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PREGAME: Here we are, the Cleveland series. The last 3 chances for the Tigers to exert their will on the teams they are chasing. I can’t remember being this nervous for a game, maybe game 2 of the ALDS, but even then I’m not sure. I guess I’m nervous because not so much of what a win would mean - that just keeps the window of hope alive - but what a loss would do to already slim playoff chances. There’s been lots of talk about “if the Yankees win X” or “if the Indians win Y” and none of it matters as much as “if the Tigers win tonight.”
As for the match-up it’s Kenny Rogers and Paul Byrd. The Tigers have scored some runs off of Byrd in 3 starts this year, but he’s still a good bet to get to the 7th inning while giving his team a chance to win. He won’t walk more than 1 or 2, so pitch count isn’t usually a concern.
Rogers is making just his second start against the Indians this year, so maybe a slight edge to the Tigers in the “lack of familiarity” department. Rogers should be stretched out after throwing 83 and 94 pitches in his last 2 starts, but it’s more a matter of how his elbow holds up.
One thing to watch is what happens if the Tigers have a slim lead late in the game. Todd Jones has thrown 3 days in a row, and of course yesterday was especially rocky. I’d be surprised if he was available. And Joel Zumaya has thrown the last 2 days, but he didn’t throw a lot of pitches in either outing so we might still see him.
Game Time 7:05
DET @ CLE, Monday, September 17, 2007 Game Preview - Baseball-Reference.com
POSTGAME: Crushed. Me, the team, the season, the postseason hopes. Crushed.
{ 302 comments… read them below or add one }
Granderson made a great play and perfect throw. He’s always in the right place.
Wild pitch, hah. That was a passed ball.
This is going to hurt….
Lucky.
Clutch by Santi.
D’oh!
oh holy hell.
This is going to be an awesome series one way or the other…
Passed ball and pick off. Yikes.
1 - 2 - 3. Just do that about 6 more times please, Kenny
Plus some HITS. I’m feeling kinda shaky right now.
Placido chose the RIGHT time!
Man, I hope we win these first two games, I want the Indians fans to instantly LOATHE me when I go to the game Wednesday
Butterfingers…
Thank you very much!
Well this is a good start…let’s score some more runs! Why is Santiago starting today? Casey just getting the day off?
Bunt cake, baby!!!
What a bunt! They’re hitting Byrd every way possible.
Yahoo!
this is a perfect inning. What a beautiful bunt!
Hmmm, getting TOO cute perhaps?
I love Ramon Santiago he’s fun to watch.
Baaad bunt by Inge there…
Did Paul Byrd never get the memo that he’s washed up?
I’m not about to get comfortable. Not in these kinds of games.
Wow, Inge…did that just happen?
Its ok, its ok. Just keeps Byrdcrap around alil longer for our bats.
Bunt into a double play. Impressive Inge.
Babe Ruth wouldnt have bunted in that situation lol.
Kinda meltdown inning for the tribe here with the two errors. Too bad about that DP. Inge continues to shine.
I can’t believe this team is sucking me back in. I thought I was free and clear to pursue my studies without undue distraction.
If the bunt had been good we could have scored another run.
That’s why we can’t get comfortable. This team knows how to come back.
Ouch. Can’t let the Indians get right back into the game.
awesome. good DP
Need…more…runs.
Going into the bottom of the 5th I thought getting 2 more innings from Kenny would be best case scenario. But a 7 pitch inning might mean we see Rogers in the 7th.
Games moving along at a pretty good clip here. Billfer you getting to the ballpark for any of these games?
Man, the Yankees…I don’t know what to say. We picked the wrong team to chase.
Turnabout’s fair play!
Kenny is Magic.
But, we’re chasing the Indians
A sweep and we’re 1.5 back.
Question is: will NateRob be able to outduel C.C.?
This is where the sweating and wringing of hands begins.
I won’t make it down at all. I have friends going on Wednesday though. It looks like there are plenty of seats available.
Zach Miner and Bobby Seay warming up…….God help us!!
KENNY!!!
Kenny would pitch all 9 innings if Leyland would let him.
Six outs left. Each out will be huge.
Maybe Leyland SHOULD let him
JML and Adam, I hope you are right. I’m just looking for the low-hanging fruit, though I don’t know how much more I can handle revisiting the Yankees 8th inning on Friday and and Sunday, and Boston’s 9th last night.
