Tagged: Tigers
D’backs win forces decisive Game 5 at Miller Park
Brewers skipper Ron Roenicke saw Arizona's offense explode to the tune of 10 runs in Game 4, including a grand slam for the second consecutive night. Milwaukee will face the Diamondbacks at Miller Park Friday at 4pm for the right to move on to the NLCS.
After leaving Milwaukee with a 2-0 lead in their NLDS clash with the Diamondbacks, the Brewers promptly dropped games 3 and 4 in Arizona. With back-to-back losses by Shaun Marcum and Randy Wolf, the Brewers will put their entire season on the line Friday evening at Miller Park, where they own a Major League-best 59 wins in 2011 (including the postseason). Brewers ace Yovani Gallardo will once again face Arizona’s 21-game winner, Ian Kennedy. There’s not much more to say –a trip to the League Championship Series is on the line. The same goes for the Yankees-Tigers series as well as Cardinals-Phillies.
American League Cy Young
It’s been a year of milestones for Detroit Tiger’s starting pitcher Justin Verlander. 2011 saw Verlander record his 1,000th strikeout and 100th win. On May 2 he tossed his second career no-hitter, losing his bid for a perfect game with an eighth inning walk, his only blunder on the day. Verlander didn’t give up a hit until the sixth inning of his following outing, compiling 15 2/3 innings of hitless baseball over three starts. The Detroit ace struck out a career-high 14 batters versus the Diamondbacks on June 25. Verlander flirted with no-hitters multiple times later in the season, not allowing a hit through seven innings on both June 14 and July 31.
Verlander’s numbers are off the charts. He leads Major League Baseball in wins (24), innings pitched (251), strikeouts (250), WHIP (0.92), and hits per nine innings (6.2). He leads the American League in ERA (2.40) and win-loss percentage (24-5, .828).
If being named to his fourth All-Star team doesn’t push him over the top, his 7.0 WAR does.
Ladies and gentleman there is no debate, Justin Verlander is the American League Cy Young.
All-Star Break Power Rankings (July 14)
The 82nd All-Star game has come and passed and Thursday brings MLB’s second half – which never fails to stir up drama. The NL has clinched home field advantage in World Series with a 5-1 victory over the AL All-Stars. The Milwaukee Brewers had three starters voted in, however, Ryan Braun sat out due to an ailing hamstring. Rickie Weeks hit lead-off and went hitless, but did steal a base and score a run. Fielder, starting at first base and hitting clean-up, delivered the big hit of the night – a three-run jack off of Texas starter C.J. Wilson – and was named the All-Star game MVP. At the end of the contest the Brewers made a drastic roster move. Milwaukee now has K-Rod and the Ax-Man at the back end of their pen. With Rickie Weeks playing like his hair is on fire, if Braun and Fielder keep mashing, the Brewers could be in line for a deep postseason run. Here are the top ten teams in baseball right now…
Even though Ryan Braun pulled out of the game, Milwaukee still had two All-Star starters in first baseman Prince Fielder and second baseman Rickie Weeks. The former minor league roommates also participated in the Home Run Derby together and batted in their normal clean-up and lead-off spots in the NL starting lineup.
1. Philadelphia Phillies (57-34, 1st in NL East by 3.5 games)
Roy Halladay: (11-3) 2.45 ERA, 138 SO, 1.02 WHIP
Ryan Howard: (.257 BA/.353 OBP/.475 SLG) 18 HR, 72 RBI
2. Atlanta Braves (54-38, 2nd in NL East, 3.5 GB)
Jair Jurrjens: (12-3) 1.87 ERA, 65 SO, 1.07 WHIP
Brian McCann: (.310 BA/.381 OBP/.514 SLG) 15 HR, 50 RBI
3. Boston Red Sox (55-35, 1st in AL East by 1.0 game)
Josh Beckett: (8-3) 2.27 ERA, 94 SO, 0.95 WHIP
Adrian Gonzalez: (.354 BA/.414 OBP/.591 SLG) 17 HR, 77 RBI
4. New York Yankees (53-35, 2nd in AL East, 1.0 GB)
