The Tigers didn’t pull the trigger on a deal although there was some speculation that a team backed out at the last minute.  I mentioned this yesterday, but if it was for Jack Wilson, I’m glad the deal fell through because I don’t really see how he could have helped the team other then as a late inning defensive replacement, and even then the value is pretty spotty.  The big winner in the American League was probably the Red Sox, who shored up their pen so they added and I’m also still worried about the Yankees.  They sit on the fringe of the Wild Card race and they have Philip Hughes coming back and Joba Chamberlain coming up and both will probably help out quite a bit.

One last note on Jack Wilson, and that’s the fact that, unfortunately, the deal still could go through.  Neifi Perez cleared waivers and we were able to trade for him after the first deadline and I’m sure Wilson would do the same.  So we’re not out of the water there yet.

The Tigers scored three runs in the first two frames but were held scoreless the rest of the way and their defense gave away some runs in a 7-3 loss to Oakland.  Justin Verlander dropped to 11-4 with a mediocre start and both Macay McBride and Jason Grilli gave up runs out of the pen (both of Grilli’s runs were unearned).  The big inning was the sixth when a Carlos Guillen error put the leadoff hitter on.  Then it went downhill from there and four singles and a walk later, the A’s had the lead for good.

Last year, one of the Tiger’s strengths was their defense.  This year, their defense, at least measured by Defensive Efficiency (Tigers have .691 compared to league average .690), is pretty average.  This is one of the reasons the Tigers back end starters are struggling because the defense isn’t there all the time to pick them up.

Sean Casey went two for four with a double, a run and an RBI to lead the way for the Tigers at the plate.  Carlos Guillen went two for four with a run.  To the Tigers credit, while they were shut down, it was by one of the best pitchers in the AL in Dan Haren.

The rubber game is this afternoon and it’ll be Nate Robertson against rookie Dallas Braden.  Dallas Braden is a lefthander who had a nice debut start, he’s just lost six straight since then.  Hopefully the Tigers can jump all over him and put up some early runs.

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