What a frustrating two games in Cleveland so far. We really needed to take this series after getting swept by Seattle. Right now it looks like a sweep is coming too with Coke vs. Masterson in the finale. With NY coming into town for a 4 game series this season is starting to ascend off the cliff already.
Wasted a good pitching effort by Porcello and the bullpen on Saturday. So, at least there were some positives to take away from the game. Classic Tigers in the 13th though. Cabrera leads off with a double and ends up going nowhere. If we didn't have him in our lineup the team would be the worst hitting team in the league by far. It's really frustrating to watch him go to waste like he has. It's nice to see Avila and Boesch hit well. Martinez's return should help as well. Inge is what he is but as long as he bats late in the lineup at 8 or 9 I don't care - his defense more than makes up for his offensive shortcomings. The top of the lineup is so anemic though and to simply keep putting the same guys in the top 3 night after night is complete insanity. Leyland really needs to switch things up and if he doesn't then he really needs to go and I mean right now not after the season (see below) - Lloyd can go with him too. If Dombrowski doesn't fire Leyland then the team really needs to consider looking at him too after this year ends because he is responsible for letting this season languish away by not making any roster moves and having Leyland continue to do the same boneheaded stuff over and over.
I give Cleveland credit on Saturday. They didn't beat themselves and ultimately waited for the Tigers to implode which they did. I am liking Alburquerque though. Kid has some moxy. Schlereth isn't that good - still doesn't throw enough strikes. I wish they would move Coke back to the pen and bring up someone like Andy Oliver or Furbush.
On Friday it was frustrating to watch Leyland do his best Grady Little impression by keeping Max in the game after he visited the mound. I could see the wheels coming off but Jim left him in anyway to give up the HR. Ball game. We had that game under control too and just gave it up late. Frustrating.
I've been patient with Leyland over the years. Never been a fan of his lineups and resting players for later in the season for a post-season run that never came to fruition. Or his famous "since Magglio isn't playing today let's put his replacement Don Kelly in his No. 3 spot in the lineup even though he is not a No. 3 MLB hitter" type moves. I've completely given up on the guy now. I can't stand watching him trot out the same 3 anemic hitters at the top of the lineup each game. I understand he is handcuffed by the talent he has, but how about switching things up and moving Jackson down in the lineup, Rhymes has no business being a No. 2 hitter either (of course there he was batting 2nd on Fri and squandering two chances to knock in runners in scoring position during the game). Magglio is done. One RBI on a fielder's choice all season and is batting .159. The guy shouldn't be hitting 3rd and when V-Mart gets back to DH he shouldn't even sniff the lineup on a regular basis. I don't care if his feelings are hurt - guy is a professional and if he doesn't want to be on the bench he should play better. Also, quit batting Avila 8th. Guy has 18 RBI. Move him ahead of Peralta. I don't see why Leyland doesn't just try something like:
2B - Santiago
LF - Raburn
RF - Boesch
1B - Cabrera
DH - Martinez (Magglio can DH until he gets back but bat him at 7 then and move the rest up)
C - Avila
SS - Peralta
3B - Inge
CF - Jackson
I am not saying this team doesn't have its flaws and that Leyland is messing up a group of all-stars. However, at least give the team a chance to make a run at the AL Central. If he keeps doing what he is with the lineup that's clearly not going to happen. Move Coke to the pen and bring up someone from AAA. Sizemore should be up too - guy deserves a shot and Rhymes' confidence is shot.
End rant.
Looks like Cabrera will have a lot of baserunners to knock in today. 
Guy is a hack and needs to get the #### out of town. Been saying it since '07 and nothing, not even a title, will change that. He is a detriment to the team. He literally puts the team in a position to lose day in and day out and they win despite him.
Sizemore up, Rhymes down. Finally. 
