Fister could make the difference in the playoffs
Sorry to draw away from last nights spectacle, but Doug Fister had another outstanding game today - 3 hits no runs in 7 innings of play. He has really been lights out the last few games. If he can do this in the playoffs we may have a damn good chance with JV, Scherzer, and Fister.
I think most have thought just getting to the playoffs would be it for the Tigers, but I'm seeing much more and loving DD's decision to bring on Fister.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:43 PM ^
Fister has been a heck of a #2 since we got the guy. If Max can stay doing what he has done his last couple starts and JV gets back in the groove then we got a shot at anyone.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
What a pickup he's proven to be. (Also see: Delmon Young.)
But. really, his numbers with Seattle were pretty solid, he just got zero run support to turn them into wins. Sleeper fantasy pickup if you need a small boost in your pitching rotation, too.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:52 PM ^
It's a busy sports season in these parts. You should not be apologizing for drawing away from anything.
Have to admit I was superstitious about dealing with Seattle again after Washburn, but Fister has been spectacular. His breaking ball is damn near JV level (and I don't mean junior varsity).
September 11th, 2011 at 4:51 PM ^
This is why I generally trust baseball people. The fans were screaming for Ubaldo, but we got a better, more consistent pitcher in Fister for a sack of beans rather than half the farm. What an addition.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:53 PM ^
So the Indians don't have "baseball people"? They have a .500 team with a $40 million payroll, so they can't be too dumb.
September 11th, 2011 at 6:38 PM ^
Maybe if they spent more they'd be above .500. I have no sympathy for a team that spends $40mil, pockets $100mil and then complains they cant compete. They want to talk about "small market" yet Detroit has a $100mil payroll and the stands are full why? Because they have a good team out there.
Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, and Victor Martinez. I think we all know what they have in common.
September 12th, 2011 at 1:49 AM ^
Detroit is not a small market.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
My comment was in reference to the tension between fans v. GM, rather than comparing two different teams. The indians had separate reasons for acquiring Ubaldo (attendance) that the Tigers did not need.
September 11th, 2011 at 4:54 PM ^
Is Aquaman on board with the Fister acquisition, or still skeptical? (Not calling him out, just curious.)
September 11th, 2011 at 6:42 PM ^
Ha, I asked him after the 13K start Fister had in Cleveland. Aquaman seemed all in for Fister at that point.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
but aquaman basically asked to be called out: "Neg me into oblivion if Fister pitches with an ERA below 4.20 for the rest of the year."
Fister would have to turn into Dontrelle to not hit that mark at this point.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:17 PM ^
Yes, I was wrong. But did anybody on this board guess that he would increase his strikeout rate by almost 2 per 9 after the trade? He's been a completely different style pitcher for Detroit. If he continues to miss bats, he will be effective. The minute he regresses back into his Seattle-era K numbers, his ERA will undoubtedly rise because Detroit's defense simply isn't nearly as good as Seattle's is, not to mention the home park effect. The way he's pitching right now, it's hard to see that happening.
So, in short, I'll eat crow and admit I was wrong. But if his pitching profile in Seattle had been similar to what it's been in Detroit, I would have been much more positive about his acquisition.
September 11th, 2011 at 9:40 PM ^
Not only is Detroit's defense the opposite of what you said it was, it is actually statistically better than Seattle's. They have fewer errors, a higher fielding percentage, more assists, and more putouts. I get that it is tough for you to admit you were wrong, but you don't have to make up things to try to prove why you weren't THAT wrong. Face it, Fister has pitched better here. Maybe he has more confidence here now that he knows he can get more run support. Maybe he throws more high risk pitches (for him) because he knows if it is hit deep, he knows his offense can make up for it better than Seattle's. Who cares what the reason, you were completely wrong about him. Just own up to it. No "yeah I was wrong but..." And even if he had pitched the exact same as in Seattle, he is young and getting better, so the trade wouldn't have been bad anyway.
September 11th, 2011 at 10:16 PM ^
You still use those crusty old stats to evaluate team defense? No wonder you believe your own argument.
September 12th, 2011 at 3:04 AM ^
I disagree with a lot of what you've said about Fister, but one thing I can agree with you on is that Detroit's defense is no match for Seattle's.
Oh, and I won't neg you into Bolivia. In fact, I'd like to upvote you for admitting you were wrong. Kudos.
September 12th, 2011 at 3:51 AM ^
You basically just said "if Fister stops pithcing better than he pitched in Seattle, something I predicted and guaranteed him not to do, then his ERA will go up." If everyone says "he didn't get run support and his numbers will probably look better in Detroit because he is a good pitcher" and you say "no they won't," any argument you make is going to be wrong. Maybe you shouldn't make guarantees if you don't want to take full responsibility if you are wrong. "I was wrong but there was no way I could have foreseen him pitching better" isn't really an argument when other people predicted that very thing. I bet you are one of the guys who were pissed when they brought up Inge because you thought he would be starting and playing too much.
September 12th, 2011 at 3:01 AM ^
Yes, if he does go back to his previous K-less self, he will regress. Even after that regression, he will still be such a massive improvement over what they were throwing out there, that I don't even care.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:10 PM ^
Hey Beavis he said Fist-her hahhahaha
September 11th, 2011 at 5:26 PM ^
Fister was the best pickup of any player this season. If the other guys even pitch decent, we have a chance for a run.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^
I swear I've never been the guy who complains about lack of an OT flag, but this is OT. I'm guessing plenty of people who read the blog have no idea who Fister is.
I'm glad I opened the thread though, because I very much enjoyed the Beavis comment.
September 11th, 2011 at 5:59 PM ^
This is not a Detroit sports blog
September 11th, 2011 at 6:09 PM ^
While you're technically correct, did the thread title really fool you into thinking it was going to be about Michigan?
September 11th, 2011 at 6:14 PM ^
But I just like it to be clearly marked. It bugs me when people assume that everyone here cares about Detroit teams.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
Don't you see the Tigers game OT almost every night....if you don't want to read about a Detroit thread, then don't....easy as that...click or not to click...tough decision.
September 11th, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^
That's a pretty good bullpen for the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings. Benoit has been really good since he had that swoon in May, and Coke has something like 22 K's in his last 13 innings. I'm glad he was able to adjust back to the bullpen. If Albuquerque can come back, that gives Leyland lots of options. In a 5 game first round, you get Verlander in games 1 and 4 or 5, and hopefully you just need Scherzer/Fister/Porcello to get you through the 6th in one of the other 3 games. I'm a lot more hopeful about this Tiger team than I was a couple months ago, and with Boston starting to look shaky, it could be the Tigers' year.
September 11th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^
I wasnt confused about this being Michigan related because it said playoffs. Last I checked there wasnt a playoff in FBS football.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:25 PM ^