Billfer likes long walks in Comerica Park. Check out the 
Subscribe to the feed
If you're new here and like what you see, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Need more info on what subscribing entails? Here's a primer. Thanks for visiting!
PREGAME: It’s Kyle Lohse and Armando Galarraga tonight. You know which Tigers like hitting against Lohse? All of them.
Meanwhile, here’s hoping that Galarraga can nail down that All Star game invitation.
And here’s really hoping the rain drops hold off so they can get this one in, cuz I’ll be there.
STL @ DET, Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Game Preview - Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 7:05
POSTGAME: I’m back from the game so you get the 2:00am post game report. I’m exhausted so expect lots of typos, more than normal even. Why did I stay you ask? Because a certain Yankees game last year taught me that good things happen when rain delayed games resume at 11pm. That and rooting on your team with 3000 strangers when the calendar flips to the next day is kind of a fun and surreal experience.
The early 2-0 deficit wasn’t too worrisome. After all, the Tigers were facing Kyle Lohse. It resulted in lots of baserunners. I just had the feeling that the hitters were all saying to each other, “Dude, it’s Kyle Lohse.” And when Galarraga kept giving up homers, the offense probably told him “Don’t worry about it. Dude, we’re facing Kyle Lohse.” The only concern was when Lohse was lifted. But it seemed as if the guys decided “Let’s just pretend these other dudes are Kyle Lohse.”
- First things first. Todd Jones put on a Magglio jersey and wig and reenacted the 2006 ALCS homerun during the rain delay and he added his own embellishment at the end by sliding into home. I guess the knee is feeling okay.
- And second things second. Paws caught a foul ball. It was on a ricochet and he made a nice play on it.
- After the delay we moved down and say behind home plate. And yes, the strike zone was ridiculous from that vantage point as well. We were standing in the concourse when Thames was ejected and I couldn’t really make a judgement on the pitch. But given Thames nature in general I’m going to trust that his reaction indicated a really bad call.
- This wasn’t the crispest of games. There was the Thames error. And Renteria not converting a double play. And a bad bunt by Polanco (and a questionable bunt decision by Leyland). And the 5 walks from Joel Zumaya and Zach Miner. And the Cardinals had their issues too with a couple double plays, and an error by Kennedy, and a should have been error on Duncan.
- But it was still very entertaining with multiple lead changes and scoring chances, and some nice defense as well like Carlos Guillen’s play in the 9th inning.
- And Todd Jones looked dominant. That is rare. And Bobby Seay K’d the only batter he faced.
- As for Zumaya, it was great to hear Voodoo Child reverberating through the park. Joel had his velocity. And he had his curveball working (but he hardly through it). But he couldn’t control the fastball to save his life.
- The offense was simultaneously great and frustrating. You can’t scoff at 19 hits. But it probably should have resulted in more than 8 runs. But the Tigers still got big clutch hits like Guillen’s 3 run homer, and Magglio’s game tying single, and Gary Sheffield’s game winning single.
{ 222 comments… read them below or add one }
LaRussa must be going nuts looking at those Tigers splits vs. Lohse. Per “Three Nights in August,” he puts a ton of faith in hitter-pitcher splits, regardless of sample size.
I think the whole world likes hitting against Kyle Lohse. But holy crap, 6 out of 10 guys have an OPS over 1000 agianst him (small sample size be damned!).
That’s all pre-Dave Duncan era Lohse, though. He’s really been pretty good for St. Louis this year. That Duncan does something right….Jeff Weaver, Braden Looper, Chris Carpenter etc. He’s good at cleaning up a trainwreck I’ll tell you what.
I remember batting against Lohse back in 06. He throws grape fruits no doubt. I didn’t get a hit mind you, but I fouled off a couple before watching strike 3–another grape fruit.
I was looking at Lohse’s numbers so far this year, it’s not a smoke and mirrors job. His BABIP, line drive rate, LOB% are all within normal ranges of his career average. Even his FIP ERA is less than half a run above his posted figure.
He is, however, walking fewer batters and allowing about a hit per inning, much less than his career. I’m not an expert, but it’s distinctly possible Dave Duncan has something to do with that. At any rate, Lohse has been legitmately good.
Well, I hope the Tigers legitimately (but not literally) bat his brains out…
Hm. Nice start.
Laaaaamme
Schumaker’s contact to damage ratio this game is off the charts.
Armando needs to get the ball down.
Ankiel’s was a BOMB.
