Ian Kinsler knickers, is Nick Castellanos Greek, Drew Smyly ebola, Torii Hunter inflatable furniture: 2014 Tigers

Collecting shortstops now.

@TonyPaul1984
Alex Gonzalez played two more games at short than Omar Vizquel last season.

http://www.thedetroitsportssite.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Dave+Dombrowski+Detroit+Tigers+v+Miami+Marlins+yFoVr7pFoFOx.jpg

@beckjason
Dombrowski said they were in a jam, disagreed when asked if they were scrambling. "I'd say busy," he said.

alex gonazalez in 2013: 41 games, -1.0 war, 18 ops+

Source: Cabrera close to deal on long-term extension with Tigers

@TonyPaul1984
Those suggesting #Tigers are spend-happy again, not true. They were deliberately frugal this winter, and loads of cash comes off books soon.

@TonyPaul1984
Simply put, this was a deal the #Tigers had to do. The best hitter in franchise history, and he's showing no signs of slowing.

Maybe he was worth more than he was paid, 2008-2013.

Just because other players are coming off the books doesnt make it a good idea to give 30m to a 35+ yo cabrera

Mike Ilitch is 84 years old and wants the team to win a World Series before he dies. He does not care.

Buster_ESPN
Haven't heard as much disgust over a contract from rival execs since the Jayson Werth contract. Industry is in shock over the Cabrera deal.

Haha -- Illitch bought the team for $82 million.

I wonder how much a star player like Kershaw or Cabrera bring in money, t-shirt sales, ticket sales, etc.

i'd probably pay $250 million to see cabrera in person it balances out

Kershaw is in a market where you don't really need star power but Detroit might..

Had the Tigers let Cabrera walk after 2015, nothing short of hiring Brandon Inge as manager would have repaired the fan base damage.

miketroutdollarsignsineyes.gif

Every 10-year contract up until now has become an embarrassment before year 5 -- you'd think that people wouldn't be so eager to hand them out.

Apparently they can afford the embarrassment for the sake of the next 3-4 years

pray it doesnt pour in DC tomw so Karl Malone and I can heckle Miggy

Guy's a homer but

http://fivethirtyeight.com/datalab/cabreras-millions-and-baseballs-billions/

how do you feel about this situation andy k

I see both sides.

Let's revisit this in 2065, when the contract expires.

http://simlb.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/maxscherzerbobble_033114_blogut.jpg?w=600&h=451

haha

ian kinsler is the new brandon inge

Won two challenges today.

And a game.

Verlander, previously 0-for-career, 2-for-2 off Ian Kennedy thus far tonight.

That's one more hit than the team had last night.

strds

@Tom_Gage
incredible streak - #Tigers Victor Martinez has gone 151 games w/o taking called third strike - 117 last year, 11 post-season, 23 this year

And he's no hacker. Bananas.

Now with Joel Hanrahan

@Tom_Gage
#Tigers Victor Martinez about first called 3rd strike since 5/21/13: "If I'd known (it had been that long), I would have swung."

Really like that the team is running more often, but

T Hunter doubled to left.
T Hunter caught stealing third, catcher to third.
M Cabrera homered to left center.

ROBBIE RAY IS THE FIRST TIGER TO WIN HIS FIRST START AT AGE 22 OR YOUNGER SINCE JEFF WEAVER IN 1999.

take sides: '14 astros vs. '99 twins

So...Paul Nauert...

http://sports.cbsimg.net/images/visual/whatshot/ToriiSlap051214.gif

jeez louiiizze

Huh.

"That's my guy," Hunter told The Detroit News of Nauert. "He was trying to cover my mouth. I've known him too long [to be upset]. He was just saying to me, 'C'mon, T. You're way better than that.' And he's right.

"I apologize to the fans for my reaction."

2013: 35 SB, 20 CS
2014: 35 SB, 13 CS

Like Verlander, Ausmus seemed intent on answering questions about the pitch in the most direct and brief way possible. What was his view of the pitch?

"My view was from the dugout," Ausmus said.

http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2014/05/justin_verlander_on_pitch_he_t.html

lol ausmus

@beckjason
Not only have #Tigers matched last year's SB total, they lead the AL. They've led league at season's end only once in last 80 years.

Word to Milt Cuyler.

Make that Brian Hunter.

@TonyPaul1984
Interesting. #Rangers GM Jon Daniels says neither Fielder, Kinsler took physicals in trade. Showed how badly #Tigers wanted Prince out.

