JV looks to get to 1-0 on the season and continue his domination over the Orioles. Over the last five years and covering 8 starts, Verlander is 5-0 with a 2.52 ERA and 1.10 WHIP against the birds. JV had a ND in the opener against the Yankees. Other than his 4 walks and 1 bad pitch to Teixeira, JV pitched pretty well. Let’s hope he can keep his pitch count down and get into the 7th today.
Brad Bergesen starts for the O’s after their ace Jeremy Guthrie was hospitalized on Monday with pneumonia. Bergesen’s stats look pretty average over his career – 4.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, but his FIP (4.70) and K/9 (4.48), suggest that he’s not all that great. But I also thought the same about Jake Arrieta. In his career, Bergesen has decent numbers against the Tigers – 1-2, 3.86 ERA, and a 1.19 WHIP.
Fun fact of the day – AJax led the majors in Ks entering Tuesday (8), but he also leads the majors in pitchers per at bat.
Tonight’s Lineup:
1. AJax – CF
2. Rhymes – 2B
3. Maggs – RF
4. Cabrera – 1B
5. Martinez – DH
6. Boesch – LF
7. Peralta – SS
8. Avila – C
9. Inge – 3B
Comments
19 responses to “Game 2011.5: Tigers at Orioles”
Verlander’s command was piss poor his last game. He got into 9 – 3 ball counts and only pitched ahead in the count 4 times.
Verlander’s splits
We can give some credit to the Yankee hitters for being patient, but he still needs to throw lots more strikes. I’d rather see him give up a bunch more hits, than having thrown 100 pitches in just 5 innings.
Alex Avila baby!!
Verlander on a roll after 3 and I am in class given my evening students a stat test. Go Tigers!
Holy cow . Avila AGAIN!!!
Miguel Cabrera is country strong.
VMart is killing it too!
Clearly the team was suffering from loss of equilibrium due to the absence of Inge strikeouts this season. Inge strikes out, and it’s bombs away. Clearly Brandon gets my player of the game vote.
Now he is striking out like a man inspired
Aliva again. He has a 5 RBI night so far.
now Avila steals 2B.
Attaboy Verlander. 8 innings, 108 pitches. That’s much much better.
Verlander was very, very good today–probably better than I’m giving him credit for, because I was simultaneously watching him and Tim Lincecum (13 Ks, 0 BBs).
I was following Lincecum on Gameday. yes, sick game he had.
wow. Cabrera just broke Mark Reynolds glove.
I thought that would’ve been an error, Cabrera hit it right at him. Even though there was nothing he could do about it, isn’t that an error?
Nice win! ROARRRR!
Just a little worried about the BA of the top 2 in the batting order.
I knew they were gonna win when I saw Justin’s picture in the game post header…he looked ready…
Question: Why is JV wearing a home cap with a road jersey in the picture at the top of this thread? Do we no longer wear the caps with the orange Olde English D on them for road games any longer?
As far as the team goes I’m forecasting a third place finish in the AL Central. Brad Penny (we’d have been better served with Battlestar as the 5th starter IMO) is absolutely washed up and our starting pitching outside of Verlander is suspect. Verlander pitched well tonight but he needs to learn that walking dudes when he is up four runs is verboten. Both times he walked a guy last night with four run leads (up 4-0 and then 6-2) they came around to score. He’s got to be better than that in those situations if we are to truly consider him to be elite. It is very frustrating to watch him walk guys when he has a four run lead. I’d be much less upset with him if he gave up base hits in those situations as opposed to walks. When you’re up four and walking suckers it is akin to taking your foot of the throat of a guy who’s trying to rob your house. In other words don’t give them an inch, make them earn their way back with the stick. I know that is cliche, but it is so true.
It’s from spring training, maybe it was wacky hat day.