Tuesday, August 26, 2014

August 26 Happy Birthday to Former Tigers or Detroit Wolverines

David Price.  Writing these birthdays has allowed me to understand what happened to David Price on August 27.  I was at the game and did my usual of signing up as a designated driver and pledging I would not drink.  In the third they announced they would not hold anyone to their pledge to not drink at the game as clearly it was too painful to watch while sober.  But I did manage to push through the third without any assistance.  Then it dawned on me.  It was David Price's birthday the day before.  I did not see his name on the sign up sheet pledging not to drink the night before at what I assume must have been a fun birthday party.  A quick look at his stats shows that twice before he has pitched the day after his birthday.  In 2012 he pitched the day after his birthday and lasted 4 innings giving up 6 runs on 10 hits.  In 2010 he took a loss the day after his birthday giving up only 3 runs but still allowing 10 hits.  My gut tells me he likes to have a birthday party.  My gut tells me, if the Tiges make the post season David may not be that effective in the pressure packed post season if he cant handle himself on his birthday.  If you are wondering, he is 1-4 in the post season with a 5.06 ERA. Based on his $14M salary and assuming he gets another five starts this year that was a party worth almost half a million dollars.

Luis Marte has spent his entire MLB career to date as a Tiger.  He signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2005 and has worked his way up the Tiger farm system as a right handed pticher.  He was a starter in the minors through 2009.  In 2010 he was moved to the bullpen for AA Erie and had his highest ERA of his career at 5.06.  He was moved up to Toledo and pitched one game before injuring his arm and going out for the rest of the season.  In 2011 he was out for the first half of the season with “right shoulder impingement syndrome”.  He returned and made the AA All Star squad as a reliever.   He moved up to Toledo in July.  On September 1, he had his contract purchased by the Tigers and made his major league debut that same day against the Kansas City Royals.  The Tigers were tied 8-8 in the 7th with runners on second and third with 1 out.  Luis came in and promptly gave up a line drive single to Johnny Giavotella that drove in both runners.  He then got current Tiger Brayan Pena to pop up to short before giving up another single to Alcides Escobar and then loaded the bases with a walk to Alex Gordon before ending the inning and his debut with a fly ball by Melky Cabrera.  Two days later he got his first major league win.  This time it was against the White Sox.  He came in to pitch the top of the ninth in a game the Tiges trailed 8-6.  He sent the Sox down 1-2-3.  In the Tiges half of the inning Ryan Raburn tied the game with a 2 run homer and Miguel Cabrera hit a walk off to give Luis his win.  Luis played in 2 more games for the tiges in 2011 without a decision.  In 2012 Luis was again 1-0 but appeared in 13 games.  2013 finds Luis in Toledo with a 1-2 record and a 9.00 ERA  in 3 games as a reliever. 

Alex Sanchez


Chad Kreuter

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