SeattleMike

Cleveland's starter tonite has pitched even fewer innings in his career. I still think the Tigers screwed up by moving Melton to the pen. I have to believe if they had given Morton's starts to Melton they'd have a win or two more.

What did the Braves have to play for? But I agree with your general point. If Boston just uses the series to lineup its pitching for the postseason maybe the Tigers can break through with a win or two, which may be all they need.

Law of averages would favor the Tigers?

Your most recent example, Toronto, defies your premise. They won 87 games and finished third in 88, finished first in 89, second in 90, first in 91 and won back to back WS in 92 and 93. So all is not lost.

I think the 19 Ks is a sign the Tigers are pressing. I think Skubal trying the trick play is a sign the Tigers are pressing. I think Tork slamming his bat after his final K is a sign the Tigers are pressing. And I guess who can blame them. Time to re-set and win a darn game.

Don’t look now but Tork and Greene with identical OPS+s.

The last few weeks it seems if a team comes into a series doing something really the Tigers have been wholly incapable of reversing the trend. The A's have been hot since the All-Star break and sweep the Tigers. The Mets come in hot on offense and destroy the Tigers pitching in two games. The White Sox come in with an offense that had scored the 5th most runs in MLB since the break and clobber two of three Tiger pitchers. The Indians come in shutting every down that is what they do to the Tigers. That is what happens to bad teams and for the last few weeks that is what the Tigers are. Now the Braves come in after scoring a bushel of runs. Would be a good time for the Tigers to play like a playoff contender and cool the Braves off.

Is hitting the fastball? That has always been his problem, I think.

It certainly doesn't seem it's worked much in the second half. But that's probably just vibes. Then again little has worked in the second half and that isn't just vibes.

I really don't understand why Melton is in the bullpen. Are they trying to limit his innings? I would have swapped Morton for Melton a month ago.

Can Cleveland keep winning these one and two run games? At some point this has to bite them.

According to a recent Keith Law article about the Arizona Fall League McGonigle's BABIP since August 1 is .125. And yet he still has a wRC+ of 155.

Baseball is crazy. Greene and Dingler crush balls for outs and Mckinstry bloops one for a double.

In fairness his BABIP is 160 points lower in AA than A+. No doubt his contact quality is lower in AA, but a some of this, maybe a good deal of it, is simple bad luck.

I'm not sure what options Hinch had. He has one reliable starter and two reliable bullpen arms. How do you navigate something like this?

Sort of a perfect storm. Team coming in on an incredible heater offensively against a pitching staff with more questions than answers right now.

Tigers don't have a reliable lefty in the bullpen right now. That is serious problem.

Carpenter won't be a free agent until his age 31 season. Dingler is under team control through his age 32 season. I wouldn't bother extending either. Most guys who start late tend to fade pretty rapidly by age 32 or so anyway. The only guy currently on the roster (not named Skubal) worth an extension is Greene, who will be a FA as a 28-year old. I suspect, however, that window may have closed. Greene has little incentive to agree to a long-term deal unless it's comparable to what Vlad Jr. received. And I doubt the Tigers want to commit to Greene into his late 30s.

His BABIP is 100 points lower in AA than it was in A+.

Has he had one swing and miss?

Saurez with a 10 OPS+ since joining the Mariners. What would the reaction here be if Harris had acquired Saurez and these were the results to date?

He seems to be maxing out at 96. Hmm.

First half of the season that is a bases clearing double by Perez. Great catch by Roberts.

Hopefully they will keep him in the rotation.

Really hate pinch-hitting for Carp in the 6th. Thankfully he didn't this time.