A Dreary End

As it is extremely obvious that this blog has been instrumental in the jinxing of our Tigers, I am officially informing you all that Baseball at Comerica is completely and utterly dead. I apologize for bringing such bad karma to our team and hope that next year will be a fresh start filled with energy and hope. And...um...Jason Grilli is still gone. So that's good, right?

Joyce Coming Through

Matt Joyce's homer tied the game while the Tigers exploded for a four-run 3rd inning.

My Tigers Stand-Off Is Over

After the disgusting display of baseball the Tigers showcased in the Metrodome last weekend, I decided to take a break from this blog for a bit out of frustration. That three game sweep turned into a five game losing streak against the Red Sox this week and I was wondering when I would find the energy and joy to write again.

It came back last night. That was one heck of a 9th inning against possibly the best closer in all of baseball. Sure, we got a few breaks; like Matt Joyce's check swing turning into a perfect bunt and Renteria's hopper to short getting bobbled and dropped by Julio Lugo. But isn't it about time the Tigers caught a break?

Pudge laid down a beautiful bunt to get the runs over and Granderson did his job of hitting to the right side to score the tying run. It was a tough night for Curtis, but he came through in a big spot like we expect from our center fielder. Then, with Renteria on third and two outs, Polanco hit a bat-shattering blooper into left field and we finally had a win. Finally.

So where are we at now? At 15-20, you would think the Tigers have a long uphill climb to get back in it. The truth is, the division is doing a number on each other and we are only 3.5 games out of first place and only two behind the Indians. We're right there. Maybe this 9th inning rally can catapult us into the type of winning streak Detroit fans have been clamoring for since 2006. We'll see.

Justin Verlander takes the mound tonight against Josh Beckett to close out the four game strip with the Sox. Then it's another three-game series with the Yanks, who you know will be out to get us after sweeping them in New York a week and a half ago. It's not an easy stretch; baseball never seems to be easy. I'm just glad I had something I wanted to write about again.

A Little Nugget of Tigers Love

I found some information from the Elias Sports Bureau this morning after a big win to sweep the Yankees last night. Ramon Santiago had the play of the night with his two-run triple and Miguel Cabrera is really starting to show his all-out studness. Yes, studness. Anyway, from Elias:

AFTER 42 YEARS, A TIGERS' SWEEP AT YANKEE STADIUM

The Tigers defeated the Yankees, 8-4, to complete a three-game sweep-Detroit's first sweep of three or more games at Yankee Stadium since April 12-14, 1966. Only three other teams in MLB history went 40 years or longer between sweeps of three or more games at one site: the Braves, 82 years at Fenway Park (1915-1997); the Dodgers, 46 years at Milwaukee County Stadium (1953-1999); and the Senators/Twins at Yankee Stadium, 42 years (1924-1966). Note that Fenway Park was the home venue for the Boston Braves in 1915.

I have to admit that it was a pretty good time to have a series with the Yanks, what with A-Rod and Posada both on the DL. Still, sweeping them in New York is no small task. We even were able to try out our new reliever in the 9th, Francisco Cruceta, who looked a tad rusty but still got out of the inning without giving up a run. I miss Grilli even less today than I did yesterday.

Another thing popped into my head last night. Does anyone think that Magglio and Cabrera have a little friendly hitting contest going on? It seems like they are trying to top each other with each at bat. Maggs doubles; Miggy triples. Ordonez singles; Cabrera homers. When Magglio gets on, Miguel usually follows. I think I want to start following this trend. Ordonez currently leads in batting average (.315 to .279), but Cabrera leads in home runs (6 to 5) and RBIs (22 to 21). I'd like to think we have a Mickey Mantle/Roger Maris thing going on here.

The Tigers head to Minneapolis this weekend for a three-game set with the Twinkies. Armando Galarraga takes the mound against Livan Hernandez tonight. I'll be in the Metrodome Saturday night to watch Verlander take on Scott Baker. Hopefully me and my Ty Cobb jersey will continue to have luck watching the Tigers in that crappy dome. We're only 1.5 games out of first place in the AL Central, we could use another sweep. If we win the first two, maybe I'll bring a broom to the game Sunday. Not really.