On another note, after much encouragement from Mrs. Billfer I bought a set of Tiger Stadium seats today.
As I type that BAL loads up the bases, come on Mora!
If only Kenny had been healthy all year.
Mora’s at bat was Pudge-esque.
That’s the way to do it, Billfer. His and Hers.
So much for Mora (or anybody else on the planet) coming thru against the Yankees. Unbelievable.
Congrats, billfer! I wish I could justify such a purchase on my current budget
I would looooove to watch playoff games in some TS seats, whether this year or some other.
That was Magglio’s 200 th hit. His best so far in his pro career.
I have to say:
Kenny did look impressive. Which raises the question — do we sign him for another year?
Phooey.
At LEAST one more for Kenny
JML - I absolutely can’t justify it, but did it anyways. So look for even more advertising
You bet we should sign him for another year. DD should have the paperwork ready before Kenny takes his shower.
If Kenny had been healthy all year, the Yanks and Indians would be chasing US. Same with Zoom.
Yeah, bring Kenny back. During the offseason we’ll break down all the questions.
LOL I’ll shop your sponsors to help out. I guess after getting season tickets and making trips to Cleveland (this Wednesday) and Chicago (last game of the season), I’ve invested enough in baseball this year anyway. Of course, if they are still selling seats in a few weeks…
Yeah, I figure as such — I guess the only question is if he can remain healthy.
Billfer you can charge us for a chance to come sit in the seats!!
Um, ZoomZoom. No.
Zoom struck Grady out. Jesus, I hate when the umpires blink.
OMG why didn’t they just leave things as they were. Damn
Oh man. Zumaya needs to pound the zone here.
How far ahead would the Tribe be if Hafner was having a more representative season? He’s still at .254? Sitting on 22 homers?
“I’m ok Papi!”
Cold in the midwest?
oh no….
NOT HAPPY. I know I am in the minority but I do not feel confident when Zumaya comes in. No control. This is a disaster in the making.
This is what they do.
Freakin Indians.
It’s all I can do to keep this a family-friendly site right now.
Holy moly.
Well, that walk sure looms large now.
It’s what we USED to do
I just don’t understand how one team can have so many freakin’ eighth inning comebacks.
They would not have done this if Kenny had been left in. I am DONE with Zumaya. I am so sick of the radar gun, and the flames, and all of that hotdogging drama. GET SOME CONTROL.
Jhonny Peralta?!?!?! Ugh what a waste.
Get out of this inning with the score tied at least.
Zoom is Doom.
Wind. Sails. Out?
For everyone saying Zoom has no control, I counted 5 pitches that were clearly strikes called balls in that inning.
Notably the one where he ACTUALLY struck out Grady Sizemore.
I’m not too excited about the upcoming offense here…
Yeah. Who says there’s no crying in baseball.
You guys are conceding the game. It’s not over yet.
I didn’t concede. I said I wasn’t thrilled by the expected offense. Leyland thankfully made a change.
While I admit this is a bit of a stretch, I’m going to question Leyland’s decision to pull Kenny there. It’s too late in the season to pull a guy who is dealing and capable of running a high pitch count. Especially when you have a depleted pen. Then you go to the guy who is most likely to walk a batter. Zumaya is fabulous with men on base, because he strikes so many out. You have a good chance of an unproductive at bat. But with no runners on, who cares if he k’s someone? Might as well stick with Kenny who seems far less likely to give up a walk (and consequently a big inning).
Kathy I am just reverting to my pre-2006 mantra: Expect nothing and be pleasantly surprised by any good results.
LOL
I’m just tired, and Kenny should have kept pitching.
Nice slide Ty.
Please send Maybin back to the minors.
Hmm, weird baserunning by Maybin. Yikes.
Wow. That sucked.
At this point, I just want to survive the 9th and get into the 10th with the top of the line-up.
Kill me, just kill me
Ty Cobb should not have run on that play.
HEY INGE…. those check swings look AWFUL. BLECH!!!
Remind me of this moment when Maybin’s hitting 40 homers and playing gold glove outfield in 2010. Because I’m ready to strangle him right now.
At least he didn’t strike out.
Well, here’s my all time favorite..Zach Miner.
Zach. Don’t be like Joel.
You are not listening, Zach…
And send him back to the minors. Kiss it goodbye.
Is it still considered a bad thing to drink alone??