Speaking of people throwing grape fruits……
Chris Duncan has his eyes closed in his MLB.com headshot…
Maggs and Miggs both hit DP balls there. Disapppointing.
Sometimes you play teams at the wrong time. Right now the Tigers seem to be playing the Cardinals at the wrong time.
Well that inning sucked.
WTF do we do that every single time ..one thing about going on contact an another when it is a shot one hop to third…have we had 20 0r 30 runners out that way this year,,,common Lamont or Leyland ……!!!!!!!!!!!!!
plus many times have the Tigers hit that DP ground ball to third of all places with a runner on third less that two outs…
Much better inning for Battelstar.
I just stumbled across the following, courtesy of ESPN:
That’s an interesting name to add to the mix, even if he has an injury history. And if the Brewers continue to play well, there’s no chance they trade him.
Sheff is healthy. No doubt. He crushed that ball, and did last night too. Earlier those were popups, now they’re line drives.
Good to see.
is Sheff for real maybe!!!!!!! wow
Awful play by Kennedy, but I’ll take the run.
Edgar..way to help the Team….we will take that everytime
I like the idea that Renteria was actually trying to hit it to the right side to move the runner
and why doesn’t Granderson go to second?????
What the heck was Pudge thinking? That risk wasn’t worth taking.
judpma - Grandy was in disbelief that Pudge would keep running and stunned into inaction!
Personally, I like the aggressiveness, Tbone. Force the other team to make a play. There’s already one out, and if you’re safe a fly ball gets you another run.
It was close, and Ankiel made a perfect throw.
oh that sucks, Marcus needs to catch that ball.
crap.
Well, at least Thames is hitting the ball… That makes it almost excusable.
Way to pitch out of that and minimize the damage.
…and did anyone else see that we traded Bautista?? Here’s the details for those who haven’t seen it.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....;type=lgns
nice job BG getting out of that
For sure, he did a good job minimizing the damage there…
Did anyone else see that we traded Bautista to the Pirates??
I saw it on Yahoo sports.
Yeah, errors happen, great job by BG to limit the damage indeed
Time for Marcus to make up for that E-7
oh man. horrible call. that was a foot off the plate.
no way. ugh.
That was about 4 inches outside… IMO.
was it a foot outside or just 8 inches..he called the same pith on Maggs o na 3-1 count ..BRUTAL
According to Pitchfx, Lohse didn’t throw the Funk Dr. a strike.
theres the Sheff we are used to seeing …high chopper to the pitcher on a ball that is 2 feet outside
Agree, judpma. Both calls were pathetic.
I hate the freaking Cardinals. Looks like we’re getting back to 06 form when we just hand these scrubs games.
That pitch to Marcus was off the plate, but the ump has been calling the outside corner…for the most part.
But you can’t blame Sheff. The one to Marcus was 2 feet outside and it was called a strike.
Nice hit Molina. Apparently LaRusa sold his soul to satan prior to this game.
The Dr. of Country Funk should have torn the ump’s limbs off and beaten him over the head with them. That just changed the entire complexion of this game. Who knows how the Sheff AB would have went down with the added pressure (on hitter and pitcher) of having the bases loaded. Awfuulllll!!!
Judpma:
Sheff had to swing at that pitch, based on what happened to the Funk Dr.
Totally Matt. He just called one off the plate for Galaraga as well.
This is ridiculous. The cards are a joke.
wonder what the all time worse Team average in MLB history is at getting a runner home from 3rd with less than two outs…..
you know why stop the runner at third why not just take a chance that the throw will be off or the catcher will drop the ball or better yet like the other night ump makes the wrong call…….
Ken:
And 1 out…
The Marcus pitch wasn’t bad enough for him to get himself tossed over.
The Tigers are losing their heads and playing themselves out of this game. Very reminiscent of the 06 Series.
they make that play Carlos doesn’t …. story of the year
another story of the year…Tigers 2 runs 8 hits…Cards 4 runs 6 hits
The Tigers have 8 MVPs? Who are they?
They gave us Cochran and Greenberg. I’m guessing McLain. Willy of course. Did Kaline win one? I suppose Greenberg may have one more than one. Kell the year he won the batting title?
Can we please get a run in? It’s ludicrous that we only have 2 runs of this Putz thus far. We’re hitting everything.
NICE!!!!! Carlos maulin this fool!
Carlos!! 3 run HR… Clutch.
FINALLY, they got to him.
Atta boy, Carlos!
