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PREGAME: So the Tigers are playing good. We’ve seen this a couple times before where they swept a team, only to slide backwards. What’s different this time is that the Tigers aren’t playing the Twins immediately following said sweep.
The Tigers welcome in the Dodgers and Derek Lowe tonight. The Tigers as a group have pretty limited experience against Lowe, but it hasn’t been good. Lowe has only allowed 6 runs in the 29 innings spanning his last 4 starts. He’s struck out 17 and walked 7 over that time with only 2 homers allowed.
Taking the mound for Detroit is Armando Galarraga. Galarraga defeated the Indians his last time out.
It looks like we’ll have some weather tonight so hopefully they can get this one in amidst the storms.
LAD @ DET, Friday, June 13, 2008 Game Preview - Baseball-Reference.com
POSTGAME: Hey all, it’s a 4 game winning streak. Your 2008 Detroit Tigers first shut out of the year came via Armando Galarraga and Freddy Dolsi. Just like Dave Dombrowski drew it up I’m sure.
- Galarraga was awesome. Yes, I was the dumb blogger that said he’s the guy that had to come out of the rotation. Just ignore me. The guy has to be in the mix for AL Rookie of the Year.
- And how ’bout that defense behind him? Marcus Thames makes a sweet play at the fence. And Carlos Guillen was pickin’ it at third base all night.
- After the Tigers had hit several balls hard, but right at Juan Pierre I mentioned to my buddy Russ that they just need to get one over everyone’s head. Thames obliged with a missile in to the visitors bullpen.
- Mike Hollimon is still looking for his first hit, but he got that first RBI out of the way with a sac fly.
- On that weird first inning play with Carlos Guillen, it was actually pretty heads up running. The Dodgers just went unconventional. If Maggs beats out that chopper, and it was going to be close, Guillen would have been safe at home. He got a great jump running. But who expects the opposition to come home with 2 outs.
- As for the emptying of benches and who the Tigers will drill tomorrow? I don’t see it happening. Not with a rookie on the mound making his debut. Maggs offered up his own payback with a 2 run homer.
- And I couldn’t let the postgame go by without mentioning Sexy Freddy Solid pitched 2 perfect innings earning a save.
Happy times at the ballpark tonight. If Detroit can get 1 of the next 2 I think you have to call it a successful homestand.
{ 222 comments… read them below or add one }
Who was the last ‘hometown guy’ to pitch against the Tigers? Smoltz faced them in Atlanta, and I think got beat by Verlander. Anyone remember anything at home?
I am a tad bit worried about Grilli coming back, but first I need to worry about Lowe.
Dave: Here’s a list of MLB pitchers born in Michigan. I was too lazy to look up to see who might have been the last one to pitch at CoPa, although one of my all time favorite names is on there (Assenmacher, Paul…hehe)
http://www.baseball-almanac.co.....c=Michigan
“Rasty Wright, Birmingham, 1890″
Ah, what a thriving metropolis late-19th century Birmingham must have been…
Sitting upstairs at Chelis. Still. Raining.
How about now? Still raining?
yeppers. Tarp is out.
UPDATE: Rain delay.
Dave T, I was at that game in Atlanta you speak of last year…that was Kenny’s first game back from injury and they both pitched great but the Tigers got to Smoltz in the 5th and won. Verlander pitched the next day and won too. They were on fire at that time, they haven’t been as good since.
I was just thinking of that game Chris. They ripped 5 or 6 hits off of Smoltz in a row and ended up with a 5 run inning or something. Ahh, the good ol’ days.
Anyone have any idea as to a length for the delay?
From the look at the radar, It is clearing and clear to the SW
I have some friends over, Dodger fans at that. I’ll keep the good Beer for us.
Tarp is off the infield. Estimated start of 810.
CLE is in a delay now, so maybe it is moving away from Comerica.
By the way, the Smoltz game referred to, I distinctly remember the post-game interview with Smoltz after the Tigers rocked him for five runs in the 5th, and he insisted he was throwing his “best stuff” all year, and the Tigers were just “that good.”
