The Tigers were able to get one win in New York, and they played well enough to win 2. A series win is much needed as it has been 3 straight series losses for Detroit. They aren’t playing well, and they haven’t for most of two weeks. Yet, they are still 11-11 in a terrible division and Doug Fister is scheduled to return next week in Seattle. Things are looking a little brighter for the Olde English D.
The Verlander of the Yankees series has to be Drew Smyly. This 22 year old rookie is quickly becoming one of our most reliable starters. Just think how bad this start would be if he was pitching like a normal rookie. He again gave up just one earned run from a solo homerun to get his first major league win. It is a pretty special day when that comes in the Bronx against the Pinstripers. He went 6+ innings striking out 7 and only giving up 2 hits. So far on the season he has faced 3 of the top 5 offenses (Tampa, Texas, and New York) and has surrendered just 1 solo homerun in each of these starts. He also went to Kansas City and didn’t allow a run, but got the no decision. So far the Tigers are 3-1 in his 4 starts, and the 1 loss happened because of errors and poor bullpen pitching. To compare, the Tigers are 3-2 in Verlander’s 5 starts. If Duane Below can carry over his bullpen success to the starting role, it gives Leyland some leverage to hold over Scherzer to improve asap or else this rotation will not be able to support his dead weight. I know it is early, but Smyly is making a bid to become the Rookie of the Year in the AL, and who knows maybe this award should be re-titled the Smyly of the Series since he has now taken it twice and Jv still has the goose egg.
The Schlereth of the Series will be given to Delmon Young. Yes, there are a few other players who deserve it for their play on the field (Max, Potato Head, the home plate ump yesterday, etc), but Delmon wins in a landslide because he is just a moron. If you didn’t hear, he was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning for verbally abusing a Jewish man asking for money on the streets of New York City. He did this while completely intoxicated. While some of the media members are trying to stick up for him as much as possible, saying the sleep schedule for MLB players is such that it is not uncommon to be out until 3-4am most nights. These actions are severe enough to have the Tigers drop him from the roster and likely end his career. It was the 6 year anniversary of him throwing a bat at an ump because he didn’t like a ball-strike call in the minor leagues. Even if staying up until 3 or 4am is standard practice for big leaguers, I am not sure what is wrong with drinking at the hotel bar to avoid a public intoxication outburst. It sounds like he will be back in the lineup during this home stand, and Dave Dombrowski has stated that nothing more will happen to Delmon. I think Mr. Young will be treading lightly for the rest of the season because he is one misstep away from being unemployed. I now understand why the Twins gave him up for an old bag of peanuts and a half eaten hot dog. Maybe us fans will finally get to see Andy Dirks play more left field.
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