Detroit Tigers Links: Sale fallout, closer curse

Chris Sale is a joke and the Detroit Tigers enjoyed the punch line – Pat Caputo, Oakland Press

"When Sale drilled Tigers’ All Star designated hitter Victor Martinez on the left shoulder with a pitched baseball during the sixth inning Wednesday at Comerica Park, it had the same bearing as waking a sleeping giant."

I heard this argument a lot over the last two days and found it comical. The Detroit Tigers are a team that has gone to the postseason now four straight years. They don’t need things like this to “wake them up.” They know what they need to do in September. While they didn’t have much success against Sale, a strong Cy Young candidate, they did drive up his pitch count. The run scored in that inning had more to do with fatigue than waking up the Tigers. Believe me, they were already up.

Detroit Tigers take offense to Chris Sale’s pitch, use it as motivation in big win – James Schmehl, MLive

"Sale also said he didn’t remember mimicking binoculars in Chicago’s dugout, a gesture that played into Detroit’s theory that Sale was upset because he believed Martinez had a person using binoculars who was trying to steal signs in center. Ian Kinsler, on the other hand, must’ve seen Sale do it because he mocked him a few innings later by pantomiming binoculars after doubling in the go-ahead run."

It was gutless of Sale to drill a Tigers’ batter, knowing full well they would not retaliate against his batters because so much was on the line for them while nothing was on the line for the White Sox. And to back off his crazy ramblings after the game is also gutless. Stand by your story. One thing is for sure, when these teams meet next April, Chicago batters better look out.

Detroit Tigers’ Closer Curse Will Again Cost Them a Chance at a Ring – Anthony Witrado, Bleacher Report

"The Tigers have the third-highest ERA (4.26) and opponents’ average (.266) and the second-highest OPS (.725) in the American League in the seventh inning and beyond. Their overall bullpen OPS (.751) and Wins Above Replacement (0.6) are the worst in the league, and their ninth-inning slash line is an absurd .295/.358/.455."

The bullpen is still an issue, however the bullpen and hitting were equal issues when the Tigers were ousting in the ALCS last October. You just gotta hope for the best, right?