31-6 Denny McLain Blog - Verlander, Cabrera, The Olympics!

By Denny McLain
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One of our announcers said the Tigers are so thorough when beating the opposition but we’re sure having issues with every team cause we’re getting thoroughly thumped lately!


First Porcello: please trade him before he loses his value. Are the tigers going to do the same thing that they did with Bonderman? They are going to hang on to Porcello until it is found out that he is only a suspect.

And can Dan Dickerson stop telling us the velocity of every pitch? Does he know that Comcast shows the velocity and does he have to give us the pitch count all the time?

Something else, why can’t Price, as a former catcher do more situational baseball, tell us what's going on, tell the fans what to expect. Dan let Jimmy talk!! His knowledge and experience with the stars that Jim played with is much more valuable than the damn pitch counts and a phony velocity number!

There are two things that Verlander found out at the All Star game.

First, there is no fastball that big league hitters can't hit. All pitchers get beat up no matter how good we think we are. What purpose does it serve to tell us if you think you’re throwing the ball at 102 miles per hour? One last time! No one throws a ball at 100 miles per hour! To suggest you can throw the ball at 100 miles an hour anytime you want is disingenuous and I hope that a guy with all of this talent does not believe his own clippings! Believing what the writers say and fans state is one way to believe that you are bigger than the game or any hitter…and none of us are that big!

Secondly, I said earlier this year that I did not think that Verlander would win 20 games despite all of the extra rest he has received. There is no "I" in “team,” if anyone knows that, Justin should know that. He as the number one starter has seen his share of great plays by this Tigers team. He was rewarded numerous times after being pulled out of a game, outfielders and infielders making great plays, but that is why they are also there. Good pitchers get great breaks, I will attest to that fact and Justin has demonstrated that.

Now to the offense.

Why is Cabrera still hitting ahead of Prince Fielder? Fielder will hit 30-40 points higher if he’s in front of Cabrera.

I think that this is Jim just being bull-headed and letting everyone know that he’s running the team and no one else, but I don't understand the bull hot headedness of Jim?

No one is a bigger fan of Jim than me but this is really confusing. I don’t see anything wrong with scoring more runs, and before it’s all over we are going to need lots of runs cause the closer we get to the end of the season the more (very) good pitchers we are going to face. Teams are not going to throw out sacrifices and suspects in September.

I will state for the record, I think I have seen most of them but with the exception of Mickey Mantle (because he switch hit) has there ever been a better hitter than Cabrera? There has never been anything like him and maybe never will be ever again.

We all know that the pitching in the Major Leagues is not the great pitching that was around in the 60’s and 70’s when I pitched but Cabrera does everything and anything with the bat, I have seen em all over the past 50 years and he is the guy that I would nominate as the best of all of them!

I know it’s hard to compare eras, but folks, he has no downside of any kind, he truly is a Major Leaguer in every aspect and I think a lot of people think he should have won the MVP last year. Where would the Tigers have been without Cabrera? Do you really want me to spell it out?

Switching Olympic gears.

Lots of stuff has been said of Michael Phelps not taking the Olympics as seriously as in the past, I think so too. He looks tired to me and after he finished fourth in a race he was totally speechless, he couldn’t answer the questions that were being tossed at him and the shock was apparent on his face. I only hope that he can bring it all under control to break whatever record he’s chasing. If not, he solely was the one Olympian and the one reason that the vast majority of us watched the games four years ago. I wish him the very best as he swims out of an incredible career.

Solo, the Goalie with the Ladies Soccer Team. Can she keep her mouth shut; who does this gal think she is? She ranted and raved about some criticism from broadcaster Brandi Chastain. Is it really a good time to “rip” the press and then rant and rave again when they respond?

I should know what the press can do to you! They will do just about anything to get even if you “rip” them. It’s the athlete’s right to state anything they want to but it may and could be a giant disruption in their concentration.

One other thought about this goalie. I also believe that some of these lesser known Olympic stars are seeking attention cause they are looking for bookings and gigs after the Olympics, so maybe this gets her some favor, but calm down and play. Now, let’s play soccer ok?

