16 replies to this topic

[mgoblue2]

A quick recap to the season heading into the Kansas City weekend series, the first at home for Detroit. The team is currently at a record of 3-4 heading into Saturday vs. KC.

Surprising Starts
-Brennan Boesch has started surprisingly well, with a .361/1/5 heading into Saturday. He is looking to improve on season last year that was white hot in the first half,and not so great in the latter half.
-Slugger Miguel Cabrera has also gotten off to a good start, with 3 dingers and a 391 average, as well as six walks.
-Alex Avila has looked good as well, with a 5 RBI game against Baltimore on Wednesday

Newcomers
-New $50 million man Victor Martinez, has had an average start, hitting .276 with a pair of home runs.
-Setup man Joaquin Benoit has appeared in four games thus far, letting up just one hit.

The Rest: Hitting
-Similarly to the Red Sox, the Tigers have struggled with averages in the bottom of the order. Magglio Ordonez is hitting just 235 with no home runs or RBIs.
-The Tigers have not been running at a high clip, with just 4 stolen bases and two from speedy leadoff hitter Austin Jackson.
-The left side of the infield has been hitting well. Former Indian Jhonny Peralta currently owns a .333 average and OBP with 3 RBIs, and third baseman Brandon Inge also has a .333 average and three doubles.
-Prospect second baseman Will Rhymes has not fared well so far at a position that has been a problem since the departure of Placido Polanco two years ago to Philly. Rhymes owns a .182 average with just one hit and one stolen base.

The Rest: Pitching
-Ace Justin Verlander has compiled 17 strikeouts in two starts, with one win and six earned runs.
-The other main horse of the Tigers rotation, Max Scherzer, has performed well so far, picking up two Ws with 9 K's and an ERA just over 5.50, at 5.71.
-Brad Penny and Rick Porcello have struggled a bit, with Penny giving up 12 earned runs in two starts and Porcello lasting 5 and two thirds innings in his first start against Baltimore on the 4th.
-Converted starter Phil Coke has not made a start yet, but pitched well in his ST starts and is scheduled to start Saturday against Bruce Chen.
-The bullpen has not blown a lead yet, with surprised roster spot-earning Brayan Villarreal earning a large share of innings at 4.1 innings in 4 games.
-Closer Jose Valverde, one time Astro, has converted both his save opportunities, including one at the home opener Friday. (BTW, the 44,799 people attending Opening Day the other day was third all-time in CoPa history.)

Upcoming Schedule
Sat, Apr 9 vs. KC: Coke vs. Chen L
Sun, Apr 10 vs. KC: Porcello vs. Hochevar L
Mon, Apr 11 vs. Tex: Verlander vs. Ogando L
Tue, Apr 12 vs. Tex: Penny vs. Wilson
Wed, Apr 13 vs. Tex: Scherzer vs. Lewis

After a 1-2 start in the Bronx, the Tigers seem to have it back on track. With a series against AL champs Texas coming up, however, Detroit will have to fight to keep a .500 record.

Edited by mgoblue2, 11 April 2011 - 05:12 PM.

[Enforcer]

It's been a rocky start with inconsistency on both sides of the baseball. Winning the Texas and Oakland series was a good sign. But as soon as the pitching improved, the bats dried up as well.

[jon abbey]

Joaquin Benoit has turned back into a pumpkin, giving up as many ER in his last 3 appearances (9) as he did in all of 2010.

[antiyanqui]

Joaquin Benoit has turned back into a pumpkin, giving up as many ER in his last 3 appearances (9) as he did in all of 2010.

The same suckitude as Soriano dear Underdog

[Enforcer]

Yeah, Justin!

[Mike in CT]

Detroit just traded Scott Sizemore to Oakland for David Purcey.

http://hardballtalk....or-david-purcey

[mgoblue2]

The Sizemore trade only clouds the 2B situation, especially since we haven't factored in a move around due to the Inge DL move (mono).

Right now, you're looking at two areas of concern. At second, you have Rhymes and Worth, both short-term replacements. At third, you get to pick your poison. Ryan Raburn, Don Kelly, or a knife through the heart. Don Kelly is, at best, a 25th man, while Raburn has just flat-out sucked.

Which brings me to the idea of picking up Jose Reyes. 2-3 year deal, move Peralta to 3rd and allow second to figure itself out. The Inge money may be able to get you a serviceable 2nd baseman (say Mike Aviles).

Any takers?

[mgoblue2]

Cabrera hurt in ASG. Thanks.

[Enforcer]

So the sweep of Chicago was nice. I just hope a letdown with an early start against the Tribe today isn't on the docket.

Boesch is out for the season with a thumb injury. This is a big blow. But Alburquerque is supposed to be available today, and that would be huge. He's been the Tigers' best reliever this year but nobody has been talking about his absence.

Still not comfortable with the standings. The Tigers are very capable of blowing this.

[terrynever]

Austin Jackson is the hottest hitter in baseball, 18-for-34 for a .529 average. He's going to score 90 runs after a miserable first three months.

[mgoblue2]

Boesch is out for the season with a thumb injury.

God damn!! Oh well, Delmon has played well. Offense is plugging well, and Saturday's comeback was one for the ages. I like our chances, magic # is 11(?) now.

[Enforcer]

The Tigers are playing as if Expected Wins counted in the standings.

[mgoblue2]

We have Octavio Dotel now.

[mgoblue2]

No more Zumaya/Betemit. Now we do things like buy Prince Fielder 42.8 million pizzas over 9 years.

[santadevil]

No more Zumaya/Betemit. Now we do things like buy Prince Fielder 42.8 million pizzas over 9 years.

$5 pizza's?
I don't know Detroit at all, but that seems like an awesome deal.

[mgoblue2]

Plus tax it's about 5.20 in most of Michigan barring the Upper Peninsula. Best value in America, it says so on the box. All Hail Mike Illitch.

[Sampo Gida]

Plus tax it's about 5.20 in most of Michigan barring the Upper Peninsula. Best value in America, it says so on the box. All Hail Mike Illitch.

Almost 20 bucks for Dominos/Pizza Hut 12" pizza in Taipei, just so you know.

Something tells me Illitch will need to raise his pizza prices to about the same.