The Detroit Tigers beat the Washington Nationals 9-8 last night in the nation's capital...
A win is a win is a win...
Though that is true, it seems like this Tiger team is cruising for ten losses in a row against the right teams. If their foes get any hitting at all early in the game, the Tigers are destined to give up fifteen runs day after day.
Luckily, the starters have been shutting down the opposition enough to build up big leads. If one were to read about Jones giving up three runs last night in the ninth and almost giving the game away, they would miss the fact that it was 9-1 at one point, and 9-4 when Maroth left. A fifth run did get charged to him, and then, as usual, three relievers pitched well and another pitched poorly.
The problem is that different relievers pitch poorly on different nights. Rodney has his troubles, and then seemingly comes out of it, and Grilli gives up three runs. When Grilli seems to come out of it, Seay loses his way. When Seay finds his way back, Byrdak gives up a rough inning. When they all pitch well, it's Jones. Fact is that there is no consistency at all right now in any Tiger pitcher, starter or otherwise.
Ok, maybe Verlander.
Besides that, though, no matter how many quality starts Durbin puts together, you still worry with him on the hill. Bonderman has had his troubles. The only reason Maroth is successful this year is because of run support. Verlander has an ERA below 3.00, but then there's Robertson who seems to have fallen apart. Hopefully a stint on the DL will allow him to re-focus.
The Tigers get Kenny Rogers back on Friday. Hopefully with that, they will get another consistent starter. Hopefully they will get Zumaya back as well, as, aside from one or two outings, he has been dominant. The main problem with the bullpen is the loss of Zumaya.
He was not a seventh inning guy to set up Rodney to set up Jones. He was a guy they would use against the other team's strengths, taking pressure off Rodney. It might go Zumaya then Rodney one night, and then Rodney then Zumaya the next. That is the beauty of Jim Leyland and his managerial style. He doesn't give a guy an inning (except for Jones getting the ninth), he puts the pitcher most likely to get the next three hitters out on the hill.
Unfortunately, there has been no consistency at all from any Tiger releiver. Until that changes, they are lucky to be hanging around in the drivers seat for the wild card. If they can make it to the break in this position, anything can happen, but it gets harder and harder trying to fend off late charges.
Hopefully, the will keep scoring runs and be up to it. By the end of the season, if the pitching starts clicking, they will be hard to beat, they just need to still be in a position for it to matter...
