Detroit Tigers 2013 Season

[cephasjames]

This article just says one missed start.

The issue is small enough that both Sanchez and the team's medical staff believe one skipped turn will clear it up.

So, no DL.

[RandyTiger]

Wonder who they will sock off the 25-man roster to make room for Alvarez if Sanchez isn't going to the DL.

Dotel has been moved to the 60-day DL to make room on the 40-man roster.

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by cephasjames

This article just says one missed start.

So, no DL.

Yahoo strikes again. I have Sanchez on my fantasy team and he has a big red dl next to his name today. Of course, this is the same Yahoo that insists the Mariners Nick Franklin is really Edmundo Franklin

[cephasjames]

Potato pitching, 2 on, 1 out... HOOK HIM, Jim!!

[CONN CHRIS]

Here we go again...

fly ball, single, walk ....

I can't watch any more of this incendiary device. Back to mowing my lawn in discust.

[RandyTiger]

Tigers 6, Cleveland 4. [Boxscore]

Summary: Tigers claw past Indians to win their 3rd straight game.

Pitching: Porcello tossed a strong 6 innings, yielding 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks while striking out 7. He took the win, going to 3-3, 4.86.

Putkonen took over in the 7th and ran into some problems - namely, a 2-run homer from ex-Tiger Raburn. That got him yanked by Skipper, who then went with...

Phil Coke, who tossed 1.1 innings, allowing no baserunners and garnering 2 punch-outs. He earned his 2nd hold of the season. Nice work, Cokie!

Valverde came on in the 9th, and got into a bit of trouble - a flubbed catch by Infante was credited as a single, and he walked one batter - but most importantly, he got OUT of the jam to earn his 8th save.

Offense: The offensive side of things went very well today, as the Cats came up with 12 hits and 5 walks.

Hero of the game was the Prince, who went 2-5 (.285) with a 3-run double (15) [video] to lead the team. He has 51 ribbies so far. I think it's a pretty safe bet that Miggy and the Prince will both wind up with 100+ ribbies for the season.

Other notable players were Peralta, 2-4 (.338) with a double (16) and Dirks, 2-5 (.249), 2 RBI (19). Infante (10) and Garcia (2) also collected doubles.

Next game: Indians (30-31, 12-19 away) @ Tigers (34-26, 21-10 home), 1:08 Eastern. TV: FS-D. Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.

Projected starters: Masterson (8-4, 3.57) vs. Alvarez (no MLB starts this year).

[CONN CHRIS]

Originally Posted by RandyTiger

Tigers 6, Cleveland 4. [Boxscore]

- a flubbed catch by Infante was credited as a single,

Ah, the things missed when 'watching' ESPN gamecast! I walked out of the house and muttered about the incendiary device behind the mower.

[RandyTiger]

Roster move:

RHP Jose Ortega optioned to Toledo.
LHP Jose Alvarez purchased from Toledo. Career stats. [Link]

[RandyTiger]

Some great organization news snippets posted by Lynn Henning of the DetNews. [Link]

1. Status of AJ and Dotel's injuries. AJ may begin rehab soon.

2. OF Ben Justin was selected by the Tigers in the draft. If he's anywhere near as good as Justin... whoa.

3. Torii's Hunter's son, Torii Jr, was selected by the Tigers as well, even tho' the lad is committed to playing football and baseball at Notre Dame.

4. Some other news on the Tigers draft choices in there as well, including the complete draft list.

Definitely worth the read!

[RandyTiger]

Odds and ends, including a roster move:

1. According to Rod Beard of the DetNews, AJ is to begin rehab at Toledo on Monday, and it is a possibility he will return to the team on Friday, if all goes well.

2. Following Alvarez's impressive debut, he was optioned back to Toledo. The club will recall RHP Evan Reed from Toledo. Reed pitched in 2 games for the Tigers earlier this year, with a record of 0-0, 2.25 in 4 innings. Roster section of initial post updated.

[RandyTiger]

Tigers 4, Indians 1. [Boxscore]

Summary: Alvarez and The donkelly power Tigers to a sweep of the Tribe, extending their lead in AL Central to 5.5 games.

Pitching: Alvarez certainly made a huge impression in his debut! The youngster went a solid 6 innings for the win, surrendering just a solo homer on 3 hits and a walk while punching out 7 Indians. [Video of his performance]

He will either pop up in the Tigers rotation in a year or two, or become trade bait.

