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PREGAME: The division leading White Sox come to town. It will be Jose Contreras and Nate Roberson tonight.
Contreras isn’t the same crappy pitcher the Tigers have beaten up on lately. He’s only allowed 10 walks in his last 7 starts. In his last six starts he’s averaged 7 innings a start and has a 1.50 ERA.
Robertson is Robertson. So the first team to five runs wins.
CHW @ DET, Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Game Preview - Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 7:05
POSTGAME: Hey, the Tigers beat the White Sox and have taken 3 of their last 4 against division opponents. Yeah they are still 10 games back but it beats being 12 games back, at least by a little.
- Robertson held the White sox to 3 runs, one of which plated after he left the game. And he pickedup 19 of the 27 outs meaning a tired bullepn got a reprieve.
- Speaking of the bullpen, for the second appearance in a row, The New Sexy came in with the bases loaded and one out. This time one run crossed the plate on a ground ball and a pop up. We call that minimizing the damage.
- The next inning wasn’t so sexy for Freddy Solid. He gave up a shot to center, and a single, and he had a weird balk resulting in a run. Further damage was limited by a money throw from Brent Clevlen to gun down a run at the plate.
- Miguel Cabrera didn’t hit the ball particularly hard, but he had 3 hits including a big 2 out hit that pushed the Tigers ahead.
- Everybody managed hit(s) today save for Edgar Renteria who did hit a ball hard, but into the glove of Joe Crede
- Interesting defensive replacements tonight. Not surprisingly Brandon Inge came in to play 3rd for Carlos Guillen. But with a twist with Guillen moving to first base. That’s first I can remember that happening in quite awhile.
{ 312 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d be happy if the Tigers’ pitchers could go 7 innings without giving up 10 walks…
“So the first team to five runs wins.”
This statement causes a dark premenition. The Tigers stake Nate to a 6-run lead. Robertson wastes most of it. Then Golden Boy Freddy loses the game by doing a masterful Bautista impersonation. Worse still, we learn after the game that D-o-l-s-i…..i-s…..o-(n) D-L.
My predictions never materialize, so I’m only predicting Tigers losses from now on.
Please oh please can we beat the White Sox so that it makes the insufferable Hawk and DJ slightly less so.
God I hate the White Socks.
These games are important to me, too. Mark. Not because I hate the White Sox so much, but because I hate the way a clearly better* Detroit team insists on rolling over for them time and time again.
* yeah yeah yeah.
Man, you are right on the money with that one, Sean. It’s pretty disgusting how much the Socks have owned us the last few years, especially when we’re in Chicago.
Okay, Robertson never pitches good against the Sox. And to think Joe Crede comes into the series on a hot streak. and Jim Thome, and Carlos Quinten, and ……….. We’re getting creamed this series.
Sean: How dare you say such things about Big Sexy? You should be ashamed.
I’ve got a GREAT feeling about tonight. And no, I’m not being facetious. 6-3 tonight. Robertson doesn’t give up his customary 4 runs tonight, either.
You heard it here first!
Guys I can not stand the Who sox either so I will be REALLY happy with a win tonight. I have MLB EI and we will surely get one game of the Who Sox crew which if you have ever heard them will make you puke.
Go Tigers …………..
Steve
PS Lets get out of the first inning with out a major deficit
Here’s the lineup:
Granderson, CF
Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
Larish, DH
Renteria, SS
Rodriguez, C
Clevlen, LF
Steve: Puke doesn’t begin to describe it. I’d say those two make me vomit with rage. That’s more like it.
I heard DD say on the radio yesterday that the Tigers have used 9 (!) different starters in left field so far this season. They are batting a paltry .220, albeit with 12 dingers.
everybody get your Joe Crede voodoo dolls out
let the vomiting commence.
come on Nate and everybody.
“They are batting a paltry .220, albeit with 12 dingers.”
Probably because anyone who starts in LF knows they won’t start the next day no matter what they do.
Then again, .220 is actually higher than the team BA, so why am I complaining?
5 pitches?
jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez……
I know I’m behind as usual, but was Ball 3 on Thome a close call?
6 pitch first inning…we are battling tonite…if nate keeps his innings short i hear the boys are going to see sex and the city as a group…team hug
and on the 6th batter of the game, Contreras finally throws his 10th pitch.
*sigh*
when was the last time Maggs really stung a ball?
Yay! A single! Man am I glad we’re getting what we paid for with this guy.
/sarcasm.
no Sean, Nate threw ball 3 way inside and threw the HR pitch right down the middle.
