As expected, they didn’t produce much against Mariners’ starter Felix Hernandez Tuesday. Yet, Rick Porcello kept them in the game with another strong outing. Porcello is a lot better than many people have been him giving him credit for, and it would have been a mistake to even consider dealing him at the trade deadline.
He needed to make two important adjustments, though.
1. More four-seam fastballs (a harder, straight fastball) to work with his two-seam fastball (a sinking fastball). Porcello’s two-seam fastball is the pitch that separates him from others. It’s a brilliant pitch, but he was overusing it. He needed a different look, at a different eye level and speed.
2. Throw a tighter breaking ball - a pitch more like a slider than a roundhouse curve.
A seasoned veteran couldn’t have made those adjustments any better than Porcello.

- It’s difficult, I know, to have much faith in Fernando Rodney, but he gotten the job done. With Rodney, it’s all about health. He doesn’t pitch as well as some major leaguers when his velocity is down. As such, a little ailment hinders Rodney a lot. He’s been healthy this year and his velocity is up. When he doesn’t throw as hard, hitters are still able to get their bat on his changeup - even if they are fooled by it. If he is in the mid-90s or higher with his fastball, they have to start guessing which pitch is coming - or they can’t touch his changeup.

- Miguel Cabrera is by far the Tigers best player. He needs to start producing in the clutch. He did Tuesday, that’s for sure. Could it be a turning point for him?

- Coming back to win Tuesday was huge - especially when Chicago was beaten at home by the woeful Royals. And considering how the Tigers lost Sunday to Kansas City.

- I’m still not sure if this town has bought into the Tigers just yet, and whether pennant fever is here. The trade for Aubrey Huff should help change that. Everybody knew they needed another hitter and help at third base because of Brandon Inge’s status. Well, they got both in one player.
Comeback victories like that one Tuesday will help in that regard, as well. The biggest factor, though, will be winning on the road. If the Tigers play well on the West Coast this weekend and early next week, their bandwagon will be full.