Detroit Tigers Links: Cloudy bullpen forecast, Ausmus right, Nathan scouts

Bullpen cloud still hangs over Tigers – David Schoenfield, ESPN.com

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"So the question has to be asked again: What does Ausmus do now? The fans’ reaction tells you all you need to know about the confidence they have in Nathan. I think the way Ausmus managed that inning tells us all we need to know about his confidence in Nathan. And it’s not like the set-up crew with Joba Chamberlain and company inspires much confidence either. Maybe Anibal Sanchez will be able to help out out of the bullpen, but let’s see him pitch before saying he’s ready.The Tigers have been here before. In 2012, Jose Valverde had a mediocre season closing, with a 3.78 ERA and poor strikeout rate. He imploded in the Division Series against the A’s and then again in Game 1 of the ALCS, so Jim Leyland patched together the bullpen the rest of the way, with Phil Coke getting two saves as the Tigers reached the World Series. The 2013 season is remembered for Joaquin Benoit serving up that grand slam to David Ortiz, but Benoit and Drew Smyly had actually been terrific, with ERAs of 2.01 and 2.37 in the regular season, so the late innings didn’t seem like a huge issue heading into October.At some point, Ausmus will need his bullpen. Scherzer has one complete game in his career. Justin Verlander has pitched eight innings once since April. Price was given this game and couldn’t finish it off."

Detroit Tigers’ Brad Ausmus makes right move in sticking with David Price despite outcome – James Schemhl, MLive

"Given Price’s low pitch count, and considering how well he had pitched the past eight innings, it’s hard to question Ausmus’ decision. Price was nearly unhittable leading to the ninth inning, and has a proven track record of pitching deep into games, having pitched at least eight innings in 13 of his last 20 starts.The Tigers acquired Price for these very moments. He has the ability to take a bullpen completely out of the game. And, given the Tigers’ bullpen woes, leaving Price in the game clearly made the most sense at the time."

Nathan scouts out way to huge out in Tigers’ 4-3 win – John Lowe, Detroit Free Press

"On the night of a recent defeat, Joe Nathan did some homework that he reckons helped him obtain Tuesday night’s 4-3 victory over Chicago.Last Tuesday night in Minnesota, Nathan blew a save and gave up two runs in the ninth for a 4-3 loss to the Twins.The Royals’ game that night was ultra-slow. At least a half-hour after the Tigers’ game ended, Conor Gillaspie of the White Sox came up with the bases loaded in the seventh inning against Royals’ reliever Wade Davis.As Nathan recalls, he saw this confrontation live on TV. Davis, the best reliever in the American League this season, yielded the bases-loaded triple to Gillaspie that gave the White Sox the victory."