***Detroit Tigers thread: 1st pick yet again, this is not fun*** (3 Viewers)

[BobbyLayne]

After 5 innings today the Tigers led 5-0 and had outhit the Blue Jays 10-2.

The divisional lead is 1/2 game.

We're about to find out if these guys have any heart.

Let's see what you are made of, boys.

 

[Da Guru]

6 hours and 37 minutes with 19 innings both records for Blue Jays. I never dreamed the Tigers could lose back to back games when Max and Price started.

It is not about who is starting. It is getting the last 3 outs that have proved to be very difficult.

 

[BobbyLayne]

6 hours and 37 minutes with 19 innings both records for Blue Jays. I never dreamed the Tigers could lose back to back games when Max and Price started.

It is not about who is starting. It is getting the last 3 outs that have proved to be very difficult.

Well there in the top 5 in most offensive categories. 8th in quality starts *(most of those pre-Price). In the bottom quarter of most other pitching stats and defense (though we do turn a nice DP and have a decent C).

I figure at best they're the third best team in the AL, at worst there are ten teams better than Detroit in MLB. Hard to believe the latter is true with the five SP they have, but that's the truth right now.

We'll see what happens the next few weeks - this is a team at the crossroads IMO.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

JV vs a NL team, if they lose this one I'm getting the shovel out of the garage.

 

[tri-man 47]

Well there in the top 5 in most offensive categories. 8th in quality starts *(most of those pre-Price). In the bottom quarter of most other pitching stats and defense (though we do turn a nice DP and have a decent C).

I figure at best they're the third best team in the AL, at worst there are ten teams better than Detroit in MLB. Hard to believe the latter is true with the five SP they have, but that's the truth right now.

We'll see what happens the next few weeks - this is a team at the crossroads IMO.

It makes me wonder how much of this falls on Ausmus. Does the offense have a mentality of "it's OK, Miggy or VMart will bail us out"? And does that star-focus come from Ausmus instead of holding everyone accountable? Should he have cut off Nathan months ago and trusted someone else to get a rhythm and attitude going? Wish I knew the answer.

How does this team not score in all those innings against the bullpen? Some bad karma workin' here.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Well there in the top 5 in most offensive categories. 8th in quality starts *(most of those pre-Price). In the bottom quarter of most other pitching stats and defense (though we do turn a nice DP and have a decent C).

I figure at best they're the third best team in the AL, at worst there are ten teams better than Detroit in MLB. Hard to believe the latter is true with the five SP they have, but that's the truth right now.

We'll see what happens the next few weeks - this is a team at the crossroads IMO.

It makes me wonder how much of this falls on Ausmus. Does the offense have a mentality of "it's OK, Miggy or VMart will bail us out"? And does that star-focus come from Ausmus instead of holding everyone accountable? Should he have cut off Nathan months ago and trusted someone else to get a rhythm and attitude going? Wish I knew the answer.

My question is this. Would the wizened old "players manager" have pulled the plug any sooner? I've seen nothing in his years here to say Leyland would have either. My biggest complaint about Ausmus has been that he makes the same basic moves (and mistakes) as the old guy did.

But I agree with you on the karma thing, tiger hitters got robbed more than once in that marathon.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Detroit Tigers Gameday: Miguel Cabrera at third base, Victor Martinez at first in series opener

Chris Iott | ciott@mlive.com

Aug 11, 2014 04:39 PM

GAME INFORMATION

Who: Detroit Tigers (63-52, 1st in AL Central) at Pittsburgh Pirates (62-55, 3rd in NL Central)

When: 7:05 p.m.

Where: PNC Park in Pittsburgh

TV: Fox Sports Detroit

Radio: 97.1 The Ticket and the Detroit Tigers radio networkDetroit Tigers Gameday: Miguel Cabrera at third base, Victor Martinez at first in series opener

GAME INFORMATION

Who: Detroit Tigers (63-52, 1st in AL Central) at Pittsburgh Pirates (62-55, 3rd in NL Central)

When: 7:05 p.m.

