Monday, July 19, 2010

Pretenders, Not Contenders, Lose Four Straight Games At Cleveland

I understand it's only four games in a long season. I understand that just because the Tigers were swept in four straight games by the lowly Indians in Cleveland over the weekend, their season isn't over. It could just be a blip on the screen. That there is a need to be patient. Blah. Blah. Blah. Patience be damned... In truth, it's difficult not to hit the panic button after that dreadful four-game series during which the Tigers did little right against a glorfied Triple-A team. How can anybody, after witnessing that dismal performance over three days, not feel like, "Here we go again?" Maybe the Tigers will win some games this week against the Rangers and the Blue Jays at Comerica Park, where they have been dominant this season, and the aura surrounding the team will get better. But in the back of our collective minds, it's known the Tigers must go on the road again. And that they can't even win at Cleveland is profoundly revealing. I've been writing a lot this year, that just because the Tigers have suffered second-half collapses in the recent past, doesn't necessarily mean it will happen again this season. Maybe it does. Sure looked like it in Cleveland.

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7 Comments:

Blogger Contrary Guy said...

I was at the game Sunday. The crowd was about 2/3 Indians fans and 1/3 Tiger fans. I don't know how many people I heard before the game say about Oilver: "Why is pitching today?" "Why is he still in the rotation?" "We need this game." And then he pitched.

As usual, I don't get the feeling that Leyland senses any urgency.

Oh, and the Indians need to lock that gate in the outfield.

1:28 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Core Contrarian,
Kind of strange how it used to be the Tigers' fans in Detroit. Oliver starting that game didn't work. Period.
Caputo

2:39 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just wait until the middle of August after this grueling schedule!

Our starting pitching is in disarray.

Where do we stand in the American league in ERA and WHIP? Like 12th? And 27th in ERA out of 30 total MLB teams?

Leyland is shot unless he gets some help. There "ain't no rabbit in that there hat". Especially Oliver.

Tiger's will never be contention with that pitching if it stays the same.

And the bullpen is looking more average every game.

5:29 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Anonymous,
Agreed. They need Verlander to show up better than he did the other night, to get more clutch hits and Scherzer and Porcello to come on strongly.
Caputo

7:09 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Book,

Don't look now, but the defense is letting them down a touch, as well.

Avila's passed ball the other night, late in a close game, was just unforgivable. Verlander might have won that game, and negated the sweep right there. Boesch seems to have let a ball or 2 bounce around as well.

On the other hand, Cleveland seemed to get a double play ball like every inning.

7:20 PM 
Blogger Pat Caputo said...

Anonymous,
I agree. It is the so-called "little" mistakes that are killing them. Tigers don't have that much margin for error.
Caputo

3:00 PM 
Anonymous Ortonville Ken said...

Look at it this way. We don't have to wonder if the Tigers will go into their second half swoon any longer, do we.

7:54 PM 

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