GDT: 8/3/08 - DET (55-55) AT TB (65-44) - 1:40 p.m. ET

ST. PETERSBURG -- It is no coincidence that the Tigers' offense and its number of wins are conjoined at the hip.

"The first half, we weren't offensively what we thought we would be," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We still haven't really gotten on a roll on a consistent basis."

While Detroit is still searching for a dependable dose of run support throughout its lineup, the No. 5 hole has been producing just fine.

Miguel Cabrera enters Sunday's game with hits in 35 of his past 46 games, a stretch in which the first baseman has collected 12 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs and 45 RBIs. He is batting .335 (62-for-185) over that same span.

Cabrera said the shift back to his old slugging ways is simply a result of getting acclimated.

Acquired in a blockbuster trade from the Marlins during the offseason, Cabrera was Florida's All-Star, hitting .320 with 34 home runs and 119 RBIs.

"The first month, two months, I didn't know how [American League opponents] were going to pitch, how they were going to try to throw to me," he said. "Right now, I have a better idea, a better approach."

Leyland also noted that there was a considerable amount of early-season pressure on Cabrera, given the high-profile trade (that also included Dontrelle Willis) and a shiny, new long-term contract.

In March, the Tigers inked Cabrera to an eight-year deal, for an average of $19 million a year, or right about $155.3 million. The eight years includes 2008 (Cabrera had already signed a one-year deal at $11.3 million), so the new contract will run through 2015.

That much investment can often heap insurmountable pressure on a player, especially with Cabrera making the required adjustments to a new league and new team.

"I think he's just settled in," Leyland said. "I think that kid had so much on him, trade talks all winter long and then the contract, the moving. ... I think he's done wonderful. He's going to be a hell of a player for a long time."

The rest of the league has certainly taken notice, as Cabrera earned AL Player of the Week honors for the period ending July 27, and was also Detroit's Player of the Month for July. The 25-year-old hit .330 with six doubles, eight home runs, and 31 RBIs over the 25-game stretch.

Cabrera has also been nominated for July's Major League Baseball Clutch Performer of the Month Presented by Pepsi, and is one of six players up for the award, which will be announced Friday.

While Leyland was confident Cabrera's offensive production would continue with the calendar flip, he declined to speculate on whether the slugger could mirror his gaudy numbers from last year.

"I think he's going to be an offensive force in this league just like he was in the other league," Leyland said. "When it's all said and done, we will see. ... He's been picking [the offense] up lately that's for sure."



Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Armando Galarraga (9-4, 3.36 ERA)
Just when you think the American League has finally figured out Detroit's rotation savior, the rookie right-hander shows he can win without his best stuff. He allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings on Tuesday in Cleveland, but limited the damage enough to avoid cleanup work for the bullpen and take advantage of a Detroit offensive onslaught for a victory. He has won his past two starts to take the lead in wins among Tigers pitchers, and he'll try to get into double digits against a Rays team that has never seen him.

TB: RHP James Shields (9-7, 3.66 ERA)
Shields took his seventh loss of the season Monday night against Toronto despite the fact he made his 15th quality start of the season by allowing three earned runs in 7 1/3 innings while walking none. The 26-year-old right-hander's best pitch has always been his changeup, but he also has a plus-fastball and curve, and he's added a cutter that has helped him throw inside to left-handers. He is 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in two career starts against the Tigers.

Tidbits

Fans can vote for Cabrera for the MLB Clutch Performer of the Month presented by Pepsi by logging on to www.pepsiclutch.mlb.com. Voting ends on Wednesday, and the other nominees are CC Sabathia, Carlos Delgado, Troy Glaus, Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina. ... Galarraga joined Cabrera in the Tigers' monthly honors, as the hurler was named the club's Pitcher of the Month for July. In five starts, he went 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA. His ERA was 12th among league pitchers for the month of July. ... Gary Sheffield's struggles at the plate this season have continued, as the Tigers' designated hitter is 1-for-7 in the series' first two games, dropping his average to .226. "There are some occasions where he looks like he's coming out of it," Leyland said. The Tigers skipper said Sheffield would play on Sunday -- for the third straight game -- and see how it goes from there. ... During the Tigers' current series in St. Petersburg, Leyland has been making the hour-long drive to Lakeland, Fl., to watch his son, Patrick, in the 2008 East Coast Professional Showcase. Patrick was one of four high school juniors in the showcase, which concludes on Aug. 4. Although Leyland didn't want to evaluate his son, he did say that he was impressed with the way Patrick handled himself. The Tigers skipper also noted how impressed he was with the high school talent at the showcase. ... As of Saturday, Triple-A Toledo's outfielder Brent Clevlen is fifth in the International League with 71 RBIs. ... With a single to open the third inning on Saturday, Curtis Granderson extended his hit streak to 12 games. He is just three contests shy of matching his season high of 15 games, accumulated from June 10-27.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSND

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Mon., Aug 4: Off-day

• Tues., Aug 5: Tigers (LHP Nate Robertson (6-8, 6.06 ERA)) at White Sox (RHP Gavin Floyd (11-6, 3.43 ERA)), 8:11 p.m. ET

• Wed., Aug 6: Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (8-11, 4.49 ERA)) at White Sox (LHP John Danks (8-4, 3.31 ERA)), 8:11 p.m. ET

STARTING LINEUPS:

Get em

Lets go Tigers!!!
Take the series!!!

gdennis59 wrote:

Lets go Tigers!!!
Take the series!!!

well, that's impossible, but at least we could catch 'em off guard and spoil it for 'em!

I was thinking ahead, for the seasonal series lol.

wish they could think ahead!

haha, I hope Mando can start a win streak for us here, unless Nate messes it up.

Nate won't pitch for a couple of days yet--hopefully we get get a win or two in the meantime

Will anyone be updating here?

I have to work today so only will be on for a few more minutes.
Crap, 1st inning looked all too familiar....

Damn. I wonder if GoGetEm will be on later.

She should....usually gets home around 2:30 on Sundays. Okay, time for me to work but I'll keep checking back.

Alrighty, have fun then!

1-0 Tigers in the 4th

2-0 Tigers...

Go GALA!!!

hey soul!

Go Tigers

Gala looks very upset...

Matt

HOMERUN!!!

Walk, Then pitching change.

3 - 1.

Inge on first. Santiago at bat.

Inning over.

It's lonely here

Maybe I'll go do my guitar homework since I need to memorize a song by tomorrow....

Farnsworth pitching... this should be interesting.