mtutiger

Thinking back on it a little more, a corollary game for how last night played out that didn't work out was the Eric Haase defensive meltdown game in Minneapolis. Soto wasn't on a leash that night, and to the extent anybody may have gotten up to start warming in the BP (I believe it was Barnes IIRC), it seemed less about relieving Soto in that moment and more about preparing for extra innings. The situation isn't entirely the same (other leverage relievers had been used, Will Vest was viewed differently at the time, Chafin was still on IL, etc.), but having said that, Hinch does deserve some credit for acting as quickly as he did last night and it may be a sign that Soto is on a shorter leash now.

The pressure on Soto (and to a lesser extent Fulmer) kinda ratcheted up regardless by the play of those below them. Particularly with Vest having to bail him out last night. It's a results oriented business, and the Tigers bullpen has a couple of young arms who, both in terms of peripherals and in terms of command and quality of stuff, are just outpitching the big dogs right now. That should be all the pressure they need to act.

The most successful version of this bullpen has Gregory Soto in it.... you aren't DFA'ing him, I get it. But man, I don't know how you can trust him in leverage situations at the moment. Hitting the first two batters, particularly the second one in a 2-2 count? You can't do that as a closer and expect to close the win out. They got lucky tonight... they really need to consider giving a little more runway to both Lange and Vest in leverage going forward and give Soto a breather.

Gonna have to buy the bulk pack of Tums at Costco tomorrow lol

Soto has such electric stuff, but he can be ugly if he cannot exhibit control.

He's vesting his options

I'm sure the reasons were justified at the time, but I can't believe the Mariners gave Vest back

Yes!!!!!! Maybe let Vest save some games for a while... Jesus

We'll see what happens here, but they need to give Soto a breather from save opportunities for a while.

Will Vest now up

Yiiiiiiikes

Can't do that with the 9th man in the lineup...

The only thing that saved Lange there was that he'd barely thrown the fastball up until the Mullins AB

Real Todd Jones energy from Lange there... yiiiikes

Yiiikes

Barnes has had a nice year so far, but he is not the guy you want in that situation...

I dont know why they pay Andrew Chafin if he can't get the eighth in that situation

Barnes seems like the next guy to turn into a pumpkin...

Umps really made a mess of that one lol

Wowww homer for Javy!

Odd outing for Eddie tonight. Threw a lot of strikes, seemed to get a little more swing and miss, but still ended with only 3 Ks. On the other hand, the Orioles barely had any hard contact.

And that's why Chafin makes the big bucks...

Good inning for the offense... actually taking advantage of a pitcher on his third time thru as opposed to making them look like CY