Tails From the Dugout
Tigers Can Take Finger Off Panic Button…For Now
Are you feeling a little better about your Tigers now that they swept their three game weekend series against the Minnesota Twins? Granted, the Twins are a pretty lousy team this season. But these are the same Twins who beat the Tigers two straight at Comerica Park last week. And before the doomsayers and negative Nellies convince you the season is over, remember where the Tigers were one year ago at this time.
The Harder They Struggle…The Deeper They Go
It’s like quicksand…when a person falls in ..the harder they try to get out the deeper they go. That seems to be the plight of the Tigers. I know they’re trying but the results have not been there and it doesn’t appear things will get better.
Now That’s More Like It
Finally, the Tigers win a series, taking 2 out of 3 from the Pittsburgh Pirates over the week end. Some timely hitting, good starting pitching and some decent bullpen work. That’s the formula that most “experts” were predicting when the season started. But before we start gushing, remember the Tigs have not any any sizable winning streak since early in April, and they are a long way from being the dominate club they are supposed to be.
I Can’t Believe What I Just Saw
The Minnesota Twins…the worst record in baseball right??? You couldn’t tell by watching the Tigers play them. The Twins bullpen shut down the big hitters, and a rookie pitcher dominated allowing just 4 hits in the afternoon game. What is going on?? I suppose if there was an easy answer they’d already been doing it. This week manager Jim Leyland admitted he was getting worried about the club.
Is Brandon Inge The Next Lou Gehrig?
The only time you would expect to see the names “Brandon Inge” and “Lou Gehrig” in the same sentence would be something to the effect that both men played Major League Baseball. And both were in the American League. But Inge now has the unlikely distinction of being the first player to have at least four rbi’s in four games during a five-game stretch since Gehrig did it way back in 1931.
Maybe We Were Wrong
In spring training just about everybody thought it was just a matter of starting the season and ordering playoff tickets. Something happened between Lakeland and Detroit…reality.
Somebody Do Something
The Tigers starting pitching has been nothing less than sensational, but you can’t say that about the offense. Hitter after hitter are swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, so why should pitchers even try to throw it across the plate. The normal fan reaction is that there has to be a scapegoat to blame….Jim Leyland or hitting coach Lloyd McClellan. But the plain truth is no coach can go to the plate…it’s up to the players themselves.
Time To Get Down To Business
The Tigers closed out a brief homestand taking 2 out of 3 from the Chicago White Sox. The good news was the good starting pitching, and bad news was the continuation of a frozen solid offense. Imagine taking a series while scoring only 10 runs over the 3 game span. That’s what the Tigers “accomplished” while bats like Brennan Boesch remain cold and is now hitting 8th in the line up. Having said that there isn’t a whole lot that Jim Leland or Lloyd McClellan can do to turn things around, that’s still up to each individual.
Tigers’ Fielder, Cabrera Strategy Could Amount To Studs Or Duds
That’s what we Fantasy Baseball addicts call it. Studs Or Duds. Meaning you have drafted a couple of superstar players and only have money left to fill the rest of your roster with players who cost a buck. Or a quarter in some cases. And not to say silly fantasy baseball is anything like the real deal. But this year’s Tiger team does bear some resemblance to that strategy.
Where’s The Beef????
The lack of Tiger offense has me asking…”where’s the beef?” I was one of those who was excited after the first series at home this season and saw what kind of power and run scoring ability the team had. But that seems to have taken a back seat to an on-again-off-again type of offense for the Bengals. Everyone says once the warm weather is here to stay the bats will likewise warm up. They better be right, or it could be a long, disappointing season.
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- Tigers Can Take Finger Off Panic Button…For Now May 28, 2012
- Wooley’s Weekly Winners 5-25-12 May 26, 2012
- The Reunion Project: Let’s Look At The Map (5/25) May 25, 2012
- The Harder They Struggle…The Deeper They Go May 24, 2012