YEA YEA YEA YEA Guillen
Joey
1911 - Ty Cobb
1934 - Mickey Cochrane
1935 - Hank Greenberg
1937 - Charlie Gehringer
1940 - Hank Greenberg
1944 - Hal Newhouser
1945 - Hal Newhouser
1968 - Denny McLain
1984 - Willie Hernández
boy Maggs that was real smart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Little League #34 rule never cross the SS face on a ball hit to him
I finally picked up extra-innings. Have these two been going bananas over “x-mo” all season? I mean good Christ. Get over it.
Nice work Mark! Thanks.
I would’ve guessed Gehringer next, but Newhouser I would’ve overlooked. Unfortunately, I’ve had my perception of him warped by a historical narrative that overlooks his numbers as war-time anomalies.
As for Cobb…on the broadcast they just said the award wasn’t established until 32 or something. Maybe I misheard that.
Galarraga doesn’t have it tonight. And Kenny last night hopefully this isn’t a trend just a set back for the rotation. Come on guys we need this one!! If our staff cant hold it you guys in the batters box need to start hitting even more!!!
judpma, there were two outs, is Maggs supposed to stay at second on a ground ball to short? If the ball gets through, he can’t score if he waits it out. The ball was in the hole, going to 3rd is right move as long as there are 2 outs.
No, you’re right Joey. There’s 9 on the list (I pulled it from Wikipedia) but only 8 since 1931 when the award was created. How Ty Cobb won an award that didn’t yet exist is a question I cannot answer.
Rain delay. The announcers said the radar looks like it is clear after the rain passes.
Mark no he is to go half way watch the throw and then go on over ..basic play with two outs ..that is why the unwritten rule goes like this NEVER make the first or third out on a tag at 3rd
How Ty Cobb won an award that didn’t yet exist is a question I cannot answer.
THere was an MVP award given out in Cobb’s era, it just wasn’t the BBWAA award.
Got it. Thanks Jeff.
we could of used one more inning of Lohse too..he will be out of there
Anyone can win awards that don’t exist. I’ve won several. I’ll send you my resume to prove it.
Clear skies now. The trouble is some fans ran on the tarp during the delay and tore it. The crew is trying to fix it before pulling it. I guess we start in 45 minutes.
judpma,
I cede your point on the Maggs, thing, although going halfway probably leaves him in no-man’s land. But I understand what you’re saying about not making first or last out at third.
I’m not worried about losing Lohse, the Cards bullpen is a gas can. We actually may have an advantage there.
Freakin fans.
Ken I thik we as a group should be up for manager of the year…we haven’t been wrong on a play all year!!!
Mark..funny thing about that play is it cost Miggy maybe his first infield single of his life…although I don’t know where he was at the time….as it was he gets a FC and time at bat
long time lurker 1st time poster. Ran into Will Castro from Unique Autosports during the rain delay. One of the Tigers must be pimping out their ride.
You know judpma - I always coach my little leaguers the same way, except half way is too far for that age.
I think in this situation Maggs was in no man’s land as soon as that ball was hit. Baserunning errors drive me crazy and so far this series the Cards are schooling the Tigers on the basepaths.
Barton got nailed at third yesterday in the first inning (granted, very nice play by Guillen but still bad baserunning) and Ankiel was picked off first in the second. After that the Cards ran the bases smart and aggressively, but it’s hardly been a clinic.
They just put the tarp back on aand its starting to rain again.
Tbone- it is so frustrating watching Runner after runner after runner tagged out on base running mistakes it just amazes me…that go one contact with a shot to third, runner on third and the runner is out by 50 feet is a perfect example..where does common sense fit in here….maybe the over all problem is the tremendous lack of any kind of speed on this team…
.you are right about Maggs …there wasn’t much positive he was going to do either way
What is the latest weather update in Detroit? Are we going to resume this game anytime tonight!!!
MarK - I didn’t see the first two innings yesterday! So I guess my assessment has been a little skewed…
Is this thing gonna get going tonight??
Well Tbone, you’re definitely right that the Cardinals have run the bases better than the Tigers. And you’re right in the larger sense that the Tigers aren’t a fundamentally solid team.
But other than that, we’re in great shape!
Is this one on the books yet if rained out? Tigers up 5-4, yes?
Anyway. here’s some rain delay/postponement/suspension filler to lift your spirits. Pitching stuff. A potpourri. Item nummah 4 - Pitching Potpourri!
GROUND BALLS %-BAbip
Galarraga 48% .153
Bonderman 48% .297
Rogers 45% .259
Verlander 42% .293
Robertson 41% .258
It’s 5-5, Sean. Ankiel hit his second HR in the 5th to tie it. No idea if they’ll be finishing this one tonight.
