OT: Tigers v. Rockies (3 straight series wins)
Tigers are cruising right now, up 5-0. Some important/interesting storylines:
- Tigers are going for their third straight series win. This is clearly a positive, though in each series (especially the last two) they could have been sweeps.
- Austin Jackson's return cannot be understated. He is hitting .325 after two more hits today. His OBP is .418. He has a legit shot at the All-Star game.
- Laird has been a very good replacement for Avila who has maybe another week on the DL.(?)
- Scherzer is cruising, through 6 scoreless. A day after Fister went 6 scoreless.
It looks like the Tigers may finally be turning it around. If it weren't for shoddy defense we could argue they would be only a game or two out of first place. Instead, they are 4 GB with a good chance to cut it to 3 by the end of the day.
It does definitely seem like things are slowly turning around. Getting to the .500 mark is a good possibility this week. Avila is starting a rehab assignment in Toledo tomorrow hoping to rejoin the Tigers lineup Friday.
How about Berry in left field? 4-4 w/ a stolen base. Just imagine once we get Avilla and Dirks back. Looks like Delmon Young will be on the trading block in the next month or so.
I think Cabrera's second "home run" yesterday is a sign of the fortunes turning. That was some Little League shit.
People forget that this team had a bunch of injuries to start the season, and ran into some bad luck (I think they are something like 1 and 38 against the Indians and the Mariners), so you have to figure they'll turn it around at some point.
Why not? Other than Jackson, Cabrera and Fielder the hitting has been lacking.
Getting Avila back will be nice, but I am more concerned with guys like Fister because this pitching staff needs a consistent #2, and I'm not sold on Scherzer yet at that position.
I do think that Avila should help, as well as Jackson's return. I've also heard Carlos Quentin being mentioned as a trade piece, which would help offensively but might not be much of a defensive upgrade and IME that is more important right now. Peralta starting to hit like he did last year would definitely help minimize the need for another bat, so hopefully his recent uptick is sustainable.
Probably worth noting that the three series were all against National League teams. Once they start beating some American League teams I will think about them turning the proverbial corner. It is still early in the year though and I'm sure they will come around.
This is true, and not even good National League teams.
But I think it is the two starting performances of yesterday and today that are what makes it notable for me. Otherwise it would just be beating up on bad teams that you should have beat up just a little more on.
Wrong thread buddy
I like what Berry brings the Tigers. His youthful exuberance and energy are something this team definitely needs, and his speed is a big plus as well.
I agree his speed, ability to get on base, and defense are something this team needs. I don't think it matters if he does it with "youthful exuberance" or "veteran instincts."
He's 27 FWIW.
I do. I think his exuberance is infectious. Tigers already have enough veterans with instincts but were a tad short on spark plugs.
If you think it's "infectious" then I have a gritty, smart, gym rat that I'm sure would do great. He's currently playing summer ball in his high school league, but he does play with a youthful exhuberence.
Seriously. Papa Grande plays with a youthful exuberence all the time. Does that exuberence really have an effect on anything? Miguel Cabrera is the biggest jokester on the team. Prince Fielder is awfully exhuberent player.
I think getting on base is what has been the spark plug for the team. I think stealing bases has provided the metaphorical spark plug.
I know I'm being crass, but I really don't like when people use vague metaphors for the real reasons a player does well.
What are the real reasons a player does well?
And suddenly Jim Leyland is an ok manager again... imagine that.
Can we get the Tigers into the National League?
At least we're not Houston. They suck in the NL and have to move to the AL West next year.
I don't get the general negativity. Has this team underperfomed? Yes. Has it been injury bitten? Yes. With 20 games until the All-Star break it's now 3 games out of first ... granted, in a weak division but that doesn't matter.
Solidifying the rotation with Fister coming back strong is huge, and while much of lineup could still be swinging the bat better, it's not awful beyond Fielder. Santiago's been hitting well enough and probably should be the almost every day second baseman. Berry's won a spot on the roster and brings speed to the basepaths. Hell, Laird may have been the best off-season signing. He's hitting well enough that the world doesn't end if Avila's hurt.
Finally, i don't know what people are talking about when they complain about defense. It could be better, but Cabrera's done a plenty good job at the hot corner; Fielder's a perfectly good firstbaseman; and Peralta's range isn't that bad. Play Santiago, who's got a good glove and it's an average infield with above average hitting.
I agree with your sentiment, but Santiago is not an everyday player. He's proving it this year. Santiago is only hitting .228. He's best when he can be the third middle infielder and spell a starter when he has a good matchup hitting-wise. That's why in years past people clamored for him to start. He'd get favorable matchups and put up passable numbers. Clearly, when he's in there everyday, his production is limited.
And Peralta is bad. Really bad. Usually his offense makes up for it. When Young and Boesch are out there our outfield defense is pretty shoddy too.
But again, I like this team and think they'll win the division. But defense is a serious flaw.
I disagree with both of ya about Peralta. His range is very much below average. He's 17th of 24 qualifying shortstops in range factor. And you don't need range factor to watch him sort of lumber around at short and figure out he's not likely to get to every ball hit that way. On the other hand, his .983 FP is third among qualifying shortstops. The stats paint the same picture as the eye: he's not rangy at all but he's sure handed on the stuff he gets to. And frankly, I'll take that any day. Only four errors all season is pretty solid.
I'd still rather have a top notch 2nd baseman, but they don't grow on trees that produce both fielding and hitting.
If the rest of the lineup (healthy) produces at around career numbers, having Santiago batting 9th and hitting between .200 and .250 isn't a big deal. Especially given that he's a switch hitter and does a decent job getting a hit when they need one from him.
This division won't require much more than they win one game more than they lose the rest of the way. As many holes as this team has, it can still manage that without great difficulty.
They should be spending July getting pieces for the postseason to match up with the really good teams they'll face. That bullpen has to be better.
Our bullpen is the least of our worries right now, in my opinion. I feel like they've really come into form lately. Obviously, the performance against Colorado on Friday was frustrating, but overall, Villareal has been excellent, Benoit and Below have been solid, and Valverde has been his typical self. Plus, Marte has some upside, and so does Coke. I think these are the Tigers' team needs, in order of priority:
- Corner outfield - Boesch has been horrendous, doesn't really have the peripherals to suggest that he's underperforming. Delmon is a decent hitter, but he's horrendous in the field.
- Second base - by far the weakest position on the team. Santiago fields the position well, but he's not a good hitter. Raburn is neither a good fielder, nor a good hitter.
- Starting pitching - top 4 in the rotation are formidable, especially when Fister and Scherzer pitch well. I'd like to see them either trade Porcello for someone like Dempster.
- Relief pitching
One more win than loss each week I mean.