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Covering your bases: Tigers are just toothless
Forty-three games is more than a fourth of the season, so we can’t just keep writing this off as a fluky slump that will solve itself.
The Tigers were swept by the Royals for the second time this season last week, and entered Saturday only percentage points from having the worst record in the American League.
“We’re screwed up,” manager Jim Leyland said. “But if we hit like we’re capable of hitting, and we pitch like we’re capable of pitching, and we make plays like we’re capable of playing, and (I) manage good, we’ll be just fine. But it’s a screwed up mix right now.”
These are not problems that are likely to go away anytime soon, either. Gary Sheffield is injured (shoulder) and struggling (.190 batting average, .305 slugging percentage) and back to being just a DH … part-time.
Kenny Rogers is 43 years old with an ERA of 6.65, and more walks than strikeouts. He was beaten around by a mostly junior varsity lineup from the Royals last week, with manager Trey Hillman saying, “I think we can beat Kenny Rogers with this lineup.” And they did.
There are whispers that Justin Verlander is hurt, as his fastball continues to stay mostly in the low 90s, and his stuff looks like a fuzzy version of the high-definition dominance he showed the last two years.
Some of those problems might be OK if the Tigers’ offense was close to what it had been expected to be. Miguel Cabrera’s home run on Friday was the first by any Tiger besides rookie call-up Matt Joyce in nearly two weeks.
So far, the Tigers rank fifth in the AL in runs scored, just behind the A’s and just ahead of the Rays.
But even that ranking is skewed a bit by three blowout victories in which the Tigers scored 42 runs. Take away those games, and their average production dips from 4.5 runs per game to 3.8.
More telling: Detroit has won just once in the last five games they’ve had a quality start.
Adding to the problems is that the Indians look like they’re starting to figure it out. It was OK when Cleveland and Detroit both struggled; each side could take solace that the other wasn’t pulling away.
But that’s changed now with the ridiculous run of dominant pitching by the Indians, who entered Saturday six games ahead of the Tigers.
That gap only figures to grow once Cleveland’s offense turns it around.
Cleveland’s Cliff Lee pitches again. He has the best ERA (0.67) after seven starts since Fernandomania in ’81.
A capital gain?
Brett Myers pitches against the impotent Nationals — a good thing, because he gave up 12 runs in his last two starts for the Phillies.
Break for the Blue Jays
Toronto shortstops John McDonald and David Eckstein are both eligible to come off the DL. The Jays need both.
Hope you didn’t miss: Q&A with Luke Hochevar, perhaps the best “Rock Band” player in baseball; the arguments for and against locking up Zack Greinke; and a picture of the Royal-est guitar you’ll ever see.
Orioles starter Daniel Cabrera: Maybe the long wait for his potential is paying off. He’s 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA.
The Reds’ Ken Griffey Jr. (right) going to Seattle: All signs are that it will happen after he hits homer No. 600. Makes sense for both sides.
Red Sox infielder Julio Lugo: “I’m one of the best shortstops in the league,” he said, and you have to love delusional.
White Sox starter Mark Buehrle: Are the White Sox going to regret signing him to that four-year extension?
1 The Tigers: Getting old in a hurry, and Verlander is suddenly just average.
2 The Yankees: In last place looking up at Rays, DL filling up, young pitchers struggling.
3The Mets: It’s one thing for fans to boo, but now there’s obvious clubhouse tension.
4 The Padres: Worst offense in baseball, and their pitching hasn’t been that great, either.
5 The Mariners: Reports of a divided clubhouse highlight the AL’s worst record.