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PREGAME: After enjoying a couple days with little to do in San Diego, the Tigers get back to work tonight against the Padres. The Pads are on a 4 game losing streak and have dropped 5 of their last 6.
I recently participated in a discussion led by Padres blogger extraordinaire. He is the proprietor of the long running blog Ducksnorts (it was around before there were blogs) and a long time internet friend. The roundtable which included Brian from Tigerblog and Lee Panas from Detroit Tiger Tales can be found on Geoff’s site. Geoff also gave each of us an opportunity to ask him some questions. Lee’s were so good I’m just goiing to link to his.
As for tonight’s scrum it will be Eddie Bonine making his second career start and Greg Maddux making his 723rd career start. Bonine was knocked around for 6 runs on 9 hits in his debut, but did keep the ball in the strike zone with no walks. Maddux only has 15 walks in 89 innings this year so he always keeps the ball in the strike zone.
Marcus Thames will have a tough time with the homer streak playing in spacious Petco Park. But he was supposed to have a tough time against Tim Lincecum and it didn’t seem to phase him.
DET @ SDP, Friday, June 20, 2008 Game Preview - Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 10:05
{ 234 comments… read them below or add one }
Padres have a lot of G’s in that line-up. 5. G G G G H H G B M.
atta boy CurtisSSSSSSSSSS
GRANDERSON!!!
Anyone know the Tigers record when Grandy hits a leadoff homer? For some reason I want to say its not as good as you would think it to be.
Granderson shows naught but disdain for Greg Maddux and his “pitching”. 1-0 Tigers
OK Bonine just be efficient..you don’t even have to be great ..just effecient
Woo let’s keep rollin! Atta boy, Grandy!
Pudge can still throw…wow…
Looking at the Padres lineup I can’t help but ask myself: who the hell are these guys?
Bonine is looking none too sharp so far
They do have Adrian Gonzalez, who is a beast at the plate.
The GGGG team
I’m thinking Eddie will get to 100 pitches around the 4th inning.
I can’t imagine there have been too many teams in history with two brothers in the starting lineup.
Eddie bonine will not dazzle you with stuff
how cool would be 1-0 final with Miner going the 6th ..Crooked hat going the 7th…Zooom going the 8th…and Roller coaster closing the door…if so you read it here first……
almost a homer by Miggs. Stupid Petco.
No, Marcus! We don’t want your doubles.
Thames what are you thinking, that’s only worth two bases
Rod disturbingly claims that the pitch Marcus hit was “in his happy zone”
First Bonine AB, coming up. I wonder when the last time anyone intentionally walked Pudge was.
UPDATE: Bonine made contact, but it was a chopper in the infield.
Marcus with the feeble double. I really expect much better from him at this stage!
Michael Barrett’s new goatee is a disaster
Bonine gets a DP. He may actually involve his defense in every single AB.
Nice pick by Miggy there…
Granderson with a hit and a steal. Mario just informed us that the Padres manage to throw out 12% of all base stealers. Outstanding!
Mario mentioned that Maggs is having back spasms and almost didn’t play today. I wonder if that explains his recent slump.
That Magglio AB was a whole lot of nonsense. Both called strikes were off the plate.
That’s a 3-1 count on Maggs for most pitchers.
That knuckle curve was the best pitch I’ve seen Bonine throw yet
not that bad of a pitch…not great but not bad,,away and a little down
Man, if we could just get this ump in Detroit, Kenny will be able to pitch into his 50’s.
Eddie bo is getting hit hard I would say. He’s lucky to have allowed 1.
Wasn’t the trivia question who did Maddux make his debut against? He didn’t play his brother until his 5th start. I’m confused. Did I misread the question?
greg….that is why Maddux is pitching into his 60’s cause he gets that pitch every time every ump….kind of an NBA thing
Hopefully Bonine can hang in there — this would be a fantastic game to steal given the pitching matchup.
hey Curtiss have a day!!
And curtis was safe…
Grandy was safe - ah well…
SAFE
What an awful call at second base. There’s no excuse for an ump missing a call like that.
