Jeff Riger: Why All The Hate? I Can Tell You!
On the surface things look great: Detroit is in 1st place by a half game, and they possibly have the best two players in baseball. So, what's the problem?
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On the surface things look great: Detroit is in 1st place by a half game, and they possibly have the best two players in baseball. So, what's the problem?
"We're in the race. We've got to fix a few things, but everybody has to fix a few things," Jim Leyland said recently.
Last night's All-Star game could have hurt the Tigers.
In an All Star Game that included many Detroit Tigers, their bats were fairly quiet during the American League loss to the National League 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Scoring in the first half of the season dropped to its lowest level in 19 years and the major league batting average shrunk to its smallest midseason figure since 1985, confirmation that the Steroids Era has ended and that a new Age of the Pitcher is taking hold.
Justin Verlander became the first Detroit pitcher to win 12 games before the All-Star break since RHP Jack Morris in 1987.
It's bad for baseball that Justin Verlander won't appear in Tuesday night's game. And great for baseball that Alex Avila will.
Tigers fans say they're eager to take in the All-Star game, even though Justin Verlander will sit this one out.
SP Justin Verlander, Tigers: Guys like Justin Masterson and Scott Baker are having pretty good seasons, but there's really no reason to even expand on the discussion.
Not only did the All-Star managers announce their starters on Monday, both Bruce Bochy and Ron Washington announced their closers for Tuesday's game -- if they get that opportunity.
The Tigers today announced the club has transferred the injury rehabilitation assignment of second baseman Carlos Guillen from Triple A Toledo to Double A Erie.
This morning Ron Washington released his lineup for the 2011 MLB All-Star game. Alex Avila will bat 9th.
The Tigers head into the All Star break a club that presents one extreme to the other — with little in the middle.
Joaquin Benoit only faced one batter but struck him out after setting him up. Benoit, who got Saturday off, came in to relieve RHP Justin Verlander with runners at third and first and two out in the eighth.
In 2010, Detroit lost its last game and fell out of first place in the AL Central, overtaken by the Chicago White Sox.
