OT: Miggy's Magnificent Month of May
The greatness that is Miguel Cabrera is well-documented on this board, especially his incredible month of May. A quick glance at his May stats adds yet another feather to his cap of achievements:
Miguel Cabrera:.379 BA, 12 HR, 33 RBI in May.
First player to hit all 3 of those benchmarks in May since Mickey Mantle, 1956
we take him for granted.
Chill out, how about last year where we were worse and made it pretty far....what was it world series I believe.
It's shame we are wasting such a great player on such shitty defense and relief pitching.
It is a shame with that starting pitching and strong lineup, the team still goes through periods of weak baseball. I like Leyland, but Francona would have been a better fit for this team this season, just my 2 cents.
Not trying to start an argument but what has Leyland done to make people despise him so much? He followed the same book every other MLB manager would tonight, 8 innings from the starter and going straight to the closer. Francona is great, and has done great things for the Tribe, but he was part of one of the worst meltdown's in MLB history just 2 years ago in Boston, so he's not the end all be all either.
He's blown 2 of 8 save attempts already.
When your closer gives up two home runs in an inning, then he's pretty much done. I don't blame Leyland, I blame DD for not getting a closer in the offseason. They can't expect to get back to the WS with the back end of this bullpen.
is they're like stock market, they're very violatile. The good closers never goes to the FA market. Unless you trade for one, you're better off finding and developing a closer.
There aren't a lot of high leverage relief pitchers on the market, and he has to have "proven closer" status or Leyland won't give him chance because mumble mumble closer's mentality mumble mumble pressure mumble mumble.
They will trade for a closer before the deadline, hopefully Valverde will have completely imploded by then so bad even Leyland can't trot him out. I would rather watch Coke pitch right handed than Valverde, because at least then after he beans 3 guys and gives up a home run, Leyland would take him out instead of leaving him out there to pour a tanker full of gas on the fire.
I thought he was just being poetic.
I mean, he can't hit his spots, his fastball is really straight, and the offspeed stuff has been nonexistent. It's only a matter of time until Valverde is out of a job again, I just hope it's sooner rather than later.
Nobody else has really jumped up and taken control of the closer role though. Up until tonight in his 10 appearances opponents were only hitting .077 and he nearly has a 9 K/9 rate while only walking 9% of all batters. Needless to say he's been pretty darn good up until tonight. While tonight's game was frustrating there should be some perspective here, Leyland played it by the book tonight and it just didn't work out.
I don't despise Leyland, but it is frustrating watching this team underperform right now.
what leyland does taht drives fans nuts is he continuously plays players who are not performing killing rallies and such, such as playing avila everyday when all he ever does is strike out pena is much better and proven it and has earned it so why isnt he playing, same thing with why does he keep playing don kelly when you have sopo on the bench who again has played better and earned the starting time when available thats the issues that drive us nuts with leyland
3 times and won a championship. He has earned the right to do whatever the hell he wants as long as he can get them back to the playoff which they're currently on pace for it. He's a players coach and players love to play for him. Yes, it's frustrating to see the team underacheiving to a degree but look at some of the players who are outperforming their usual self like Infante, Peralta, etc.
People who wants Leyland fired are stupid.
He's earned the right, but baseball, unlike most other sports, is about more than just the playoffs. With such a long season, most of the fun comes in seeing the team play well throughout the year. Watching near-.500 ball for 6 months and then winning a couple playoff series really isn't that much fun imo.
then peak in the playoff than play great ball then choke in the playoff.
The regular season is all about getting into the playoff. It's nearly impossible to maintain high level of play all season long since it's 162 games. Every great team goes to slump and with MLB trending toward parity, expecting a 105-110 wins is almost unrealistic.
I just think that when your regular season is 162 games, it's about more than getting into the playoffs. Being bored for 6 months and excited for 2 weeks isn't my idea of a great season, unless of course you win the world series.
last year Tigers or 2001 Mariner who had the best record in the MLB at 116 wins breaking the Yankees record of 114 wins and lost in the ALCS?
