2012 Season, Game Post

Game 2012.158: Tigers at Twins

31 Comments

Detroit Tigers, 84-73, 1st place, 1 up, magic number 5.

Doumit! Things were starting to go so well, even last night–a great outing by Smyly, who may end up being a key part of the stretch run/postseason…although the offense was strangely silent (again) against Diamond.  Diamond said that the Tiger hitters had adjusted to him since the last start, so he adjusted to their adjustments.  I suppose if Detroit had adjusted to his adjustments to their adjustments, he would have just adjusted to that.

At any rate…then the 6th inning happened.  Cabrera was uncharacteristically caught admiring a home-run-that-was-not and was stuck with a long single. He then made up for it by getting thrown out by a mile at home (I couldn’t see if Lamont waved him home…if he did, then credit Crazy Geno with 2 miles of out at home in 2 days for the 2 big guys).

Then Doumit happened, and a particularly bad episode of the Rreality Show, and Detroit is back to a slim one-game lead. (Dotel is day-to-day with a sore right bicep, which is why he came out for Villarreal).

“Nothing comes easy for us it looks like” said Gerald Laird, and we can probably all agree with that one.

Justin Verlander has the task of keeping the Tigers on top, he is ready to go, and he still hasn’t given up on the Cy Young award.  (Or, just for the hell of it, on Kate Upton, apparently).  The last time Verlander faced Minnesota he came away with a 5-1 complete game victory; his last 7 starts against the Twins he is 6-0 with a 2.12 ERA).  If there is anyone to watch out for it is the ever-annoying Denard Span, 15-38 (.395) lifetime against Verlander, .350 career vs. Detroit.

The Twins will try again with the Pajama Man, P.J. Walters, who kept Detroit to 1 run in 6 innings in Detroit Sunday.  Let’s see if Detroit makes adjustments, and if he can adjust to the adjustments.

Stat of the Day: Over the past 2 weeks Jhonny Peralta is hitting .128 (.403 OPS), with 3 GDPs, and 3 more that should have been.

Today’s Player of the Pre-game:  Omar Infante. Maybe the good plays in the field got his bat going. Maybe it stays going.

Today’s Hopefully-Adjusting Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson CF
  2. Quintin Berry LF
  3. Miguel Cabrera 3B
  4. Prince Fielder 1B
  5. Delmon Young DH
  6. Andy Dirks RF
  7. Jhonny Peralta  SS
  8. Alex Avila C
  9. Omar Infante 2B

31 thoughts on “Game 2012.158: Tigers at Twins”

  2. Did you guys hear that JV stat on the radio broadcast? If he gets to 17 wins, that will be the 6th time in 7 years. Over that span, only 2 pitchers have won 17 more than twice – Halladay 3, CC 5.

    Incredible.

    Let’s go Tigers.

    1. Good info. I was thinking the other night where the Tigers would be if Verlander had won 21 games like last year. Guess you gotta take what you can get?

  4. Three strikeouts, that’s the way to stuff a rally. A tad worried though about the 100 mph heat in the 4th inning.

    1. Kinda of similar to game 153 when Gordon hit a homer to left to lead off the 4th. I believe he ramped it up to shut down Butler, et.al.

    1. Agree. It would be nice to have a 9th inning with a 6 run or so lead. No drama please!

  10. Good call Jim. The playoffs are long and we need Verlander’s arm. White Sox are down 7-0 and Garcia goes to the hill tomorrow.

    1. I don’t think its proper to use “clue” and “Leyland” in the same sentence, unless you include the phrase “doesn’t have a…”

  18. …and if you thought the 8th inning was exciting…just wait until the 9th…especially the bottom of the 9th with Mr Valverde

  19. with the top of MIN order due up in the 9th, it is advisable for DET to put up another run or two

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