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Deck Stacked In Tigers' Favor This Week
The Tigers have played poorly on the road this season, and Fenway Park has not been, at least anytime I can remember, a friendly place for them.
But if the Tigers are ever going to turn it around on the road this season, or are setup to have a good series at Fenway Park, it’s this week.
The pitching matchups are clearly in their favor in three of the four games, with the lone exception being the Josh Beckett-Armando Galarraga match Wednesday.
The Red Sox weren’t just swept by the Yankees over the weekend, they were humiliated. Their pitching staff was depleted in the 15-inning game Friday. They don’t seem to reacting well to controversy surrounding David Ortiz.
While being in their home park is an advantage, the Red Sox won’t be rested. The Tigers were already in Boston and checked into their hotel by the time the Red Sox-Yankees game ended Sunday night.
And for all the moaning about the Tigers merely being a product of a weakened division, they are just three games behind the Red Sox in the overall standings - the same distance the Tigers have separated themselves from the White Sox in the American League Central.
Now the Red Sox do have something the Tigers don’t have - a championship pedigree.
These are, however, rare circumstances tilted toward the Tigers. They can’t afford to waste the opportunity.
Random Thoughts
- Calvin Johnson is a terrific receiver, but he needs help. The amount of practice time Bryant Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew have been missing in training camp is a concern. The first preseason game is Saturday. The season is only a month away. Those are the Lions other two primary receivers. Johnson can’t do it alone. On the defensive side of the ball, rookie Louis Delmas is missing a lot of practice time because of injury and Daniel Bullocks had to have his knee checked. That obvious upgrade at safety is not moving along as smoothly as had been anticipated, is it?
- Now it’s time for Miguel Cabrera to get it done on the road. Fenway Park against worn-out pitching should be the cure. Cabrera is hitting .380 with 15 home runs and 45 RBI in 192 at bats at Comerica Park this season.
On the road, he is hitting just .287 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 223 at bats.
It’s not a coincidence the Tigers are 36-18 at home and 23-33 on the road. As Cabrera goes, the Tigers go.
My Column in Monday's Oakland Press about Michigan State football
http://tinyurl.com/lnu298
But if the Tigers are ever going to turn it around on the road this season, or are setup to have a good series at Fenway Park, it’s this week.
The pitching matchups are clearly in their favor in three of the four games, with the lone exception being the Josh Beckett-Armando Galarraga match Wednesday.
The Red Sox weren’t just swept by the Yankees over the weekend, they were humiliated. Their pitching staff was depleted in the 15-inning game Friday. They don’t seem to reacting well to controversy surrounding David Ortiz.
While being in their home park is an advantage, the Red Sox won’t be rested. The Tigers were already in Boston and checked into their hotel by the time the Red Sox-Yankees game ended Sunday night.
And for all the moaning about the Tigers merely being a product of a weakened division, they are just three games behind the Red Sox in the overall standings - the same distance the Tigers have separated themselves from the White Sox in the American League Central.
Now the Red Sox do have something the Tigers don’t have - a championship pedigree.
These are, however, rare circumstances tilted toward the Tigers. They can’t afford to waste the opportunity.
Random Thoughts
- Calvin Johnson is a terrific receiver, but he needs help. The amount of practice time Bryant Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew have been missing in training camp is a concern. The first preseason game is Saturday. The season is only a month away. Those are the Lions other two primary receivers. Johnson can’t do it alone. On the defensive side of the ball, rookie Louis Delmas is missing a lot of practice time because of injury and Daniel Bullocks had to have his knee checked. That obvious upgrade at safety is not moving along as smoothly as had been anticipated, is it?
- Now it’s time for Miguel Cabrera to get it done on the road. Fenway Park against worn-out pitching should be the cure. Cabrera is hitting .380 with 15 home runs and 45 RBI in 192 at bats at Comerica Park this season.
On the road, he is hitting just .287 with eight home runs and 22 RBI in 223 at bats.
It’s not a coincidence the Tigers are 36-18 at home and 23-33 on the road. As Cabrera goes, the Tigers go.
My Column in Monday's Oakland Press about Michigan State football
http://tinyurl.com/lnu298
posted by Pat Caputo at
11:23 AM
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