Ugh….that’s one reason I stopped following the NBA years ago, different standards, different rules for different players….
…where’s Questec when you need it?
I thought Jody Gerut was safe on his stolen base attempt in the 1st inning, as well.
Ugh. That string of zero’s on the line score brings back bad memories.
Polly/Carlos/Maggs and Miggs are 0-12.
very impressive DP
Maggs has dropped almost 30 points in average in the past 3-4 weeks
there was a Maddux strike oops wrong pitcher!!!!!
I’m here for the rest of the game. I guess I didn’t miss much. Grandy homer and that’s it. Bonine looks good?
Yay first pitch outs.
Boo.
two pitches- two outs
5 pitch inning….. absolutely horrible.
Nice quick inning.
Marcus has got the gymnastics act going.
Country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blahhhhhh
That weasel hits one out, of all people. God!!
Eddie’s been hanging on by his fingernails the whole game. Gutty performance, but when you get this good a performance from your 5th best starter, you’ve got to score more runs, Maddux or no Maddux.
I think that homer was due. Bonine is not really that effective. SD is just weak, and although he has pitched a very good game, Bonine is a few innings overdue to give one or two up.
Bonine has done about as much as he can here. Tough to win with no run support.
I hate leadoff homers…
I agree you gotta get more than 1 for your fifth guy
I think they’ve actually gotten some pitches to hit from Maddux, just that a lot of these batted balls just die on the warning track.
Good QS by Bonine.
We gotta get three or four right now.
Let’s get another pinch hit home run from our scrub
Bonine wasn’t hit hard by the Dodgers and here he should be getting spanked by the Pads. Quad-A pitcher, for sure. What I would give to have Zach Miner in Toledo stretching out to take over this spot.
if we knew Bonine was going to give up only 2 we would all have taken that deal every time out….the Tiggs are in there swing just to swing mode today which they are in alot this year…not many shots for outs
Also, Maddux is such a master. His pitches always look fat and no one seems to be able to hit them. That is skill! His ball moves so much and changes so often they can’t get a thing on it.
Or from Larrish
someone hit one out haha
Larish? Really??
Grandy please.
Be a hero, buddy.
Crud. Let’s hope their closer is bad.
BIG HEAD!!!
Polanco? Really??
POLLY!!!! OMG HE TIES IT!
Oh My GOD! Polanco of all people. WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!
CHIPMUNK!
FRUIT YEAH!
Let’s get 1 more.
Polly Polly Polly Polly
Just another typical night for Polanco. A couple K’s and a bomb.
BTW: I take the credit for that. Between innings I moved from the chair to the couch. That’s the difference.
Let’s win it for Kenny!
If Rodney comes in….as I expect he will………I want to be proven wrong about my comments from the other night. Others, especially Billfer, have made me think twice. But I want to see his effectiveness. I honestly never have, although I have been told that he was outstanding 2 years ago. We have a chance now thanks to Polly again…….let’s not lose it!
earn you keep Crooked Hat
billfer
The couch rules!!
Get Fernando out of there after this walk. This is a disaster waiting to happen. They can’t afford to have him out there blowing a game like this.
EDIT: And Fossum warming up. The double digit ERA boys . . . I’m not a Rodney hater, but he doesn’t have it tonight.
Gee…..did he look effective on that 1st batter!…Just lights out!
Sky: If Rodney struggles that does not mean you were correct. Facts are facts.
My God
F-Rod:
Still not ready for prime time…
pitching change NOW!!!!!!!!!
at least these pitches are in the city limits of San Diego…
Yeah, this is a great low pressure situation for Rodney to be pitching in.
Then again, he’s a pro, right? He should be juuuust…fiiiinee.
THROW STRIKES RODNEY. WOW
Disastrous in his last outing, why bring him into another pressure situation?
We’re going to let him lose another game? Really?
Go get Zumaya.
hahahahaha. Nothing like bringing in Casey Fossum to put out the fire!
What is wrong with this guy? Get him outta there.
who does the rehab evaluations for Detroit ..Stevie Wonder!!!!
