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PREGAME: Yet another Fox Saturday game, and yet another afternoon spent with Eric Karros. The Tigers managed to win last Saturday on national-ish TV (only 12% of the nation gets this one), so hopefully that “bright spotlights” thing is in the past.
Did you know the Tigers have played .500 ball for the last 60 games? I’m just sayin’
Today it will be Brad Penny and the major league debut of Eddie Bonine. Penny’s fastball has been getting hit with regularity this year. And according to Rod Allen the Tigers are a fastball hitting team so that could bode well.
One guy who hopes for the good boding is Mr. Bonine. Bonine is a control pitcher with only 24 walks all of last year and 14 so far this year. It sounds like he is quite the prankster. He also may be the first minor league Rule 5 pick the Tigers have had make the big league roster.
LAD @ DET, Saturday, June 14, 2008 Game Preview - Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 3:55
POSTGAME: The Tigers have assured themselves of a at least a 7-3 homestand which is definitely something to be happy about. If they manage to win tomorrow and pick up back to back sweeps it would have to be deemed a stunning success. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, the Tigers did play a game today.
- Eddie Bonine got hit around, but not hit hard for the most part. Russell Martin had a blast to center and Andre Eithier tagged his homer, but outside of another single or two the hits were bleeders and bloops. And he didn’t walk anybody which is fun for everyone. Definitely worth another look.
- The defense wasn’t quite as good as it’s been. Pudge airmailed a throw to second and Cabrera and Bonine both botched routine grounders. But everything seemed to be a step away. I’m not saying guys were slow or out of position, I think it was just the way things went down. Maggs and Marcus both layed out for balls and came up empty and Renteria couldn’t quite convert an up the middle ball leading to a run.
- The offense was pretty darn good. Marcus Thames has hit 3 homers on this homestand that have put the team ahead or tied the score. Miguel Cabrera is finding his groove. Even slumping players like Granderson and Pudge and Larish managed multiple hits.
- The one guy that didn’t hit was Carlos Guillen. You can’t help but wonder if it is the effects of his injury Friday night.
- Three times in this series the Tigers have had a runner hung up between 3rd and home and only once have the Dodgers executed. That’s some good luck for the Tigers.
- The White Sox just lost. That’s good. And the Indians just went down 5 runs to the Padres in the top of the 10th. That’s good too. So the Tigers at least gained some ground today.
{ 295 comments… read them below or add one }
Dodgers. Whatever. I scoff at the Dodgers derisively! Derisively!
I wish you hadn’t quoted that, because I’m not sure it’s true. I guess it’s time to check our minor league rule 5ers.
Joe Beimel is the most boring speaker alive
Bonine k’s Pierre, the first hitter he’s faced in MLB
Bonine is wearing stirrups. Awesome.
Bad error for Cabrera
Eddie “Strikes” Bonine turns a DP to end the inning, allowing Cabrera to feel slightly less stupid
Yeah, running out of time while putting up a blog post and forgetting to go back and fact check has it’s problems. Buddy Groom and Jose Macias were also minor league rule 5 picks.
Will Larish ever get to play 1B before he is sent down, or does he just get to sit between at-bats and worry about his hitting?
I really want Miggy to get decent at 1st but he is still a defensive work in progress. Nice job by Bonine not letting that one rattling him.
The Dodgers offense is looking a lot like the bad ‘08 Tigers right now.
Is this blacked out on mlb tv? I know it is on extra innings…I want to watch!
Keep the updates coming, Dave BW. You rock.
Bonine looks to be a groundball-type pitcher (1.75 GO/AO). That could be good or bad depending on who the ball is hit to. Speaking of “Bad”, that isn’t Penny’s nickname, I suppose.
Loney has a broken bat double. Also, silly looking sunglasses.
Apparently, Russell Martin is a “glittering diamond” in the Dodgers system. Indeed, his fielder’s choice absolutely sparkled like the sun.
LA scores on a JUST BARELY single to short. Comerica is booing Renteria’s effort, but there wasn’t really anything he could do better.
Now Pudge throws a CS attempt to center field for some reason, sending Kemp to third.
man, broken bat double and an infield single…tough break for eddie b
From what I can tell, the Tigers’ infield is trying to teach Bonine that pitching to contact is not the Tiger way
Yeah. Jeezareenoo.
Eric Karros is awful.
