Like others here I was disappointed with the decisions to lead-off Pudge and bunt Inge. But it all worked out fine in the end. I don’t know whose idea the bunt was. During a stoppage in play just before the bunt, Inge walked down the line and had a long chat with Lamont. Maybe it was Inge’s idea?

Lots of Tiger fans at the dome, and I’ll be back on Sunday and Monday.

check out this site for a Vance Wilson update. http://www.mlive.com/tigers/in.....other.html

All I’m saying is there’s always going to be different readings. Hence: they can all be “right.” And even if you had a consistent reading, you’d have to know how it was calculated for you to understand just which speed you’re actually referencing.

The other night I was watching the game (I don’t know which, maybe it was yesterday’s? Yeah?). Anyway, Cabrera’s up, and he takes two pitches that are clearly balls. He gets back in the box, and the next pitch is a strike right down the middle. Thing is, as it’s coming, he just steps back out of the box, as if he doesn’t care that anyone’s trying to pitch to him. The next pitch he just watches, calmly. It’s another strike. 2-2. At this point, I’m getting from his body language that he knows he’s going to get a pitch to hit, and that he’s going to hit it hard somewhere, and that he’s absolutely not worried about it. He doesn’t even have to try. I’m like, “He’s going to get a hit.”

The next pitch comes and he rips a single up the middle.

And I’ve seen the way A-Rod presses at the plate – I mean, the guy is great but if he just let his talent loose and didn’t worry so much he’d be so much better. And I feel like Cabrera is doing that. He’s A-Rod without the pressure. Just a lot of gentle, nourishing encouragement. And I feel like he’s going to take off and take us with him.

Gonna mash.

I said it here first. MVP 2008? Miguel Cabrera.

But either way, so long as Jones isn’t walking anyone he should be okay.

Thanks for the stat. I guess I stand somewhat corrected. 91.7 isn’t 93, but then it is faster than what I remembered from the end of the season last year. But, then I guess everybody is slowing down some by the end of the season. My judgement may have been skewed to the later games, since early in the season I wasn’t paying as much attention to Gameday pitch data.

Speaking of relief pitchers, who is this Neal Blaine guy in Toledo?

In response to the postgame: I’m enjoying watching Cabrera (now that he’s put the slow start behind him) too. A game or two ago, he argued a strike call, only to blow a kiss to the ump after calling the next pitch a ball. Iluhvit.

If somehow they can hold the line until we get Zumaya, Rodney and Cruceta — assuming these pitchers are as effective as advertised– the Tiger’s bullpen could shape up to be one of the best in the majors.

This is a big what-if, but there is real potential here.

As to Jones’ fastball, my memory may be off, but I seem to recall he was consistently in the high 80s but rarely got over 90 last year with his “heater”. He is more of a finesse pitcher (fewer Ks and Ws) than the power pitcher he was earlier in his career. It seems that if he was consistently in the mid 90s he would have a higher K total. I don’t mean to say that he can never get it up there, but Gameday had him consistently at 93MPH on the fastball, and I just don’t believe that.