Game 2011.133: Tigers at Twins

Previously here at DTW we pointed out how much better Brad Penny was pitching at night vs pitching during the day, and hoped that Leyland would change the rotation to get him off of the day shift.

Sure enough, he returned with a solid night start against Minnesota and a great 1-run evening win against Tampa Bay.

Leyland, being the scientific type that he is, clearly decided to test whether the night start was responsible or Penny was just getting better, but starting him in another day game.  So even if he is awful this afternoon, the knowledge gained will be invaluable, so the Tigers really can’t lose.

Meanwhile, the Tigers can bask in the glory of Justin Verlander’s 20th win, especially since, for a change, it was a real team effort, as Justin had a merely human outing.  Verlander becomes the earliest 20-game winner in MLB since Curt Schilling in 2002.

Detroit faces Brian Duensing (8-13, 5.12) who has had a rough August (0-5, 8.65).  Duensing said “I’m just kind of wrong right now.”  Stay wrong Brian, stay wrong.

And just for fun:  Detroit is now only 1 game behind Texas for the playoff 2nd-seed.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Alex Avila

He just keeps going.  August Alex is now hitting .408 (1.300 OPS), with 7 HR and 17 RBI for the month.  The Tigers are 16-8 for the month, which ties them with Tampa Bay for AL best (the Brewers have somehow gone 20-5).

Today’s Because-Whoever-Plays-RF-Has-To-Bat-2nd Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Alex Avila, C
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Ramon Santiago, 2B
  9. Brandon Inge, 3B

 

13 thoughts on “Game 2011.133: Tigers at Twins”

  1. Ok Brad…do good and wrap up a win to seal a GREAT ROAD trip! A big difference between last year’s team is how the Tigers played in Tampa Bay earlier this week as that house is always a difficult place for the Tigers. I am thinking such a win experience will come in very handy at some other divisional champ’s house?

  2. Well for guys that don’t like working during the day that sometimes only applies to weekdays. There are different psychological effects on weekend days. Some people don’t like the “day shift” per se, but weekend days are days to play and have fun and relax. And if that’s affecting his persona or his subconscious is shifted to a different paradigm, then the test becomes invalid.

    I think Leyland isn’t trying to test anything, he probably just looks at a game is a game is a game and is just going to go with what fits for his rotation and conservation of pitchers strategy.

  3. Can we all agree that Inge should be sent back to the Minors? He is absolutely awful offensively, and his defense has been pretty shotty as well.

  4. all and all Great Road Trip,,,,,when all is said and done this trip could be the 7 games that buried the Central!

    1. Yeah, all of our regular season games have been pointless. MLB should have just told our irrelevant team to stay home and just wait for the playoffs. We had nothing to prove and nothing to gain or lose from Game 1 til the present.

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