Smyly took over for the 7th and 8th innings, and he performed brilliantly, going 2 innings, surrendering 2 hits, and getting 2 strikeouts for his 6th hold of the year. His stats: 2-0, 1 save (1 blown), 6 holds, 1.93 ERA, 1.04 WHIP.

Benoit slammed the door to earn his 3rd save, whiffing 2 and giving up a double. His record stands at 1-0, 3 saves (0 blown), 7 holds, 2.00 ERA, 1.04 WHIP.

Offense: Well, now. The donkelly was the offensive star in this one, going 1-2 with 2 walks and dinging the Tribe for a 356-foot, 3-run shot to RF (.198, 3 HR, and 10 RBIs on the season) to score Miggy and the Prince.

The only other Tiger to perform well was Prince, who went 2-4 with 2 singles (.289, 12 HR, 51 RBI, .902 OPS).

Next game: Tigers (35-26, 13-16 away) @ Royals (28-32, 15-15 home), 8:10 Eastern. TV: FS-D. Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.

Projected starters: Fister (5-3, 3.27) vs. Guthrie (6-3, 3.66).

[RandyTiger]

Royals 3, Tigers 2. [Boxscore]

Summary: Tigers drop another close one despite Fister's gem.

Pitching: Fister just can't catch a break - the Tigers, in the last 4 games he's pitched, have only come up with 4 total runs, losing all 4 (he absorbed 3 of the losses). They've lost the last 5 games he's started, and 6 of the last 7. He's gotta be feeling frustrated right now. I sure would be.

He threw an absolute beaut of a game, going all 8 innings. He gave up 9 hits and garnered 3 K's, and his record stands at 5-4, 3.28, 1.13 WHIP.

Offense: Despite 7 hits and 3 walks, the best they could do was 2 runs, which came on Miggy's 409-foot, 2-run blast (18) to left in the 3rd. Hunter went 2-4 (.306) with a double (17).

Next game: Tuesday, Tigers (35-27, 13-17 away) @ Royals (29-32, 16-15 home), 8:10 Eastern. TV: FS-D. Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.

Projected starters: Scherzer (8-0, 3.24) vs. Davis (3-5, 5.66).

[CONN CHRIS]

Jose Valverde scares me.

Every time.

[RandyTiger]

Tigers 3, Royals 2. [Boxscore]

Summary: Max does it again!

Pitching: This game was another pitcher's duel - and Scherzer came out on top! Tossing a strong 7 innings, he gave up both Royals runs on 3 hits (1 HR) and 2 walks against 6 strikeouts to notch the win. It was also his 7th quality start this season in 13 games.

His record is impressive at this point: 9-0, 3.19 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 106 K's. How does that stack up amongst the leaders?

MLB ranks: Wins: Tied for 1st with 4 others; WHIP, 2nd; K's, 2nd.

Any which way you wanna dice it, he's elite.

Benoit took over in the 8th, and he held the line for his 8th Hold, giving up one single while punching out 2. Record: 1-0, 1.93, 1.04 WHIP; 3 saves (BS:0); 33 K's in 28 IP.

Valverde continued to inspire mini-heart attacks and anxiety episodes by pitching the 9th in true Valverde fashion, allowing a single, SB, and getting a batter to whiff to earn the save. Record: 0-1, 3.78, 1.02 WHIP; 9 Saves (BS: 2); 16 K's in 16.2 IP.

Offense: They got 11 hits, 4 walks, and 1 extra-base hit. Royals staff must be playoff-caliber or something, just like most of the other teams in the AL.

The 'star' of this game, if you wanna call it that, was Infante, who went 3-4 to raise his BA to .303. The donkelly chipped in with 2 more (.217) and an RBI (11).

The sole extra-base hit belonged to Matt Tuiasosopo, a pinch-hit double (5) to raise his BA to .350. Impressive kid. Wonder how he would do over a full season?

Martinez managed a SF (31st RBI of the year) to put the Tigers on top in the 8th, Miggy drew 2 walks (1 intentional), and Hunter whiffed 3 times.

Tigers are now 7-10 in 1-run games, and still leading the AL Central by 5.5 runs.