CC Sabathia: (13-4) 2.72 ERA, 126 SO, 1.16 WHIP
Curtis Granderson: (.269 BA/.361 OBP/.575 SLG) 25 HR, 63 RBI
5. San Francisco Giants (52-40, 1st in NL West by 3.0 games)
Matt Cain: (8-5) 3.06 ERA, 105 SO, 1.10 WHIP
Aubrey Huff: (.236 BA/.290 OBP/.361 SLG) 8 HR, 44 RBI
6. Milwaukee Brewers (49-43, 1st in NL Central, tied with STL)
Yovani Gallardo: (10-5) 3.76 ERA, 104 SO, 1.36 WHIP
Ryan Braun: (.320 BA/ .402 OBP/ .559 SLG) 16 HR, 62 RBI
Prince Fielder: (.297 BA/ .415 OBP/ .575 SLG) 22 HR, 72 RBI
7. Texas Rangers (51-41, 1st in AL West by 1.0 game)
Alexi Ogando: (9-3) 2.92 ERA, 78 SO, 1.01 WHIP
Adrian Beltre: (.273 BA/ .314 OBP/ .499 SLG) 19 HR, 71 RBI
8. St. Louis Cardinals (49-43, 1st in NL Central, tied with MIL)
Jaime Garcia: (9-3) 3.22 ERA, 100 SO, 1.25 WHIP
Lance Berkman: (.290 BA/.404 OBP/ .602 SLG) 24 HR, 63 RBI
9. Detroit Tigers (49-43, 1st in AL Central by 0.5 game)
Justin Verlander: (12-4) 2.15 ERA, 147 SO, 0.87 WHIP
Miguel Cabrera: (.311 BA/ .430 OBP/ .549 SLG) 18 HR, 59 RBI
10. Arizona Diamondbacks (49-43, 2nd in NL West, 2.0 GB)
Ian Kennedy: (9-3) 3.44 ERA, 106 SO, 1.15 WHIP
Justin Upton: (.293 BA/ .375 OBP/ .506 SLG) 15 HR, 46 RBI
Fielder's three-run bomb was the first home run hit by a Brewer in All-Star game history and earned him MVP honors, also a Brewers first.
If the season ended today:
AL MVP
1. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox
2. Jose Bautista, RF, Blue Jays
3. Curtis Granderson, CF, Yankees
NL MVP
1. Prince Fielder, 1B, Brewers
2. Jose Reyes, SS, Mets
3. Matt Kemp, CF, Dodgers
AL Cy Young
1. Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers
2. CC Sabathia, SP, Yankees
3. Jered Weaver, SP, Angels
NL Cy Young
1. Jair Jurrjens, SP, Braves
2. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies
3. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies
Major League Power Rankings (June 27)
- Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder looks like the NL MVP, but LA’s Matt Kemp is a close second.
1. Philadelphia Phillies (49-30, 1st in NL East by 5.0 games)
No team has more wins than Philly, now imagine if Chase Utley starts to hit…
2. New York Yankees (45-31, 1st in AL East by 0.5 game)
The Yankees own baseball’s best run differential (+97), having scored 399 runs and given up only 302.
3. Boston Red Sox (45-32, 2nd in AL East, 0.5 GB)
The BoSox lead all of MLB in runs (405), batting average (.278), on base percentage (.353), and slugging (.450).
4. Milwaukee Brewers (44-35, 1st in NL Central by 3.0 games)
Ryan Braun (.308 avg, 16 hr, 59 rbi, 17 steals) and Prince Fielder (.305 avg, 21 hr, 68 rbi, 51 walks) are both on pace to have career years.
5. San Francisco Giants (44-34, 1st in NL West by 1.5 games)
The reigning champs continue to get outstanding pitching performances from their starters, and closer Brian Wilson is a legitimate contender for NL Cy Young (5-1, 2.50 ERA, 23/25 saves).
6. Tampa Bay Rays (44-34, 3rd in AL East, 2.0 GB)
Behind James Shields’ stellar season (6 complete games, 3 shutouts), the resurgent Rays find themselves 2 games back in the division, having won 8 of their last 10 contests.
7. Detroit Tigers (42-36, 1st in AL Central by 1.0 game)
Brennan Boesch has given the Tigers ample production out of left field, batting .299 with 10 homers and 38 runs batted in.
8. Cleveland Indians (40-36, 2nd in AL Central, 1.0 GB)
The Tribe seems to be treading water as of late, but continue to find ways to win thanks to breakout star Asdrubal Cabrera (.293 avg, 12 hr, 44 rbi).
9. Atlanta Braves (44-35, 2nd in NL East, 5.0 GB)
Jair Jurrjens is turning out to be yet another Atlanta ace, boasting a 10-3 record with a scintillating 2.07 ERA.
10. Texas Rangers (41-38, 1st in AL West by 2.0 games)
Despite losing three straight decisions, Rangers rookie Alexi Ogando (7-3) still boasts a 2.87 ERA and an even better 1.03 WHIP.
