Comments on: Game 13: Twins at Tigers

By: ron

ron — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:26:58 +0000

Tigers come back and Wings blow a game. Can we go to bed feeling good for one nite?

By: Rick G

Rick G — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:35:45 +0000

Nice win by the Tigs – I turned it off at 9-5 thinking there was 0.0% chance of a win. The Twins looked positively Tiger-esque in the online highlights!

BTW, on the MLB.com Rewind Recap video, the anchor calls our third baseman Orlando Cabrera 3 times

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:34:45 +0000

Leyland lights a fire under his team and suddenly they play like they have life and heart. Coincidence or not, it was great to see.

Leyland rant + Billfer in crowd = great win!
It’s up to cib and Jim to keep the mojo working!

By: greg

greg — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:28:44 +0000

Well, the effects of any ‘communication’ are always going to be beyond any type of ‘proof’, in any event, where are these people that ‘praise and praise and praise Leyland’, I’ve been searching for 2+ years, diligently, and would love to find one, because everywhere I turn, all I hear is how much he sucks and how he should be fired, over and over and over, with only the occassional supporter on a message board here and there. I went to over 20 games last year, almost every single game, or so it seemed, I’m surrounded by people ripping Leyland every chance they get(I did find one Leyland supporter during one particular game, it was game 4 of the ALCS vs. Oakland, as fans were getting frustrated with Leyland leaving Grilli in the game to walk 75 consecutive batters during a key portion of the game, the jovial, inebriated Leyland supporter yelled, ‘In Leyland we Trust’) I go to Greektown before and after games. I engage in friendly conversations with fellow Tiger fans, and whenever Leyland comes up, their countenance changes, scowls are not uncommon, vexed at the mere mention of the skippers name, they rattle off all the terrible moves Leyland made that day, or the day before. Sometimes, I’ll defend him, just a little, ever so slightly, and boy do some of them get mad! Its interesting that he draws such ire from so many people that I run into.

By: Mike R

Mike R — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:26:38 +0000

I don’t think Jim Leyland’s rant to them had anything to do with tonight’s comeback win. But he’ll get praised and praise and praised and the media will continue to overlook all his managerial flaws. Such is life. I’ll take the win though.

By: greg

greg — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:17:02 +0000

If Leyland doesn’t lay into them Sunday, I don’t think you see the Tigers fight, remain focused ’til the end tonight. There was a different feel tonight, before they ever took the lead. I said to my friends, even when they were still down, ‘It’s good just to see some life, just to see them put up a fight.’

Sunday they were getting quick outs, in effect, they had started up the bus, tonight, we saw hitters working the counts more often, at least it seemed that way, with Pudge getting in the act working a full count, just better approaches at the plate, even when they were down 5. It took a while to pay off, and yes the Twins relief pitching wasn’t lights out, but I think the Tigers approach was part of that and you’ve got to give the Tiger bats credit. Besides, the Tigers faced their fare share of scrub pitchers making mistakes the last two weeks and weren’t able to do anything, tonight they did.

Actually, I’m very encouraged by Sheff at the plate, even Sunday there were signs. No, I don’t think he’s all the way back, but he’s getting there. Sunday he cranked one with HR distance that went foul, then the stroked a double. Today he hit the ball hard at least thrice. One that almost had HR distance down the left field line and a double that made it to the wall, and another line smash foul.

I read somewhere that he tore some scar tissue in his shoulder Saturday, and that increased his range of motion.
His recent abats today and yesterday seem to corroborate that. His bat speed seemed a little better as well.

By: Steve in Kzoo

Steve in Kzoo — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:00:43 +0000

T Smith,

Yea I saw that. They started to get on base as I was on my way out. Thought they would screw it up was surprised by the end result when I came back. 11-3 amazing come back you guys!!! Now just sweep the twins in this short series. And then onto the Rodgers Centre. Maybe I should go get something to eat more often during the late innnings lol

By: Brian P

Brian P — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:51:57 +0000

What an amazing, improbable comeback! I woke up everyone in the house after Pudge’s triple, and it left me shaking with goosebumps. I watched every inning of the Chicago games hoping for something like this, and it finally came.

The bullpen gets one day of reprieve for another lackluster performance.

By: T Smith

T Smith — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:42:56 +0000

Pudge certainly seemed pumped up. And hitting is contagious. As soon as Sheff got his double, I could see another double in Maggs’ eyes, and young-buck Cabrera then wasn’t gonna let the old guys show him up and be the rally killer, etc. Hitting really is contagious. And so are come-from-behind rallies. If we score another 10 or 11 runs tomorrow I shall be very pleased with the ensuing development. It could be the start of a huge come back. (“Could be” are the operative words) One thing is sure: this team can plate 11 runs very quickly, as we were all witness to tonight. It’s scary how good they can be — and just as puzzling that they can also go 23 or 24 innings without scoring any runs.

I sense the offense may break things wide open in the next couple games. This lineup has been humiliated, and they need to make a statement. Which wouldn’t suck.

By: tiff

tiff — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:34:28 +0000

while I love participating in these game threads, coming to read them after I’ve watched the game and reading all the comments from elation to deflation is almost as entertaining.

Who knows what this team will do over the season, nights like tonight is why the bother to play the game. Go Tigers!

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:32:18 +0000

“I didn’t see any thoughts on whether JL lighting the team up might have had an effect on them.”

I don’t think JL had as much to do with the offensive waking up as the Twins relief pitching did. Yes, the The Tiger were really struggleing to get meaningfull at bats. But that was cuppled with two really, really redhot pitching staffs. Just look at what the Roylas starters & ChiSox pitching staff has done with other teams. They pretty much shut them down as they did the Tigers. Banister & Greinke are pretty much unhittable right now.

By: Tbone

Tbone — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:29:07 +0000

I came home when it was 9-5, and immediately got into a pissy mood. Daughter of Tbone announced in the bottom of the 8th that she would assume the rally position, face down on the couch, not watching the game. I told her it was over. Silly me to deny the power of the rally posture.

Mrs. Tbone was hogging the computer and did not permit me access to DTW until that last, scary out.

A great come from behind win, one that hopefully is the wake up we’ve been waiting for on the offense. There’s hope for one night at least!

By: Bix in Boise

Bix in Boise — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:14:51 +0000

Ok, billfer has to go every night now…

I think I read through most/all of the comment thread, and I didn’t see any thoughts on whether JL lighting the team up might have had an effect on them. For those that saw the game, did it seem like there was more fire/desire/effort tonight that might have been because Jimmy said “ok kids, pull your heads out”?

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:12:13 +0000

oh, and im goin tommorw! lets keep it up!

By: Jim

Jim — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:11:22 +0000

COme on now people, was there really any ever doubt we’d win tonight?

btw, wasnt this the original game plan? we were going to have to outscore teams 10-9 11-8 etc?