Footnotes from Saturday
Repeat after me: The sky is not falling. A four-game losing streak is not a big deal, especially when you consider they haven’t lost more than four at any point this year. Skids happen, especially during a stretch like this against Minnesota and Chicago with Boston coming up. It was a game the Tigers should’ve won if not for the errors, though losing lead on a two-out hit from Brian Anderson isn’t the fielder’s fault either.
Other items of note after the game:
- The pitchout the Tigers put on to nab Joe Crede on a squeeze bunt attempt was a total guess, Leyland said. "To be honest," Leyland said, "that was a total guess." You would think maybe Leyland was trying to put himself in Guillen’s shoes and think what he would do, except Leyland hates the squeeze play.
- Leyland didn’t really criticize the offensive approach Saturday, calling it OK, though he noted Buehrle got them to swing and miss at pitches out of the strike zone. He admitted his offense is in a bit of a funk, but he pointed to the pitchers they’ve been facing for part of that.
- The trend Fernando Rodney has developed of falling behind the first batter or two hasn’t exactly been calming, but he’s been getting away with it lately. He has three walks over his last four outings, but one was intentional. Longer-term, he has three unintentional walks in his last 10 appearances.
Jason Beck
Thank you Jason. Dan, you need to calm down. I don’t even think we need to win tomorrow (although it would be very very nice). Yeah I realize it’s the White Sox, but it’s the team with the most wins period over the 162 game stretch that wins the division, not head to head. Even if we lose tomorrow, we’re still leading comfortably.
I agree, and would like to add two comments.
1) At the beginning of this season, I was hoping that this team could finally be competitive and, hope against hope, be in contention in September. Well, it appears this is going to happen.
2) I’ve said before and will say again, the only thing that can stop the Tigers is a pitching failure. I see no evidence of that taking place and don’t expect it to.
So there are seven weeks to go. Let’s just strap in and enjoy the ride. This is what it’s all about.
I guess we all choose how serious to take these things and why we bother to make comments on them.
Me “calming down” is irrelevant.
I am simply exressing my opinion and feelings. I feel these guys are vulnerable to self doubt and that is a shame because they are immensley talented. There are a few things that are not in place yet like a true leadoff hitter and cleanup hitter and a reliable closer. Can they overcome this? Yes, if they start pulling together and start playing intense, determined baseball. They are not a club that can endure too many mistakes. Like two out-two strike hits to weak hitters, careless throwing the ball around or poor baserunning. They do not have the 3 run home run power to make up for this.
The next challenge after this debacle is to see if they have the ability to turn things around now that the firt litmus test has shown its results.
I just think it is a shame to see these guys who have done so well, succumb to pressure and not just comparative abilities.
The truth is the Sox are a better team and the Tigers need to dig deeper to places they weren’t aware of in order to fend them off.
The starting rotation is in danger of becoming the problem now rather than the solution. Guillen’s error yesterday was IMO a careless one but in the end Rogers still gave up hits to the lineup’s weakest hitters and the big one with 2 strikes on a .200 hitter.
You can look in the faces of these guys right now and unfortunately it is striking terror in the eyes of their fans and not the opposition.
If you want to compare this year with recent ones and are satisfied with accepting that then fine. I don’t. I think these guys have a chance to do something magical this year and believe in them so much as to be unwilling to accept mediocrity.
The lead is down to 5 1/2 and the Tigers are going to play the Red Sox in Boston. The White Sox meanwhile get Kansas City in a 4 game set in Chicago….. UH OH
The lead is down to 5 1/2 and the Tigers are going to play the Red Sox in Boston. The White Sox meanwhile get Kansas City in a 4 game set in Chicago….. UH OH
I have a question. Of all past league and division winners, which one has had the worst face to face record against the second place team and what was that record? I’m looking for some historical perspective on what is going on right now.
A Tiger fan for 47 years. I see some cracks in the great season. 2 quick points: Plate discipline is non existent. Inge really let us down here today with his horrible swing on 3-1. No walks from our hitters. We have to get on by hits all the time. Why do Mags and Pudge have to swing at the first pitch all the time, then take strike 2, and then fight out from the 0-2 count. Point 2. I’m not sold on Colon out of the pen. He always gives up at least one run. Any responses?
Hi David. I’m a Tiger fan for 46 years, so I guess we’ve seen some ball, haven’t we?
I suppose when the Tigers don’t hit, their lack of plate discipline really stands out, but it must also work for them too, since it got them this far. Pudge must swing at the first pitch 95% of the time. I don’t expect Inge to change much at this point, but I hope he surprises me.
It’s my guess that the Tiger pitching situation is very fluid at this point, and it’s hard to say who will be coming out of the pen by September.
Hey old timers. I have been following the club since the days of Harvey Kuenn, Ray Boone, Red Wilson,
Reno Bertoia, Frank Bolling, Frank Lary and of course Mr. Tiger.
It may not sound like it but I am enjoying this season. Almost as much as 67 and 68
Hi Dan. So the last three posters have about 150 years of Tiger watching.
That 1967 season was, to me, the most frustrating ever. All those injuries, topped off by those consecutive, agonizingly long doubleheaders with the Angels on the final two days. I can still see Hank Aguirre turning to fire to first….
Oh well, nobody wants to hear about that. My name is Rich, BTW.
1967. I remember it fairly well. I remember Yaz hurting us in the big game and Dalton Jones beating us with a 10 th ining home run. The only other thing I remember that was eventful for Dalton was when he was with the Tigers and he hit a Grand Slam but passed a baserunner on the base paths (in his euphoria!)
Yeah, I was at the Yaz/Jones game you mentioned. As I recall, it was McLain’s last start before that toe thing, and Cash came out of a slump to hit a couple homers. Northrup had a huge hit in the eighth to put the Tigers in front, and the place was just electric. Then Yaz came up in the ninth and pulled the plug. Not that it’s seered in my memory or anything…..