Uncertainties, not question marks: 2015 Tigers

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/93bfc216c092147d62b01dcce3f1064c35b4aa4b/c=150-0-4411-3204&r=x404&c=534x401/local/-/media/2015/02/17/DetroitFreePress/DetroitFreePress/635597908110587910-DFP-1030-dombrowski-1-1-T08VKMDR-L509150957.JPG

DETROIT (AP) -- Despite making plenty of changes in the offseason, the Detroit Tigers still expect to be a contending team.

Team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski spoke at the team's annual TigerFest event at Comerica Park and addressed those issues.

"Our expectations are to win the division and try to win a world championship," Dombrowski said. "It's just a less-certain club."

Dombrowski said fans are not sure if shortstop Jose Iglesias and reliever Bruce Rondon can come back from missing time with injuries, if Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez can bounce back and what to expect from new pitchers Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene, plus new outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Anthony Gose.

Dombrowski said the front office is not concerned about it.

"They're not really question marks to us," Dombrowski said. "I really like our club. I think we have a chance to be very good."

His offense, he said, is "getting better."

What he can do to improve that offense, he said, is "keep hitting."

When asked what he will do anything differently with the Blue Jays, he said: "I'm going to try and do a lot of things different. Try and hit the ball."

Gose was swapped for prospect Devon Travis and was coveted by the Tigers mainly because of what he can do in Comerica Park's spacious centerfield.

"Defense and speed" are his strong suits, Gose said, and about the Tigers' home outfield, he said: "They're all big. It's the big leagues. You just gotta catch the ball."

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/01/22/detroit-tigers-anthony-gose/22171247

this facial expression

http://media2.wxyz.com/photo/2015/01/24/185481804_1422133726753_12776952_ver1.0_640_480.jpg

It isn’t a bad team. In fact, I feel strong Red Sox ’13 vibes.

dude needs to turn that frown upside down!

http://i.imgur.com/5bn6O4u.jpg

The Joel Hanrahan Era is over.

@DOBrienAJC
Alfredo Simon just pulled into Tigers parking lot in a Benz that is entirely chrome-plated. So there's that.

@Verly32
I thought our whole complex was exploding today. Then we realized it was just Cespedes' Lamborghini

This is an improvement over Coke's remote-control helicopters.

verlander giving up homers to quad-a players

@beckjason
Recap: Kila Ka'aihue HR over scoreboard off Verlander, batboy dressed as leprechaun, Leyland doing YMCA, Nathan gets ovation. Just thru 5.

Attention, #Tigers fans! Don Kelly will be making the trip to Lakeland for tomorrow's #Marlins game.

o god what are they going to offer price

@beckjason
Standing ovation for David Price, who retired his first 10 and final 10 batters. In between, he gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in 3-batter span.

Out or across in three pitches

@Lynn_Henning
Definitely a legit 94-95 from Verlander. He'll be able to consistently run 4-seamer at that throttle in 2015.

@beckjason
Jays writers saying radar gun here in Dunedin runs maybe a tick hot, for what it's worth. Not spot-on, but not as bad as other places.

15-day DL for Verlander and Rondon, pitchers on the same staff as the embattled Joeba Chambernathan.

@Lynn_Henning
Brad Ausmus, asked if a manager admit dread over bullpen, already struggling, now minus Rondon: "It's possible. I'm not going to say it."

SAY IT

@FollowThePadres
RHP Jose Valverde has informed the #Padres that he will opt out of his Minor League contract. Team will grant him his release.

...

...

@beckjason
Tigers place Verlander on 15-day DL. Kyle Lobstein recalled from @MudHens.

Comstock Park, MI – Opening Day is tomorrow and the West Michigan Whitecaps are expanding their menu to highlight one of their newest players! Joey Pankake is a second baseman for the team and starting on Thursday, April 9, the Whitecaps Opening Day, fans can get “The Joey Pankakes.”

Consisting of two alternating layers of pancakes, hickory flavored pulled pork and bacon, it is then all topped with a generous helping of syrup. The Joey Pankakes satisfy the foodie in just about everyone. Whitecaps President Scott Lane thinks fans will enjoy this item. “When you add bacon and syrup to give you that salty and sweet taste it is mmm tasty!”

@beckjason
Joe Nathan to DL with right flexor strain. Joakim Soria to close.