First he attributes getting your bat broken and a lucky double as a nice piece of hitting, as if it was by design.
Then when Russell Martin hits a weak ground ball to second and Kemp gets an actual hit, he wants to credit a portion of the RBI to Martin for making an out.
I was thinking the crowd was booing the call by the ump, not the effort by Renteria. Really nothing more he could have done on that ball.
Cabrera is the only one who did anything wrong in the infield.
Did Karros just say that the benefit of Cabrera’s walk off HR was that it “ingratiated him to the city” of Detroit?
Polanco’s lollygagging over behind 2nd to back up that wild throw from Pudge didn’t cost them a run….this time.
omg Penny carrying a no-hitter into the third
and yeah, T, they were probably booing the ump. I don’t know why I thought they were directing their ire toward Renteria.
Was he lolly gagging? Remember, he doesn’t break until the throw is coming down anyways because he’s not supposed to vacate his position.
Larrish has just been awful.
TSmith — he’s actually performed remarkably, considering the fact that his helmet is covering his eyes.
Billfer - yes, I know he has to wait, but once he broke….lollygagging maybe a bit harsh, I couldn’t find the right word that’s haflway between lollygagging and hustling, but he wasn’t hustling, if he was hustling, he’d have made that play and the running would have had to stay at 2B.
I’m simply flabbergasted that a team is playing Angel Berroa as a starter in 2008. I mean, you’d think they would at least have a pitcher that played SS in high school or something.
hustlegagging? Lustling? I’m sorry, these ideas are terrible.
I’m sorry, Pudge needs to bunt here.
DOUBLE STEAL TIME! Oh wait, they’re both slow as heck.
PUDGE BUNT TIME! Oh wait, he can’t bunt.
PUDGE WALK TIME! Oh wait, he doesn’t do that.
PUDGE HIT TIME! ” ”
Oh crap.
You want a bunt, he’ll give you a bunt!
Pollygagging.
Nice, Sean. That should have been obvious. Could someone get me some coffee?
Granderson singles… TIE GAME
He singles THE OTHER WAY. OMG.
We need more bunts! All the bunts in the world!
Uh, bunting? Why?
That’s why.
Also applies to (rare) Polanco failures in clutch situations.
Hint for the slow: Choke, gag.
Do we lead MLB in GIDP?
hustlegagging…that’s good!
Bunts and burn ‘er! (”Her” being Penny.)
Adam:
If it stay’s fair, it’s 2-1 right now. I’m okay with it. It’s certainly better than a GDP
NOoOOOOOOoooOOOOooooOOOoo!!! Sorry, I was ululating.
Um. Uh oh.
Why did Karros just say Thames was an inexperienced fielder? Oh right, he’s an idiot.
Remarkably, Neal, we’re only 11th in GDP
How many lucky doubles are the Dodgers going to get today? Sheesh.
Darn. We may have to score more than four today.
Don’t worry, we shall bunt our way to victory!
4-1 Dodgers.
Tigers are 11th in the majors in double plays.
Well, this should stop the one run strategies. Though I didn’t mind either of those bunts.
Looks like the Dodgers are just waiting on everything, and just putting the bat on it. It looks like they know Bonine can’t throw anything by them, so just wait on it. If he can’t fool these guys, we need to look at someone else.
I have a feeling the Tigers are going to have to score about 8 runs to win, with this kid pitching.
Need to answer back, this inning.
Guillen, leading off, just made a bunt attempt.
Is Leyland going to play for the 3 run bunt??
Eddie Bonine always wins. You’ll see.
Adam, aka Eddie Bonine’s Mom
Magglio with a single to center, followed with a Cabrera HR! 4-3 Dodgers
Gil heats up. Chris, are you out there??
God I love Miggy.
If the Tigers can’t score more than 1 off Penny, we’re back to square one.
Derek Lowe must have really messed with their timing last night.
Ding one, Marco.
I’ll roll with the pessimism, then. Seems to be helping.
Marcus, Marcus, Marcus
Okay, no more bunts. Let’s get back to Earl Weaver ball.
Marcus says to Gil, “I can follow a single with a home run too.”
THAMES HR!!!!!!!!!!!! 5-4 Tigers
Can we credit the runs to Guillen’s eight-pitch at-bat? Haha. He should get some RBIs for this.
Funny. I was about to type:
Larrish has just been awful.
And billfer “duplicate commented” me.
