Game 93: Tigers at Twins

by billfer on July 19, 2007 · 201 comments

in 2007 Season, Game Post

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PREGAME: A Metrodome sweep would be sweet for the good guys, but the series has been a success already.

Today will be Jeremy Bonderman matching up with Scott Baker. It’s actually a rematch of the Sunday night 1-0 game. The difference maker in that game was of course the Marcus Thames homer. Unfortunately Thames won’t be available today, or any time over the next 15 days as he hit the DL after blowing his hammy. Timo Perez is your newest Perez on the roster.

Perez’s last productive season was 2002. He has been raking for Toledo, but we’ll see how that translates. Hopefully this is a short term stop gap.

Game Time 1:10

DET @ MIN, Thursday, July 19, 2007 Game Preview - Baseball-Reference.com

POSTGAME: I’m writing this blind. I was at work and didn’t see the game, but I did hear parts on the radio, and saw part of the replay, and of course read all the commentary here. So take all this with a grain of salt.

  • The Timo Perez era begins, and it was a rocky start. Twice he came up with runners on 1st and 2nd, and twice he failed. But his second turn was a decent at-bat with a line drive to second. He later singled and walked so it wasn’t a bad debut. Given his Major League numbers I’m still very skeptical, but if he can carry the stick he was swinging in Toledo for a couple weeks it might work out.
  • Pretty impressive to scratch a run across against Joe Nathan, even if it was in his 2nd inning of work.
  • The bullpen came up big again today. They’ve had narrow margins to work with as of late, and they’ve made it stand up. Including and especially Todd Jones who had to face the middle of the order with a 1 run lead each of the last 2 nights.
  • Bonderman seemed pretty good today, until he started to falter that 3rd time through the lineup. Given that the bottom half of the Twins lineup was hardly intimidating today, I’d say it was a pretty average outing for Bondo.
  • These 3 games were exhausting as a fan so I’m sure the players are feeling it as well. But it should be a happy flight home. Here’s hoping that there’s no let up once they are home and taking on the Royals. Gil Meche is a good pitcher, even if he is overpaid.

 

{ 201 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Dave T. 07.19.07 at 12:59 pm

Timo for PEREZIDENT!!!!

2 Chris M 07.19.07 at 1:01 pm

So Raburn can only play against lefties?!

It would have been nice if they had let Hannahan get a chance to play.

3 Dave T. 07.19.07 at 1:08 pm

They needed an outfielder and Timo is hitting the best of any outfielders. Hessman would have been the better story…his power and average numbers in the minors are similar to a Thames/Monroe (on a good day)

4 Greg 07.19.07 at 1:10 pm

Leyland used 5 relief pitchers yesterday. We need Bonderman to go deep, especially with the upcoming schedule (a doubleheader and no off days). I guarantee Zach Miner pitches today.

5 Dirk 07.19.07 at 1:14 pm

Tigers at the prime-time on TV ….at least here in Germany ;)(1.05 p.m ET is 7.05 p.m CET )

NASN (North American Sportsnetwork) has the FSN Detroit Broadcast with Mario and Rod. Great, not those “Sutcliff”sm :D

Best wishes from Germany to all

6 Anne 07.19.07 at 1:15 pm

And so the Timo Perez era begins.

Does anyone know what’s up with Monroe? Is he just day-to-day with his back, or what? And is today Pudge’s suspension or is it just his ordinary day off?

If anyone starter is going to go deep into the game for us it’s my man Bondo. I predict 8 innings.

Enjoy the game everyone.

7 Dirk 07.19.07 at 1:24 pm

Great, Bondo has “survived” the 1st Inning 1-2-3 ;)

8 ron 07.19.07 at 1:26 pm

A’w Castillo is pouting. Makes that knee hurt even more.

9 Dirk 07.19.07 at 1:31 pm

Go Timo, bring Maggs home

10 Dave T. 07.19.07 at 1:33 pm

I hope Timo and Rabello aren’t rally stoppers

11 Dave T. 07.19.07 at 1:34 pm

I hope the combination of Timo and Rabello doesn’t stop tiger rallies

12 Andrew 07.19.07 at 1:36 pm

Dirk, thanks for the warm welcome from Germany. I, too, was glad to see Bonderman have an uneventful 1st inning.

Now we just need some offense. If we can get a win today with this banged up offense it would almost be like stealing.