Because He's My Main Man

I think everyone needs to know how truly important Curtis Granderson is to our Tigers. Jayson Stark of ESPN did the work for me in one quick paragraph in his Rumblings blog today. Stark writes:

The On a Roll Award

Curtis Granderson only missed the Tigers' first 21 games of the season. It just felt like 121. As our buddy Danny Knobler, who covers the Tigers for mlive.com, points out, Tigers leadoff men scored exactly three runs in those 21 games. In the seven games since Granderson returned, he has scored 11 runs -- more than any player in the whole sport. But that's not all he's done. He has reached base in 15 of his 30 trips to home plate, thumped three times as many extra-base hits (six) as singles (two), scored a run 73 percent of the times he has gotten on base and done more blogging than certain full-time Rumblings and Grumblings authors. Now that's a roll.

Word.

Grilli A Goner

A big night for baseball in Detroit as the Tigers won their second straight game in New York 6-2 (Polanco hit two homers!?!?) and news came that quite possibly my least favorite Tiger of all time was traded. That's right, Jason Grilli was traded to the Colorado Rockies today for Zachary Simons. Simons will start out in Single A.

This Grilli trade opens a roster spot for reliever Francisco Cruceta, who missed all of Spring Training and the season so far because of visa issues. Cruceta will join the Tigers tomorrow and the Yanks.

So I had to write my "so-long big guy" to Jason Grilli, a guy I've had some harsh words for in the last three years. And you know what? I don't take them back. I won't miss him. Enjoy the thin air of the Rockies.

Harsh? Sure, he might be a great guy. But I have a few too many gray hairs on my head because of him. And I shouldn't have gray hairs yet, I'm still 25.

Now, if we could just get Jacque Jones going...

Tigers Fall 4-3 to Angels

Game in a Nutshell

In a tough contest last night with the Angels, the Tigers were not able to come back from one bad inning from Nate Robertson and fell 4-3 to the AL-West leading Angels. Going into the top of the 4th, both teams were scoreless until Vlad Guerrero hit a two-run home run and Casey Kotchman hit a two-run single to take a 4-0 lead.

Detroit got on the board with a solo homer from Curtis Granderson, his second in two games. The Tigers seemed to be chipping away, totaling six hits and four walks during the game, but they couldn't get a key hit to go through. Both Pudge Rodriguez and Brandon Inge blasted hard line drives with runners in scoring position that were snatched away by Angels first baseman Kotchman.

A tough loss for the Tigs as they fall to 10-14 and are 3.5 games out of first in the division. With two more against the Angels, followed by three games in New York, the schedule doesn't get easy anytime soon. Armando Galarraga takes the mound this afternoon (3:55 ET) for Detroit against Dustin Moseley and his 7.78 ERA. Let's jack that ERA up even higher.

Bullpen Watch

Nate Robertson did a nice job of getting through seven innings to give a bullpen that was starting to get way overused a needed rest. Denny Bautista pitched the 8th to hold the Angels lead to one, giving up a hit and a walk, but no runs with one strikeout. Todd Jones came in still holding a one run deficit, pitching a one-two-three inning. It's amazing that the 'pen has all of a sudden became a strength of this team so far. Who knew?

Concern Level: 3 out of 10




Today's Key Play


In the bottom of the 8th, the Tigers were down 4-3 with one of their last chances to tie the game. With a runner on first and second, Pudge Rodriguez came to the plate looking to make it a 4-4 ballgame facing Justin Speier. Pudge hit a sharp line drive towards the right field line, but Casey Kotchman jumped a snagged the liner out of the air to end the inning. K-Rod would come in to dominate the 9th and we lost by one. Grrrrrr.




Tiger of the Game: Placido Polanco



It was nice to see Placido Polanco back in the lineup and looking somewhat healthy last night. Polanco went 2 for 4 with a walk and scored a run. Nothing spectacular, but he was the only Tigers batter with a multi-hit game. A healthy Polanco will make this lineup downright scary. Too bad it couldn't come through with a couple more runs last night. On another tangent, is Sheffield done? He rarely gets good wood on the ball anymore and is so injury prone now that it's becoming frustrating to root for him. Leyland needs to move Sheff down in the lineup or give him a long DL stint to give Clete Thomas another chance. It's cool that our skipper is a loyal guy, but sometimes he's loyal to a fault.