Honestly, the Mariners, and it's really not even close.
Good. Go be a fan of the Mariners.
No thanks.
It's pretty clear you don't like watching Tigers games. So maybe go mow the lawn?
You know it is possible to enjoy watching a team generally and still be frustrated at the way they are currently playing.
So, have you ever been happy?
The defense isn't really bad, in fact other than Cabrera himself and Fielder, none of the regular starters are worse than average defensively.
Best Tiger hitter ever. Better than Ty.
.420 in 1911, .409 in 1912, and amazingly again in 1922 with .401. Migs is good, but saying he is better, I don't know about that.
Much like Ichiro. Hell he batted with his hands apart. And he was much much more aggressive, especially on the base paths. Miggy is a purer hitter, and not the chutspah of Cobb.
I don't think he hit over 10 HRs but twice. Those RBI numbers though, that's still impressive.
but as I think of my favorite Ty Cobb story. I doubt Miggy could drive a ball at heckler's during batting practice like Cobb could. So you I think you have a point. Miggy isn't better Cobb.
Let's not forget, 10+ homeruns used to be all it took to lead the league. Ty Cobb's 9 homers in 1909 was the most in baseball that year.
Before 1920 or so, they used one ball a game. So, it was similar to giant softball that is played in Chicago, among other places, in that the ball is hard and round to start the game, but after a while becomes dirty, misshapen, and soft. (Hence the term, "soft"ball.)
Pitchers would also load the ball up with tobacco juice, etc., so even Mark McGwire would've had trouble hitting home runs. Furthermore, before 1910 or so, the parks didn't have outfield fences or bleachers, so one would get a home run by hitting the ball b/w outfielders and it would roll so far that the hitter could circle the bases before the fielders could relay the ball back home.
Since the ball was "adapted" during the course of a game, pitchers could put a crap-ton of movement on the ball. Add to that the fact that the ball was harder to see from it being brown, parks didn't have lights, and the ball being so soft, one had to be a "slap" hitter to be successful.
So comparing Cobb to Cabrera is really apples to oranges. Or should I say, peaches to beer?
Miggy is a purer hitter, and not the chutspah of CobbThat word . . . I do not think it means what you think it means.
Where Cobb would slide into a base with his spikes up to TRY to take your face off.. If that's incorrect I apologize, but I thought it was appropriate.
What do you mean by under control?
I would assume that means 'in first place'.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't often wondered where we'd be under a different skipper. It's hard to explain, but I feel like he shows a little too much loyalty to his guys, pitchers in particular. Sometimes you just have to cut your losses with a player (during a game and during a season), and Leyland seems to give them more of a chance than they should get when things get sticky.
Then again, what do I know. As nice as a world series would be, you'd have to be a moron to be dissapointed with "only" getting 2 AL championships since '06.
The Tigers haven't won the World Series since 1984 and they have had the roster capable of doing it for probably 4 of the past 7 seasons. The 2 World Series performances by this team under Leyland have made me want a new manager. The 2012 World Series may have been one of the worst of all-time. I love the Tigers and always want to see them win. I realized this season that they are not fun to watch and haven't been for a few years, including last year. They have some great players but they badly underperform their roster level much of the time and it gets tiring. Then, if you consider 2009 when Leyland helped contribute to the Tigers pissing away a 3-game lead with 4 games to play...I have had it with him as the Tigers' manager.
Baseball is a hard game and winning is a delicate balance. The Bullpen is the main issue. Everyone else sans Avila is hitting and fielding reasonably well.
They aren't fun to watch right now. I don't care how many great players you have if you go 14-14 in May. Who enjoys .500 baseball?
Mariners fans. I'd sacrifice a fattened calf to watch .500 baseball for a month right now.
I don't care how many great players you have if you go 14-14 in May. Who enjoys .500 baseball?
My God, how ridiculous are you? You realive if you turn around just 2 of those games that the Tigers would be playing .571 ball which is good for 92 wins and usually right at a division crown? If their worst month of the season is .500 ball, then the Tigers are going to win the division with relative ease.