Two last notes about Solo. One, she was kicked off the team in 2007 and two, do you think this outburst has anything to do with her new book coming out three days after the Olympics end?

Oh my huh?

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Tigers head into 9-game road trip winning eight of their last 10 games

By Matt Harding
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Since the All-Star break, the Tigers have been on a hot streak, picking up the division lead, and winning eight out of their last 10 games. They look to continue their tear on the road, starting tonight in Cleveland.

Game 1:

On the mound for the Tigers is Doug Fister, 3-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his last three starts. Ubaldo Jimenez, who has lost four of his last five starts, pitches for the Indians.

Game 2:

On Wednesday, the Tigers send out Max Scherzer, who allowed one run in his last outing against the Angels. Derek Lowe, who has a 6-3 career record with a 2.52 ERA against Detroit, will pitch for Cleveland.

Game 3:

Finishing the series, the Tigers will send Justin Verlander to the mound to face Zach McAllister, who has a 1.59 career ERA in his 11.1 innings pitched against the Tigers.

In Play!'s prediction: Tigers pick up two of three, losing the second game in a low scoring pitching duel.   

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TIGERS ACQUIRE ANIBAL SANCHEZ, OMAR INFANTE AND DRAFT CHOICE FROM MIAMI MARLINS

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Jacob Turner, Brian Flynn, Rob Brantly and Draft Choice Sent to Miami

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers today announced the club has acquired righthanded pitcher Anibal Sanchez, second baseman Omar Infante and a compensation draft choice between the first and second round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft from the Miami Marlins in exchange for righthanded pitcher Jacob Turner, lefthanded pitcher Brian Flynn, catcher Rob Brantly and a compensation draft choice between the second and third round of the 2013 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Sanchez, 28, has compiled a 5-7 record, 3.94 ERA (121.0IP/53ER) and 110 strikeouts in 19 starts with the Marlins this season. Opponents are hitting .259 (119x460) against him this season, while he has issued 33 walks. He has posted a 2.70 ERA (20.0IP/6ER) and 18 strikeouts over his last three starts dating back to July 8.

In seven seasons at the major league level with the Marlins (2006-12), Sanchez has compiled a 44-45 record, 3.75 ERA (794.1IP/331ER) and 676 strikeouts. As a rookie with the Marlins, Sanchez tossed a no-hitter on September 6, 2006 versus Arizona.

Sanchez will wear uniform number 19 with the Tigers.

Infante, 30, is hitting .287 (94x328) with 23 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 33 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 85 games with Miami in 2012. He has compiled a .982 fielding percentage at second base this season. Infante is tops among all National League second basemen with 278 assists in 2012.

Originally signed by the Tigers as a non-drafted free agent on April 28, 1999, Infante has seen action at the major league level with the Tigers (2002-06), Braves (2007-10) and Marlins (2011-12). In 1,027 games at the major league level, he is batting .276 (963x3490) with 176 doubles, 34 triples, 60 home runs and 350 RBI. Infante was selected to the National League’s all-star squad with the Braves in 2010.

Infante will wear uniform number 18 with the Tigers.

Turner has started three games with the Tigers in 2012, posting a 1-1 record and 8.03 ERA (12.1IP/11ER). He posted a 4-3 record and 3.16 ERA (62.2IP/22ER) in 10 starts with Triple A Toledo this season.

Flynn compiled an 8-4 record and 3.71 ERA (102.0IP/42ER) in 18 starts with Single A Lakeland this season. He made one start with Double A Erie, taking the loss after allowing five runs in five innings of work.

Brantly hit .311 (56x180) with 16 doubles, a triple, three home runs and 24 RBI in 46 games with Double A Erie in 2012. He batted .254 (33x130) with four doubles and six RBI in 36 games with Triple A Toledo.

In a related roster move, the Tigers have designated the contract of lefthanded pitcher Kelvin De La Cruz for assignment. De La Cruz has compiled a 5-8 record, 4.86 ERA (90.2IP/49ER) and 75 strikeouts in 19 outings (17 starts) with Double A Erie this season.

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