Of course it’s like Ground-Hog day when Larrish comes to the plate… so not so sure how to get around the duplicate comments
I CALLED IT!!!!
nice adam - with two strikes no less!
Maybe Leyland forcing them to bunt just pissed them off
i may not be a chick, but i do dig the long ball
Hey, I got a novel idea. How about making Marcus Thames our everyday LFer?
That’s right, Jeff. Welcome to AL station-to-station baseball, Dodgers!
TSmith, just have to look at the Thesaurus for bigger words than awful
Forget the pessimism, My heart is too full of love for Marcus Thames.
Any more BP from Brad Penny?
Brad “Batting Practice” Penny.
Remind me, who is our speedster, Pudge or Granderson?
A “looper into left field” that ends up as a triple. Some great announcing here . . .
Brad Penny has completely fallen part. Granderson drives in Rodriguez with a triple. 6-4 Tigers
Oh, great, he triples after I say that. Granderson, I apologize.
YES!!!! I LOVE THIS TEAM AGAIN!
Oh my. The Detroit Tigers appear to be back.
Penny out, Scott Proctor in.
Curtis! Triple! That was just as exciting as a homer. Pudge scores from second after Martin shows him he can throw a caught-stealing attempt into center-field as well.
lol @ looper into left field
not every team can count on the line drive broken bat double
Boy, it sure looked to me that Renteria was picked off first earlier this inning. What a difference that would have been. Now look at the score!
Back to the earlier comments about Guillen bunting, I have no problem with that. The third baseman was probably playing back, and if you have a chance at a hit you take it. Bunting for a hit is very different than giving up an out.
just got here….who are these guys????????
I have been quietly enjoying this streak the last couple days. This is more like it. I am not getting the game on Fox today so I can only listen. Grandy with th triple, a 2 HR inning…. Yeah.
We don’t want that NL garbage around here, Billfer
Stockton was the same guy who thought Matt Joyce’s homer a couple weeks ago was a routine fly ball to right field.
Hey, we got a cheapy also.
And Karros - when Thames dove it was inexperience, but when Either does it it’s the right play?
I love the way Polanco grits his teeth while swinging the bat or running the bases. You’d think he has trouble with TMJ though.
And he Pollygags one into right field and Pollygags all the way to third!
This inning has just become silly. Polly hits a triple to make it 7-4
Marcus “Funk Doctor” Thames has been promoted from Ken’s #2 to #1. Granderson has to be hitting at least .275 to reclaim his spot. That triple will help. Let’s knock him in baby to pad this lead. Just did! 7-4 Tigs!!! I
I think you’re right, Tbone. Renteria looked like he was picked off Pollygagging with his lead. Fox never gave us a good replay of it though. Oh well.
And Guillen makes the first and last outs of the inning. How’s that gotta feel?
watching these balls falling in remind me of what every one has been doing TO the Tigers all year
Cautionary tale: It’s been several games since the bullpen (not just Jones) was really tested, and that last one was shaky.
Two homers in an inning, one of them being Gil and I’m blacked out???
I should have mentioned this last night, but I was thinking about the way Cabrera has been hitting the outside pitch to the opposite field lately, and I thought, once they come inside to him, he’ll react and drive it to left.
There’s really only been one well hit ball off of Bonine. And the guy is throwing strikes. I’ve been very satisfied with his outing.
Karros is stealing your material, billfer
Carolyn:
Try the Fox spanish station (if you get that with your cable package). They’re playing the game in my area on the Fox Sports en Espanol, and I just mute it and listen to Dan and Jim from the Internet.
Adam is the leader in the clubhouse for comment of the day
62 pitches, 45 strikes. Not bad.
is Kenny the only Tiger pitcher that can actually field and throw??????????????
Great, here comes Loney again with two guys on.
Yes, we are playing ourselves
YAY HE GIDPS TOO!
DP the Tigers favorite offensive weapon works for them!!!!!!!
Bonine gets out of a jam with an inning ending DP. Still 7-4
We need one more to fulfill T Smith’s 8.
Thanks, Dave.
7 runs and merely one Thames HR is not enough to satisfy my soul. I demand total destruction.
One more Cabs home run now plz.
I think Cabrera must be in line for possible AL player of the week.
Man that Larish kid looks good!
Okay, we’re starting to get some major breaks here. Nothing to complain about though, the Tigers weren’t getting the breaks earlier this year.
