Tigers On Top

Anyone remember how Leyland was pissed at the scheduling folks for giving the Tygs a nine-game roadtrip through the NL? Judging by the 8-1 record, I’d have to say the National League rather agreed with the Tigers. Even the ESPN people are taking notice, which hardly ever happens given their massive obsession with the Yankees, regardless of record. The intro on Sunday Night Baseball was so one-sided that even Fox Sports Detroit might have gone, “Hmmm, maybe we should put a little more about the Braves in there.” ESPN failed to mention the Tigers’ semi-worthy opponents until the very end–after piles of delightful Tiger-worship, Jon Miller noted that, oh yes, tonight the Tigers will feast upon the Braves. Mmmm, yummy. 

Andrew Miller did a fine job, pitching six shutout innings against the Braves. The Tigers were shut out as well for the first five innings, but they were just biding their time, waiting for just the right moment. Gotta make sure there’s at least a little suspense. With the Braves, the scoreless streak was just a miserable continuation of their recent past. They only scored one run on the Tygs, isn’t that sad? For them, I mean.

Once the shutout had gone on long enough to be extra interesting, the Tygs efficiently smacked singles and doubles enough for four runs in the sixth–plenty for Miller and his replacement, the erstwhile starter Durbin, though they added one more. Durbin pitched three scoreless innings for the save, and if I do say so myself, his stuff was FILTHY. My dad and I, happily overdosing on baseball after watching the Yankees get their asses kicked in an afternoon game in San Francisco, kept going, “Ooooohhhhh,” as another batter’s knees buckled.

Conveniently, the Indians lost again to the Nationals, so our lead in the division is up to a whopping two games. Well, it seems whopping when you’ve been behind by two or three for the past month, anyway. I take this is as solid proof that we’re better than Cleveland–we swept the Natties, and they lost the series to DC. Ha, I say triumphantly.

I’m definitely interested to see how this new rotation will work out (at least when I’m not feeling incredibly depressed about Mikey). And, just a random thought, I think Miller would be much better looking if he’d just shave and cut his hair. Very slowly I’m starting to trust him … It takes a rather long time for pitchers to gain my trust; however, once they’ve got it, it usually takes a while for me to completely lose faith in them (see Todd Jones and the dearly departed Matt Anderson, who I still pine for occasionally). Durbin got shafted, in my opinion, but he seems to be dealing with it quite well, and if he pitches like that all the time in relief, then our bullpen will be much improved. Here’s crossing my fingers that Kenny and Miller keep up their unhittableness! And while we’re at it: Please come back soon, Zoom Zoom, we miss you terribly.