Moleskyn

May 2nd, 2012 at 1:28 PM ^

For some reason, the first inning seems to be the hardest for Verlander. I'd be willing to bet that he dominates from now through the 6th or 7th inning, when he'll get into a jam, work out of it, then finish off for a complete game.

WMUgoblue

May 2nd, 2012 at 1:32 PM ^

Anybody know the word on Dirks? Is the hammy just DTD or is he going to sit again for any significant time? I was really hoping to see him get everyday AB's against right handers with Delmon out.

PS don't swing early, Sanchez is wild.

BOX House

May 2nd, 2012 at 1:46 PM ^

The beginning of this year has to be downright demoralizing for Royals fans. Everyone was saying this was the year their farm system finally pays off, yet it already looks like a lost season for them. Tigers are taking advantage of KC so far this year, looking to go 5-0. 

 

Moleskyn

May 2nd, 2012 at 2:44 PM ^

While true, I don't think they're this bad. Their biggest problem is their pitching. They really don't have a bona-fide ace. If Duffy can limit his walks, he has scary-good potential. I don't know who else they have in their farm system, in terms of pitchers, but you can't expect to do well when your top two pitchers are Hochevar or Chen.

Their offense is going to be good. Hosmer is a scary good hitter, but he's suffering from an extremely low .155 BABIP. All his other peripherals are in line with last year, when he hit .293 with 19 homers. There's no way his BABIP will stay down that low for the rest of the year, and with Butler, who's a consistent .300 hitter, the middle of their lineup looks good. Add in Moustakas, who's hitting the ball well, Alex Gordon and Franceour, and they have a respectable lineup.

M2NASA

May 2nd, 2012 at 1:51 PM ^

My dad took my nephew to his first big league game today.  They're sitting behind the dugout, Leyland signed a ball for him before the game.

Pretty cool.

bacon1431

May 2nd, 2012 at 2:09 PM ^

Former Wolverine Chris Getz seems to be having a solid season so far for the Royals. Hope we can end the no-hit bid by Sanchez soon.

Moleskyn

May 2nd, 2012 at 2:27 PM ^

Ah, couldn't cash in. But that's a good sign that his control is starting to deteriorate. Hopefully Yost leaves him in for another inning!

WMUgoblue

May 2nd, 2012 at 2:33 PM ^

He hasn't had great control all game yet the Tigers are swinging early, so hopefully they've made some adjustments and can hammer him next inning with the meat of the lineup at this dish. JV needs to shut them down here though, can't let them add to the lead.

WMUgoblue

May 2nd, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^

Whats the word on Lorenzo Cain the Tigers have yet to see him this year, he must be hurt but has he even played at all this year for KC?

Moleskyn

May 2nd, 2012 at 3:27 PM ^

He played the first few games or so and struggled. I know because I drafted him in my fantasy league :) He then got hurt. Initially it was his groin, but now he's been diagnosed with a "grade 3 hip flexor strain" (whatever that means) according to the latest Rotowire update.

WMUgoblue

May 2nd, 2012 at 3:30 PM ^

Boesch Bash!! Thank god I didn't pick up Crow for my fantasy team this week, he would have been detrimental to the Turner & Fister's.

Moleskyn

May 2nd, 2012 at 4:00 PM ^

Sooo, Avila singles in the 9th, and Leyland opts to replace him on the basepaths with... Gerald Laird? Wait, what? I know he already used Santiago to pinch hit and Dirks has a bum hammy, but Don Kelly has to be faster than Laird.

Edit: Oh well, didn't even matter. But still kind of an odd move.

WMUgoblue

May 2nd, 2012 at 4:01 PM ^

Disappointing loss, the back end of the bullpen has been awful aside from Dotel and Coke, didn't help that the bats were dead today also.

SalvatoreQuattro

May 2nd, 2012 at 4:11 PM ^

The Tigers under Leyland have always struggled when something is expected of them. It's happening again. I full expect that things will come to a head this year and Leyland will be fired in August with the Tigers a good 8 games out.Illitch can't justify keeping a guy who never seems to achieve anything when he is expected  with a $130 million payroll.