Thanks, T Smith. I’ll check it out.
Larish! Really? Edgah! Really?
“I think Cabrera must be in line for possible AL player of the week.”
Overlooking his defensive play.
Can someone explain to me why we were running on contact twice?
Well… there’s the 8 runs we need.
A few more would be nice, though.
hey Lamont you got any clue as to what the h*ll is going on
That’s why having the best hitting Catcher can have it’s drawbacks.
is Russell Martin against us or with us??? nice effort
Sooo…what happened? Gameday crapped out. Someone run into the third out at home with Thames on deck?
What exactly was Pudge swinging at??
Pudge killed 27 worms with that drive.. we will his rare RBI
WHAT IS HAPPENING PEOPLE?! TELL ME, SO THAT I CAN BECOME ALL-KNOWING LIKE YOU!
It looks like the Dodgers looked at the Tigers early season tapes and thought it was training video.
The Dodgers are playing give away…3 so far this inning
Hey, there’s Cory Wade warming up. This could be fun.
I always go to ESPN gamecast when MLB gameday craps out, which has been often.
successive runners on third …error Ss throw home….next error catcher catch at home…next passed ball Tigers rally for 3
Dave BW, where are you when we need you?
ESPN gamecast is usually pretty good even with a 2/3 screen MBL game on…I like to have both on same time
Okay, time to thank Eddie for a fine performance and turn it over to someone else.
They are just lighting up Bonine, they have to get him out of there, now.
I apologize, Sean. 10-6 Detroit. Bonine just gave up an HR to Andre Ethier, and it looks like he’s done
Weird. All the gamecasts/gamedays have Thames grounding into a fielder’s choice, and Larish being out at home. Only Larish scores on the passed ball. So WTF?
AH. It has been changed to Renteria being out at third. HOW? LARISH WAS ON THIRD!
good job Eddie next time don’t talk to Hernandez between innings and you will last longer….we will take it ….
Fossum time!
Adam ….Martin missed the ball on Larish play at home run scored
I somehow get the feeling we’re gonna need every one of those 10 runs.
Adam….Lamont screwed up on consecutive batters sent the runner home they would have both been out by 20 feet but Larish stopped and went back to third and Renertia rounded second aand also went to third…they tagged them both …Renteria out
Dodgers chipping away. 10-7 Detroit.
Fossum k’d DeWitt on a sloooooow breaking pitch. End of inning.
Thanks again, Dave (and judpma).
You (other) high-speed guys have no idea how spooky it gets here in the wilderness, not knowing. The waiting, the wondering, the agony. Have a heart. Put SOMETHING in context once in a while.
(tongue-in-cheek)
CRAP. I think the Gameday guy was in the can for like twenty.
More runs please.
That looked like a contact play in both instances and I doubt that’s Lamont’s call. There’s plenty to blame Lamont for as far as sending runners, but I suspect that was “go on contact” and thus Leyland’s call.
Thanks for all the updates.
RESPONSE RUN TIME!
Oh God. Why Fossum? Or is it Fossum? Who do we have who can make us relax, anyway?
Sean, what are you doing even following this game? Are you not aware that round 2 of the epic Battle for Florida is underway?
one thing about having runners on third less than two outs and going on contact…well Ordonez and Larish run like Shawn Rogers and a two hop GB to the SS with the SS in at he grass ain’t gonna get it done neither time…or Lamont did you plan on the two errors to score the runs
How does the bullpen go in 7, 8, and 9? Bautista, Dolsi, and Jones? Dolsi pitched two last night, so I don’t see it happening.
or Lamont did you plan on the two errors to score the runs
Do you really think Lamont makes that call without any input from Leyland?
‘the epic Battle for Florida is underway’
Oh man! Gotta run! Thanks! Bye!
Is this the worst broadcasting team in sports? I find myself longing for Joe Morgan — yeesh!
The pitch Larish walked on looks like it was the best pitch of the at-bat, strike-zone-wise.
EDIT: Never mind.
Jeff ..who know but both guys were out by 45 feet each I was being generous about being out by 20 feet
The Dodgers have 7 through SIX?? Ay carumba.
Proctor out. Wade, you’re back! It’s been so long.
How about a line drive right at Wade’s mouth?
Renteria RBI makes it 11-7
Cabrera really could have put a hurting on Martin there if the throw had been lower.
Miggy looked like an 18 wheeler storming around third for the run