Nate Robertson Pitches No Hitter

Sean Casey's HR the other day nearly caused me to do multiple barrel rolls down 96 on my way to East Lansing. I've kind of hated Casey this year. Largely because if I had a choice I'd prefer someone without two torn hamstrings hitting in the middle of the line up and playing 1st base. But, I can't ignore that he's been pretty decent this last month. He's still not ideal, but compared to our bullpen he isn't even close to one of the main problems of this team.

The baseball world was rocked to its core as the Tigers and the Atlanta's exchanged vastly underachieving LHP's. We exchanged Wilfredo Ledezma (a frequent reader of this blog) for Macay McBride. To sum it up simply, both have been lousy, but unlike Ledezma we have the option of sending McBride to the Toledo's. Ledezma will likely start for the Atliens.

Maroth recently was traded to the Cardinals for a player to be named later. Sounds like a pretty fair trade. Maroth is a nice guy, but with Rogers back, he really has no business in the rotation.

Verlander's no hitter was neat. From the 7th inning on it basically was a prolonged panic attack. 12 strike outs and throwing 102 in the 9th was simply video game-esque, which is the greatest compliment you can give to a living person. Robertson also threw a less publicized no hitter for the Erie Sea Wolves.

Roman Colon. We received him in return for Kyle Farnsworth. Nobody liked this trade when it happened, except maybe Jeremy Affeldt. Colon has been injured all year and recently was involved in an altercation in AAA. I'll give you the abridged version, which is sadly a true story. Colon was in the locker room listening to music, Jordan Tata decided it was too loud and went and confronted Colon. The active closer for the Mudhens, Jason karnuth, decided to be the peacemaker and got in between the two. Unfortunately Colon swung and splattered Karnuth's face. Karnuth now needs reconstructive surgery on his face...and is out for the year. Thank goodness for our immense bullpen depth.

Rod Allen recently won his second straight emmy. My neck buggywhipped forward when I heard that fantastic news.

Tigers are home for a couple weeks. Go see them play, dummy.

Tigers vs. Algonquin term meaning "the good land"

Since recovering from my minor heart attack from the MLB draft, the Tigers have roared back and clawed there way back near the top of the AL Central. The Tigers have really earned their stripes as they have pounced on their prey and shown no mercy. And that's probably enough of those.

I was one of the 8 who watched the MLB draft. Prior to the draft, I had heard of possibly 4 players, one of them being Rick Porcello. This is who the Tigers drafted at 27, causing me and other Tiger nerds across the nation to break out their finest sparkling grape juice and celebrate. Porcello was a high school pitcher, which unfortunately brings down the wrath of the moneyball gods against our organization. Fortunately for us though, Porcello has been called by some the best HS pitcher since Josh Beckett. So, that is neat. If he signs, it's expected it will be for 8-10 million. Mike Illitch has 8-10 million more then me, So I hope Porcello does sign.

The Tigers released Jose Mesa. 0 Tiger fans mourned this loss.

The Milwaukee's come to Comerica to renew their olde timey Al rivalry with the Tigers. Led by Prince Fielder who basically Macauley Culkin'd his father Cecil, who ironically was nicknamed the "Big Daddy."

Kenny Rogers will be back soon. Zumaya might not be back this season. So, get ready to embrace the Jason Grilli close game excitement, and of course embrace the Yorman Bazardo era.

Go Tigers.

Both Teams Played Hard

(a typical Todd Jones save)

Todd Jones....1 IP, 7 hits, 2 BB, 1 Hr, 5 ER. 46 pitches thrown.

This might be dumbest stat line for a closer in the history of baseball. None of it makes any logical sense whatsoever. Why would you bring in Jones, who is notorious for giving up hits, in the 8th inning with 2 outs and 2 runners on in a 4 run game. We all know deep in our heart that Todd Jones is not a good closer, seriously. A good closer does not average 3.22 K's per 9 innings or have an opponents batting average of .300+ or inspire heart ailments as abundantly as he has. It's basically been dumb luck on our part that he hasn't been exposed. Leyland should know this, how he managed the game last night was inexcusable. None of it was logical. After he blew a 4 run lead and had a capable lefty warmed up in the pen last night he decided to leave Jones in to pitch to a lefty who obviously got the winning hit.

The Tigers have lost 7 of 8 and are 4.5 back. This last week of Detroit sports has been the equivalent of the first Iceland game from Mighty Ducks 2. You know, the ducks are overconfident and their coach is more interested in marketing his air bombay loafers then worrying about the team. If that Mighty Ducks 2 reference flew over your head, I immediately recommend putting it first on your netflix queue.

It's pretty much time for some of the Tiger's to step up. The Tigers all-time postseason HR leader, Craig Monroe, it would be decent if you could hit above .240 for a LF. Brandon Inge, you are getting paid almost 25 million to hit .217 right now. Sean Casey, you've been on a single hitting rampage, which would be nice if you were our utility infielder, but you play 1b. 1b, 3b, LF are three traditional positions where you expect some of your biggest run producers. Neifi Perez, just go away, please. Pudge, you have two walks, one was intentional, stop playing like a douche and having the hitting approach of a Rob Deer. If Magglio Ordonez wasn't putting up Willie May's numbers right now, it would be stupid to think about where this team would be.

Sheffield just got suspended for three games, I still don't know why, but he did. The potential line up for the Texas series is going to be pretty wild.

1. Granderson CF

2. Polanco 2b

3. Casey 1b

4. Magglio rf

5. rodriguez C

6. Thames DH

7. Monroe lf

8. Infante 3b

9 Neifi ss

and a bullpen of

Byrdak, ledezma, Grilli, Seay, Miner and Jones.

Sweep the Rangers.