Way for Renteria to strike out and keep the rally going!
elmer and his pink bat does his job
Classic ABs by Renteria and Rodriguez in the 2nd. Instructional video stuff.
i hear pudge said he wasn’t worried about having to split catching duties with inge…he said ” sure. and marcus is our everyday lf and inge is going to get more games at 3b and guillen is going to play lf too”. “i’ll prolly have to fake an injury just to get a rest”.
Robertson was ahead 0-2 and walked a guy that has walked a total of 5 times in 127 AB.
And we wonder how Nate manages to give up 4 runs every start.
Can someone explain to me why a rookie is DH when Thames is on the bench. And I don’t buy this left-hander against right-handed pitching business that much. All my instincts say to rely on Thames over this rookie……….any comments?
And how can Robertson give an 0-2 pitch that is hittable?…….These are the things that are so frustrating to watch.
Great execution on the bases by the ChiSox. Something the Tigers can only dream about.
sweet. 2-0 socks. AJ with the RBI single.
God I hate this team. It’s really beyond description.
Mark: We don’t wonder too hard.
A rookie batting .136 no less. Seriously, I think Jim must hate Marcus.
You’re right, Sky. That’s how Robertson can have good peripherals with walks and strikeouts and everything, but he makes one terrible 0-2 pitch after another and they come at the worst time (i.e., with runners on base).
Yeah, SO frustrating.
Ah - RADIO!!
Mark in Chicago: “Way for Renteria to strike out and keep the rally going!”
That isn’t really fair. Everyone knows Renteria only hits with bases loaded. If Ordonez would have gotten on to start the inning everything would have been fine. $%@!! Ordonez, you messed up Renteria again!
Meanwhile Polanco is about 19 for his last 20, which has resulted in…any?…runs….
Is that actually - STEVE STONE? Awesome!!
Good on yer, Nate. Nice inning.
Agree, Sean. Steve Stone is one of the best color guys around. He was good with Chip Carey on the Cubs and he’s good today.
He has a nasty habit of telling the truth, which apparently some people don’t like.
Cabrera with 2 knocks, hasn’t hit either ball even close to hard.
All right, Miguel! This would be a good game for him to bust loose. Any game, really, But let’s start now.
Here’s what I don’t get about Leyland (I know, I know, try to understand Leyland, therein lies madness…)
OK fine, it’s Monday we’re going to alternate Pudge/Inge (Pinge? Idge?).
After some preliminary calculations, I estimate you can either do that by playing Pudge then Inge, or else Inge then Pudge. (Still with me?)
So I look at today’s game and tomorrow’s game, and I see, wow, Inge is hitting .429 against Contreras. Therefore obviously I use Inge…Monday???
Meanwhile on Tuesday Pudge grounds out mightily against Contreras….
Yes! Jeff!! Way to take 2nd too!
Nice hit by Cabreras! (and yet it reinforces my realization during one of the non-raining Cleveland games–it may be that right now he is a “warning-track power” guy).
That one run is lucky. Miguel was out by a mile
Can’t fault Edgar there. Too bad.
Guillen makes that play, too. Easy.
Disclaimer: the above commentary regarding Pinge/Leyland is a dramatization, and by no means is intended to imply that coach Leyland knows the various players’ batting averages against Contreras.
This is where you’d like Polanco.
Do you think Pudge watches video of himself?
well at least we won’t get shut out (always the optimist)
West Coast Tiger
Not baseball ones.
It is sad to see a Hall of Fame player with the history that Pudge has swing so ineffectively at so many bad pitches. It is like he has forgotten what hitting is. Up to last year he still provided a threat. Nowadays he is an automatic out.
I forget, somebody help me out - is this the inning where Nate gives that run back (and more) or is it next inning?
I can never remember.
Sean C: Oh, that’s why they call him…nevermind, I can’t do it.
Stone says Nate’s upper limit is 90 MPH? True? Wow.
No matter. Big K. Nate. Make Crede pop it up again.
Yee. Watch out with Nate when those fly balls start reaching the warning track.
I dun tole ya.
Woo yeah! Tigers make the OTHER team look stupid. Nice change.
That is really the only redeeming value Pudge has left.
Coleman - I-Rod?
I like that move by Leyland - fake the sac bunt and try the hit and run with Polly on the next pitch.
Didn’t work, but good idea.
Yes! The Sox are sleeping! Ha ha ha ha!
I like that move Polly, single in a run.
A BUNT! WTF? I’m stunned. Good stunned.
Sac bunt with your #3 hitter?
Why not just call Ozzie and ask him to walk Maggs?
I really hope Guillen was trying for a base hit there.
Magglio gets in done here. Money.