13 ron 07.19.07 at 1:43 pm

Holy cow. Hard to believe we have all this great pitching.

14 Tbone 07.19.07 at 1:44 pm

Not sure we are gonna get too much from the bottom of this order.

Big Boys will have to deliver. Again.

15 Ryan 07.19.07 at 1:52 pm

Can’t be too upset about our bottom third with their Kubel/Jones/Punto/Tyner “Murderers Row”. It may be the worst hitting outfield I can recall ever seeing.

16 Dirk 07.19.07 at 1:53 pm

Maybe we’ll have to wait if this Baker-boy is 2-times through the lineup if we see the top of the order producing. Bondo has his A-Game Stuff, 9 in a row. So Anne’s Prediction of 8 Innings looks good so far

Pitch-count through 3: Baker 40, Bondo 35

17 ron 07.19.07 at 1:56 pm

No no?

18 Ben in Denver 07.19.07 at 1:56 pm

Oh Ron.

19 JML 07.19.07 at 1:56 pm

SSShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

20 Tbone 07.19.07 at 2:01 pm

Ryan - LOL. I’ll take our bottom third vs. third any day…

21 Tbone 07.19.07 at 2:02 pm

…their bottom third…

22 West Coast Tiger 07.19.07 at 2:06 pm

Despite the out, Timo had a good at bat. I noticed from his stats he doesn’t stike out much.

23 Dirk 07.19.07 at 2:06 pm

Again 2 LOB’s . But we can’t complain after yesterday

24 Nate 07.19.07 at 2:07 pm

Why doesn’t Leyland move Inge up in the line-up on days like this? I realize that Inge isn’t exactly Johnny McContact, but you’d think that occasionally hitting the ball far would be preferable to not really being able to hit at all.

25 Jeff 07.19.07 at 2:10 pm

It doesn’t make much sense to put three singles hitters in a row like Casey, Perez, and Rabelo. I’d move Inge up too.

26 Kathy 07.19.07 at 2:19 pm

Sheff needs to get out of his mini-slump.

27 Keith 07.19.07 at 2:21 pm

So does Carlos.

28 Dirk 07.19.07 at 2:21 pm

if these 3 “Single Hitters” would single in a row, that’s ok :D

Big Strikeout against Mauer.

Miner and McBride are looking if they haven’t enough sleep last night

29 Kevin in Austin 07.19.07 at 2:29 pm

I’m predicting a big inning for us soon. This guy isn’t that good.

30 Keith 07.19.07 at 2:39 pm

This would be an excellent time for that big inning, Kevin.

31 Dirk 07.19.07 at 2:46 pm

Perez has come to plate 3-times with RISP.

Result.: Nothing

32 tiff 07.19.07 at 2:46 pm

Who said Rally Stopper?

33 T Smith 07.19.07 at 2:47 pm

Let the Timo Perez era begin…

34 Tbone 07.19.07 at 2:51 pm

Is this a “get out of town game”, or what?

Bottom 3 for both teams now a combined 0-13. First team who has a 7-8-9 hitter get a knock wins.

35 cib 07.19.07 at 2:54 pm

With a sweep possible, I would have put Sheff in LF, Omar in RF, and given Maggs’s knees a little rest by putting him at DH. Just saying.

36 Keith 07.19.07 at 2:54 pm

I can’t believe they scored the Bartlett at bat a hit. Carlos booted that ball.

37 Keith 07.19.07 at 2:56 pm

…and it cost us a run. E6

38 Kurt 07.19.07 at 2:58 pm

two (late) thoughts.

1) who thuoght it was a good idea to start a guy who just got off the plane?. Oh.

2) that was E6 for sure.

39 stephen 07.19.07 at 2:58 pm

Meet the new Perez.
Same as the old Perez.

40 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 2:59 pm

Huge DP. Glad it was Redmond running.

Too bad Polly is hurt now, too…

41 Tbone 07.19.07 at 3:02 pm

Rabelo!

42 Dirk 07.19.07 at 3:03 pm

Yeah, Rabelo and Inge, Tied Game

43 hashemite 07.19.07 at 3:04 pm

How’s that for the bottom of our order?

44 Keith 07.19.07 at 3:07 pm

Nice hit and run!

45 Dirk 07.19.07 at 3:08 pm

Great

Morneau could have made the DP, or? But so it’s okay :D

46 tiff 07.19.07 at 3:10 pm

The Triple! Thrilling!