Anybody got info?
FLY BALLS %-BA-BAbip
Verlander 42% .129 .056
Robertson 41% .252 .183
Rogers 37% .220 .157
Bonderman 36% .183 .104
Galarraga 35% .113 .059
http://www.wunderground.com/ra.....rainsnow=0
Looking like the rain is almost gone
Thank you, Mark. What a drag. Hate that Ankiel. He should go back to piching, maybe tonight. I don’t want Carlos’s 3-run boom-diggity jimmy jack wasted, believe you me. Those things are becoming an endangered species.
anyone know anything about Kyle Pearson just traded to Detroit tonight for Bautisa..
i hope he is a wrong arm we have enough Rh pitchers
LINE DRIVES %-BA-BAbip
Rogers 18% .690 .672
Robertson 18% .667 .667
Galarraga 17% .667 .647
Verlander 16% .735 .735
Bonderman 16% .730 .694
Someone said Pearson is on the DL….
Does that count as a wrong arm?
Full Name: Kyle David Pearson
Born: October 8,1984 in Panama City, Florida
Height: 6-1 Weight: 180 Bats: Right Throws: Right
High School: Mosley (Panama City,FL)
College:
good point Sean…who knows..but he is a righty if that arm is working
The tarp is coming off the field and we’ll be starting at 1105.
this game will not go in the books by reverting back to the 4th…the Tigers have to have a lead through 4 1/2 not tied…if Tigers don’t bat in the 5th it is a no game
INFIELD BALLS %-BAbip
Galarraga 56% .060
Rogers 49% .100
Bonderman 45% .067
Robertson 45% .089
Verlander 43% .080
OUTFIELD BALLS %-BAbip
Verlander 57% .419
Robertson 55% .542
Bonderman 55% .492
Rogers 51% .497
Galarraga 44% .400
Thanks billfer.
I came home. I had my regular tickets for tonight but through a stroke of luck and good connections was invited to a suite. So I spent the rain delay drinking beer and eating tenderloin. And of course, a baseball cupcake from the dessert cart. Had my daughter with me and we both have to be up early tomorrow so we made a run for it when the rain broke a little bit after 9:30. I’ll try again tomorrow. Good luck to those of you who are sticking it out.
The tarp is coming off. Woohoo. Is there any word on the condition of the tarp after the torn oblique? I would hate to have another member of the team hit the DL.
BALLS NOT IN PLAY OPS
Galarraga .886
Verlander .938
Robertson 1.054
Bonderman 1.201
Rogers 1.353
It looks like it will bw Miner pitching.
Verlander’s BAbip strength against (played to 43% of the time):
UP THE MIDDLE RHB .128
UP THE MIDDLE LHB .217
Verlander’s BAbip weakness against (played to 16% of the time):
PULL RHB .457
Also, is there any way that we could have Thames back for the second half of this game? I’m sure he’s had sufficient time to cool off. Time cures all, eh? Let bygones be bygones eh? At the very least, he should be available as a pinch hitter after 12:00, eh? I mean it’s not even the same day. Everything changes after midnight. Carraiges turn back into pumpkins, mogwais turn into gremlins, etc. etc.
Rogers’s BAbip strength against (played to 43% of the time):
UP THE MIDDLE RHB .216
Rogers’s BAbip weakness against (played to 20% of the time):
PULL RHB .469
besides that umpire should have been tossed for calling that pitch a strike in the first place…..that wasn’t even in the Detroit zipcode
Bonderman’s BAbip strength against (played to 5% - yes, only 5% - of the time):
OPPOSITE FIELD RHB .182
Bonderman’s BAbip weakness against (played to 12% of the time):
PULL LHB .444
I’ll disappear when the game’s back on, don’t worry!
Robertson’s BAbip strength against (played to 45% of the time):
UP THE MIDDLE RHB .234
OPPOSITE FIELD RHB .241
Robertson’s BAbip weakness against (played to 23% of the time):
PULL RHB .500
Thanks for the updates Billfer.
Battle of the bullpens, place your bets!
Galarraga’s BAbip strength against (played to 43% of the time):
PULL RHB .097
UP THE MIDDLE RHB .143
Galarraga’s BAbip weakness against (played to 5% - yes, only 5% - of the time):
OPPOSITE FIELD RHB .300
Wooo, let there be baseball!
You know what else I hate about the Cards? Yadier’s plucked eyebrows.
and we have baseball.
Miner was dominant in that 1/3 inning.