Where: PNC Park in Pittsburgh

STARTING PITCHERS

Detroit Tigers

Justin Verlander (10-10, 4.57 ERA)

Lifetime vs. Pirates: 4-0, 1.97 ERA

Pittsburgh Pirates

Jeff Locke (3-3, 3.78 ERA)

Lifetime vs. Tigers: 0-0, 0.00 ERA

STARTING LINEUPS

(Statistics vs. opposing starter in parentheses)

Detroit Tigers

1. Rajai Davis, CF

2. Ian Kinsler, 2B

3. Miguel Cabrera, 3B (2 for 3, 2 2Bs)

4. Victor Martinez, 1B

5. Torii Hunter, RF

6. J.D. Martinez, LF (0 for 5, 3 SOs)

7. Alex Avila, C

8. Eugenio Suarez, SS

9. Justin Verlander, P

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Josh Harrison, 3B (1 for 8, .125)

2. Gregory Polanco, RF

3. Russell Martin, C (6 for 19, .316, HR, 6 SOs)

4. Ike Davis, 1B (1 for 2)

5. Starling Marte, CF

6. Travis Snider, LF (5 for 13, .385, 2 2Bs, 3B, HR)

7. Jordy Mercer, SS

8. Jayson Nix, 2B (3 for 14, .214, HR, 3 RBIs, 5 SOs)

9. Jeff Locke, P

GAME NOTES

-- Pirates starter Jeff Locke threw 5 1/3 shutout innings in his only career appearance vs. the the Tigers, but he has faced just two current Tigers: Miguel Cabrera and J.D. Martinez. He faced 10 Tigers players in his May 2013 start against the team, but Cabrera is the only one who is on the current active roster.

-- The Tigers made a flurry of roster moves prior to the game today. They placed Joakim Soria on the disabled list, sent left-handers Blaine Hardy and Patrick McCoy to Triple-A Toledo and promoted relief pitchers Kevin Whelan, Justin Miller and Ian Krol from Toledo. The Tigers unconditionally released Casey Crosby to make room on the 40-man roster for Whelan.

-- The Pirates are without Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker -- their top two run producers -- due to injuries.

-- There is a chance of rain in the forecast, but the window for the game seems to have cleared up a bit compared with earlier forecasts. Temperatures should be in the mid- to high 60s.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Here's a quick look at the next series for the Detroit Tigers:

Opponent: Pittsburgh Pirates

Site: PNC Ballpark (Monday, Tuesday) and Comerica Park (Wednesday, Thursday)

Records: Tigers, 63-52 (1st in AL Central); Pirates, 62-55 (3rd in NL Central)

Schedule

Monday: RHP Justin Verlander (10-10, 4.57 ERA) vs. LHP Jeff Locke (3-3, 3.78 ERA), 7:05 p.m., FSD

Tuesday: TBD vs. RHP Edinson Volquez (9-7, 3.70 ERA), 7:05 p.m., FSD, MLB Network

Wednesday: LHP Robbie Ray (1-1, 4.70 ERA) or TBD vs. RHP Vance Worley (5-1, 2.30 ERA), 7:08 p.m., FSD

Thursday: RHP Max Scherzer (13-4, 3.13 ERA) vs. TBD, 1:08 p.m., FSD

Scouting the Pirates: Neither Andrew McCutchen nor Neil Walker were on the disabled list as of Sunday. But neither one of them was in the lineup either. McCutchen is hitting .311 with 17 home runs, 67 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a .947 OPS this season, but he has not played since Aug. 3 due to an avulsion rib fracture. Walker, second on the team with 50 RBIs, had just one at-bat this weekend due to lower back tightness and appears to be headed to the disabled list. That should make things slightly easier on the starting pitchers the Tigers send to the mound this week in back-to-back two-game series between the two teams. The Pirates are third in the National League in batting average, OPS and runs scored, but McCutchen and Walker will be missed. Pirates pitchers are 10th in the National League in ERA and eighth in WHIP. The Pirates currently reside in the second wild-card spot in the National League and are still in contention for the NL Central title.

 

[Da Guru]

40 pitch first inning for Verlander with bullpen already up. Have to think regardless of the runs Ausmus needs at least 5-6 innings.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

 

[Da Guru]

Why would they let him bat with 2 on and then take him out? 100 pitches is 100 pitches.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Tom Gage@Tom_Gage

Repeat - Verlander batted, stormed through dugout, then came out of the game - first inning on Monday stranger than all 19 on Sunday

 

[BobbyLayne]

Jason Beck@beckjason

Story on Verlander's exit, with video of mound visit. Ausmus face kind of sums it up: http://t.co/mhRAJvXnAxl

 

[BobbyLayne]

Can we get 5 innings out of Don Kelly?

