The Tigers lost to the Orioles 4-3 today in a make-up for an earlier postponement. Luckily, they got a little help from the Red Sox who shut out the Twins 6-0 tonight. With both teams losing tonight, the Tigers kept their slim half game lead in the AL Central. They are 5 1/2 games ahead of the 3rd place White Sox pending the result of the White Sox game versus the Mariners tonight. As I type, the Mariners have a 5-0 lead in the top of the 8th inning.
Nate Robertson was not too sharp today but spent his 6 inning stint working his way out of jams. He allowed 5 hits and 5 walks but only 2 runs. He left with with 3-2 lead in the 7th. Unfortunately, Fernando Rodney was unable to work out of a jam in the 8th. He allowed a single, a hit batsman and a two run double by Melvin Mora as the Orioles took a 4-3 lead.
On the offensive side, the Tigers took a 3-0 lead after 3 innings but failed to score in the final 6 frames. Curtis Granderson led off the game with a double and scored on Magglio Ordonez's 5th home run of the week and 24th of the season. Granderson added his 16th home run, a solo shot, in the third. For the month, Granderson is batting .307/.342/.533 and Ordonez is hitting .329/.355/.616. It's great to see those guys breaking out of their slumps because they will be crucial players down the stretch and in post-season.
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I think the all or nothing offense is due to their personnel more than their approach. They can't get on base and they have no speed so they don't have a lot of options. Until they get some new players, I don't see this changing. It's going to be pitching and homers through the end of the season and into the post-season. It worked for the first 112 games.
ReplyDeleteI think it's clear to them that changes have to made. I don't think they'll standpat. There aren't a lot of good free agents available so they may have to make trades. Everybody needs pitching so they are in a good position. I'd be very reluctant to trade Verlander, Bonderman or Zumaya and I think DD will be too. I think there is a chance Robertson might be traded but only if they get a significant offensive upgrade. Other possibilities are guys like Sanchez and Tata.
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