To reiterate Kevin in Austin, ahh the good ol’ days.
hey Jim nice line up could you find any more guys besides Sheff hitting under .241
Alright I got the DVR working. It has worked the last 3 games. I’m going out tonight. I will be back later to check on the game. Go Tigers!!!
Why does Polanco get a day off? He’s hot-hot-hot!
Like me, Marcus must not like the appearance of the bullpen. He almost demolished that wall.
Thames. Myyyy boy. It looked to me like he robbed a homer there. It would have been real close.
Okay, that was a bizarre play. First, why not throw out Maggs at first and be done with it? Then a missed tag . . . nice move by Guillen.
EDIT: Okay, the tag was made. But still, get the obvious out at first in a force situation and be done with it.
EDIT 2: I must be missing something, I can’t see Maggs beating out a slow roller barring a bobble by the 3B.
catcher sets up outside calls for outside fastball…Lowe jams Cabrerra….. so much for aiming
I think he did bobble that ball, Jeff. Or at least had a hard time getting it out of his glove. I don’t really understand why Guillen tried for home though. I was hoping we could bank off of that missed call, but it looks like justice has prevailed. Stupid Justice.
what happened to the strike zone that half..he squeeezed Galarrara especially after calling every just outside pitch Lowe threw a strike
Guillen made an Inge!!
Pop up foul ball that basically reaches the seats along the first base line. Guess who gets that ball. I’ll give you one hint: it wasn’t Cabrera.
Why are both Polanco and Renteria sitting down tonight? This guy is a tough pitcher to hit, obviously, and we need all the veteran batters we can get. I understand resting one but not both at the same time. We have 3 rookies in there who are pretty much nothing to count on offensively.
Hey, TV watching, high-speed Internet, fast typing people - how about throwing some play by play out for the poor dial-up crowd (of one?). It’s agony here, man.
No score after 3.5.Ordonez up
2-1 on Mags Sean….grounds out easily to short
No one is making much contact against this guy.
They still have dial up?
Thanks, Sky. I don’t know why Renteria is out. I think he’s got good career numbers against Lowe. An ordinary day of rest, I guess. Maybe they want him back there for when Bonine starts.
Cabrera strikes out on a really bad pitch that fooled him. Seems to be a problem seeing Lowe’s pitches for everyone……..Also, Blue seems to be giving him a more generous zone than he is for Gallaraga..no score after 4
David G - Only I have dial up. Well, me and Rasty Wright. When we die, it’s all over.
When will the Larish era start? Or does it end before it begins…maybe he doesn’t know that when (if) Sheff is healthy then Larish is the odd man out. Get hot soon.
I’ve watching the strike zone on ESPN Gamecast and it looks generous to Lowe on low, especially inside pitches.
I don’t like this. Good pitchers the last couple days, sure, but if they can put 5 runs on Smoltz with his best stuff. The team’s not THAT different. Minus Shef, plus Cabrera.
Neal, I think the Age Of Larish began in Oakland and ended against Cleveland.
I hate these days where it looks like we are swinging just to swing…lots of lazy balls hit..
scuse me that wasn’t that lazy…Thames again
Am I being a total homer here or does it seem like Galarraga might actually be a pretty good pitcher, like a middle of the rotation guy?
I keep waiting for him to have a bad outing, and it really hasn’t happened yet. He’s been consistently good this season. I’m sure its because there isn’t much of a book on the guy yet, but he’s got good stuff. I hope so, because I picked him up on my fantasy team
MARCUS!!!!!!!!!!!
THAMES!!!!! 8th of the year GO Marcus GO!!!
That should make Thames the regular LF for at least another game.
Marcus is in my lineup against sinkerball RHP from now on. He’s my everyday LF. Anyone on base for Country Strong?
Chris I agree(and did the same in my league, in picking him up) It just seems that Galarraga is grinding and making sure the Tigers know that he can be and is that good. I predict that he should be Tigers #4 next year with Willis/Miner as your number 5 if the Tigers dont go the FA route to round out the rotation. Galarraga is doing very nicely and hes just been outstanding. Hes every bit as good as Bondo will be the rest of the year I believe.
But the Playoffs(if we make it) is another story not to sure there….