Sean: I-Rod, and don’t forget V-Rocket
Fortune is smiling upon us! When fortune’s wheel turned to Polanco’s turn at the plate–there were men on base!! Whoo hoo!
Ay. No worries. Cabrera. Oh yeah. But they’ll walk him.
4-2, thanks to the bullet single by Cabrera.
Very nice.
Miguel - you are off the disappointment list. For good, I hope.
Ugly, Larish. The pitcher just got burned. You take that pitch, always.
One thing Nostraleyland was right about–I don’t think I either have seen so many deep fly outs to RF by RH hitters.
It looks like CF is their weak spot…
I still like the bunt, Mark. What do you say?
This is the inning, Mark. It’s big for Nate. Hopefully in a good way. Amd looking good so far.
I still like the bunt, Mark. What do you say?
Contreras was struggling to get outs, why give him one, especially from Guillen? 8th inning, tie game, different story.
Uh-oh. Long ball Nate again.
The percentages are on your side, Jeff. I still like the bunt.
I prefer to think Guillen was bunting for a hit. Sometimes that can really push a struggling pitcher over the edge (see: World Series, 2006)
Oh yeah - OUT of there, White Sucks.
I could really get used to THIS - Tigers on the radio, Ed Farmer (he has a soft spot for the Tigers, and you can really tell) and Steve Stone.
Pudge, it’s safe. No one on.
But, but…on the radio there’s no Homer Harrelson
I think Pudge enjoys confusing us like this.
Nice hit, Brent. But whose mistake on the running - coach or player?
Fortunately, Coleman, I don’t have a TV. It would be muted if I did.
keep it up boys…this is pretty enjoyable so far
I’m afraid that Clevlen getting caught could come back to haunt.
Boy, you can really see just how much Miguel Cabrera doesn’t care and is only at the ball park tonight to pick up his pay check!
I know you’ve gotta do it, but Robertson still in makes me nervous. Why? You’ll see. starting with that single.
By Decree of the Blogmaster this contest has ended, Detroit is victorious!! (See: “So the First Team to 5 Runs Wins”)
What? Warming up in the bullpen? What a novel strategy.
This is the part where the bullpen let’s in Nate’s runs. Get ready for a heartbreaker.
No intentional walk. I like that.
Let’s hope lightning strikes twice here . . .
Oops. I guess that was kind of intentional. Don’t like it.
Dolsi had better be the more recent one.
Ground ball, freddy. That’s what you DO.
Don’t tell me - does Inge get that DP?
I don’t know, Dolsi has been fine so far, but it just occurred to me his name sounds like a dessert…
First and third, 5-3 Tigers, one out. Ground ball, Freddy. Right side please.
Sean: “Don’t tell me - does Inge get that DP?”
Beats me, I’m still wondering what happened to his 2-for-3 against Contreras.
And clearly Inge would have easily turned a quadruple-play on that one.
Oh - 2 outs. I forgot. Bonus! Freddy gets us out of the jam. He’s already Mayor, let’s make him President. Let him pitch the 8th with a clean slate, so we can see that heat again.
I would like to direct everyone to my first post in this game thread tonight. Here’s a link in case you can’t find it and the exact quote was:
Not tooting my own horn, I just never get things right in predictions and with this years team predicting ANYTHING correctly should be rewarded. Laud me with your praise!
The Tigers need a pad. Jones in sight.
And Polly at 3-1… infield single, broken bat!
“Laud me with your praise!”
If you insist…
Oh Laud almighty, that horn-tootin’ Mike R pulled one out of his…fine mind!
Guillen has hit a HR every single time in his carrer, i mean a single, every time previous AB was a sac bunt. I’m sure of it. 1st and 3rd, none out! Maggs!
That is a mystical statistical knowledge beyond my power of comprehension.
Oh yeah - cheap but effective! Maggs with the infield single, hard-hit I take it. Polanco scores, let’s pad it some more. Miggy is on fire, put it on the board, yyyyyyyes!
“Last Play: M. Ordonez singled to third, P. Polanco scored, C. Guillen to second”
Whoa, I just had an out-of-body experience where I felt what it was like being a fan of a Tiger opponent watching the game…
It’s privileged information, Coleman. Baseball-Reference Platinum Card members only.
Oh well, one less RBI for Miggs.
I think that’s the 3rd time you’ve mentioned “members” fella, let’s not lose focus here.
Miguel did not just strike out. Impossible.
Was that a double steal attempt? If so, dumb call by Leyland in that situation.
3 pitch K for Larish. Party’s over. Hang on, Tigers.
Larish just looks overmatched.
Cue Chris complaining about Miguel Cabrera striking out in that AB.