 

[Da Guru]

Can we get 5 innings out of Don Kelly?

Unless Verlander is hurt there is no reason for him to be out of the game after 40 pitches with a bullpen that is already overworked.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Can we get 5 innings out of Don Kelly?

Unless Verlander is hurt there is no reason for him to be out of the game after 40 pitches with a bullpen that is already overworked.

Pulled because of shoulder tightness.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Bases loaded, no outs, Al Avila got a hit OFF A LEFTHANDER

It's ####### Armageddon, man. Off to go buy batteries and bottled water.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Attaboy Whelan. You're gonna fit right in.

 

[tri-man 47]

 

[Dan Lambskin]

 

[BobbyLayne]

Tying run is still in the dugout somewhere.

Nasty spill for the Pirates bat boy. Looked like a knee.

 

[Gopher State]

you have to hope the Tigers shut down JV for 15 days so he is right for the play offs

 

[BobbyLayne]

you have to hope the Tigers shut down JV for 15 days so he is right for the play offs

http://youtu.be/U7fjDS0jKiE

 

[Doctor Detroit]

you have to hope the Tigers shut down JV for 15 days so he is right for the play offs

Tigers could lose every game for the rest of the year, and still finish ahead of your Twins.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

All alone in first place!

 

[Gopher State]

Hard to say first place Royals

 

[MAC_32]

Starting to get antsy...

 

[BobbyLayne]

Fourth night of the season the Royals went to bed in first (130 but nobody cares).

 

[BobbyLayne]

Right-hander Buck Farmer to make major-league debut Wednesday night for Detroit Tigers

Chris Iott | ciott@mlive.com

Aug 11, 2014 11:37 PM

PITTSBURGH -- Buck Farmer has made two starts above the Single-A level. He will make his first start in the majors Wednesday night for the Detroit Tigers.

Farmer, a fifth-round pick of the Tigers in the 2013 draft, will start Wednesday in place of Rick Porcello, whose next start will be pushed back to Friday after he pitched Sunday in a 19-inning, 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

 

[tri-man 47]

Right-hander Buck Farmer to make major-league debut Wednesday night for Detroit Tigers

Chris Iott | ciott@mlive.com

Aug 11, 2014 11:37 PM

PITTSBURGH -- Buck Farmer has made two starts above the Single-A level. He will make his first start in the majors Wednesday night for the Detroit Tigers.

Farmer, a fifth-round pick of the Tigers in the 2013 draft, will start Wednesday in place of Rick Porcello, whose next start will be pushed back to Friday after he pitched Sunday in a 19-inning, 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

What could go wrong?

And hey, we're tied for the lead in the wildcard standings. :fistpump:

 

[Da Guru]

you have to hope the Tigers shut down JV for 15 days so he is right for the play offs

Right for the playoffs? JV is 23-24 since signing his new contract extension. The sample size is growing.

 

[Greco]

DrD. Go ahead and fire up the 2015 thread...

 

[BobbyLayne]

Abe Lincoln had a small sample size.

 

[Bogart]

Right-hander Buck Farmer to make major-league debut Wednesday night for Detroit Tigers

Chris Iott | ciott@mlive.com

Aug 11, 2014 11:37 PM

PITTSBURGH -- Buck Farmer has made two starts above the Single-A level. He will make his first start in the majors Wednesday night for the Detroit Tigers.

Farmer, a fifth-round pick of the Tigers in the 2013 draft, will start Wednesday in place of Rick Porcello, whose next start will be pushed back to Friday after he pitched Sunday in a 19-inning, 6-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

What could go wrong?

And hey, we're tied for the lead in the wildcard standings. :fistpump:

Might want to check you math.

 

[BobbyLayne]

There is a good chance you don't know a ton about Buck Farmer.

There's good reason for that. He's ahead of his time -- not because he has an interesting name but because he wasn't expected to sniff the major leagues for the first time for quite a while.

MLB.com recently listed Farmer, who will start Wednesday for the Detroit Tigers, as the team's eighth-best prospect and also projected his debut in the majors for sometime during the 2016 season.

But here he is, getting ready to pitch for the Tigers during a pennant race. So here are five things you might not know about Buck Farmer:

1. His first name isn't really "Buck"

His full name is George Runie Farmer.

