Uncertainties, not question marks: 2015 Tigers

Sanchez gave up four home runs last year.

shane greene looks pretty good . . . when he's not batting, anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljo2FI9ynAE

We want that Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCmAaU_W0AEffEs.png

Joba, unacknowledged Dom DeLuise son

Only one appearance -- a rough one -- for Joba thus far. Zero tolerance!

Meanwhile, Joakim Soria has been sharp (two hits allowed, both in a nonsave situation) and will lose his current role once Joe Nathan is off the DL.

Price: 22.1 innings, 20 SO, 5 walks, 1 HR. Some pretty good stuff so far.

Poor Denny McLain

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/04/20/detroit-tigers-denny-mclain-memorabilia/25990339/

http://www.postandcourier.com/storyimage/CP/20130709/PC20/130709436/AR/0/AR-130709436.jpg&maxw=400&q=90

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vsveDzdxYIscff0GqfOKP1xKV6g=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3626326/Iglesias_omg.0.gif

what a pick by miggy

v pretty infield plays tonight

"yr welcome detroit!" - ben cherington

Oh no!

‏@TonyPaul1984
It was an off-speed pitch that landed #Tigers Joe Nathan on the DL. Reports say he just left Toledo outing after another off-speed pitch.

@cmccosky
In his last .2 innings vs. Yanks at Comerica, Price has given up 14 runs, 13 hits. Crazy

had to restrain myself from posting another joey pankake video here today

rip joe nathan

alfredo simon: staff ace

Despite Chad Fairchild:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/numlocation.php?pitchSel=430580&game=gid_2015_04_25_clemlb_detmlb_1/&batterX=4&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1

Meanwhile, in nine appearances, Nathan understudy Soria -- who was mopping up for Phil Coke only seven months ago -- has allowed two base runners, both during a nonsave situation.

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/numlocation.php?pitchSel=430580&game=gid_2015_04_25_clemlb_detmlb_1/&batterX=4&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1

(Pitch six: "Ball four!")

@Lynn_Henning
Was deeply concerned about Kirk Gibson after seeing him a couple of weeks ago. Suspected some kind of stroke. Tigers announce: Parkinson's.

Damn. Going by his mound visits the previous couple (few?) seasons, I wondered if he was dealing with something more serious than typical wear.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDsbYOZXIAIWo0-.png

gibson scouting report at michigan state

@Lynn_Henning
It was 37 years ago this month Kirk Gibson ran a 4.23 40-yard dash for NFL scouts. He was going to be the first player drafted in 2 sports.

80-grade aggressiveness

80 speed, 40 range

20 speed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI99GVuQLeI

He ran a 4.23?!

Looks like Henning corrected himself here. Still...

In April 1978, he also ran during an audition for NFL scouts. He was timed, by multiple people, at 4.28 in the 40-yard dash. This, from a 20-year-old man who stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 220 pounds.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/lynn-henning/2015/04/29/henning-parkinsons-defeat-gibson/26555849/

sorry for jinxing you alfredo

@beckjason
Shane Greene on pitching to his manager: "I just see a glove." Said Ausmus wanted to do it and he said alright.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Yesterday:

Chicago - Bottom of 8th
Joba Chamberlain pitching for Detroit
Ramírez grounded out to shortstop.
Flowers popped out to second.
Johnson singled to left.
Eaton singled to shallow left, Johnson to second.
Cabrera homered to right (405 feet), Johnson and Eaton scored.
Abreu singled to left.
LaRoche singled to right center, Abreu to third.
García singled to center, Abreu scored, LaRoche to third.
Hardy relieved Chamberlain.
Beckham hit for Gillaspie.
Beckham lined out to center.

@beckjason
Soria has one 4-out appearance since Tommy John surgery in 2012. That was in Game 161 of 2013 season for Texas. Not happening in May.

Today:

Chicago - Bottom of 8th
Soria relieved Lobstein.
Abreu struck out swinging.

Chicago - Bottom of 9th
García struck out swinging.
LaRoche struck out swinging.
Ramírez struck out swinging.

"It's funny," said Lobstein, a genial, intelligent 25-year-old. "I pitch 7 2/3 innings and get three strikeouts. Soria gets four strikeouts pitching to four batters."

BP:

"Two years ago Detroit led the majors in strikeouts. This year, they're 29th. The most popular theory is all those strikeouts had to move out of state to find jobs."

joey pankake inside-the-park homer today!

Rock, rock
Rocked Lobstein

"Time goes quick," Cabrera said. "I feel like my first year was last year. Sometimes I'm scared because I don't want to stop playing baseball, you know? I just want to stop [aging] right here. I'm 32. Stop! And keep playing. Time goes too fast, man."

http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/124433644/tigers-miguel-cabrera-humbled-to-be-one-home-run-shy-of-andres-galarraga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC3odHnprl4

@cmccosky
Cabrera is the 15th player to reach 400 in his age-32 season. He has 262 as a Tiger, tied with Willie Horton for fourth

Victor Martinez, .141/.242/.153 against RHPs, likely to the DL.

Unfortunately he can't be reinstated to face LHPs (.462/.516/.654).