Some hard hits this inning.maybe they are starting to see the ball..but Granderson is not looking good these days. Way too many strikeouts and he is not hitting the ball decisively like he did. He takes too many called strikes and with 2 strikes he is always in trouble. Shut me up….He just hit a double down left field line!
Vince, you’ve gotta figure Thames sits tomorrow. He’s 31, you know.
We really need a ball to get hit here to score. This has been a problem too often.
Rookie up in first game of career
GOOD JOB KID…….Sac fly makes it 2-0
Come on Holliman show us that you are ready to step up to the big leagues. Not what I was expecting but a sac fly is a sac fly. You still have a lot to prove but I can see you as our starting SS next year. Nice Job!!
Now Guillen has a chance to add one more. (this is all for Sean —said he has no idea what is happening)
2-0 after 5
hey Holliman that is better than your first major league hit because none of the /tigers can do what you just did…Sac RBI
Lowe hasn’t walked anybody, but is at 86 pitches now. They are making him work tonight.
Does anyone have a way of calculating how many games we would have won with Thames in line-up instead of Shef? LOL…I can not see how they can go back to the way it was.
Sky, the only reason you can’t see is because you’re not looking hard enough.
Thanks for that Steve in Kzoo….he really has been money so far, each time out.
I appreciate it, Sky. Kinda thin here tonight, harder to pick up just from comments what’s going on.
Great. Just what we need. Who’s up next?
Leyland says: “Boy, I can’t imagine what it is like to run around the bases after a HR - it must be really tiring. I better sit Marcus tomorrow.”
Ouch. Galarraga hit on the ankle by a liner, looks to be in pain. Hopefully he’s just out of this game and no more games after this . . . he’s gonna give it a go. The risk here is if he favors a leg and hurts his arm or a knee.
Please be fine, Gallaragga….
Thames is the funk doctor. Greaaaatt. Pierre may have just knocked Armando out of the game by somehow sitting on the 50 mph looping breaking ball. How did he know!?
Phew. I was worried it was flippin’ broken.
Ouch on that liner. God I hope Galarraga can stay in. But if not then he better be ok for the rest of the season. Get that ankle treated. Thank god hes still in there. Come on Galarraga dont make me disappointing in you after such high praises. COME ON TIGERS!!!!
PS to Chris I agree totally a very nice and surprising easy pick up for us in the off season. Who did we trade to get him again???
Sky, I do own a Sheffield vs. Thames Calculator, and the answer is 12. The Tigers would be 41-25 now.
Sean, can I get one of those calculators at Sears??
Oh no. Don’t let Armando be hurt. That would suck worse than losing Bonderman.
Thames is damn near the team leader in home runs with a 4th of the plate appearences. What does he have to do, Jimmy? Take away home runs from the other team? Oh yeah, he did that. Snap, Jimmy. Snap.
Gallaraga stood up like Clark Kent and blew two more away. Bullets bounce off!
With the exception of “Walks” Willis blowup game, what is the run of quality starts now, anybody know off hand?
I’m glad you guys filled us in on Armando, good thing he’s okay. ESPN Gamecast showed that as infield hit between home and third but next to the seats in foul territority. Makes sense now.
Sheffield vs. Thames? Sheff has created 15.5 runs in 161 plate appearances while using 107 outs. Thames has created 16.7 runs in 113 plate appearances while using 78 outs. If he had all of Sheff’s outs he’d have created 22.9 runs, or about 7.4 more runs than Sheff had. That’s a bit less than a win. 2 wins over a full season.
Now of course they were in the lineup together on several occasions, so that’s oversimplifying, but it’s in that ballpark. While Sheffield has struggled, because of his walks he’s not been as damaging as some others. He’s actually slightly more productive than Pudge, for instance, as far as runs created per game.
great pitching on both those last two hitters…..
Sorry, Neal. I got the last one before Jimmy bought the company that makes it. He destroyed the inventory and deleted all patent documents.
Sean,
Cabrera with a one out double right after Maggs hit a ball to the track that everyone thought was gone. Mario was elevating his voice and everything.
Jeff, don’t bring me down with facts now. We get enough of that from Billfer.