47 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:10 pm

baker gone. It’s about damn time.

48 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:11 pm

i can’t believe rabelo’s hit two triples this year. that’s incredible.

49 Keith 07.19.07 at 3:12 pm

Sheffield is every third bagger’s nightmare!

50 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 3:13 pm

Oh sheff. Can’t have that. Little over-aggressive, cost us a run…..

51 Steve 07.19.07 at 3:14 pm

Hello, guys, I have to work a little before I tuned into the game at work. Looks like a good time though.

Base hit………….. Sweet

Steve

52 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:14 pm

can gardenhire avoid using Neshek for a whole game? We’ll just have to see.

53 T Smith 07.19.07 at 3:17 pm

Okay,

Horrible time for MLB.com to go on the fritz… somebody update me. Last time I heard, it was 2-1 with Polanco up. What happened?

54 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 3:19 pm

polly doubled, sheff doubled, both off punto’s glove. they walked maggs, sheff got picked off, guillen singled, casey flied out (yes, it’s flied, not flew).

55 T Smith 07.19.07 at 3:20 pm

Thx. 3-1, right?

56 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 3:22 pm

3-1 good guys

57 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:22 pm

kubel hits home runs now?

58 Keith 07.19.07 at 3:24 pm

Long ones too?

59 West Coast Tiger 07.19.07 at 3:26 pm

Come on B-man. He’s getting ahead then losing them.

60 Joey the K 07.19.07 at 3:27 pm

so is it 3-2 now? espn and mlbs’ game tracker seem to be out right now!

61 Steve 07.19.07 at 3:28 pm

Need to stop the bleeding

62 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:28 pm

no win for you, JB

63 West Coast Tiger 07.19.07 at 3:29 pm

Shoot

64 Riley 07.19.07 at 3:29 pm

Yeah, can i get a status update for those not watching online?

65 Keith 07.19.07 at 3:31 pm

3-3. Punto scored on FC 6-4. Castillo beat the relay.

66 Riley 07.19.07 at 3:33 pm

Shoot, well that’s a downer, especially for Bondo. Twinkies still batting in the 7th?

67 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:33 pm

hey guys, that cricket noise during the pickoff throws stops being funny after about the 300th time

68 tiff 07.19.07 at 3:34 pm

What is going on with both ESPN and MLB? They still have Guillen singling with 2 outs in the 7th.

69 Steve 07.19.07 at 3:34 pm

3-3

70 Kevin in Austin 07.19.07 at 3:35 pm

For those of you whose gamecast is stuck - Bondo is coming out of the game. 2 on, 2 out, Bottom of the 7th, Mauer coming up.

71 Keith 07.19.07 at 3:35 pm

First and third, two out. Bobby Seay on his way in.

72 West Coast Tiger 07.19.07 at 3:36 pm

Suck it up boys.

73 Riley 07.19.07 at 3:36 pm

Oy - that doesn’t sound good. Let’s see if the bullpen can keep up the good work.

74 Joey the K 07.19.07 at 3:36 pm

great oppurtunity for anyone who has ever wanted to do play by play!

75 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:37 pm

Capellan’s warming up, but Seay is 0-2 on Mauer

76 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:38 pm

Mauer grounds to short, inning over

77 Steve 07.19.07 at 3:38 pm

You could also try Yahoo http://sports.yahoo.com/

Then toggle the Tigers game

78 Kevin in Austin 07.19.07 at 3:39 pm

Seay gets a ground out, heading to the 8th. I like our chances. We need to get through Morneau one more time, but another run should do it.

79 Riley 07.19.07 at 3:39 pm

Nice work, Bobby.

I tried Yahoo as well - same problem, it appears.

80 Kyle J 07.19.07 at 3:40 pm

I prefer living in my alternate Gameday reality where the Tigers are still ahead 3-1 and the world’s longest coaching visit to the mound is taking place.

81 cib 07.19.07 at 3:40 pm

thanks guys! I went across the street for lunch from 1-2:15 then figured I’d “watch” the rest at the office - what a day for the system to get stuck! The Detroit Free Press website is at least tracking the box score

http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnf.....meID=20294

82 Joey the K 07.19.07 at 3:41 pm

cbsportsline.com appears to be working. I don’t like it, but at least its running!

83 Kathy 07.19.07 at 3:41 pm

We need to get some runs.

