Tigers vs White Sox; May 29-31

The Den
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Tigers’ uniform tracker

  • Traditional home whites: 12-10
  • Alternate home oranges: 2-1
  • Motor City Connect home blues: 0-2
  • Traditional road grays: 6-15
  • Alternate road blues: 2-6

On deck: Chicago White Sox

:play_button: Series: Three games at Rate Field, Chicago

:play_button: First pitch: Friday — 7:40 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday — 2:10 p.m.

:play_button: TV/radio: All three games on Detroit Sports Net/97.1, 107.9 FM

Scouting report

:play_button: Probables: Friday — RHP Troy Melton (1-0, 1.59) vs. RHP Erick Fedde (0-5, 5.47); Saturday — LHP Framber Valdez (2-3, 4.28) vs. LHP Anthony Kay (4-1, 3.96); Sunday — RHP Keider Montero (2-3, 4.09) vs. RHP Sean Burke (2-3, 3.90).

:play_button: Melton, Tigers: He wasn’t on time for the season but the timing of his return was perfect. Out since early spring with elbow inflammation, Melton made his season debut in Baltimore on Sunday, taking the mound in the second game of a doubleheader after the Tigers endured another walk-off loss in the first game. And all he did was locked down the Orioles for 5.2 innings on two hits and helped the club snap an eight-game losing streak. True to the perfectionist he is, he didn’t love his performance — three walks, too many three-ball counts. But he shut down the Orioles’ left-handed hitters (2 for 13) with firm (96-to-98 mph) four-seamers and sliders.

:play_button: Fedde, White Sox: He’s been driving the struggle bus lately. He was bashed for eight runs and 10 hits in 3.1 innings by the Giants last time out. The outing before that, the Cubs chased him in the fourth (four runs, six hits, four walks). He’s having trouble defending himself against right-handed hitters, to say the least, (.300/.355/.630, .985 OPS, 10 homers). Righties are slugging .800 off his sinker and .852 off his cutter.

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# Tigers’ Dillon Dingler using ABS system as another layer of defense
full article at link

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starting catcher Dillon Dingler has fast become a master at the craft.

Not only does he have a remarkable 73% overturn rate (27-10), he leads all catchers in called strikes gained above expected, a stat researched by TruMedia that takes into account both framing and successful challenges.

Entering play Thursday, Dingler had 102.98 called strikes gained above expected. Second on that list is the Yankees’ Austin Wells at 83.30.

Baseball HQ: Projections and analysis to power your fantasy baseball season.

“He’s amazing,” manager AJ Hinch said. “Those are marginal calls, too, so there’s some guts to it and there’s also some recognition. I think Ding is gaining confidence as he has more success.”

You can’t have more guts than he showed Wednesday, asking for a challenge on a call to the first Angels batter of the game.

Mize dotted the outside edge to leadoff hitter Zach Neto, a 2-2 sinker, 95.7 mph, that home-plate umpire Brennan Miller called a ball. Dingler didn’t hesitate, tapping the top of his helmet to request the challenge.

“I agreed with that one,” Mize said. “I was going to challenge if he didn’t.”

Sure enough, the call was reversed and instead of having to make a 3-2 pitch to the pesty Neto, Mize got into his day with a punch-out.

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Dingler said the only way he would challenge a call as early as he did on Neto on Wednesday was to get the punch-out or block a walk.

“I’d rather save them for later,” he said. “Or for big situations. I’m not going to burn one usually with nobody on and on the first or second pitch of an at-bat. The risk-reward for those are kind of stupid, in my opinion. Save them for when I’m sure about it or the situation calls for it.”

Dingler’s ability to frame pitches, his plus-4 runs saved framing ranks in the top 95 percentile in the game, works on two levels. He steals strikes but sometimes he can also cast doubt in the hitter. He frames a pitch outside the zone so cleanly that the hitter doesn’t challenge.

“Overall, what you want to do is try to get the umpire to call as many strikes as possible,” Dingler said. “That’s the goal.”

Nobody does it better.

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Back-up catcher Jake Rogers is no slouch. He’s 7-2 on ABS challenges, getting seven pitches that were called balls overturned to strikes.

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Keep Murakami in the yard and most teams beat the Sox. He does have 20 homers in 55 games though.

Pretty crazy the cheap contract he got for what he’s doing. On pace for 55 bombs as a rookie

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I think that’s complete bullshit. Not your post, but the fact the guy is considered a rookie.

The MAN is almost 27 years old, in his peak prime, and has already played 8 years of high level professional baseball. There is no world that exists in my mind that he should be considered a rookie. (Yes this rant is mostly about McGonigle)

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While I agree at least he’s only 26…. Not like some of these 30 year old overseas guys counting as rookies

The bigger thing is most teams passed on him cause he couldn’t hit high velo. Shows what scouts know

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Similar to my thoughts on KM, I want to see what Murakami does the second go around through the league. He has more experience so he may adjust to the adjustments quicker but still time will tell.

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Yea could go either way. Took Ohtani 50 more games to hit 20 home runs than it took Murakami for example. These Japanese dudes have power.

Banana power!

Toronto Blue Jays Baseball GIF by MLB

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You used to make my grandpa full on belly laugh when you posted things with that guy.

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Everyone loves Kawa….. shit @Davicus named his fantasy team after him

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Tigers win this series. Just a feeling

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Martydamus has spoken – placing that bet!

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Dont

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To late-:rofl:

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Dont blame me brother. If they dont win the series

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I wont– However last summer you said the Tigers may not win the division when the Tigers were ahead by 14… I bet they wouldn’t win- made a nice chunk of change. You’re from the future afterall -:rofl:

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I agree. I don’t gamble. But Marty is pretty darn accurate with his dooming. I would bet 1000 Korean won the Tigers win the series @Tmanqz you want that bet?

Live Dangerously Bad Ass GIF by DrSquatchSoapCo

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No way…never bet against Marty.

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Keep in mind I bet you 60 cents. :joy:

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At least you remember. Did you eat me up.alive with that prediction

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nah– you just said the Tigers could still loose the division … at first I was like no way :rofl: . Then I remembered - :thinking: Marty is from the future. You know stuff. Most people assume its negative Marty doom stuff— nope its real and take it seriously.

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