2. He has made just two starts above the Single-A level

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said Monday night that the Tigers recently moved Farmer to Double-A to better prepare him for a situation like this one.

The Tigers don't have a ton of depth when it comes to starting pitchers at Triple-A Toledo, so they wanted to get Farmer some experience above Single-A just in case.

Farmer is scheduled to make just one start, but he could find himself in the rotation for some time should Justin Verlander (right shoulder soreness) need a stint on the disabled list.

3. His slider is said to be improving

According to MLB.com, Farmer throws his fastball at 92 to 94 mph and has a slider that has become more consistent.

"He has made some progress as well, increasing Farmer's chances of developing into a No. 3 or No. 4 starter," the MLB.com scouting report reads. "He does a good job of throwing strikes and keeping the ball down in the zone, which helps his cause."

Farmer has struck out 127 and walked 28 in 115 2/3 innings this season for Single-A West Michigan and Double-A Erie.

4. He's a 'good ole southern boy'

Farmer's Twitter bio reads as follows: "A good ole southern boy! Pitcher in the Detroit Tiger Org. and avid hunter. Just living the dream!"

5. He once struck out 22 batters in a game

According to the Georgia Tech website, Farmer struck out 22 batters for Rockdale High School (Conyers, Ga.) in a 2008 game against Dacula High School.

More on Buck Farmer:

Bats: Left

Throws: Right

Height: 6 feet, 4 inches

Weight: 225 pounds

Born: Feb. 20, 1991 in Conyers, Ga.

2014 at Single-A West Michigan: 10-5, 2.60 ERA, 18 starts, 1.109 WHIP

2014 at Double-A Erie: 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 2 starts, 1.167 WHIP

 

[Plorfu]

4. He's a 'good ole southern boy'

Buck Farmer's from the south????

 

[BobbyLayne]

Comerica Park not affected by flooding; Detroit Tigers plan to play game as scheduled Wednesday

 

[BobbyLayne]

Verlander MRI results good, will only miss one start to rest because of soreness. No DL.

Justin Miller (still sucks), back to Toledo. Hardy - who never left Pittsburgh - was recalled and Anibal was placed on DL retroactive to August 9 (e.g., they played a shell game - players sent down have to wait 10 days to be recalled, but not if they are replacing a player put on the DL. So they delayed Anibal...).

 

[BobbyLayne]

GAME INFORMATION

Who: Detroit Tigers (63-53, 2nd in AL Central) at Pittsburgh Pirates (63-55, 2nd in NL Central)

When: 7:05 p.m.

Where: PNC Park in Pittsburgh

STARTING PITCHERS

Detroit Tigers

Robbie Ray (1-1, 4.70 ERA)

Lifetime vs. Pirates: This is Ray's first appearance vs. Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Pirates

Edinson Volquez (9-7, 3.70 ERA)

Lifetime vs. Tigers: 0-2, 7.45 ERA

STARTING LINEUPS

(Statistics vs. opposing starter in parentheses)

Detroit Tigers

1. Rajai Davis, LF (1 for 3, 3B)

2. Ezequiel Carrera, CF

3. Ian Kinsler, 2B (1 for 3, SO)

4. Miguel Cabrear, 3B

5. Victor Martinez, 1B (0 for 4, RBI, SO)

6. J.D. Martinez, LF (0 for 1, 2 BBs)

7. Alex Avila, C

8. Eugenio Suarez, SS

9. Robbie Ray, P

Pittsburgh Pirates

1. Josh Harrison, 3B

2. Gregory Polanco, RF

3. Jordy Mercer, SS

4. Russell Martin, C

5. Starling Marte, CF

6. Gaby Sanchez, 1B

7. Travis Snider, LF

8. Jayson Nix, 2B

9. Edinson Volquez, P

GAME NOTES

-- Robbie Ray is making his third career start in the majors and is in the rotation in place of Anibal Sanchez (right pectoral strain). During his brief time in the majors, Ray has not faced a player who is currently on the roster for the Pirates.

-- Ray is 0 for 7 with four strikeouts and a sacrifice bunt in eight plate appearances in the minors. He'll hit ninth today.

-- The forecast for Pittsburgh says showers and thunderstorms are likely this evening. Obviously, this is Detroit's lone trip to Pittsburgh this season, so it seems likely that every effort will be made to get this game in.

