First let me say that I wasn’t particularly upset by the loss last night. Losses like that happen; sometimes pitchers just have the numbers of the offense of a team and they can’t beat them. The problem is, that the Tigers pitchers aren’t giving the offense any room to have a bad night. The games on Sunday and Tuesday would have put us at 4-5 instead of 2-7 going into tonight’s game, which would probably have done some good all around. Instead, the Tigers have to play every game as if their lives depend on it. 7 2/3 innings wasn’t long enough for Verlander, even though he threw 130 pitches (which is a new career high) and had eight strikeouts. He almost had an official quality start. However, the reliever came out and provided absolutely no relief whatsoever. Again. Now, I realize that we probably wouldn’t have won the game even if it had stayed 3-1 and in the end, the only thing that matters is the W or the L. That’s not my point. My point is that I’ve heard the words “And that run will be charged to [insert starter's name here]” way too often this season. I admit that I don’t know a ton about baseball yet, but isn’t the point of taking the starting pitcher out of the game when he gets tired and starts messing up to prevent runs from being scored? Aren’t the relievers supposed to come in and shut the door? I can count on one hand the number of times that’s happened this year. I have a feeling that if the rules were different, if the relievers were responsible for the inherited runners that they allow to score, that the bullpen ERA would be around 50. Ok, maybe that’s exxagerating, but the Tigers have no chance of pulling off a late run if the bullpen doesn’t shape up somehow. I’m just not sure how they even can shape up. I feel for Leyland, I do. It must be so frustrating to sit there and say, “Hmm. Who should I send in to blow this game?”

The Tigers could have finished this road trip at 5-5 or even 6-5 (if they win tonight) which is pretty darn good for any road trip, much less one against division rivals and leaders. Instead tonight is a must win for dignity situation. After all, getting swept once is bad, getting swept twice is just humiliating. The Tigers need a little breathing room, but unfortunately they aren’t getting any relief.