Larish advances runner to 3rd. 2 outs with the funk doctor at bat.
Jeff:
Then, that’s the answer. When Shef comes back, Pudge is out and Shef is our new Catcher.
What, everyone else is learning a new position!
I think the league has figured out how to get Larish out,,,you have to pitch the ball to him…
The funk doctor? Does that mean his HRs are “Funk Blasts?” I thought only Mariners hit Funk Blasts.
The Doctor is IN!!!
Ok, that was lame.
Thanks, Ken. Getting to be a pattern, this long out by Maggs and extra base hit from Gil thing. I like it. Could be better, but I like it.
there was funk non RBI
The funk doctor put so much funk on that ball that it squibbed off the first baseman’s glove to score the run.
Oops, I just have Gamecast. All I saw was the “in play, runs scored” message and got too excited. Either way, it’s a run scored.
Rookie mistake
That wasn’t lame, Joel. Anything that helps to perpetuate the doctor’s popularity is totally awesome.
I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo relieved that Miner is available if needed. Aren’t you all?
Was it a funk blast to 1B? I’m still proud of Marcus. 3-0? Or are we up to 4-0 yet?
Armando seems to be able to throw strikes as needed. Has gone 2-0 on several then come back to get them.
Every time I think Galarraga is wearing down and falling behind, he starts throwing strikes. Given the Lakers’ problems, maybe Armando can replace Phil Jackson as the new Zen Master.
Steve in Kzoo….I THINK we got him from Texas. Not sure if it was a trade or if he was a free agent. I looked on the Detroit Tigers Weblog to see, but Bilfer doesn’t even have the Medium Cat on the organizational tree page. Way to go Bilfer (j/k).
Sean C,
Just so you know, I’m in no way trying to replace the “Country Strong” nickname that you like to use for Thames. I’m just trying to trump it. Country Strong reminds me too much of Big Country Bryant Reeves from the expansion Memphis Grizzlies. That guy was a dbag.
LOVE IT!…..3up 3down in 7th..You still folowing this Sean in C?
7 innings 100 pitches… does Armando pitch the 8th, or does Lucky Strikes play with fire?
It’s 30, by the way , Sean, not 4-0
It’s 3-0, Sean, and Armando just went 1-2-3 in the seventh.
This is where Brandon just might sock one
Even money on a HR or a check-swing K
Tiger preseason Media guide
Gallaraga Pitched in Okl AA last year in the Texas league until Sep call up date by Texas Rangers
was traded to Detroit For Micheal Hernandez in Feb 08
I’m here SKy, and thanks. Did AG sit ‘em down again?
Ken, I know you’re a fan of the Country Doctor and his brand of strong funky medicine just like I am, so maybe we can compromise.
or not
Raburn doubles to left Sean.
Thank you Judpma. I was far too lazy to look it up.
Good (Raburn 2B). He’s got some work to do to get out of our doghouse.
Sean, I like the compromise idea but can we go with Country Funk, M.D.?
Well, Sean..Grandy struck out again and Hollimon looked bad, too. As I said before, I do not really understand resting both Polanco and Renteria the same day. We now have 4 rookies in this line-up.
Raybun might be feeling the “Am I next to Toledo syndrome” and maybe he is starting to actually hit..at least he is peeking out of the dog house but definately still inside
Dolsi in the 8th
Can he throw strikes to nite?
for some reason I don’t feel comfortable yet. Mow’em down and erase that, Freddy.
TAKE HIM OUT NOW!!!!
Drives me crazy to see him throw 3 balls in a row in a relief job!
Country Funk, MD it is, Ken. Country Funk is actually pretty damn cool. I foresee a new genre of music by this name - just wait. There WAS country punk, after all.
Sky, looking at the rest of the Tigers lineup, I have no problem with 4 rookies. Some teams would kill just to have Guillen-Ordonez-Cabrera and fill the rest of their lineup with garbage.
If Dolsi gets sent down then I gotta think that Bautista will be on a short leash. Cause although they are now talking about it being “unfair” to keep sending Dolsi out in these situations it also builds confidence bordering on cockiness, which is not a bad thing for a setup guy.