Lose focus. Coleman? You mean Autofocus? But where was I?
Dolsi still there. Top 8th. Yes.
Here we go.
“Was that a double steal attempt? If so, dumb call by Leyland in that situation.”
That’s why they call him the Magician. 2 on, nobody out? {poof!}
What do you mean, look, there’s 1 on and 2 out!
Ouch, Curtis. Over your head, late break, 2b. No way to treat Dolsi.
Now 1st and 3rd. Stinks.
This is the time of game, if he were pitching, that Denny McClain would employ what he once called the “1-pitch intentional walk”, probably in the ribcage area.
And away we go. We haven’t lost with quite this scenario yet, buckle up.
Bring it now, Freddy.
Oh man. lousy break. Balk. Spikes caught. Icky.
Heat, Freddy!
That is Dolsi. Yeah buddy. Big K. Let him face Thome, that no talent load.
Another opportunity for that 1-pitch walk….
That was a very untalented single by Thome.
Clevlen nails Quentin at home! He is our everyday LF. Who’s gonna be there tomorrow?
Hey I’ll take that.
Nice throw by Sheff– er, Ing– er, Jaque– er, whoever that guy is
Dolsi is making this hard. WP, Thome to 3rd.
Dolsi… gets out of it. Somehow. Barely.
Clevlen’s having a game to remember.
Boy, the strike zone sure grew from the top of the 8th to the bottom of the 8th.
Renteria. K. How long must we suffer between grand slams?
The Tigers can’t hit relievers, now can they?
Pudge, infield single. Bit of luck.
Do they send Pudge?
If I were Dolsi when I were facing Thome I would have called time, and said, hey, excuse me, but this is really bugging me, do you pronounce your name like Toam, or is it To-MAY or is it THoam, or is it Tho-MAY, or….
He would have struck out after that I bet.
They’re just trying to make it interesting for Jones in the ninth.
I say yes.
First correct call by me in 647 attempts.
“Last Play: I. Rodriguez singled to shortstop”
Holy Milt Cuyler, the Tigers are playing…themselves!
Granderson, man on 2nd, 2 outs…. 2-1 count. I feel a single coming on.
Granderson singles into a flyout to LF. Tough break.
I love TJ Rollercoaster time!! We haven’t had nearly enough rides this season.
“He would have struck out after that I bet.”
Ha.
Inge at 3B and I feel better. Todd Jones in the 9th. I’m not worried. Should I be?
Whoa, Jonesy is perfect in save situations, so why shave the ’stache?
I blame Pudge. I mean, would it have killed him to steal 3rd and home also? Pure laziness.
A leadoff walk from Jones is… big trouble, people.
No mustache?
DP. Yeah, classic Jones. I’ve never had a bad thing to say about the guy, unlike you all.
Big K here, Todd. I know it.
That single was wrong. Not in the script.
Granderson catches the final out in CF, and it’s a wrap.
Wow. An unwasted evening, courtesy of the Tigers.
Tig’s win.
You’re welcome for my prediction that was perfect save for the weird balk from Dolsi.
I miss Dave BW and his updates. Mine suck.
Jones himself admits that what he does is not pretty, but he seems to get it done. But he sure makes me nervous when doing it.
Jones is still perfect, but he’s living more dangerously due to his climbing walk rate. He’s up to almost 4.3/9 innings, in 2005-06 he was 1.6-1.7 (that rate doubled last year). And he’s got 1 HR per 8 innings, as opposed to 1 per 15-20 the previous two years. Thankfully it’s a 1-year deal.
Sean in Ill:
Make that 1 in 648. But hey, nobody is perfect.
Observations on tonights game:
1. Robertson is Robertson
2. Rollercoaster is Rollercoaster
3. Leyland is Leyland
4. Dolsi is not Papelbon
Good pitching, good hitting, hustle and good D. Great team win.
Steve Stone: This game was not particularly well-managed (Ozzie). Wow. Do any Detroit guys ever say that about Leyland?
“Observations on tonights game:’
All spot-on, Vince.
Good performance tonight — except for the play of that worthless scrub Cabrera, I mean.
I like the double steal call… with someone else up. Not Cabrera. Surprising, maybe. Not surprising enough. Why mess with the hot guy at the plate?
Ooh - now I get to listen to White Sox fans calling in. I think I’ll turn the radio off now.
Did Stoney have an operation of some sort? Different mic, better engineer? Voice coach? His voice is much less flat and nasal. Just thought you’d like to know.
If Cabrera was really “clutch”, he would have willed Guillen’s steal through comraderie, hustle, and a positive attitude.
Hey, where have you been, Dave BW? At the game, by chance?