Terrible news!

offense seems okay

@beckjason
Joba on new bullpen setup in Cleveland: "It was interesting. There was a never-ending joke about midges. I never heard that before."

Advice: The Big Pasta walked a pair and punched out three on the afternoon. He cruised through the first five innings virtually unscathed, but ran into trouble as he seemed to tire in the sixth. He'll look to extend his winning streak when he takes the hill against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
(Rotoworld.com)

So far so good heh?

American League Leaders
AL BATTING AVERAGE

1. Jose Iglesias, DET .526
2. Miguel Cabrera, DET .520
3. Anthony Gose, DET .450
4. Ian Kinsler, DET .440

raise it

Sanchez gave up four home runs last year.

shane greene looks pretty good . . . when he's not batting, anyway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljo2FI9ynAE

We want that Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake Kake

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CCmAaU_W0AEffEs.png

Joba, unacknowledged Dom DeLuise son

Only one appearance -- a rough one -- for Joba thus far. Zero tolerance!

Meanwhile, Joakim Soria has been sharp (two hits allowed, both in a nonsave situation) and will lose his current role once Joe Nathan is off the DL.

Price: 22.1 innings, 20 SO, 5 walks, 1 HR. Some pretty good stuff so far.

Poor Denny McLain

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/04/20/detroit-tigers-denny-mclain-memorabilia/25990339/

http://www.postandcourier.com/storyimage/CP/20130709/PC20/130709436/AR/0/AR-130709436.jpg&maxw=400&q=90

https://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vsveDzdxYIscff0GqfOKP1xKV6g=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3626326/Iglesias_omg.0.gif

what a pick by miggy

v pretty infield plays tonight

"yr welcome detroit!" - ben cherington

Oh no!

‏@TonyPaul1984
It was an off-speed pitch that landed #Tigers Joe Nathan on the DL. Reports say he just left Toledo outing after another off-speed pitch.

@cmccosky
In his last .2 innings vs. Yanks at Comerica, Price has given up 14 runs, 13 hits. Crazy

had to restrain myself from posting another joey pankake video here today

rip joe nathan

alfredo simon: staff ace

Despite Chad Fairchild:

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/numlocation.php?pitchSel=430580&game=gid_2015_04_25_clemlb_detmlb_1/&batterX=4&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1

Meanwhile, in nine appearances, Nathan understudy Soria -- who was mopping up for Phil Coke only seven months ago -- has allowed two base runners, both during a nonsave situation.

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/numlocation.php?pitchSel=430580&game=gid_2015_04_25_clemlb_detmlb_1/&batterX=4&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1

(Pitch six: "Ball four!")

@Lynn_Henning
Was deeply concerned about Kirk Gibson after seeing him a couple of weeks ago. Suspected some kind of stroke. Tigers announce: Parkinson's.

Damn. Going by his mound visits the previous couple (few?) seasons, I wondered if he was dealing with something more serious than typical wear.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDsbYOZXIAIWo0-.png

gibson scouting report at michigan state

@Lynn_Henning
It was 37 years ago this month Kirk Gibson ran a 4.23 40-yard dash for NFL scouts. He was going to be the first player drafted in 2 sports.

80-grade aggressiveness

80 speed, 40 range

20 speed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI99GVuQLeI

He ran a 4.23?!

Looks like Henning corrected himself here. Still...

In April 1978, he also ran during an audition for NFL scouts. He was timed, by multiple people, at 4.28 in the 40-yard dash. This, from a 20-year-old man who stood 6-foot-3 and weighed 220 pounds.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/columnists/lynn-henning/2015/04/29/henning-parkinsons-defeat-gibson/26555849/

sorry for jinxing you alfredo

@beckjason
Shane Greene on pitching to his manager: "I just see a glove." Said Ausmus wanted to do it and he said alright.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

Yesterday:

Chicago - Bottom of 8th
Joba Chamberlain pitching for Detroit
Ramírez grounded out to shortstop.
Flowers popped out to second.
Johnson singled to left.
Eaton singled to shallow left, Johnson to second.
Cabrera homered to right (405 feet), Johnson and Eaton scored.
Abreu singled to left.
LaRoche singled to right center, Abreu to third.
García singled to center, Abreu scored, LaRoche to third.
Hardy relieved Chamberlain.
Beckham hit for Gillaspie.
Beckham lined out to center.

@beckjason
Soria has one 4-out appearance since Tommy John surgery in 2012. That was in Game 161 of 2013 season for Texas. Not happening in May.