Now let’s get the lead and hold on to it!
Sheff is gonna go yard on Perez.
Damn…he did hit it hard though.
It’s great to see Gary hitting the ball hard, maybe he is really healthy?
“Miner was dominant in that 1/3 inning.”
Even so, his OUT/IP ratio remains stagnant. Stale, too, I might add.
hey hey!! let there be baseball!!
and let the Sox continue to lose, down 2-0 in the 4th to the Dodgers
We need one of those patented Pudge-bombs we’ve grown so accustomed to.
Mark, tell me that broadcast is Scully and not Hawk and DJ. I’d like to watch it.
Sean, do you happen to know our record when the field is moist? We’ve already established that the Tigers are vampires, but are they aquatic vampires?
4-0 Dodgers. We have to get this one.
Sorry, Ken, that’s a question for your alter ego Coleman and his banks of super-cooled HAL 9000s.
Aquatic vampires. Hmmm. Come on, man - that’s TOTALLY Coleman.
By the way, someone asked about K-Bot 3000. That was the creation of the poster known as Ryan, I believe.
check that. 5-0 Dodgers now.
Did I mention my nickname was K-Bot in college? My old buddies still refer to me in that manner when drunk. Damn, I wish I was joking.
We totally lead the league in hiting batters with an 0-2 or 1-2 count. Jeez that is frustrating.
I agree, Mark. We have to be up there. At least with the double play it was all for naught.
slowest DP ever, but at least we turned it.
Even after a 2 and a half hour rain delay we still pull a larger crowd than the Oakland As on a perfect night. And we don’t have any annoying air horn guy either.
Mark,
Hilarious new names for those jerks. I lived in Chicago for years, and I couldn’t believe my ears the first time I heard those guys. I thought I was watching a high-school game. And it made watching the perennially terrible Tigers get beat up by the Sox even more unbearable.
Rod was really concerned that we were all going to think that Curtis didn’t run on that strike-out because he doesn’t care.
Carlos is on fire!
Carlos just needs a triple to hit for the cycle. Once he acheives that he can try for the ever illusive uni-cycle by reaching base on one leg.
“Carlos is on fire!”
A set up line whose time has passed.
Coleman from Cincinnati is really T Smith, I’d wager.
atta boy Polly…amazing strategy by Miner EVERY inning …put that lead off hitter on
maybe Miner thinks he will have to wind up with no one on so he just puts hitters on so he can pitch from the stretch!!! what other explanation could there be???
Man, this strike zone has shrunk big time.
Miner is just toying with the Cards right now. Let them get their hopes up with the leadoff man reaching, then cruch them with a double play!
Very shrewd. Devious, even.
Joey,
My hatred for those two knuckleheads knows no bounds. I think it’s ridiculous to wish death on somebody because, well, I just don’t think it’s right to joke (or worse, mean) that sort of thing.
But those two get me close, I tell you. They are insufferable.
Why do I put myself through this?
I dunno about using Zumaya here. You don’t need a strikeout, just an out. Is this high leverage enough?
hey Zoom it is a little different when it isn’t a video game and you have to throw strikes for real
When did the Cards turn into the Twins. Get these jokers out of here.
The new ZuZu ain’t nothin’ like the old ZuZu…
I’m probably talking to myself at this point, but Sheffield absolutely has to bunt.
no matter what the outcome, the Tigers have looked terrible in the same ways they did a few weeks ago.unable to hit in critical moments and relief pitchers who are incompetent.
I said it before and I repeat it: Zumaya is way overrated.
Zumaya, in his outstanding relief work tonight, has given up two runs……….
“Oh! When Rodney and Zumaya come back, we’ll really show’em!” How many times did I hear that last year and this year too!
I would have left Miner in for all of the seventh and eighth. When Leyland took him out I was confused, and even more confused when I saw he picked Zumaya to go to with runners on.
But then again, you don’t know what these Cardinals would have done against Miner if he’d been left in. Maybe the next guy would have hit a three run bomb off him.
If we’re meant to win, we’ll win. No worries.
ok lets give them one here in the 9th
Credit the Tigers. They keep coming….
Although turning bases loaded, 0 out into one run and inning over in 2 pitches was not very pleasant to watch.
I have this horrible feeling the relievers will again find a way to give the Cards some more runs.
Carlos made an Inge
Wow, fantastic play by Guillen!
I really feel like if we can actually hold them to not scoring for one inning, we can win this game off the Cardinal pen.
how about a Sheff walk off …what the hell??