This was a week that I will admit I was very worried about. There were 5 games schedules in Chicago against the White Sox (and the Tigers just don't seem to win there). Then there was the expectation of starting against National League teams (who have been easy pickings for Detroit the past few years). Well, things didn't turn out quite as I had expected.
Firstly the Tigers went into Chicago and looked pretty good. They took 3 out of the 5 and should have won another. When it was all over the White Soxs were 5 1/2 games behind the Tigers. I felt that a significant test of this Tigers' team had been met and passed. But then...
The Tigers went to PNC Park in Pittsburg and were owned. I don't know how else to describe it. It didn't help that the Galarraga and Willis were terrible. No, that doesn't surprise me anymore (I'm sorry to say). But the batting was anemic to say the least. Detroit scored 9 runs in the series (3,3,3). Maybe Verlander and Jackson can win with that kind of run support, but nobody else can. Porcello realized it and went and drove in 2 runs for himself, thus giving himself the only win of the series.
I brought up (in the last post) that the number of runs per game was bad. Well, in Week 10 it got worse. Over these 8 games the Tigers averaged 3.38 runs/ game. The batting average was .212! It is actually a wonder that a team batting so poorly won 4 games. Leyland is trying to fix things. Marcus Thames was activated and has batted .310 with 2 HR already. Don Kelly was brought up from Toledo and is hitting .333 has 2 RBI in just 3 games. But Ordonez continues to struggle (3 hits, 3 runs this week), as does Granderson (6 hits, 2 runs scored). Cabrerra had 1 run on 4 hits (though his one run won the 3rd game against the Sox). In fact the best hitters on the team right now are Inge, Everett and Raburn. They combined for 14 runs this past week.
Pitching has been either lights out or lit up this week. Verlander pitched a complete game for win number 7. Porcello also picked up his 7th win this week. Bonderman made a brief appearance for the Tigers and realized that he was not ready for the Big Time yet. Galarraga had one decent game and one absolute disaster. Willis was also both okay and decidedly NOT okay. Willis apparently realizes that he cannot continue. He told Jason Beck that what he was doing could not continue. Here is a snap shot.
Honestly, today was just unacceptable. I can't put my team in that type of hole. Can't beat anybody pitching like that. It's very tough to pitch when you're in a jam every inning. I'm going to have to finally do something, or somebody else is going to have to go out there to help this ballclub win. Because I just can't go out there and do that.
Ian already put his $.02 worth last week. Today Bilfer makes the case that Willis' time in Detroit has to be over. I have to agree. Galarraga is enough of a mystery for the rotation. With the year that Verlander, Jackson and Porcello are putting together they, quite honestly, don't deserve to have every 5th game thrown into the gutter. The Tigers' have a great chance to make the playoffs this year but they have to have a decent chance to win on all game days.
Week 10
Place Game Back
Tigers 1st
Twins 2nd 3
W. Sox 3rd 4 1/2
Royals 4th 5 1/2
Indians 5th 6
