5/9/25 6:40PM Rangers @ Tigers

[Arlington]

Now wasn't that a lot more interesting that those double digit wins?  

Tigers have the best record in baseball now.  When The Athletic does their power rankings, Tigs should be #1.

But... what a division.  The top 4 teams in the division are on a winning streak.  Over the last 5 games for each of the top 4,  there was only 1 loss.  That's a combined 19-1 record, a .950 winning percentage.  The top 3 teams have been playing  a combined .800 ball over the last 10 games, going 24 - 6.   

Here's the weirdest anomaly.  Guardians have a -14 run differential and should have a 17-20 record.  The Tigers have a +84 differential and per the theory should be 28-11.  The Guardians should be 10 games behind but they are only 3. 

[Sports_Freak]

Just now, chasfh said:

TBF, 1968 was really a pitcher’s year like no other.

Yeah, but for several years you had the best shortstops that just didn't hit. Mark Belanger...Eddie Brinkman and several others.

[Sports_Freak]

6 minutes ago, chasfh said:

This is not at all a comment on Tarik Skubal or anyone else’s private views at all, but—I really hate this haircut which is inexplicably popular right now.

 

Meh....hair is just a distand memory for me...😆

[RandyMarsh]

As of this moment we have the best record in all of baseball, any idea when the last time we could say that this far along in the season? Maybe it was one of those 2010 teams but it felt like they always started relatively slow so I don't think it would've been them. If not then would we really have to go all the way back to 84? 

[Sports_Freak]

14 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Could be. He hasn't played in the field yet, maybe he needs another clearance for that step. If it does he's probably still another week away though....

At least a week after he starts a rehab assignment, probably longer. Vierling has been playing for a week or so, hasn't he?

[gehringer_2]

1 minute ago, Arlington said:

Now wasn't that a lot more interesting that those double digit wins?  

Tigers have the best record in baseball now.  When The Athletic does their power rankings, Tigs should be #1.

But... what a division.  The top 4 teams in the division are on a winning streak.  Over the last 5 games for each of the top 4,  there was only 1 loss.  That's a combined 19-1 record, a .950 winning percentage.  The top 3 teams have been playing  a combined .800 ball over the last 10 games, going 24 - 6.   

Here's the weirdest anomaly.  Guardians have a -14 run differential and should have a 17-20 record.  The Tigers have a +84 differential and per the theory should be 28-11.  The Guardians should be 10 games behind but they are only 3. 

Lopsided loses can drive run differential to where the Pythagorean loses meaning. Cleveland has had some  bullpen guys get really lit up - given up 10+ runs 4 times.

[gehringer_2]

Just now, Sports_Freak said:

At least a week after he starts a rehab assignment, probably longer. Vierling has been playing for a week or so, hasn't he?

three games in at DH for the Hens.

[Sports_Freak]

3 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

As of this moment we have the best record in all of baseball, any idea when the last time we could say that this far along in the season? Maybe it was one of those 2010 teams but it felt like they always started relatively slow so I don't think it would've been them. If not then would we really have to go all the way back to 84? 

Not 2006?

[chasfh]

5 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

As of this moment we have the best record in all of baseball, any idea when the last time we could say that this far along in the season? Maybe it was one of those 2010 teams but it felt like they always started relatively slow so I don't think it would've been them. If not then would we really have to go all the way back to 84? 

Had to be 2014.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/index.fcgi?date=2014-05-18

[Sports_Freak]

Just now, gehringer_2 said:

three games in at DH for the Hens.

I tried to find his game stats the other day but I gave up. (Got distracted) Hopefully, he'll be back soon.

[Sports_Freak]

6 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Lopsided loses can drive run differential to where the Pythagorean loses meaning. Cleveland has had some  bullpen guys get really lit up - given up 10+ runs 4 times.

Last week, their differential was much worse. Almost as bad as the WSox. I was surprised when it was back to only -17.