Today:

Chicago - Bottom of 8th
Soria relieved Lobstein.
Abreu struck out swinging.

Chicago - Bottom of 9th
García struck out swinging.
LaRoche struck out swinging.
Ramírez struck out swinging.

"It's funny," said Lobstein, a genial, intelligent 25-year-old. "I pitch 7 2/3 innings and get three strikeouts. Soria gets four strikeouts pitching to four batters."

BP:

"Two years ago Detroit led the majors in strikeouts. This year, they're 29th. The most popular theory is all those strikeouts had to move out of state to find jobs."

joey pankake inside-the-park homer today!

Rock, rock
Rocked Lobstein

"Time goes quick," Cabrera said. "I feel like my first year was last year. Sometimes I'm scared because I don't want to stop playing baseball, you know? I just want to stop [aging] right here. I'm 32. Stop! And keep playing. Time goes too fast, man."

http://m.tigers.mlb.com/news/article/124433644/tigers-miguel-cabrera-humbled-to-be-one-home-run-shy-of-andres-galarraga

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC3odHnprl4

@cmccosky
Cabrera is the 15th player to reach 400 in his age-32 season. He has 262 as a Tiger, tied with Willie Horton for fourth

Victor Martinez, .141/.242/.153 against RHPs, likely to the DL.

Unfortunately he can't be reinstated to face LHPs (.462/.516/.654).

Also unfortunate that Bengie Molina (with his brothers strapped to his back) would likely beat Martinez in a sprint.

http://d11gntdlgy6l0w.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/willie-horton-at-the-plate-tiger-stadium-2015.jpg

http://blog.detroitathletic.com/2015/05/21/willie-horton-returns-to-the-site-of-tiger-stadium-for-the-first-time-since-its-final-game-in-1999/

http://i.imgur.com/JyjiWHZ.png

"It was my fault," Kaline said, sitting on a black leather sofa in the Tigers clubhouse as Detroit got ready for a night game against Milwaukee. "It was one of the worst, if not the worst, decisions I've ever made in my life.

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/05/26/kalines-last-day-short-history-long-regret/27988713/

It isn’t a bad team. In fact, I feel strong Red Sox ’13 vibes.

― Allen (etaeoe), Wednesday, February 18, 2015 8:37 AM (3 months ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

still think this

HIT THE BALL

Los Angeles - Bottom of 1st
Shane Greene pitching for Detroit
Giavotella grounded out to shortstop.
Trout homered to center (434 feet).
Pujols popped out to third.
Calhoun homered to right center (393 feet).
Freese fouled out to first.

Los Angeles - Bottom of 2nd
Shane Greene pitching for Detroit
Joyce homered to center (397 feet).
Pérez homered to center (399 feet).
Navarro reached on infield single to pitcher.
Green struck out looking.
Giavotella lined out to center.
Trout walked, Navarro to second.
Pujols homered to left (417 feet), Navarro and Trout scored.
Wilson relieved Greene.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGiDlZOVIAACpfO.jpg

no-hitter intact

And then...

Third inning, Tigers on first and second, none out. Bunt, bunt, ground out. No runs score. Ausmus says after the game that both bunts were "hitters on their own." Maybe he tried the "Don't bunt unless you get the sign" rule with team Israel and lost the clubhouse. Wouldn't want to lose two clubhouses in three years.

Later in the game, Iglesias ranges to his far right, nearly gets Lawrie at third. Tough play, wasn't a force, Iglesias had no chance going to first. Same inning, first and third, routine grounder to Kinsler, whose only play is at first since the runner on first went with the pitch and the runner on third stayed put. Rather than go for the 4-3, Kinsler weakly throws home. Kinsler says after the game that he thought the runner on third was going home. Translation: "I am not at fault." He also says they "had an out" they "didn't come up with," in reference to the Iglesias play.

Ausmus might be only a loss or two away from making another domestic abuse "joke."

poor daniel fields

http://i.imgur.com/gVXS8wd.png

nick castellanos, c/d?

i mean matt dominguez is at least a good fielder

(that was probably my harshest-ever ilb post, sorry nick)

shane greene ---> toledo

Valid question and observation regarding Castellanos, yes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPUkEq7C5Ik

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d49-b82TJ_E

"Replay has regressed this year." -- Brad Ausmus

"I thought I was out." -- Anthony Gose

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/131546204/billy-hamilton-caught-james-mccann-statcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9x4QfZ0GEb8

Cabrera went only 2-for-5 yesterday with no XBH -- which dragged his '15 against-Cleveland slash line down to a measly .619/.673/1.024 -- so he's sitting today.

jobacide

http://sportsmasher.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/IMG_2399.jpg

SELL
SELL
SELL

only 2.5 out of the wild card!

joba to be dfa'd ;_;

Miguel Cabrera has limped off the field.