-- A rainout would be good news -- for now at least -- for a taxed Tigers bullpen. It might also prevent Buck Farmer from making his major-league debut Wednesday in Detroit since the Tigers could simply push Ray back a day. But the Tigers already have two doubleheaders to play before the end of the month. A rainout today would force the Tigers to come back to Pittsburgh on a rare day off down the stretch to make up the game.

Rain would be good...

 

[Gopher State]

Tiger fans will want to check out miggysalsa.com. My neighbor had some of miggys triple crown salsa it was a hit. Miggy has a "hot" future after baseball. I think he could be the Paul Newman of the food industry

 

[Doctor Detroit]

2 runs off Edison Volquez? Ok.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

2-7 road trip, nice job guys. Loved all the hits w/RISP the fine bullpen work, and all the great fielding.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Tomorrow's a new day. Maybe it'll rain.

 

[BobbyLayne]

"I think a lot of people feel disappointed about us," the Tigers' Victor Martinez said after Tuesday night's 4-2 loss to the Pirates. "But I want to let people know that I think a lot of fans want us to win the division by 15 or 20 games. It doesn't work that way because we're playing big-league teams. They are playing hard. They aren't giving things away."

When the Tigers left home a week ago Sunday, they had a five-game lead in the division. Today, they come home a half-game behind first-place Kansas City. The teams are tied in losses, but the Royals have one more win. (In hockey, it would be said the Tigers have a game in hand.)

■ BOX SCORE

Martinez reiterated that he loves playing for the Tigers fans.

"We always feel great about going home," he said. "I don't think there are better fans in baseball than the Tigers'. I've been in very good atmospheres. I played for the Red Sox for 1 1/2 years.

"But these fans in Detroit are great. We always feel great going home with our fans backing us up. We're pretty confident that we'll turn this around and get going.

"We are struggling, but that doesn't mean that we're out. There is a lot of season left, and we are plenty confident in ourselves."

Several minutes later, at a locker next to Martinez, outfielder Torii Hunter had his own message for the Tigers fans heading into the five-game home stand that starts tonight.

"We need our fans more than ever," Hunter said. "We need them to act, not react."

Bedlam at Comerica certainly would be a welcome sound after the 2-7 trip that concluded with another quiet offensive night by the Tigers. "Crappy," manager Brad Ausmus said, his usual and beautiful compound-sentence eloquence reduced to one blunt word when asked to summarize a trip that featured far more clutch hitting by the opposition than by the Tigers.

Hunter said: "If I was to give ourselves a grade for this trip, I'd give it a 'D' or maybe an 'F.' This last week, it just feels like we've been going through the motions. Not intentionally, but our body language. But I think coming home to our fans who bring all the energy, I think we can build off that."

Tonight and Thursday, the Tigers and Pirates play at Comerica to conclude their home-and-home interleague series. Then Seattle and manager Lloyd McClendon and center fielder Austin Jackson arrive for a three-game series.

"We need the fans to come with a lot of energy, loud, screaming, yelling," Hunter said. "We feed off that. We feed off the energy. So when we come home, we need their help."

Hunter hopes home is where the heart is. Asked about the "heart level" of the Tigers, he said, "It's going to come back. Starting (tonight), we're going to get it back. No doubt about it."

 

[tri-man 47]

Insult to injury, I see Smyly threw 7 2/3rds last night ..3 hits, 3 walks, 9 Ks, 0 runs.

 

[Greco]

To the life boats!

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Insult to injury, I see Smyly threw 7 2/3rds last night ..3 hits, 3 walks, 9 Ks, 0 runs.

On the positive side of things, with or without him the Tigers would still suck.

 

[Greco]

Now imagine Doug Fister in the rotation...

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Now imagine Doug Fister in the rotation...

Still suck.

 

[Bojang0301]

Now imagine Doug Fister in the rotation...

Same place we are now? Even Ray has been decent in his spot starts. Smyly was good and Porcello's #'s are essentially the same as Fister's. I guess you could argue Smyly would be in the pen but I blame that more on bringing in Nathan over Benoit... which, even still, DD has tried to fix the pen on multiple occasions this season.

Edit to add: Would you rather have Fister this year and next or David Price for this season and next? That's essentially the game I think people are playing now with these deals. If Smyly is coming out of the pen, I don't think he is viewed as enough to get Price.