If the season ended today:
AL MVP
1. Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, Red Sox
2. Jose Bautista, RF, Blue Jays
3. Curtis Granderson, CF, Yankees
NL MVP
1. Prince Fielder, 1B, Brewers
2. Matt Kemp, CF, Dodgers
3. Ryan Braun, LF, Brewers
AL Cy Young
1. Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers
2. Jered Weaver, SP, Angels
3. James Shields, SP, Rays
NL Cy Young
1. Roy Halladay, SP, Phillies
2. Jair Jurrjens, SP, Braves
3. Cole Hamels, SP, Phillies
Major League Power Rankings (June 20)
- Justin Verlander and Jered Weaver have been two of the best pitchers in baseball and are in a battle for the American League Cy Young Award this season.
1. Boston Red Sox (43-28; 1st AL East)
Adrian Gonzalez has Boston fans thinking Triple Crown with a .348 average (1st in MLB), 64 runs batted in (1st in MLB) and 15 home runs (six shy of league leaders).
2. Philadelphia Phillies (45-28; 1st NL East)
Cole Hamels (9-3, 2.51 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 103 K, 104 innings) has the slightest of edges over teammate Roy Halladay (9-3, 2.56 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 114 K, 112.1 innings) for NL Cy Young.
3. Milwaukee Brewers (40-33; 1st NL Central)
Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Rickie Weeks have combined for 49 homers, 144 runs batted in, and a .299 batting average.
4. New York Yankees (41-29; 2nd AL East)
The Bronx Bombers are living up to their nickname, leading the majors with 105 home runs.
5. St. Louis Cardinals (40-33; 1st NL Central)
The Cards snapped their seven game skid Saturday win a win over Kansas City, but lost Albert Pujols to a wrist injury Sunday.
6. Cleveland Indians (39-31; 1st AL Central)
The Tribe seems to be back on track after a three-game sweep of Pittsburgh, putting them one game ahead of the Tigers for 1st place in the division.
7. Detroit Tigers (39-33; 2nd AL Central)
Justin Verlander has gone 7-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his last ten starts (May 2-June 19); his WHIP on the season is a microscopic 0.85.
8. San Francisco Giants (39-33; 1st NL West)
After a rough start to the year, Madison Bumgarner has lowered his ERA to 3.21 (better than Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez), but still has a dismal 3-8 record.
9. Texas Rangers (38-35; 1st AL West)
Texas remains atop the AL West despite a 3-7 road trip.
10. Minnesota Twins (31-39; 4th AL Central)
Putting the Twins in the top 10 seems a bit absurd – but they’re hot – white hot.
If the season ended today:
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez – 1B – BOS
NL MVP: Prince Fielder – 1B – MIL
AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander – SP – DET
NL Cy Young: Cole Hamels – SP – PHI
Major League Power Rankings (June 13)
1. Boston Red Sox (39-26; 1st AL East)
Adrian Gonzalez continues to lead the planet in runs batted in with 60.
2. Milwaukee Brewers (38-28; 1st NL Central)
Since Zack Greinke’s return, the Brewers have the best record in baseball; they find themselves all alone atop the division for the first time since early June of 2009.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (40-26; 1st NL East)
Cliff Lee leads the majors in strikeouts (107) while Roy Halladay is second (106).
4. St. Louis Cardinals (38-29; 2nd NL Central)
A weekend sweep at Miller Park has knocked the Cards out of 1st place in the division.
5. New York Yankees (36-27; 2nd AL East)
Curtis Granderson (20) and Mark Teixeira (19) have the most homers among any duo in Bigs.
6. Texas Rangers (36-31; 1st AL West)
Alexi Ogando is still the AL Cy Young favorite with a 7 wins, no losses, a sparkling 2.10 ERA and an other worldly 0.90 WHIP.
7. Atlanta Braves (38-28; 2nd NL East)
The Braves have rattled off a NL best 6 consecutive wins to come within 2 games of division leading Philadelphia.
8. San Francisco Giants (37-29; 1st NL West)
With Pablo Sandoval set to return, the Giants (8-4 in June) are looking like they’ve forgot all about Mr. Posey.
9. Detroit Tigers (35-30; 1st AL Central)
Consistent play and an abysmal fall by Cleveland (1-9 in their last 10 games) has the Tigers tied for 1st place.
10. Seattle Mariners (34-32; 2nd AL West)
Brandon League is 18 for 21 in save opportunities with a 1.04 WHIP.
If the season ended today:
AL MVP: Adrian Gonzalez – 1B – BOS
NL MVP: Prince Fielder – 1B – MIL
AL Cy Young: Alexi Ogando – SP – TEX
NL Cy Young: Roy Halladay – SP – PHI
The Brawn of Braun 