Way to go Miner. You ABSOLUTELY DO NOT WALK THE LEAD OFF MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is pathetic.
What else can you do? I promise you, none of you would have kept Rogers in, not when he has three starts left. Not when he’s been on the DL TWO DIFFERENT TIMES this year. Not when he’s given you seven innings, and thrown 100 pitches, and kept the other team to two runs.
You just don’t do that. This isn’t the last game of the season.
That was a bad call on that strike. It was right on the money.
It might just as well be the last game of the season.
“This isn’t the last game of the season” — we are 3.5 games out with 11 games remaining if we lose this. Every game is the last game of the season.
Can’t throw a strike if his life depended on it.
Bring in Seay. Please. Now. Please. NOOOOO!!!!
No bobby seay???
No Seay? Hmm.
Is there some way to walk to victory when on defense that I’m not aware of?
Where’s my migraine meds?
Well, two questionable calls by Leyland in that inning, and both of them worked out to his liking.
Maybe we’re destined to score a few this inning.
Wow. That makes your heart rate pick up a few notches.
Adam, it might be the last game of the season. . . .
You know, you’re talking to an old lady here. I was raised on baseball without pitch counts and radar guns, and where a complete game was expected. Sure their arms eventually fell off but you gotta take one for the team sometimes!!
But assuming the correctness of your formula, we therefore need guys who can step in and finish the game. And we don’t seem to have them. Which does not bode well for a postseason run anyway.
I’m just happy to have somewhere to sigh and vent.
That was a HUGE gamble.
I was going to write how idiotic Leyland is for not bringing Seay. But Miner actually has a pretty similar, low .200s BAA against for lefties…
Shades of 06, Leylands hunches workd. My god he should have walked sizemore and he shoulda brought in Seay. Heck with it lets get one IN COME ON TIGERS COME ON
A Grandy triple sure would be a pill right now.
We needed to make something happen against Borowski. Bettancourt owns us.
Don’t. Waste. This. Please.
Get it to Maggs with one out. Sheff has to walk here.
Bettancourt owns everybody. He has been rock solid as a setup man. I wish Zumaya, could be that reliable.
My teeth hurt from clenching.
RE: You just don’t do that. This isn’t the last game of the season.
Yes it is!
Well, that’s probably the kiss of death right there. Now that is one dominating pitcher. Goodness, is he good.
I’ll be in the car…
Strike 2 to Sheffield, same pitch that was called ball 4 to Blake in the 8th, except the Shef pitch was 2 inches further outside…..consistency is all we ask for.
We can’t hold on much longer…ughhhhhhhh
Zach Miner pitching most important inning of the season. This is how it ends: not with a bang, but with a whimper.
You got away with one, Zach. You won’t likely get away with two…
This game has become decidedly less fun.
Enjoy those seats watching FOOTBALL in October, billfer
Anyone else feel like a cigarette? I don’t even smoke.
Ive been sucking them down the last few innings.
Why does PFP come into my mind when miner is out there
I promised I’d give up cigarettes if we made it to the postseason.
Might as well. I feel like a drink, and I don’t..well, you get it…
um how long does miner get to play…
Personally I’m drinking a Molson’s. Getting ready for hockey season.
If Miner can’t induce a double play here he will induce vomiting in me
Vintage Miner, not trusting his stuff and nibbling outside of the strike zone.
Remember how fun it was when we won seven games in a row in october last year? This team controls my life way more than it should.
im a couple beers down and its not making it any easier. I need a narcotic.
Jim and Dan say he’s overthrowing
Hey, THAT’S the Pudge I know! Whew!
YES!!! Now lets bat around and beat the crap out of them!
YES
my neighbors are wondering what the commotion is prolly.
And then Jim said “strike em out, throw em out” and that’s exactly what happened.
I like how Rod called it right before.
He better predict a five run inning right here.
I never doubted us for a second!
Wow. What happened to the Indians’ fan base??? Upper deck looks empty.
LOL, anyone want to revisit their position on the Pudge option for next season???
Jim - on the PFP….similar thought here, as I was wondering why Cleveland didn’t bunt to the pitcher.
I just keep thinking back to the 3 run inning, where 5 straight guys reached base with nobody out. And Jim Leyland said, hey, here’s a free out by having Inge sacrifice. It wasn’t Leyland’s fault that Inge hit into a double play, but a bad move nonetheless.
One pitch, one out. I say Bettie pitches 4 innings.