WMUgoblue

May 2nd, 2012 at 4:19 PM ^

Please tell me who you think is 8 games better than us in this division? Come on please at least try to be rationale, you're jumping to quite the conclusion considering it's only May 2nd. I mean with your reasoning do you think the Orioles are going to win the east and that the Angels aren't even going to compete for the Wild Card?

SalvatoreQuattro

May 2nd, 2012 at 4:35 PM ^

This team is a complete mess right now. How can team with Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera struggle so much at the plate? How long can they live with their relief pitching blowing up when they need them most?

Jimmy Smokes is terrible when his teams have expectations. That is not irrational statement, but one based on fact. It is not irrational to suspect that this team is going to underachieve because we have seen it before.

WMUgoblue

May 2nd, 2012 at 4:54 PM ^

You still haven't answered my question on who is 8 games better than us in the Central? The 2008 team had some of the worst pitching in the world, the expectations for the team was off the charts when it had obvious holes on the mound; this team while it has holes is still built to be a division winner and contend for a pennant. 

The bats are quiet right now, but how long do you expect they will stay that way? Peralta is better than what he's showing, so is Avila, and so are Boesch and Raburn. Fielder is still adjusting to AL pitchers who he hasn't seen much of yet, and Fister returning to the rotation will help solidify the rotation. 



I recall you harping on the Lions badly during the fall, so this doesn't surprise me, but sack up and relax. ITS MAY 2ND, it's a much easier life being an optimist than a pessimist. 

bacon1431

May 2nd, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^

2008 was the only season I can think of where the Tigers have underachieved. And even then, I think the expectations that we were a top team that year were gross overstatements. We overachieved in 2006 and 07 IMO, which I think raised said expectations. And when your ace has a really crappy year, you're not going to have a good season. Since then, the Tigers have pretty much matched what they should have been (with a slight underachievement in 2010). Last year the Tigers started out slow and won the division easily. I expect the same to happen again. I question many of JL's decisions, but one thing he is very good at is understanding it's just one game and it's a long season (which it is in all sports except football, but especially true in baseball). The division stinks. We could be .500 and still have a chance of winning the division by more than a couple games. He's not going anywhere.

NateVolk

May 2nd, 2012 at 9:16 PM ^

You see that first week against Boston and Tampa and you start to believe this is an unstoppable team. We all kind of knew better though. Didn't we?

Shakey defense at all but 3 positions at best, no team speed, a manager that actually believes you pile up wins by scoring a zilliion runs every night. That doesn't happen even for epic offensive teams, yet all Leyland has is more excuses about "we just haven't hit". Dude this is the major leagues, good hitting teams can have a good night and only score 1, 2, or 3 runs. You don't pound out 5 plus runs every game all week.   I don't care who you are.  

That mindset about waiting for guys to hit, keeps the whole thing station to station flat-footed waiting for the big fly.

It is totally clear this team has huge issues, especially against teams that can hit and have decent middle relief.  Luckily in the Central you won't face hardly any team that has both.

Last year they were 50-22 in the division and .500 against everyone else. They need to be up around there again.

Verlander with another 120 plus pitch outing today. That worries me. He honestly doesn't look as indominable as he did last year and you have to wonder if he's starting to wear down ever so slightly. This team will get to October because they overwhelm the division in payroll and talent, but it has basically no chance once there without Verlander pitching at his best.

bacon1431

May 2nd, 2012 at 9:38 PM ^

I think you're overreacting.

The only real concerns are lack of depth in the rotation and the bullpen. Offense will come around. JV has pitched alot of innings, but he's never had any arm issues. He will get his rest in due time. But I think the load of innings has been justified so far because he's pitched very well. Not sure where you're getting that he doesn't look as good. He is on pace to have a career low in WHIP and is still able to dial it up whenever he wants. The speed issue is the same one we had last year and we still scored runs. I don't perfer station-to-station baseball, but is not the end of the world. The Yankees have no speed either and they are third in the AL in runs scored. Tigers are middle of the pack in the majors right now in terms of offense.

People forget that at this time last year, the Tigers were 12-17 and looking bad. Didn't pull away from the rest of the division until late. The division is terrible. I'm not worried one bit. I didn't think this was the year we'd have our best shot at the WS. That's next year.