Game 2011.45: Tigers at Pirates

Amazing what can happen in 7 days.  A week ago, the Tigers had won 7 in a row, were a season high 4 games over .500, and were leading the AL in runs scored.  Since then, the boys are 0-4, they’ve managed 6 runs in those 4 games, and are now 26 runs behind the Yankees.

Beyond the anemic offense, the bullpen has gone from terrible to catastrophic, allowing 10 ER in 4 2/3 IP over the last four games.  Help is on the way, as Charlie Furbush was recalled from Toledo today, with Brad Thomas going to the DL.  Furbush has been pretty darn good down there, posting a 2.91 ERA and striking out an international league leading 55 in 46 1/3 IP covering 8 starts.  I’m curious to see what his role will be.  Coke has certainly earned his spot in the rotation, but he’s sorely missed out of the pen.

Max Scherzer gets the ball today, on the heels of three fantastic starts where he allowed 2 ER over 20 innings.  At the plate, Max is a career .176 hitter with 2 doubles and 3 RBI in 68 career plate appearances.

Kevin Correia (core – A – ah) climbs the hill for the Pirates.  Correia has been in the bigs for 7 years, mostly as a spot starter until 2009 when he had a fine season with the Padres, towing a 3.91 ERA (3.81 FIP) over 33 starts and just under 200 IP.  He only pitched 145 innings last year (injury, I presume, but I practically had to look up where Pittsburgh is), and for 2011, he’s 5-4 with a 3.97 ERA and 1.25 WHIP (remember he’s facing a pitcher almost every 9 batters).   He doesn’t walk many (2011 2.06/9), nor strike out many (3.81/9) so let’s see if the Tigers can hit ’em where they ain’t.

I’ve got to get to a BBQ, someone please post the lineups when they are avail.

Let’s go Tigers!

27 thoughts on “Game 2011.45: Tigers at Pirates”

  1. Today’s World Will End During 7th-Inning Stretch Lineup:
    1 Jackson CF
    2 Santiago 2B
    3 Dirks LF
    4 Cabrera 1B
    5 Boesch RF
    6 Peralta SS
    7 Avila C
    8 Inge 3B
    9 Scherzer P

  2. somehow with Raburn not in there the lineup looks like there are less automatic outs,,,even though the pitcher is batting…

  3. Inge Scherzer and Jackson……can we just save time and jump to the bottom of the third

  4. Leyland quotes: “Raburn needs to make better contact
    ” We just have to hit the ball better”
    ” Sizemore just rushed it and made a poor throw, I’m ok with that”
    ” Our bullpen isn’t going a very good job””

    who writes this stuff for him….theses are amazing observations …..

    1. I think he just reads whatever is handed to him. I still remember the embarrassing postgame that he led off with “WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health.”

  5. the K record of 197 is in serious jeopardy…Jackson might break it by the All Star game

  6. Since the world didn’t end this evening and we are in an election year, how about:

    A. Getting rid of interleague play?
    or
    B. If not getting rid of interleague play, force NL home games to allow the DH, while AL home games require the pitchers to bat. Maybe then all can see the lunacy of the DH.

    1. …gee a relief pitcher walking a lead off hitter …didn’t guess that would happen!

  7. Ugh…my good feelings towards this game just left me…Considering that our offense has looked inept in our last four games…

    1. The worst part is that since it’s now the 6th inning, if the game is called on account of the world ending, it counts as a loss.

  8. Well, the Rapture came off as planned, and I trust that most of you are up here also. They have Internet in heaven, which I kind of expected. The surprising thing though is the connection speed. Quite ordinary. Eh.

  9. No..I didn’t just see that…Perry did not just walk a Relief Pitcher…did he? Yeah, he did, and the clown show is about to ensue….We have no bullpen and no offense again. At least we can try to fight to get above .500 again. The team really seems to enjoy doing that.

  10. Fire Leyland!!!….reason number 1,243 is for not taking Perry out immediately after walking that pitcher who has never batter in the major leagues on four straight pitches

    1. Personally I’m enjoying the spirited competition between Perry and Schlereth to be the Next Jason Grilli.

      1. The positive for Perry today was that he faced 5 batters and only walked one of them.

  11. On the negative side: the Tiger bullpen.
    On the positive side: inspiration for a new phrase: The Blowpen

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