Next game: Tigers (36-27, 14-17 away) @ Royals (29-33, 16-16 home), 2:10 Eastern. TV: FS-D, MLBN. Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.

Projected starters: Verlander (8-4, 3.71) vs Shields (2-6, 2.81)

[CONN CHRIS]

Jose Valverde must go.


Now.

[cephasjames]

He is not worthy of wearing a major league uniform. Especially not the Old English D.

[CONN CHRIS]

Time to re-name a classic.

[RandyTiger]

Royals 3, Tigers 2 (11). [Boxscore]

Summary: JV's gem wasted as Valverde blows yet another game.

Pitching: Verlander was at his best tonight, performing like the All-Star he is: 7 innings, 3 hits, 2 walks, and 8 K's. Unfortunately, he didn't get the win he worked so hard for.

Smyly took over in the 8th and did a fine job, giving up a single, which came to naught. He started out the 9th, allowing the first batter he faced to get on base, and Skipper gave him the hook. His final line? 1 IP, 2 H (1 run was credited against him, thanks to the... [impolite term censored] that followed him.) and nothing else. He's at 2-0, 2.11 ERA, 1.07 WHIP; 1 save (BS: 1), 7 Holds, 39 K's in 39.1 IP.

Then disaster struck. Valverde came in with Hosmer on first, and once again, I had an uneasy feeling.

The pitcher just happened to be a guy who had given up 5 HR in his last 5.1 IP. Nothing could possibly go wrong, right?

Right?

Heh.

Valverde started out okay, getting the next guy out on an awkward-looking flyball catch by Hunter in RF. Torii must have had problems with the sun and wind. Then, as Valverde struck out Butler, Hosmer stole second on him.

Cain, the next batter, promptly sent a hanging slider 414-feet over the left-center wall to tie up the game. The next batter reached base on a throwing error by Miggy, and Skipper finally yanked him. Third blown save for the... [insert an extremely impolite term of your choice here].

Coke came on and got the last out of the inning, and then tossed the 10th, proving no better than Valverde, allowing 2 hits and the winning run with 2 outs. He's now 0-4, 5.49, 1.22 WHIP; 1 save (BS: 2), 2 Holds; 18K's in 19.1 IP.

Valverde and Coke both must go. Unfortunately, the Tigers are out of options where they're concerned. If they get rid of them, who's gonna replace them? Rondon is not quite ready (he still has his bouts of wildness, but the Tigers may have no choice), and Villarreal and Alburquerque still can't find the plate at Toledo. There's very little in the cupboard at this point. Best they can do is get Benoit to close, but then that leaves a set-up man hole.

Offense: I gotta admit, Shields is a very good pitcher, but it seems every pitcher the Cats go up against performs like a blasted All-Star. They got 7 hits and 4 walks, producing 2 runs, which should have been enough to get JV the win tonight. Unfortunately...

There were no real "stars" tonight, but let's note the best hitters anyway. Fielder went 2-4 with a RBI (.286, 12 HR, 52 RBI), and Pena went 2-4 with a double (4) and RBI. (.299, 2 HR, 12 RBI).

Garcia collected a lead-off double (3) to start off the game (.288, 2 HR, 10 RBI), and Tuiasosopo collected a 2-bagger as well (6) (.349, 2 HR, 14 RBI).

RISP: 2-11; LOB: 8.

Dombrowski is gonna have to part with someone valuable to get some relief pitching, no two ways about it, because this team is not going to the playoffs with a bullpen that cannot get the job done. Never mind the offensive woes at this point; there's nothing fundamentally wrong with that aspect except for Martinez and Avila.

They just need Jackson back and getting on base, and either move Martinez someplace lower in the order where he can't hurt the team as much or release him. You would think after 60+ games, he would have found his stroke again. He hasn't. I don't think he can hack it anymore, and it's time to do something about him.

Next game: Friday, Tigers (36-28, 14-18 away) @ Twins (29-33, 15-14 home.)

Projected starters: Porcello (3-3, 4.86) vs. Diamond (4-5, 5.19).

[RandyTiger]

And for a run-down on Valverde, Lynn Henning of the DetNews wrote a nice article summing up the situation - as if we didn't already know what's going on.

[RandyTiger]

Oh, highly amusing tweet from Lynn Henning:

Tigers petitioning Selig's office to include Jose Valverde in any of Thursday's D'backs-Dodgers suspensions.