@Tom_Gage
Grade 3 calf strain for #Tigers Cabrera; out six weeks - mid-August, in other words

Asked to compare Krauss to Cabrera as a hitter, Ausmus said, "He's not quite as good."

"We won't know until we find out." -- Joe Morgan

end of an era

#VoteYo ‏@tigers 17m17 minutes ago
The #Tigers today have given RHP Joba Chamberlain his unconditional release.

More like end of an ERA!!!

ziinnngggggg

Verlander forgot how to win.

SELL
SELL
SELL

― Andy K, Friday, July 3, 2015 8:46 AM (2 weeks ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"There's too much talent in this clubhouse for this team not to play better," Verlander said. "Everybody needs to take a look in the mirror. And that starts with me. I can't call this a step forward for me. It was a disappointment. I've got to pitch better."

missing torii's leadership obvs

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/why-the-tigers-shouldnt-sell-in-one-graph

@beckjason
J.D. Martinez HR traveled 467 feet, according to Statcast.

OVER the roof of the CF camera well.

At this point, I'd prefer to see the Tigers set themselves up for the future (and enrage entitled fans even more). I'd be a little surprised if Ilitch gave in, though.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CKek-ZaXAAAS-cS.png

The ball landed a little higher than that, in the bushes, though.

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/b55dee24512422b6102d0f6456a0cfa08607f101/c=199-0-3306-2336&r=x383&c=540x380/local/-/media/2015/07/13/DetroitNews/DetroitNews/635723890024850371-Tig3.jpg

"RAH-zhee": how Kirk Gibson pronounces Rajai

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CK4pkc3UsAAAu4i.jpg

So are we officially in 'the next Phillies' mode?

not until miggy stops raking

and being more than 15 months removed from scooping up j.d. martinez

4-6 since the break -- all games against other sub-.500 teams.

Hoping your home team loses is a strange feeling.

price for urias straight up imo

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLGgxSwUEAAYtvZ.jpg

Shit -- anyone want Verlander? Sell high.

back in it!

@beckjason
First double-digit strikeout game with no walks for Justin Verlander since Sept. 24, 2010. 5th of his career.

No, mookieproof, no.

Game scores: Verlander 80, Archer 78.

"Rebooting"

*whew*

http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/assets/images/9/6/4/139546964/cuts/Dombrowski480_b88j2y99_alznm6vz.jpg

@beckjason
Norris on relation to 2nd cousin Brad Ausmus: "It’s like my mom’s dad’s daughter’s husband or something like that? Second cousin’s dog?"

@beckjason
Ausmus: "I just want outs, whether we're related or not."

@Lynn_Henning
Toledo muscleman Mike Hessman just hit a monstrous grand slam at Fifth Third Field. It makes him the all-time minor league HR hitter: 433.

Waiting for the lengthy Mitch Albom profile with a subheading for every other paragraph.

dombrowski out

i guess winning four straight division titles doesn't have the cachet it used to

what have u domb for me lately?

Cold business. Apart from a handful of bad contracts and only a couple bad trades, he was great here.

Looking forward to bombing a different team's seasonal threads with dombrowskipout jpgs.

@JeffPassan
Dave Dombrowski is out as Detroit president/GM. Stunning. Players heard the news about 15 minutes ago. Speculation he ends up in Toronto.

I'll always wonder how Dombrowski would have spent the money used to get Prince. Seriously doubt anyone but Ilitch wanted that to happen.

@Tom_Gage
if DD was fired for performance, you'd think Avila would have been dumped, too-as Avila just said on FSD, "I've been involved in everything"

Avila just said that Castellanos "is having a good year." Uh oh.

Odd press conference. Avila was up there alone -- no Ilitch or Ilitch family.

