It was a very solid series for Detroit, capped off by a very dramatic come-from-behind win against the Oakland A’s. I’ll have more about the series tomorrow, maybe even some real analysis. In the meantime here are a couple thoughts. It will also give you guys a place to put your enthusiastic comments.
- I don’t think enough can be said about Brandon Inge’s at-bat in the 9th inning. For him to fall behind and still see 15 pitches was uncharacterisitic, unexpected, and unbelievable. I didn’t see the at-bat, but on the radio it sounded like he got a little help from the umpire on a check swing. But the Tigers took advantage of it.
- Fernando Rodney had me worried today, but I’m not worried about him on the season. He still hasn’t allowed a run, and I’d attribute the control issues more to the fact that he sat for 40 minutes between innings. In any case he threw 37 pitches and I wouldn’t expect him back tomorrow.
- Rodney’s availability, or lack thereof could be interesting if there is a save situation tomorrow night. Todd Jones is expected to be activated, but the plan was to ease him back. In a close situation do you handle the ball to Jones, or see what Joel Zumaya can do?
- I still don’t think that Alexis Gomez (or Marcus Thames) should be hitting ahead of Chris Shelton. However, you have to give him credit for some big hits over the last two games.
- Pudge’s 0 for 6 last night was surprisingly the sixth of his career, and second as a Tiger. Amazingly enough the last time it happened was in Coors Field.
- I think everyone can breathe a little easier about Jeremy Bonderman. That first inning had the “here we go again” feeling, but he settled down. He uncharacteristically had only one strike-out, but he also allowed only 5 hits and his velocity was back in the mid 90s.
- Unlike the last get-away day, the Tigers certainly didn’t quit. They continued to have good approaches at the plate. They drew 6 walks today. As a point of comparison they drew 9 in the entire Indians series. Maybe Leyland’s tirade worked?
- TIVO Alert – This Sunday Justin Verlander will make his first televised start. (at least in Detroit). What’s more is that he’s facing fellow phenom Felix Hernandez.
This was one of the most entertaining Tigers games I’ve seen this season, although that is partly due to the lack of TV coverage. Inge’s at bat was huge. I had been watching it through 7 or 8 pitches, then sat down to dinner. As I listened to the game, I wasn’t sure if my ears were right or not. Eventually, he walked on the 15th pitch! My goodness, an AB for the ages. Oh, and Fernando Rodney just loaded the bases to make it dramatic… At least he was able to hold on for the win.
Outstanding finish, more than making up for the pour play in the first 8 innings. Yes the Tigers drew walks today, but i think that is more because of Zito’s bad controll. Zito could not find the plate and the tigers swung at a bunch of bad pitches helping him out. However the ninth was a complete turnaround Inge’s remarkable at bat and Granderson’s walk correted the mistakes of the earlier innings. Rodney made it exciting in the ninth i was standing at the end of the game. One more thought, people keep on pushing for Shelton to be moved up in the order. While im not sure about the DH being ahead of him i do have one large problem with the lineup. Guillen is our best hitter and should be hitting third…there i said it. keep the lineup the same execpt put the DH behind shelton, make pudge 5th and put guillen 3rd. Thats my two cents.
My brother and I attended the game in person today. Without a doubt, Inge’s at bat was the highlight of the game. We were sitting field level on the first base side and we were both pretty sure the umpire cut Inge a break on that check swing, but, we’ll take it.
I don’t know about Bonderman, he seemed to be getting hit around a lot out there, but after the first inning, the balls were generally hit right to the fielders. Maybe it was just the lack of strike outs, there were a lot of lazy flys. Isn’t Bondo a ground ball pitcher?
Billfer, thanks for the headsup on that Verlander/Hernandez matchup. Definitely in front of my computer for that one.
Today’s game was a blast. I actually only caught the final two innings, but man that 9th was just edge of the seat stuff.
Inge totally K’d on that check swing. Terrible call. Homeplate should’ve rung him up and instead through it to 1st base who clearly was watching something else on the field.
That being said, it was a great at bat. I literally had to run out of my apartment on two separate occassions to take care of stuff and each time I came back, he was still up there. It seemed like a 10 minute AB.
About Zito’s control–I didn’t see him pitch but it seems like the umps are really calling a tight zone this year. From what I saw, today’s ump was particularly egregious. I’ve noticed this in nearly every game this year and Rob Neyer and Alan Schwartz both made mention of it at ESPN.com today. Neyer actually went so far as to claim the small zone was a directive from MLB to counteract a predicted falloff in offensive production due to drugs being taken out of the game. Seems like some serious consipiracy theory stuff to me, but I agree the zone has shrunk.
I don’t know if Zito’s performance in this game offers an indication of a small zone. From where I was sitting, Zito was high and low of the zone a lot (my angle did not offer a good indication of inside / outside). It was actually killing me that the Tigers were swinging at anything. It was like a little league game where the pitcher can’t hit the zone but the batters are so excited to be playing baseball they can’t help but swing. If the Tiger’s had kept their bats on their shoulder’s they would have had more than one BB RBI.
Hello
What do you think about this? When it happens?
Hello i find some links
teenies
unlimited mp3 download dowload music download music from the internet download artist zune music download elevator mp3 download the reminder feist one two three four totally 80s various artists she works hard for the money eighties complete various artists safety dance ghettoblaster armand van helden still in love boys dont cry the cure plastic passion