How many times have I said would the real Verlander step forward please? It’s the same old song and dance, but yet this is the guy who went 24-5 in 2011. To make matters worse, it was the Minnesota Twins who came into our jungle, and tried to play the same brand of baseball the Tigers play. Again, inconsistencies bite Verlander. If he wouldn’t have given the Twins a 1-0 lead with a single and a double combination, then who knows if today would have been different for Justin? To make Verlander stick out like a sore thumb is a understatement. Now let’s give the Twins credit. They were ready to play and the Tigers were not. I’m surprised that Cleveland is not closer than six games. The way our pitching is, we have no business even thinking about the World Series! I hate to break it to you, Tiger fans, but the Tigers look like a shell right now compared to what they used to be. Last year you had Phil Coke who almost took us to the World Series and looked like Jose Valverde, but right now this team is at a crossroad between a team that looked very good, but now they look like garbage. I know that some of you might use the excuse that Miguel Cabrera is hurt, but it’s time for the rest of the team to pick up the slack for the big man! Last year doesn’t matter anymore. Phil knows it and the Tigers know it! Jim Leyland said on last night’s interview with Dan Dickerson that Phil has been sent down to Toledo and will return in September. I think in that sense that everyone in the Tigers organization needs to put their big boy pants on and try to hold off the Tribe. You never know what that three game series in Detroit will mean. It could be the difference between playoffs and no playoffs. The wild card is too crowded for the Tigers to even make it in. Dave Dombrowski should look into Jim Leyland’s eyes and challenge him with this: if you continue to play Miguel it could be the difference between winning the Division or sitting on your couch in the fall. I think Jim Leyland is a great guy, but the way he is managing the team is very puzzling right now. Why they didn’t go after another hitter is beyond me. Sure, Miguel Cabrera has 103 RBI’s, but he is still dealing with a sore hip. Imagine if Leyland could give him the day off. Then maybe he would be able to overtake Chris Davis from Baltimore in the home run department.