Edited Saturday at 01:29 AM by Sports_Freak

[gehringer_2]

2 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

I tried to find his game stats the other day but I gave up. (Got distracted) Hopefully, he'll be back soon.

LOL - true - you can't get to his stat page from the Tigers home page because he hasn't played with them yet - but via the Mud Hen's page:

https://www.milb.com/player/matt-vierling-663837

[RandyMarsh]

1 minute ago, chasfh said:

Had to be 2014.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/index.fcgi?date=2014-05-18

Wow had no recollection of us getting off to that kinda start in 2014, definitely wouldn't have guess that.

[Sports_Freak]

1 minute ago, gehringer_2 said:

LOL - true - you can't get to his stat page from the Tigers home page because he hasn't played with them yet - but via the Mud Hen's page:

https://www.milb.com/player/matt-vierling-663837

Cool...thank you. It looks like, offensively, he's about ready. Just get out there and play defense. I was thinking about this...the team right now is playing so very well, just keep riding it? I hate to break up a group of players on such a roll.

[Arlington]

Erie and Grand Rapids are winning their divisions both with .600+ percentages, Lakeland is competing and has the best record in the Florida State League over the last 10 games.  Toledo is the black sheep in the organization playing about .500 ball.  What a time to be a Tiger fan.

[Sports_Freak]

3 minutes ago, Arlington said:

Erie and Grand Rapids are winning their divisions both with .600+ percentages, Lakeland is competing and has the best record in the Florida State League over the last 10 games.  Toledo is the black sheep in the organization playing about .500 ball.  What a time to be a Tiger fan.

Makes sense. The Togers have a lot of young talent at the ML level instead of at AAA. Look for Toledo to be really good when some of those 1st place lower league teams players advance. Later this season or next season? This organization has built a very good foundation. 

[lordstanley]

43 minutes ago, RandyMarsh said:

As of this moment we have the best record in all of baseball, any idea when the last time we could say that this far along in the season? Maybe it was one of those 2010 teams but it felt like they always started relatively slow so I don't think it would've been them. If not then would we really have to go all the way back to 84? 

The 1993 team that finished 85-77 had the best record in the American League in June 15. Two NL teams were ahead of them though. 
 

[Tiger337]

59 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Had to be 2014.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/index.fcgi?date=2014-05-18

So much speed and athleticism on that team.  

[gehringer_2]

7 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

So much speed and athleticism on that team.  

LOL - and that team stole the most bases than any Tigers team going back to  2001.

[Tiger337]

4 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

LOL - and that team stole the most bases than any Tigers team going back to  2001.

Thanks to Rajai 

[Sports_Freak]

20 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

So much speed and athleticism on that team.  

Don Kelly, baby. Don Freakin' Kelly....🤣🤣

[lordstanley]

Guardians and Royals both win. They’re getting on my nerves. 

[chasfh]

9 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

So much speed and athleticism on that team.  

Except the speeders couldn’t hit and the hitters couldn’t speed. 😉

[CMRivdogs]

12 hours ago, monkeytargets39 said:

If you take out all of Adonis Garcias unnecessary timeouts, it was under two hours

But Skubal's move in the last inning he pitched along with Torres's adroitness to give him a breather after Skub mouthed " I'm tired" may have actually saved him the game,

[IdahoBert]

30 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

But Skubal's move in the last inning he pitched along with Torres's adroitness to give him a breather after Skub mouthed " I'm tired" may have actually saved him the game,

The statement “I’m tired“ made me wonder about Mickey Lolich’s high-pitch totals “back in the day“ so I looked it up and this is what Google AI gobbledygook told me. It told me that he pitched for the Detroit Tigers against the Detroit Tigers:

 

AI Overview

Mickey Lolich threw a total of 170 pitches in a single game, an 11-inning complete game, on Father's Day in 1974. The game was played at Tiger Stadium against the Detroit Tigers. Lolich also threw an 11-inning complete game, with the Tigers winning the game in a walk-off.