Young Drew Smyly turned 25 and received the start Friday as his present. Smyly did well, earning a quality start while going six innings and only surrendering a solo home run.

Ultimately, the Tigers failed to score a run, leaving the bases loaded with one out at one point. Manager Brad Ausmus is off his game, moving several key players around in a desperate bottom of the 7th adjustment. Bringing in a pinch hitter cold off the bench didn’t work (twice), the replacement shortstop botched the eventual second run in the 9th, and Alex Avila’s bat and steadiness behind the plate were taken away from us. Keep it simple, skipper. Don’t make a million adjustments at the same time.

Oh, and just shoot Joe Nathan. It’s like a suffering animal, end it’s pain. It’s the merciful thing to do…