Zumaya couldn’t possibly have done any worse . . .
He says, I’m going to give you one pitch. If it’s not a strike, I’m gonna pull you.
It’s all mental now. There were a couple close pitches, but close doesn’t count if you haven’t got 1 over before those.
Thanks for nothin’ tough guy.
This sucks guys. We’re going to lose because of this.
Giles bunts them over, Gonzalez Sac Fly.
Game.
Where is the strike zone?
funny that he aims just like his HAT is aimed instead of his eyes
Mike, what facts are you talking about? I do not dispute what happened in 2006 (which I did not see). I am talking about what I saw last year. I have simply come to be convinced that he is unable to pitch. Relief pitchers do not do what he does……..and he does it more often than not. I have said my peace. Subject closed. I just wish I had a record of every appearance from last year with all the details to show what I am getting at.
The first Fossum pitch was right down the middle.
Also: the 2nd pitch Rodney threw was insider corner at the knees according to gameday. There were others that are often called strikes, as well.
This is the pitch that makes or breaks the game, people. Hold your breath.
Maddux got those calls in the maggs ab
Sky: Billfer presented facts like 16 of 21 appearances in 2007 in which Rodney did not allow a run to score… there were a few different instances that you might’ve missed in the plethora of comments in the game threads.
This strikezone sucks ass right now.
Really, Casey Fossum is staying in? Fossum?
Game.
two strikes two balls to that batter…ump squeezing him big time
thanks Crooked Hat ….
Cue up the “Cut Rodney” comments.
Also, Hoffman isn’t exactly a lights out closer.
I hate Fernando Rodney. Seriously, he’s responsible for the only two losses we’ve had in the last twelve (including this one, yo)
Over/Under on # of games Fossum has to blow before they get rid of him?
5?
TAKE HIM THE MOTHER FREAK OUT!
What does Casey Fossum have on Jim Leyland? I don’t understand it. The matchup game be damned.
There’s a very real chance of scoring two off Hoffman. But Jim leaves in Fossum. Sweet.
At least the Tigers didn’t risk losing Fossum by dumping Bautista.
Good thing we dfa’d bautista, he’d have been a much worse choice than fossum or f-rod
This is EXACTLY THE SAME GAME as the one we played three games ago!
lets see we let Bautista go …and we activate Rodney..Keep Fossum…the inmates are still running the asylum….
Well, Fossum can pitch out of the inning and lower his ERA. They kept this guy and cut Bautista . . . and Zumaya’s sitting out in the bullpen because they didn’t want to put pressure on him and instead put a guy who now has a 135.00 ERA on the mound.
This is absolutely inexcusable. It was clear from the first three pitches that Rodney threw that he didn’t have it (even before the attempted decapitation on pitch #4). Letting him get behind the second hitter was managerial malpractice. Replacing him with a batting practice pitcher was just insane. I’m not one to bash managers, but this was just totally screwed up.
In one sense it’s a low-pressure situation for Zumaya — even if he does his job quite well, the Tigers will be down 5-2 going into the 9th, this isn’t high leverage.
Strikezone got really small this inning. I guess when the other team is going to give you an out and the ball goes over the batters head for ball 4 your screwed.
I expect Zoom to let in two Fossum runs. But that’s it.
Don’t be mislead here, this is all on Rodney.
Fossum gets squeezed at the plate then gives up a hit with a pulled in infield.
Bottom line - the options are thin for the Tigers late in the game when its tight.
Don’t ever dive for the ball, Carlos, you might split that ‘roid wide open.
I’m done for tonight. Here’s hoping for a repeat of the giants series.
He wouldn’t have gotten to that but was it just me or was Thames playing VERY deep in LF?
And this has been my complaint from the get-go of Zumaya being in the majors: WHERE IS HIS CHANGEUP THAT BASEBALL AMERICA CALLED THE BEST IN THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION IN 2005? Where? It doesn’t even have to be that good to be effective.
