Detroit Tigers vs. Cleveland Indians: MLB Post Game Analysis
The Detroit Tigers would now be relieved to have signed struggling starter Doug Fister from the Seattle Mariners in the midseason trade market. The Tigers were struggling in the first half of the season but a shuffling in the roster has not only brought
luck for Detroit, but has also reduced the gulf between the team and wins.
The Tigers were all-over the Cleveland Indians on Monday, September 5 as Fister bagged a career-best 13 strike-outs to hand his team a comprehensive 4-2 win over arch-rivals Indians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The Indians were upbeat to defeat
the Tigers and improve their chances of qualifying for the postseason but the visitors were rock-solid in their approach from the mound as well as from the plate.
Fister did not impress in his 21 starts for the Mariners this season, winning just three and facing disappointment on 12 occasions. His earned-run average was decent at 3.33 in his stint with the Mariners but he experienced a serious revival of form with
his new team where he has won four games in seven starts as compared to three in 21. His earned-run average has plunged to 2.64 for the season and he is now striking-out batters at will. Fister had an average of 5.5 strike-outs per nine innings with the Mariners
but he has improved this to 7.3 with the Tigers and his last outing has greatly helped in increasing this number.
Tigers’ manager Jim Leyland was all-praise for the youngster, saying that this is the best performance Fister has ever produced. These comments will surely boost Fister’s confidence, which will now be vital as the team prepares for the playoffs.
The Tigers’ bull-pen is now growing in confidence and the timing is just about perfect. Jose Valverde was at his usual best as closer once again and the team will now largely bank on the relief pitcher to continue with his outstanding ability for the most
part of the next stage. Valverde registered his 41st save from 41 chances this season, a team-record which is not likely to be broken anytime soon.
Batting has not been Detroit’s forte this season but Victor Martinez and Miguel Cabrera chipped in with precious runs to safely guide the Tigers through. Martinez hammered a 422 feet three-run home-run towards right field in the fourth inning to give his
team a lead which eventually became irrefutable. Although Kosuke Fukudome tried to counter Martinez’s effort in the eighth inning, Valverde was strong enough to bring things under-control in the last inning.
Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks failed to connect in five and three at-bats respectively for Detroit and this was a major point of concern for the manager. Jackson and Dirks have comparable batting averages this season but will be looking to raise their game
to match the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, one of whom they will surely play in the postseason.
The Indians, on the contrary, were deprived of the slightest chance which they had of qualifying. Ubaldo Jimenez was traded in by the Indians against four decent prospects but the starting pitcher has not been able to impress with his new team either. It
now seems that this lacklustre performance has something to do with the pitcher rather than the team. The Indians might want to give him an extended run next season to prove his mettle but they would, at the same time, not want to risk their next campaign
either.
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