@pgammo
This has been the greatest decade in Tigers history, in wins, attendance, revenues. Thanks for the memories, Dave Dombrowski. Joke

Gammons OTM

@Tom_Gage 25s25 seconds ago
really odd timing on the DD move - before a night game instead of Monday's day off - when Avila said he was told Saturday??? odder than odd

pretty wild that their greatest decade didn't involve any of their four titles

i guess i assume that the now-horrendous long-term deals that are burying the tigers were mostly ilitch's doing, and while of course you trade away prospects to bolster a contender, maybe not quite to this extent of depletion

also wouldn't be surprised if dombrowski was like fuck it, i don't want to do another rebuild

just guessing, i dunno. seems weird on its face, tho. and it's going to be strange with avila jr. going into free agency on a down year

they better bring up hessman next month imo

while of course you trade away prospects to bolster a contender, maybe not quite to this extent of depletion

Did the Jays cross that line this year? Eleven pitchers in a week. Anyway, I know this is the Tigers thread.

Maybe!

Norris and Boyd's first starts as Tigers: 14.1 IP, 11 H, 2 ER, 7 K, 1 BB

Tiger fans: "Waaaaa, wake us when Avila's off the team, waaaaa..."

Yikes.

https://twitter.com/blessyouboys/status/629828436849238017

https://twitter.com/blessyouboys/status/629829251290787840

@Lynn_Henning
Quite candidly, the last two guys on this team you'd expect to squabble would be James McCann and Jose Iglesias. But 2015 hasn't made sense.

digging the spanish jerseys

new vp of player development: dave littlefield

rip

Promising:

"One thing I will bring different is expanded analytics," Avila said. "I will tell you that I feel that we have a ways to go to catch up with the industry. We have been making some strides, but we'll fast-forward a little bit and add to that department.

"You'll see a big difference there."

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/08/12/avila-bringing-new-look-tigers-front-office/31595203/

daniel norris, career: 1.000/1.000/4.000

also he grows a beard and camps out on the way to spring training cause he's a lefty

Left the game with a strained oblique.

Wonder how that happened.

Welcome, Guido Knudson.

Really appreciate HR-allowed leader Sanchez pitching through a strained rotator cuff "the past few months."

Farmer Tanned

Whole staff tanned.

Gose cooked.

Playoff tix on sale!

From a Detroit Free Press article on Gose's Saturday mishap:

"Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said after the game that Gose knew he screwed up and it wouldn’t happen again."

It did happen again--on Sunday.

So...who managing this team next April???

Todd Jones and the cast of Sharknado 4.

kingfish?

Seems like the least surprising choice would be Gardenhire.

Guido Knudson gave up a home run to Cheslor Cuthbert.

Guido Knudson is the first relief pitcher to give up a home run in each of his first four career appearances.

The Tigers were already in a 4-0 hole by the fourth inning, and losing their best hitter did not help matters, as Cabrera was ejected for arguing after a called strike. The 32-year-old slugger was visibly upset after Quinn Wolcott punched him out following a pitch that Cabrera clearly felt was a ball.

Cabrera voiced his displeasure to Wolcott and appeared headed back to the dugout when third-base umpire and crew chief Gary Cederstrom tossed him from the game.

It was not immediately clear what prompted Cederstrom to toss him, though Cabrera appeared to gesture at him at one point before heading to the dugout.

"He don't got nothing to do with that play," Cabrera said of Cederstrom. "I don't know. Eventually, [the media is] gonna write something and Major League [Baseball] is gonna fine me, so I don't care. What am I gonna do? I didn't do anything."

After being ejected, Cabrera approached Cederstrom, with manager Brad Ausmus trailing close behind.

Ausmus said Cabrera was restrained when he approached Cederstrom after the ejection.

"Miggy was very calm when he was talking to Cederstrom," Ausmus said. "He didn't use any bad language."

The Tigers manager wouldn't venture a guess as to why Cabrera had been ejected.

"You'd have to ask Gary that," Ausmus said.

http://www.brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/numlocation.php?pitchSel=570649&game=gid_2015_09_02_detmlb_kcamlb_1/&batterX=28&innings=yyyyyyyyy&sp_type=1&s_type=3&league=mlb&pnf=&zlpo=&cache=1

http://m.rays.mlb.com/tb/video/v461145183/?partnerId=as_tb_20150907_52089086&adbid=640958719941935104&adbpl=tw&adbpr=39682297

Better reaction: Wolf's or the Rays fan's?

Detroit Tigers Minor League outfielder Magglio Ordoñez, Jr. has received a 50-game suspension without pay following a second positive test for a Drug of Abuse.

