LSAClassOf2000

July 13th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^

The last five games before today have statistically been one of the nice little runs that the Tigers have had this season, and as always, it has been fun to be around to watch it. In these last five game, they've had a .344 BA with a .378 OBP as well as a .890 OPS and .511 slugging percentage. This also has been a period where the Tigers have averaged eight runs and twelve hits per game as well. 

rob f

July 13th, 2014 at 2:59 PM ^

then strolled in on Miggy's SacFly to the left-center wall.  Tigers 1 - Royals 0.

I hope Davis is OK, his speed has added a lot to the Tigers offense.

Vote_Crisler_1937

July 13th, 2014 at 3:09 PM ^

To me that looked like a flat, hanging slider that JV just gave up a double on. Not a fastball. 3rd inn 2 out pitch #41. JV's fastball has good run on it today and he's keeping it down. I don't care that it's 90-93 mph.

rob f

July 13th, 2014 at 3:23 PM ^

... 

...I'm going to take this thread OT for a moment, as the USA just won the World Cup of Softball by beating those dirty red Canadian socialists, 5-2! 

rob f

July 13th, 2014 at 7:05 PM ^

beating the country responsible for Justin Bieber and Nickleback, and yet get no love on MGoBlog?!

Yes, I know it's not Michigan, it's not the Tigers,and it's not FIFA World Cup, but c'mon, what do I have to do, post something more eye-catching than the American Flag to bring attention to this championship, to make them front:

 

  

and center:

 

...in everyone's minds, if only for a brief

moment?

WMUgoblue

July 13th, 2014 at 3:52 PM ^

Bruce Chen gave the Royals some much needed innings considering he hasn't been stretched out as a starter in awhile. JD just continues to rake, although the Royals gifted him an RBI single earlier.



It's funny after all the complaining fans have done about the Tigers this year, here they are 16 games over .500 and 4 innings away from having a 8.5 game lead in the division at the ASB. In layman's terms, relax, baseball is a marathon not a sprint.

MGoBender

July 13th, 2014 at 7:39 PM ^

2nd Place Teams

AL East - Toronto: 2 games above .500

AL West - Angels: 20 games above .500

NL East - Braves: 9 games aboe .500

NL Central - Cardinals: 8 games above .500

NL West - Giants: 9 games above .500

So, the Royals might be a bit below average, but I think they're solid.  The AL Central doesn't have an awful team like every other division though.  The Twins are only 6 games below .500. That makes them the "best" last place team.

MGoBlue96

July 13th, 2014 at 5:04 PM ^

The Tigers goal is more than just to win the division, though. They have been there and done that. Anything short of WS is a failure. There is alot to like about this team, however the bullpen certainly could be the downfall in the playoffs. Hopefully, they will do something at the deadline to help the bullpen. I remain unconvinced that Nathan is a closer that can be trusted in the playoffs.

Oakland would  be the favorite in the AL to me at this point. The trade they made with the Cubs gives their starting rotation five guys with sub 3.50 ERA's. Their bullpen is better than the Tigers right now. They also have scored more runs than the Tigers. Really, the only advantages the Tigers have are more playoff experience in the starting rotation, and the 3 and 4 combination in the lineup of Cabrera and V-Mart.

WMUgoblue

July 13th, 2014 at 5:13 PM ^

I'm going to be curious to see how Samardijza adjusts to the AL and Jason Hammel's career numbers in the AL suggest that he won't be as big of a replacement as thought he could be.



Personaly I think the A's are probably still the best team in the AL but the Tigers do seem to have that "mental edge" against them when it comes to a head-to-head series.

Unicycle Firefly

July 13th, 2014 at 6:03 PM ^

You're citing his career 2.96 and this year's 2.91 ERA as a reason that he *is* a good pitcher?  You realize he's a reliever, right?  I realize ERA numbers are skewed for relievers due to the murky method that runs are attributed to them in certain situations, so WHIP might be a more valuable stat.  His WHIP on the season is 1.21, and his career WHIP is 1.27, which is not great, it's maybe average.  He's also given up 31 hits and 11 runs, which I don't think is counting today.  He'd be a good fit for the Rockies, but not for a team with championship aspirations and a closing window to realize them.  An elite reliever, like the Tigers need, is someone like Craig Kimbrel with a 1.91 season ERA and 0.88 WHIP.  Of course, it's better than Phil Coke's WHIP of 1.50, so I guess he has that going for him...

Unicycle Firefly

July 13th, 2014 at 6:22 PM ^

Honestly, at a certain point we might need to be open to the idea of a minor fleecing.  Pitching wins titles, and we simply don't have enough of it.  The Tigers will 100% not win a world championship with this bullpen.  We've seen time and again that our fancy power hitting peters out in the playoffs against elite starters and closers; we might need to be open to the possibility of unloading some of those guys and getting elite bullpen help(not Joe Nathan)/more guys that are Kinsler-esque.

maize-blue

July 14th, 2014 at 9:22 AM ^

Any trade rumor thoughts? I've heard the usual bullpen rumblings. Also people keep throwing around the idea of picking up another starting pitcher and bumping Smyly back to the bullpen. I'm just wondering if Dave D. has any tricks up his sleeve.