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Detroit Tigers: Last Week’s 5 Heroes and Zeroes

By Matt Pelc |
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Apr 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus (7) and second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) celebrate after the game against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Detroit won 8-6. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers had an up and down week for the first time in the season’s third week, but finished up strong.

They began the week with another sparkling performance from Alfredo Simon and scored late to claim a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees on Monday. That game had a feel of “stealing” a victory from the Evil Empire and set Detroit up for a very good shot for at least winning three of four considering the favorable pitching matchups in the next two games, but that did not go to plan.

The Tigers’ light hitting and a disaster from David Price caused the exact opposite to happen as the Tigers dropped the final three games of that series.

Moving on the Cleveland Indians, Shane Greene faltered early and often, and it was just too much for the Tigers pitchers on Friday. Two strong performances and a rejuvenated offense helped to win the Cleveland series, restore the Tigers into first place and finish the home stand at 5-5.

So let’s take a look at who performed well (heroes) and who did not answer the bell (zeros) for the just completed week of April 20 to 26.

Next: The Price of tears

Apr 22, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) stands on the mound and looks up at the snow during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

#5 Zero: David Price

Let’s get the negatives out-of-the-way first with the first of two zeros in the 3-4 week for the Tigers. One glaring negative was David Price.

Although he only pitched one game last week (not including Monday night’s performance), it was particularly tough for Price to lay the egg he did last Wednesday.

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It was an absolute crazy night to play baseball and the game probably should have been postponed, but because of MLB’s unbalanced schedule in favor of more divisional games and inclusion of interleague games, this was the only trip for the Yankees to Detroit this season. So the game played on through snow flurries and mid-30’s temp.

The night before Kyle Lobstein pitched admirably but required bullpen assistance which was a failure, turning a one-run game into a 5-2 Tigers’ loss. Sure the conditions were lousy, but Price really needed to go long to save the bullpen from being cold literally and figuratively. He could not do that.

David went just 2.1 innings, allowing eight runs on 10 hits. The first half inning, when he allowed six runs, was 40+ minutes long.

Over his last two starts against the Yankees (spanning just 4+ innings) dating back to last year, Price has allowed 16 runs. Perhaps skip him in the rotation in the Tigers’ trip to the Bronx in June?

Look, aces like Price will have games like that, but Price seems to have more than his share of these stink-bombs. For a guy that can look like the best pitcher in baseball one day and AAA-level the next is a complete oddity.

Next: Oh-No Al-Al

Apr 24, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Cleveland Indians third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall (8) runs the bases after he hits a two run home run off Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Al Alburquerque (62) at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#4 Zero: Al Alburquerque

Heading into the season, we knew there were concerns with the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen.

These concerns largely centered around if Joe Nathan could be an effective closer and other questions. How bad would Joba Chamberlain stink? Which Ian Krol would we see? Would Joakim Soria bounce back?

Nowhere in these questions or concerns was Al Alburquerque mentioned nor should he have been.

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Al was one of the more effective and reliable options in the Tigers’ bullpen throughout 2014, posting a 2.51 ERA and 1.169 WHIP. His 72 games was most on the Tigers’ staff and proved that he was a trustworthy option in pretty much any situation, which earned him the “Everyday Al” moniker.

Despite having a great season last year, his strikeouts were noticeably down from a career-high 12.9 K per nine innings rate in 2013 to 9.9 last year to 7.1 this year. In fact, in 6.1 innings through Sunday, Al-Al has struck out just five while walking six and allowing three homers, including two in one appearance last week.

He says he is healthy other than suffering from a mild case of the flu and his arm is strong, but the velocity is down and has been down since the start of Spring Training. This is allowing his slower fastballs to be drilled.

If the Tigers can no longer rely on Alburquerque, they are in a lot of trouble.

Next: Jobashank Redemption

Apr 8, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain (44) against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

#3 Hero: Joba Chamberlain 

Let’s move to the heroes.

Admit it, every time you see Joba Chamberlain warming in the Tigers’ bullpen you start to sweat and/or swear. His track record at the end of last season is not very solid, no doubt. His terrible pitching in the ALDS Game 2 last October resulted in a lethal swing of momentum for the Tigers, who were swept out of the playoffs two days later.

So we can understand the frustration, but while Al-Al, Ian Krol and others have labored to get outs in middle relief, Joba has been solidly reliable. Sure, he was frustratingly inaccurate in Monday’s game, but he escaped with the lead, but bad performance from Joba has been an aberration this year.

Joba appeared in three games last week spanning 2.2 innings and allowed only one base runner. He earned a hold in the 2-1 victory against the Yankees, coming in with runners at the corners and one out, and recorded a quick double-play to end the inning and hand the game to Joakim Soria for another save (Soria was 3-for-3 in save opportunities last week, by the way).

Before Monday night, Chamberlain had seemingly settled in nicely while not having a clearly defined role. He has been used in middle relief and as setup so far this season. With Joe Nathan out for the season, and Soria the new closer, could Joba be the setup man again? He was effective in the first half last year and could be again.

Of course we know he can easily slide back to bad habits, but at least for this past week Joba was a good story for the Tigers.

Next: Sparky Davis

Apr 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Rajai Davis (20) dives into third base after he hits a triple in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#2 Hero: Rajai Davis

The only player to appear on this list two weeks in a row (both as a hero), Rajai Davis continues to get on base, pester opposing pitchers while on the mound and get clutch base hits. He is also the only hitter to appear in the list this week.

In a week in which the bats were pretty much ice-cold until the final two games, Rajai led the team with a .538 batting average, notching seven hits including a triple. He also stole three bases.

On the other hand, his platoon partner Anthony Gose, who was getting more of the playing time early, has fallen off and notched only four hits in last 17 at bats as of Sunday.

Davis was the spark plug for a listless Detroit offense last week, so his status of being day-to-day with a groin issue is concerning. The Tigers need to ride Davis out while he’s hot, especially with Gose struggling.

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Apr 25, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (31) pitches in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Hero: Alfredo Simon

What can you say about Alfredo Simon? There is not enough glowing adjectives to heap praise on the undefeated Simon.

Heading into the season, you had to think that Simon was clearly the #5 starter. While he showed he could be solid in the first half of last season in Cincinnati, Simon was knocked around through much of Spring Training.

Late in Lakeland he seemed to get things in control, however, allowing just one run over his final two appearances. This carried over into his first two starts of the season against Cleveland and Pittsburgh, both effective appearances, and in the case of the Pirates game–dominance.

Simon served two purposes this week. First he showed no drop off from the strong performances of starters before him, to continue the Tigers’ 11-2 start on Monday. He allowed a mistake homer, but locked it down long enough for the Tigers’ slumbering bats to rally.

Heading into the season, when you thought “stopper” on this team, you immediately thought of Justin Verlander, who had done it for years. David Price was a guy that you would feel comfortable with settling the team down and Anibal Sanchez was also a reliable option.

Stopper, of course, is a guy you turn to when you need the bleeding stopped. So the Tigers turned to Simon on Saturday to end the four-game skid and he pitched yet another marvelous game.

Simon went 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA, striking out 10 and walking just two over 14 innings.

Alfredo Simon is shedding naysayers and quickly becoming the most consistent Detroit Tigers’ starting pitcher.

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