The Tigers’ front office or, at the very least, manager Jim Leyland seem married to the idea of a Proven Closer, a reliable “name” guy who has closed in the past. Ideally, they can be trusted to hold down a role they’ve held many times in the past, such as one José Valverde. How many [...]
I did not disagree with the decision to bring Jose Valverde into the organization. I was willing to be patient and let them give him the chance to close and see what he had to offer. Up until recently, I have had no problem with how the Tigers have handled the Valverde situation. But after [...]
For eight innings, the Detroit Tigers looked as if they were in good shape to take two out of three on the road from the streaking Kansas City Royals. Justin Verlander had cruised through seven innings, Drew Smyly had gotten them through the eighth, they had managed two runs off Royals ace James Shields. And [...]
A day after Max Scherzer picked up win No. 9, Justin Verlander looks to outduel James Shields (again) for his ninth, which would be his fifth in a row in as many starts. Lineups after the jump around. [...]
On this date in 1938, (75 years ago) there was an earthquake in Belgium (that I’ve re-imagined in this far-fetched, late night joke) and Max Scherzer was not even a gleam in his grandfather’s blue (or was it brown?) eyes. In the same month, Tigers pitcher Vern Kennedy won his 9th straight game to start the season [...]
The Tigers’ offense looks to get back on track after a disappointingly quiet performance on Monday against a pitcher who wasn’t at his best. Max Scherzer is hoping to become the first Tiger pitcher to post a 9-0 record since 1938, when Vern Kennedy did it in his only full season with the Tigers. Doug [...]
“Keep it movin’ folks, keep it movin’. Nothing to see here.” From the 4th inning on, a security guard in a poorly acted crime-dramedy could have (for the most part) called this snoozer of a game. Two pitchers pitched well, one lineup had one more hit with RISP than the other and that, my friends, [...]
Our Tigers find themselves on a nice little hot streak of 4 straight wins, with the offense and pitching finally finding some consistent harmony. Up next, a Royals squad enjoying its own bit of success as they attempt to lock down their first 6-game streak in years. On the mound for your Tigers is another [...]
You’ve gotta hand it to Jose Alvarez. He pretty much pitched the way he has been pitching in Toledo, and he did a nice job. It was very impressive to watch. He said after the game that he was nervous (which I’d assume is the case for anyone making his major league debut), but he [...]
The Tigers go for the sweep of the Indians this afternoon. Anibal Sanchez is having his start skipped due to shoulder/back stiffness, so the Tigers will call up lefty Jose Alvarez to make his major league debut. The Tigers signed him as a minor league free agent in the offseason. I was already somewhat familiar [...]
Rick Porcello turned in yet another solid performance, as he went six innings and allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts. Porcello’s seven strikeout performance was the Tigers’ 35th outing with seven or more strikeouts from a starter. No other team in MLB had more than 23 (via @Thompson_Tigers. Porcello [...]