Also unfortunate that Bengie Molina (with his brothers strapped to his back) would likely beat Martinez in a sprint.

http://d11gntdlgy6l0w.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/willie-horton-at-the-plate-tiger-stadium-2015.jpg

http://blog.detroitathletic.com/2015/05/21/willie-horton-returns-to-the-site-of-tiger-stadium-for-the-first-time-since-its-final-game-in-1999/

http://i.imgur.com/JyjiWHZ.png

"It was my fault," Kaline said, sitting on a black leather sofa in the Tigers clubhouse as Detroit got ready for a night game against Milwaukee. "It was one of the worst, if not the worst, decisions I've ever made in my life.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/05/26/kalines-last-day-short-history-long-regret/27988713/

It isn’t a bad team. In fact, I feel strong Red Sox ’13 vibes.

― Allen (etaeoe), Wednesday, February 18, 2015 8:37 AM (3 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

still think this

HIT THE BALL

Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st
Shane Greene pitching for Detroit
Giavotella grounded out to shortstop.
Trout homered to center (434 feet).
Pujols popped out to third.
Calhoun homered to right center (393 feet).
Freese fouled out to first.

Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd
Shane Greene pitching for Detroit
Joyce homered to center (397 feet).
Pérez homered to center (399 feet).
Navarro reached on infield single to pitcher.
Green struck out looking.
Giavotella lined out to center.
Trout walked, Navarro to second.
Pujols homered to left (417 feet), Navarro and Trout scored.
Wilson relieved Greene.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGiDlZOVIAACpfO.jpg

no-hitter intact

And then...

Third inning, Tigers on first and second, none out. Bunt, bunt, ground out. No runs score. Ausmus says after the game that both bunts were "hitters on their own." Maybe he tried the "Don't bunt unless you get the sign" rule with team Israel and lost the clubhouse. Wouldn't want to lose two clubhouses in three years.

Later in the game, Iglesias ranges to his far right, nearly gets Lawrie at third. Tough play, wasn't a force, Iglesias had no chance going to first. Same inning, first and third, routine grounder to Kinsler, whose only play is at first since the runner on first went with the pitch and the runner on third stayed put. Rather than go for the 4-3, Kinsler weakly throws home. Kinsler says after the game that he thought the runner on third was going home. Translation: "I am not at fault." He also says they "had an out" they "didn't come up with," in reference to the Iglesias play.

Ausmus might be only a loss or two away from making another domestic abuse "joke."

As expected, the Tigers lost the Verlander start and won the "nightcap" in which their AL-worst bullpen went six innings. Cabrera went 0-for-5, team scored nine runs -- of course.

Sanchez's rotator cuff strain, which put him on the DL Aug. 19, flared up at the end of his bullpen session Monday. He said he planned to be examined by Dr. James Andrews, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

Thanks again for being a bulldog and toughing it out.

2014 HR9: 0.3
2015 HR9: 1.7

And the same to you, Victor Martinez (.291/.347/.637).

There are reasons for the falloff. He had surgery to repair his left meniscus on Feb. 10. It was the second operation in three years on that knee, and in hindsight, with Martinez being 36 years old, he probably tried to come back too soon.

He's never been fully healthy. Compensations were made in his swing early on, particularly from the left side, which threw off his mechanics. To alleviate the stress on the back leg, he began hitting more off his front leg, losing balance and power.

And try as me might, even as the knee has strengthened through the season, he hasn't been able to get his old, smooth swing back.

"When you are hurt, you definitely try to do stuff so you don't feel the pain here and there," Martinez said. "We definitely picked up bad habits and then it's just been fighting and fighting and fighting.

@Lynn_Henning
One thing impossible to find today at Comerica Park: a line at the concessions stand. Each fan gets his or her own stand.

congrats to JOEY PANKAKE and the MIDWEST LEAGUE CHAMPION WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS

“Bruce Rondon, because of his effort level, has been sent home,” Ausmus announced. “And other than saying that (general manager) Al Avila and myself completely agreed on it, there will be no other details or comment.”

BEST TEN-GAME STRETCH SINCE APRIL

.500 STILL WITHIN REACH

AUSMUS TO RETURN

@KatieStrangESPN
Tigers pitcher Alfredo Simon said he has pitched through knee pain virtually the whole SSN. Going to DET tmrw to undergo PRP treatment

OK, great.

if only buck farmer had been given a shot

anyway fuck them for not calling up hessman

Dan: Ausmus says he doesn’t care what people say about his handling of Norris because they don’t know the game like he does. Can the Tigers hit the reset on their decision?

Klaw: Except that all available evidence is that he doesn’t know the game. That was unconscionable; two AGMs texted me during that first inning to ask what the fuck (their word) Ausmus was doing.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/09/30/daniel-norris-54-pitch-first-inning-tigers-brad-ausmus

But if he gets hurt, or if his velocity and effectiveness fade next year, there will be many fingers pointing to Tuesday night’s 54 pitches and the manager who let him throw them.

Looking forward to a poor start or the slightest injury being attributed to 54 pitches thrown without a five/ten-minute break.

Probably wouldn't have left Norris in there to finish the inning, though.

@Dan_Dickerson
Verlander's final 14GS of this year:
2.27ERA, 74H in 99IP, 20W/91K - and opp. hit .207/.249/.299 - .548OPS in 358AB....

Tigers' Daniel Norris reveals he has thyroid cancer

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/10/19/detroit-tigers-daniel-norris/74236764/

Heard on the radio it's very treatable.

lloyd mcclendon is the new manager of the toledo mud hens

also it is joey pankake's birthday

Great day for the organization.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ0tlyrVAAA6XON.jpg

In Faygo orange for graying Juggalos

https://twitter.com/Field_Jordan/status/695599881071624192