons why the Rays were among the favorites in the AL East, but 2014 has been a disappointment for both him and the team so far. Cobb only made three starts in April before landing on the disabled list with an oblique strain, and his performance since then has been a bit lacking. He has a 5.16 ERA in eight starts and has not even pitched into the sixth inning in half of them.</p>
<p>Cobb's numbers have taken a step back in 2014, but it's hard to see why. He is only allowing a 15 percent line drive rate and is still forcing hitters to pound the ball into the ground at a 55 percent clip. He is throwing more first pitch strikes and has improved his swinging strike rate by a fair margin. His walk and home run rates are nearly identical to last season. On the surface, nothing should be different, but Cobb's issues arise when runners are on base. Opposing batters are hitting .280/.352/.452 with men on base this season, a far cry from last year's .240/.330/.304. He is stranding under 70% of all baserunners this year, a big reason why his ERA is so much higher than his 3.85 FIP.</p>
<p>Drew Smyly is coming off the shortest start of his career, a 2 1/3 inning affair against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a>. Smyly's struggles were fairly predictable, given the talented right-handed bats in the Astros' lineup. The first four righties that Smyly faced reached base, and he allowed three doubles to righties on the afternoon. His platoon splits are downright alarming at this point, as righties have an OPS over 500 (!) points higher than lefties. Things should be a bit easier on him this evening, however. The Rays see a platoon advantage in 53% of their plate appearances, well below the AL average of 58%. They are hitting .253/.322/.403 against lefties this season -- just above the league average -- but have a slightly worse OPS against lefty starters.</p>
<p><b>Hitter to fear:</b> <span>Evan Longoria</span> (1.000/1.000/2.000 in 2 plate appearances)<br><b>Hitter to fail:</b> <span>Sean Rodriguez</span> (.000/.000/.000 in 6 plate appearances)</p>
<p>The Rays have not seen much of Smyly, who has just 11 innings in five appearances against them. Only <span>Desmond Jennings</span>, Sean Rodriguez, and <span>Ben Zobrist</span> have more than two plate appearances against the Tigers' lone lefty starter in their respective careers. Cobb has logged a bit more time against the Tigers, allowing a 2.41 ERA in three starts. However, there are signs that a breakout may be in order. Six Tigers hitters have at least six career plate appearances against Cobb; six of them have an OPS above .750, and the seventh is Victor Martinez. He will need to be ready tonight, as <span>Miguel Cabrera</span> has walked four times in 12 plate appearances.</p>
<h5>Outlook</h5>
<p>Given Cobb's past success against the Tigers -- he threw 7 2/3 innings of shutout ball at Comerica Park last season -- the onus is on Smyly to keep the offense within striking distance. Cobb has struggled with men on base this season, but has been able to work his way out of trouble against the Tigers in the past. The Rays will miss the presence of <span>Wil Myers</span> in the middle of their order, though he has not hit very well against lefties in 2014. Desmond Jennings and Evan Longoria still present a challenge at the top of the lineup, but if Smyly can keep at least one of them in check, the Tigers should continue their winning ways.</p>
<h5>Prediction</h5>
<p>The Tigers starts their homestand 5-0 after a bounce-back performance from Smyly.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2014/7/4/5862842/2014-game-83-preview-tampa-bay-rays-at-detroit-tigersRob Rogacki