All right….he got them 3 up 3 down……..Well done, Freddy.
At this point I would take Freddy over Bautista, wouldn’t y’alls?
Sean just so that “garbage” does good enough to keep Shef out of there I am fine with them…at least they play hard..
I live down the road from the Angels and Dodgers. Going to see the Tigers in San Diego next week I think. The Dodger announcers are really hurting, but they are not obnoxious like Harrleson.
Dolsi can be a rocky ride. Pretty sure he’s headed down Toledo way. Not sure I want that, but maybe I will after this inning.
judpma - Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying the Tiger rookies are garbage.
Guillen must be counting the days tiil the Break.
HAHA, LOOK AT CABRERA READY TO ROLL!!!
Dolsi gets it done. I’ve been thinking Bautista is the odd man out. He’s still too wild.
I knew that ..my point was the Sheff thing
Miggy!!!
Miggy and Pudge would have crushed that guy.
No doubt, Migs has to be top 5 in MLB in guys you want on your side in a brawl.
Miggy has now had his best two moments as a Tiger in successive nights.
Take that, bigmouth
I can’t believe he drills Guillen then pops off at Guillen…how dumb is this guy
haha! Oh my goodness. Miggy’s stare at Wade nearly had me in tears. He was ready to do the dirty work for his Maracay buddy.
And. Magglio!
Miggy’s gonna get drilled, for sure.
EDIT: Then again, maybe not.
Did u see that Sean….Maggs hits a 2 run blast to avenge Guillen getting hit!!!! 5-0
That’s just flat out awesome. Gotta love it.
Yeah, Sean. The bullpens emptied and everything after Guillen got hit. Miggy had the priceless rumble face.
how frickkkkin cool was that.
Awesome! You guys have got to give me some detail later on all this stuff here (Gullen HBP, etc.)
HAHA!!!! That was so great!!!!
I’ve had enough of Larish and his monstrous hacks. Send him down.
David G - good list. Here are my top 5 off the top of my head (in no particular order)
Big Papi
Jim Thome (he just looks like he’s old man strong, kinda like your dad always can beat you up, regardless of size or age)
Milton Bradley (he’ll do whatever it takes to win)
Josh Hamilton (dude is just sick)
Adam Dunn
Honorable mention - Ryan Howard, but he looks like a sweet guy.
the only thing about the HR that would have been sweeter would be to stare that loudmouth pitcher down all the way around the bases….Mags has too much class for that …I would have done that but I can’t hit a home run…some things never work out
No, Sky, I didn’t see. No TV. If you guys describe, I get to see it in my mind’s eye.
Is this going to be our first pitching shutout?
Dolsi is still not finding strike zone well enough
Larish probably goes down when the Tigs hit the left coast - no use for a DH then.
I’ve got a real good feeling about this Tigers team all of a sudden. I’m climbing back up the fence from my spot just within the pessimist compound.
But he is getting the outs
Was thinking the same thing about a stare down…downside is that it insures the next games in the series are a bloodbath when they needn’t be…and in fairness guillen should have walked his ass to first
This could be the Tigers’ first shut out FYI
Honestly, Kevin, I think I take Miggs over any of them.
Jeff Kent has been known to hit 5-run homers in his day…Careful, Freddy.
Finally a shutout - last team to get one this year.
Well, it has been nice for 4 days now. It should last as we play this lowly NL. Let us hope.the real challenge is when we are back in the division.
Six up, six down for the save…
that is new…
that is sexy…
Freddy Solid is the New Sexy!
You know Sean C, if you go to MLB.com, it will detect that you are on dial-up, and you can follow the game using a simplified gamecast specifically for slow download speeds.
All 6 of them would wipe the floor with me
I am wonding if Dolsi pitching the 9th like that indicates that Rodney might be coming up tomorrow and Dolsi down.
Larish would be going down one way or t’other when Sheffield gets back. He’s a trade anyway, never going to play for the Tigers.
Come on Dolsi.
nice win…keep it going ….best thing was they didn’t score 10 so there might be some in the works for tomorrow…and Gallaraga was on tonight…the drop slider splitter what ever it was was wicked …