Some Monday morning fungoes, adapted from today’s Game Notes:

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Tigers’ six runs in the eighth inning to overcome a 4-0 deficit yesterday afternoon against the Rangers marked the first time the Tigers have won a game after trailing at least 4-0 in the eighth inning or later since July [...]

The Skinny:

4-3, 1st Place in A.L. Central, .5 games ahead of Chicago
Streak: W3
Home Record: 3-0 / Road Record: 1-3

Who’s Hot:

Miguel Cabrera: .520 avg., .586 OBP, .960 SLG, 3 HR, 10 RBI
Placido Polanco: .346, .393 OBP, .462 SLG
Gerald Laird: .318, .400 OBP, .455 SLG
Brandon Inge: .304, .448 OBP, .870 SLG, 4 HR, 7 RBI
Who’s Not:

Carlos Guillen:.182, [...]

The results of our most recent poll indicate that loyal Daily Fungo readers would prefer Dontrelle Willis (43%), Zach Miner (38%) or perhaps even Felipe Lira as the Tigers’ fifth starter over Nate Robertson (19%).
Nevertheless, we want to continue our series of player profiles today with The Nater for two reasons — actually three, [...]

Tigers fans have spent much of this dreadful season watching games with one eye — and often two — covered, so watching tonight’s game, featuring Dontrelle Willis’s low-key return, through your hands should seem routine. (By the way, Rob Neyer, for one, isn’t expecting much out of the D-Train tonight.)
What are we to make of [...]

Welcome to August! In the Phoenix area we ring in the month with 113 degrees…but a mere 20 percent humidity. The poor Tigers head to Tampa where the temperature and humidity are 86. God bless Willis Carrier.

So how did July end up for the Tigers? Even. As in 13-13. Here are some other tidbits that [...]

ESPN highlights available here.

The Score: Tigers 19 – Royals 4
The Gist: Awesome: Zach Miner (6 IP, 0 R, 3 singles, 1 BB, 1 K), Miguel Cabrera (5 for 6, 6 RBI), Matt Joyce (4 for 6, 5 RBI and a homer), Carlos Guillen (3 for 4, 5 runs), Curtis Granderson (3 for 5, 1 BB, [...]

ESPN highlights available here.

The Gist: Magglio Ordonez goes deep twice, Jeremy Bonderman continues to frustrate and Jacque Jones is added to the injury list, yet the Tigers finally reach double digits in wins, defeating the Rangers 8-2. What else?

Curtis Granderson led off the Tigers half of the first with a home run
Zach Miner continues his [...]