Road warriors

Porcello on his way to a WTF ASG start

Avila's OBP higher than that of Cabrera

Are the Tigers just playing exceptionally well, or are they good enough to win 105-110 games? The rotation would seem to be at least the equal of what the Phillies had that one year.

Even 100 seems unlikely, but...how many times have recent Red Sox teams been swept at home while being held to three or fewer runs (in a three-game series)?

I think you’re overcompensating because it’s your team, Andy. (And I’m jumping the gun, I know.) In the ’85 Abstract, James went through a position-by-position comparison (plus spot starters/bullpen support, plus bench) of the ’84 Tigers to the great teams of the then-recent past: ’77 Yankees, ’76 Reds, ’73 A’s, ’70 Orioles, ’67 Cardinals, and ’61 Yankees. He ended up with the ’84 Tigers in 5th place, 47-43, ahead of the Cardinals and Yankees. Who have been the greatest World-Series winning teams since then? ’98 Yankees, ’95 Braves, ’89 A’s, ’86 Mets, and one of the Blue Jays (sorry), Cardinals, and Red Sox teams. I’ll try a quick match-up of this year’s Tigers against the ’84 team.

C – Parrish vs. Avila: ’84
1B – Dave Bergman vs. Cabrera: I don’t think Cabrera’s ever going to be as dominant again, but obviously not close
2B – Whitaker vs. Kinsler: ’84, not close, but Kinsler is a good player playing well
3B – Howard Johnson vs. Castellanos: ’84, although HoJo wasn’t anywhere near the player he’d become with the Mets
SS – Trammell vs. Romine: lopsided
LF – Larry Herndon vs. Davis: ’84
CF – Chet Lemon vs. Jackson: ’84, but pretty close by WAR (I’m looking at ’84 plus the previous 2-3 seasons)
RF – Gibson vs. Hunter: close again...draw
DH – Darrell Evans vs. Martinez: based solely on this year, ’14; more realistically, either a draw or edge to ’84

Sizable advantage to the ’84 team based on position players—the only clear win for the ’14 team is at first base.

#1 Starter – Morris vs. Verlander (I know you could say Scherzer...trying to step back a bit): ’14
#2 Starter – Petry vs. Scherzer: ’14, but Petry was good for a few years

If you switch Verlander and Scherzer, same result.

#3 Starter – Milt Wilcox vs. Sanchez: ’14
#4 Starter – Juan Berenguer vs. Porcello: ’14
#5 Starter – Dave Rozema vs. Smyley: ’14 (Rozema was quite good early in his career, but by ’84, edge to this year’s team)
Closer – Willie Hernandez vs. Nathan: Hernandez got the two awards he didn’t deserve that year (he did pitch 140 innings, so you could make a non-WAR case for Cy Young...2.5 WAR behind Stieb and Blyleven), but I’d rather have Nathan

Don’t know this year’s Tigers well enough to do bench or rest-of-bullpen. The ’84 team got a great year out of Aurelio Lopez in long relief (10-1, 2.94).

Didn’t really need to do all that, did I? ’84 team, much stronger starting eight + DH; ’14, much stronger pitching. I’ll say this year’s team wins 103.

Still Whitaker, of course, but let me amend Kinsler to very good player playing very well.

That's funny -- a friend of mine and I were comparing this team to the '84 team the other day. I figured the '84 team had a slight edge in offense and a significant edge in defense, with '14 pitching way ahead. Hard to truly compare teams 30 years apart though.

@Dan_Dickerson
The slightly surreal scene on shuttle bus at 3am after plane troubles in Boston sent #Tigers back to hotel...in Zubaz pic.twitter.com/Z6fT8Ghdfb

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BoAX--kIEAA2pDP.jpg

ha haha - i get this reference.

Yeah -- Daniels is a Tigers fan.

Verlander did not comment specifically on the photos.

@dschoenfield Aug 12
I know, hard to believe ... RT @mdfrese wait, you mean relying on the guy Houston cut might not work out?

This was such a bright tweet a couple weeks ago, when Martinez was slumping. Besides, the Astros are so smart now!

Martinez has 19 HR in 99 games, a .911 OPS, a .679 "late and close" SLG, and is paid the league minimum.

Even if he sucks the rest of the season, he has "worked out."

(Astros left fielders this year: .209/.279/.316.)