84 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:41 pm

Timo hacks around awhile before hitting a single off Reyes

85 Kyle J 07.19.07 at 3:42 pm

Gameday just caught back up.

86 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:42 pm

and here comes Neshek. Dear lord, does this guy ever get a day off?

87 Joey the K 07.19.07 at 3:42 pm

I thought maybe sheff was fighting with umps after being picked off 2nd! how does that happen anyway!

88 Dirk 07.19.07 at 3:44 pm

perez with single in the 8th by 0 out. Is that right?

89 Riley 07.19.07 at 3:45 pm

Yep, and Gameday is up and running for the time being. 1-1 on Rabelo.

90 Kyle J 07.19.07 at 3:45 pm

Does Pat Neshek have a bionic arm? This is his 6th appearance in 7 days.

91 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 3:46 pm

fyi adam dunn is rumored to have been traded to Milwaukee, which effects absolutely no one here.

92 Kyle J 07.19.07 at 3:49 pm

Intentionally walking Granderson to get to Polanco? That’s respect.

93 tiff 07.19.07 at 3:50 pm

Sean Casey broke the Internet!

Glad to hear the pen got us out of a jam. Sounds like a familiar song, which is becoming one of my favorites.

94 Walewander 07.19.07 at 3:52 pm

That wasn’t a strike. Low, and possibly outside.

95 Joey the K 07.19.07 at 3:52 pm

damn, polly k’ing 2 days in a row?! unreal.

96 cib 07.19.07 at 3:57 pm

Same, Joey, I think Polly’s muscle strain injury is still bothering him.

97 Steve 07.19.07 at 3:58 pm

We need a littlre help from above here

98 Keith 07.19.07 at 3:58 pm

We need a K here.

99 Kathy 07.19.07 at 3:59 pm

Lord have Mercy!!

100 Kevin in Austin 07.19.07 at 4:00 pm

That was a fascinating play to listen to on the radio. I can only imagine what it must have looked like on TV.

101 Keith 07.19.07 at 4:00 pm

Or a wild pitch that results in a pickoff! Unreal. Now, that was fortunate.

102 Steve 07.19.07 at 4:00 pm

And God Listened

103 Ben in Denver 07.19.07 at 4:00 pm

Wow Steve. You have connections.

104 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:00 pm

Morneau got trapped in a run-down between 3rd and home and hilariously intentionally threw himself in front of Rabelo’s throw for some reason. Two out.

105 West Coast Tiger 07.19.07 at 4:00 pm

Huge moment.

106 Walewander 07.19.07 at 4:01 pm

Wow, that was awesome.

107 cib 07.19.07 at 4:02 pm

can’t wait to go home to my Tivo!!!

108 Kevin in Austin 07.19.07 at 4:02 pm

Poetic justice after Sheffield’s pick-off arguably cost us a run.

109 Dirk 07.19.07 at 4:02 pm

Second good action from Morneau (the other one was the missed DP )

110 Joey the K 07.19.07 at 4:02 pm

SWEET! MLB must not know how to score that one, its frozen again. thanks for the update!!!!

111 Keith 07.19.07 at 4:04 pm

Actually Dave, it was Seay that made the throw and he did it in proper Tigers’ pitching fashion. That ball would not have made it all the way to Inge at third. Morneau definitely helped us out by getting in the way of the weak toss.

112 Walewander 07.19.07 at 4:04 pm

Miner in to face the PHing Tori Hunter.

113 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:05 pm

Keith: Seay threw a wild pitch, then Rabelo found it and threw to third.

114 Keith 07.19.07 at 4:05 pm

Excellent call Dirk.

115 Nate 07.19.07 at 4:06 pm

Joey, CBS sportsline appears not to have the trouble that Gameday, Yahoo, Espn are all having.

116 tiff 07.19.07 at 4:06 pm

thanks for all the updates you guys, GameCast is extra frustrating today!

117 Keith 07.19.07 at 4:07 pm

Rabelo threw it home to Seay.

118 Ben in Denver 07.19.07 at 4:08 pm

Man, this is exhausting.

119 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:09 pm

exactly. Inge threw a wild pitch that got picked out of the dirt by Casey at home, who threw to Seay at short. I’m glad we’ve got this settled.

120 Ben in Denver 07.19.07 at 4:10 pm

Ah, the ol’ 5-3-1.