In Fossum’s defense (why I am defending him sure beats me), he did get exactly what he was looking for, an infield ground ball…it’s just that it kept going, and became an outfield ground ball (and Thames almost let it keep going still…)…even the first 2-run hit wasn’t exactly drilled, and almost was a playable one…
WTF?!
wheres Jose Mesa when we need him he at least got ahead in the count…
Welcome home Joel. The guy hit ball four.
WHAT IS WITH THESE 8TH INNING BLOWUPS!?
Hopefullly we can go back to a real strike zone tomorrow.
Brian in Tampa, don’t you dare leave.
God knows we won’t be going back to a real manager
what a disaster this game is turning into
are we still in that first San Fran game 8th inning
Maybe you’re right Tbone, I’m watching the nearly unwatchable not worth a crap, choppy mlb.tv at the moment. But part of me’s just going on the high level of suckiness that Fossum has displayed his entire career. Seeing him on the mound makes me pine away for the Grilli days.
Sorry ron
I’m tired and cranky now!
There is a limit to how quickly Leyland could get Rodney. He got the bullpen going after 3 pitches. They stalled as much as they could with the umpire coming out to break up to meetings on the mound.
i cant stay up for this disaster. hopefully they turn it around once i go to bed.
Grilli’s gotten his ERA down to 2.75 with Colorado.
Nobody’s doing anything terrible, but it’s that familiar thing this season where everybody is a bit off–the ball gets through that maybe could have been stopped, the outfield is playing deeper than usual or bobbles the throw, the relay is a bit offline, and then bobbled, they have a chance at a runner but nobody’s covering the base, and you’re left with a what the– feeling without really being able to pin it on one guy or one play…
Oh and the hit off Zumaya was a pretty good pitch, and apparently 100 mph, which makes me wonder how he hit the thing, he had to have guess exactly what was coming and where…is that too weird an idea here, that somebody was picking up something and tipping off the hitter?
Why not just let him get the last out?
What’s the point of removing Zumaya? All this does is weaken the bullpen for tomorrow even further by putting having Seay pitch to one or two guys . . .
do you think Willie Randolph–Alan Trammel- Sparky Anderson, Matt Millen or Wayne Fontes might be available if they get the call
Seay’s good at walking in runs.
I am not saying this was the reason BUT that was a p*ss poor strike zone throughout that whole inning…NBA all the way
Coleman, no matter how fast a pitcher is, if he does not make the ball move in slightly unpredictable ways, it will not be long before hitters figure him out.
I honestly do not believe either Rodney or Zumaya are the answers to the Tigers bullpen problems. Whatever they had in 2006 was gone last year, and I just have a feeling it is not coming back.
I’m with Billfer, Hernandez was on the phone quick. That said, he undid getting the bullpen hot ASAP by sticking with Fossum too long (and keeping him on the roster).
All that said, and this is no excuse, that strike zone is brutally bad right now.
They took Zumaya out so he could still be available tomorrow, and Seay will be available as well.
And the pitch that Harriston hit you have to tip your cap. It wasn’t even in the strikezone.
I’d rather see Trevor Hoffman than anyone else in that Padres bullpen to be honest. I was kind of hoping he’d still trot out even with a 4 run lead.
I think Wayne will play hardball, and no way he signs unless you guarantee a golf cart for trips to the mound. I was pitching Chuck Daly earlier; mostly because I completely forget the inning I just watched as soon as the picture of Daly in a baseball uniform and Tiger cap enters my brain.
Willie Randolph is Leyland’s twin separated at birth. Fontes is a better choice.
Is the inning over yet? Gameday seems to think Seay is taking twelve minutes to throw the fourth pitch of the Gerut at-bat.
so Maggs swings at Ball one and ball two…that shows you how screwed up this team is…someone coach them
Nothing like a little bullpen implosion to get us all fired up!
I’ll take this loss, just like SF, if the Tigers can get the next 2.
They took Zumaya out so he could still be available tomorrow, and Seay will be available as well.
Available, but the bullpen will be weakened, as I noted in my previous comment.
Can we sign Jennie Finch and DFA Casey Fossum? We can surely make up the cost in cutting Fossum with the money made on the guys oolging Jennie Finch from afar.