San Francisco - Top of 1st						SCORE
David Price pitching for Detroit					SF	DET
A Pagan struck out looking.						0	0
J Panik flied out to center.						0	0
B Posey singled to right.						0	0
H Pence singled to right, B Posey to third.				0	0
P Sandoval singled to center, B Posey scored, H Pence to second.	1	0
A Susac doubled to deep right center, H Pence and P Sandoval scored.	3	0
J Arias doubled to left, A Susac scored.				4	0
M Duffy struck out looking.						4	0

I can't recall this many frustrating/Twilight Zone-type games in 2008, when they went 74-88.

Starting Romine, Kelly, and "Lobber," looking at being three games back -- no worries.

Wasn't sarcasm.

Don't fuck this up, bullpen.

Kelly is out there trying to kill Hunter.

https://d3j5vwomefv46c.cloudfront.net/photos/large/865759480.gif

Tip of the cap to Ned Yost for calling for a third-inning sac bunt against one of the league's least effective pitchers, btw.

Thanks, Jarrod.

@based_ball
J.D. Martinez has a higher WAR than the Astros outfield

ready for a long-term contract then?

Really entertaining listening to broadcast booth addition Jack Morris refer to Justin Verlander as Justin Morneau and to the Tigers as the Twins.

The Tigers scored a run on a botched intentional walk. Small ball!

Jack Morris seriously thought Kinsler was credited with an RBI for that.

Morris used the phrases "never-never land" and "the triangle out there" following a bloop single.

Thing is, it's 6-3. He broadcasts to the score; if the Tigers come back and make it 6-6, that's when he'll really bear down.

OTM

The tying run is on for the Indians. Jack's about to step it up!

Oh no, not Giambi.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140916/SPORTS0104/309160096/Jack-Morris-Tigers-TV-cameo-hope-there-s-an-opportunity-down-road-

“Unfortunately, Justin does a lot of the talking when we have conversations,” Morris said. “I understand him, he’s wired kind of the same way I was when I played. We both have strong will and beliefs in what we do.

“I think there’s things that I could help Justin with, but until I know that he’s coming to me with sincere ears wide open, I feel like it’s not my job.”

Morris also was asked about Max Scherzer, who let a big lead slip away Monday, and the difference between him and Morris.

Morris responded with this zinger:

“The one huge comparison,” he said laughing, “he’s got one complete game.”

Does Scherzer have any wild-pitch RBI?

jack morris sounds like a prick

That's seven blown saves for Joe Nathan. Should the Tigers miss the playoffs, that number will look far worse than it does now.

		G    IP	  H  HR  ER   K  BB  SV  BSV   WHIP   ERA 
Vs Tigers      61  62.2  33   2	 10  75  23  36    0  0.894  1.44	
As a Tiger     58  54.2  58   5  31  52  28  32    7  1.573  5.10

Earliest Free Agent: 2016

You'd think Ausmus would try to get two innings out of Jim Johnson during a post-clinch game only, yet...

@beckjason
Ausmus on McCann stolen base: "Every once in a while, Omar [Vizquel] gets bored over there, so he sends somebody."

and there was noooooo doubt about it

btw raul ibanez is 1-for-41 against lefties this year

gotta dance with who brung ya tho

Nathan remains the closer and Soria mops up for Phil Coke.

Closer watches starter surrender five ninth-inning hits and a three-run lead. Remains closer.

gets a win

And Soria will be available for mop-up tomorrow. Win-win.

@castrovince
Victor Martinez update: 35 (age), .335 (AVG), 31 (HR), 32 (2B), 40 (K). "Age," he said this morning, "is just a number." #Tigers

He is going to get so paid by the...

he was talking about his 88 year-old gf tho

chris sale is pretty good

andrew romine is fun . . . damental!

Now that it's no longer a save situation, Nathan has refrained from warming up, and now September call-ups mop-up men Soria and Sanchez are getting loose.

‏@based_ball
J.D. Martinez
Pull: 1.254 OPS
Center: 1.036 OPS
Opposite: 1.456 OPS

@matthewbmowery
Sale on binocular motion: "I did? I don't remember that, but if I did, I was just goofing off and trying to keep things light in the dugout"

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ByUmR2lIEAAfRnv.jpg

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

@scottmerkin
Robin said Ausmus should worry about his own team and Sale is not "weak"

@beckjason
Tigers announce Miguel Cabrera had surgery, not just for bone spurs in ankle but for stress fracture in navicular bone at top of foot.

https://www.wxyz.com/sports/every-pitcher-from-the-2014-tigers-rotation-is-now-a-world-series-champion