121 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 4:10 pm

Dave,

Where did you catch that Dunn rumor, i can’t find it anywhere. My buddy is a huge Cubs fan and he very well may sh!t himself… so naturally I want to tell him as quickly as possible.

122 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:12 pm

it’s from Milwaukee radio (who actually stated he’d been traded), apparently. I couldn’t find it at MLB either.

123 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:15 pm

your friend might already be aware, but the Cubs are confirmed to have traded useless SS Marcus Izturis today for cash and a PTBNL

124 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 4:16 pm

gotya, thanks. I’ll just tell him anyway, and assume it’s 100% accurate.

125 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:16 pm

ack, err, Cesar Izturis. The Angels would probably frown on the Cubs trading their players to the Pirates.

126 Walewander 07.19.07 at 4:17 pm

Punto makes easy plays look hard. Inge makes hard plays look easy (and crazy plays look sane).

127 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 4:24 pm

Yeah, I saw the Izturis thing too. He knows, his first guess was Jason Bay was the PTBNL. He was kidding, of course.

128 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:27 pm

Joe Nathan is still in there at the top of the 10th. He promptly walks Perez.

129 Tbone 07.19.07 at 4:27 pm

So much for getting out of town….

C’mon bottom 3, make me eat my words. Again!

130 Keith 07.19.07 at 4:28 pm

Inge!

131 Dirk 07.19.07 at 4:29 pm

Same procedure as last time. Perez on first, Rabelo sacrifies :D
Hopefully this time he will come around

132 Joey the K 07.19.07 at 4:29 pm

BRANDON!!!!!!

133 Riley 07.19.07 at 4:29 pm

INGE!

134 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:29 pm

Inge slams a double to center-right. Perez scores! Jones is warming up. (i’ve just gotten into an updating habit now, despite its apparent lack of necessity)

135 Tbone 07.19.07 at 4:29 pm

Yes!!!

136 tiff 07.19.07 at 4:29 pm

Go, 7-8-9! Who knew? I take back any Rally Stopper nonsense I said earlier.

137 Kevin in Austin 07.19.07 at 4:30 pm

Let’s get one more here boys. I like our chances with Granderson and Polanco up.

138 Walewander 07.19.07 at 4:30 pm

BRANDON AND THE ANGRY INGE!!!

139 Dirk 07.19.07 at 4:31 pm

wow, 6 posts at the same time :D

Inge is it worth

140 Anne 07.19.07 at 4:31 pm

Alright Brando!

OK, so not exactly the start I’d hoped for from Bonderman, but it wasn’t bad, either. Let’s hold on here fellas.

141 Keith 07.19.07 at 4:32 pm

This game has actually turned into a battle of the bottom third of the lineups. Who woulda thunk?

142 Dirk 07.19.07 at 4:34 pm

When was the last time Nathan has given up a run. Can’t remember :D Great job, Brandon

143 cib 07.19.07 at 4:34 pm

LOL Dave Wagner, good job! Dan Dickerson is nervous!!

144 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 4:35 pm

There is NO WAY Jones can make it through Mauer and Morneau with a one run lead for a third consecutive day…

Is there?

145 Ben in Denver 07.19.07 at 4:35 pm

Take us home, Jonesy.

146 Ryan 07.19.07 at 4:36 pm

Time to use my powers of jinx for good….

Boy, they’ve got some good hitters coming up!

147 Dave Wagner 07.19.07 at 4:36 pm

cib: I’m aiming for Jim Price’s spot - frankly, he seems like the more vulnerable of the pair

148 JML 07.19.07 at 4:36 pm

Wavelander: I wonder what Brandon would think of that reference LOL

149 Mark in Chicago 07.19.07 at 4:37 pm

Correction, Jones didn’t face Mauer last night in the 9th, but you guys get my point…

150 JML 07.19.07 at 4:37 pm

ack, I can’t key today… Walewander..sorry!

151 Steve 07.19.07 at 4:38 pm

Mark, I hope your wrong

152 Kathy 07.19.07 at 4:38 pm

Where’s my Marlboro’s?

153 Keith 07.19.07 at 4:40 pm

Maybe that should be Jonesy’s nickname? The Marlboro Man. He makes us all need a smoke.

154 Dirk 07.19.07 at 4:40 pm

oh man, this Gamecenter is so slow. It’s a real pity, that the transmission is off

155 Jim 07.19.07 at 4:41 pm

big second out..shoulda been a DP