Looks like the manager's firing is being handled as well as that of the GM.

If Brad Ausmus is going to be fired at the end of the season, as WDIV was reporting late Thursday night, it’s news to him.

“I haven’t been told anything,” Ausmus said in a text message to The Detroit News.

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 51s52 seconds ago
#Tigers GM Al Avila: “I spoke to Mr. I today and to Brad and I can reconfirm that our evaluation is ongoing and decision has not been made.”

decision to arrive by the end of the season, apparently?

Whenever Gardenhire's ready.

@DannyKnobler
On clumsily-handled Ilitch manager firings, Larry Parrish still ranks first. This one would fight for a spot with Buddy, Tram, Garner.

Tigers rookie James McCann has done something no other catcher in modern baseball has done before. In 102 appearances behind the plate, he's been completely flawless.

The record was previously held by former Cleveland Indians catcher Frankie Pytlak, who didn't commit an error in his first 93 games in 1932-34.

As expected, the Tigers lost the Verlander start and won the "nightcap" in which their AL-worst bullpen went six innings. Cabrera went 0-for-5, team scored nine runs -- of course.

Sanchez's rotator cuff strain, which put him on the DL Aug. 19, flared up at the end of his bullpen session Monday. He said he planned to be examined by Dr. James Andrews, possibly as soon as Tuesday.

Thanks again for being a bulldog and toughing it out.

2014 HR9: 0.3
2015 HR9: 1.7

And the same to you, Victor Martinez (.291/.347/.637).

There are reasons for the falloff. He had surgery to repair his left meniscus on Feb. 10. It was the second operation in three years on that knee, and in hindsight, with Martinez being 36 years old, he probably tried to come back too soon.

He's never been fully healthy. Compensations were made in his swing early on, particularly from the left side, which threw off his mechanics. To alleviate the stress on the back leg, he began hitting more off his front leg, losing balance and power.

And try as me might, even as the knee has strengthened through the season, he hasn't been able to get his old, smooth swing back.

"When you are hurt, you definitely try to do stuff so you don't feel the pain here and there," Martinez said. "We definitely picked up bad habits and then it's just been fighting and fighting and fighting.

@Lynn_Henning
One thing impossible to find today at Comerica Park: a line at the concessions stand. Each fan gets his or her own stand.

congrats to JOEY PANKAKE and the MIDWEST LEAGUE CHAMPION WEST MICHIGAN WHITECAPS

“Bruce Rondon, because of his effort level, has been sent home,” Ausmus announced. “And other than saying that (general manager) Al Avila and myself completely agreed on it, there will be no other details or comment.”

BEST TEN-GAME STRETCH SINCE APRIL

.500 STILL WITHIN REACH

AUSMUS TO RETURN

@KatieStrangESPN
Tigers pitcher Alfredo Simon said he has pitched through knee pain virtually the whole SSN. Going to DET tmrw to undergo PRP treatment

OK, great.

if only buck farmer had been given a shot

anyway fuck them for not calling up hessman

Dan: Ausmus says he doesn’t care what people say about his handling of Norris because they don’t know the game like he does. Can the Tigers hit the reset on their decision?

Klaw: Except that all available evidence is that he doesn’t know the game. That was unconscionable; two AGMs texted me during that first inning to ask what the fuck (their word) Ausmus was doing.

http://www.si.com/mlb/2015/09/30/daniel-norris-54-pitch-first-inning-tigers-brad-ausmus

But if he gets hurt, or if his velocity and effectiveness fade next year, there will be many fingers pointing to Tuesday night’s 54 pitches and the manager who let him throw them.

Looking forward to a poor start or the slightest injury being attributed to 54 pitches thrown without a five/ten-minute break.

Probably wouldn't have left Norris in there to finish the inning, though.

@Dan_Dickerson
Verlander's final 14GS of this year:
2.27ERA, 74H in 99IP, 20W/91K - and opp. hit .207/.249/.299 - .548OPS in 358AB....

Tigers' Daniel Norris reveals he has thyroid cancer

http://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2015/10/19/detroit-tigers-daniel-norris/74236764/

Heard on the radio it's very treatable.

lloyd mcclendon is the new manager of the toledo mud hens

also it is joey pankake's birthday

Great day for the organization.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CZ0tlyrVAAA6XON.jpg

In Faygo orange for graying Juggalos

https://twitter.com/Field_Jordan/status/695599881071624192