A walk-off. Followed by a skate-off. Harrumph.
At least it was a walk-off and not a WALK-off: when the count went to 3 balls with the bases loaded you could almost see it coming. In fact I even had renamed Joaquin Benoit in my head (Walk-in Benoit). So, at least that was averted. The bad news is that we are now on a 4-game losing streak. I blame myself: I didn’t have my customary Player of the Pre-Game. Won’t happen again.
Another day, another chance to get back to that winning thing. Justin couldn’t do it, Bad Brad couldn’t do it. Max had winning by the tail, but it apparently injured itself doing the 7th-inning stretch and danced off to a Carlos Santana tune. Today it is up to Rick Porcello to get the Tigers back on track. Porcello was brilliant in his last outing against Seattle, and has always done well in his career vs Cleveland (4-0, .228), so hopefully the evening will be filled with the sound of groundballs.
Porcello will need to be good, since he is being opposed by Major-League-Debut-Guy, who consistently stymies Detroit’s offense. Today’s MLDG is 22 year old righty Alex White, who was a freshman at North Carolina when they were recruiting Porcello (to put Porcello’s age in perspective). It will be up to the lineup to try to capitalize on their opportunities today. The same lineup that had no trouble getting on base yesterday, but tended to get left there (10 LOBs)
Today’s Player of the Pre-Game: Alex Avila
Alex got his 18th RBI yesterday. We now have 19 RBI from the catcher position. Last year we only had 55 for the entire season. Avila’s .319 BA leads all AL catchers. And he has been up 9 times with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 out, and has a walk, a single, a double, a triple, 2 sac flies, and 9 RBI to show for it. So if we get that guy to 3rd today, Alex will get the run home.
Today’s same-as-yesterday lineup:
- Jackson CF
- Rhymes 2B
- Ordonez DH
- Cabrera 1B
- Boesch RF
- Raburn LF
- Peralta SS
- Avila C
- Inge 3B
Comments
51 responses to “Game 2011.27: Tigers at Indians”
Goodbye April in the D. Tiger were 14-10 last April. Cleveland is 17-10 and I think their manager wants them to be the real deal?
Looks like Porcello has the sinker working, and he’s getting some good glove from the infield…encouraging signs.
How many men must a team leave on base?
Before they can be called a team?
How many lineup cards must Leyland make up?
Before the first three batter can set the table?
The answers my friends, is blowin in the wind. The answer is blowin on the wind.
(W/ apologies to BD)
It seems like the wind is blowin in one ear and out the other of Smoke on the Brain!
How long before he is shown the door?
A 10 year old baseball player could fill out a better lineup card.
I have been saying this for four years – this team goes nowhere with Leyland at the helm. He could turn the ’27 Yankees into a .500 team. The guy is a clown show all by hisself.
Well that was unfortunate–AJax doesn’t get thrown out stealing, and the double by Rhymes scores a run…
And like clockwork Magglio with the first-pitch groundout
when is the last time Maggs even had a decent swing at one of his 100000000000 ground outs….maybe he will spend some of that $110,000 pay check he got yesterday on some hitting lessons
Nice recovery by Boesch! And again Inge with a brilliant tag
Cabooooommmmmm!!!!
RaBomb!
Miggy is seeing the ball well……he was very close to 2 or 3 tators last night.
Rayboom!!!!
Popupplio
How long must we endure Mr. Groundoutnez in the 3 hole. This is a bit absurd.
At least he is efficient about it–he has seen a whole 4 pitches in 3 ABs.
Captain Mumbles has those line up cards made at Kinko’s a month in advance so maybe with May coming up Maggs will be in the 9 or 10- or 11th spot
Move Avila to number 3 slot and Peralta to number 1. Then Mags at no.8 followed by AJax. Avila has earned it.
I hope for Porcello sake that Thomas doesn’t come in tonight.
Keeps the opposing pitcher’s count down. Another great attribute. It is a pretty sad day when you would rather see Inge hit third. Move Mags down to the 7 hole and let him work his way back up. Carl Crawford was given this opportunity in the first couple of weeks. For Leyland it will probably take 3 months. The good news is that he is opening the door for his exit.
At least it took him 4 pitches to ground out that time
I think those kids behind home plate with the buzz cuts are filling out May’s lineup card?
Well, at least those kids aren’t banging that dang drum!
Well played Porcello!
reading an article about Leyland who says he’s not worried about the top three guys in the lineup because ” they are supposed to be there”…according to Mumbles……well that’s exactly the problem….He’s not worried about them!!!!!
Yawn. To be fair, there have been a couple of times tonight when they have almost made it interesting. Be that s it may, some drying paint beckons.
Captain Querque looking good
Al sure had it goin on tonight.
This game is setting up Inge for one of his late homers. I feel it.
I call Ordonez with the game-winning groundout
AlburquerK
Al……Al wow……impressive to say the least
Ordonez still on track to finish the year with 1 RBI,,,hitting in the 3 spot….fire Leyland
At least he struck out–that scenario had GIDP written all over it
Here’s my lineup for tomorrow.
1. Ramone
2. Peralta
3. Avila
4. Miggy
5. Boesch
6. Raburn
7. Mags
8. Ajax
9. Inge
Al Al Again!
Wowburquerque
alot of ‘dueness ” due up this inning
and Inge swings at a ball that bounced in front of the plate to remain due
Ok we’re done with the Bernstein Advantage and into Jerky Time. Let’s win this game for the pitching staff.
What a feable at bat by Kinge!
Whoever would have guessed in a million years a first-pitch groundout for Ordonez there. Why don’t we really save some time and just concede an out for his spot in the lineup and go on from there?
K1 K2 K3…welcome to the Rheality Show!
now its Miggy and the 8 clowns
We have 4 regulars with OPS in the .500 range! That’s sorta awesome.
Btw, Con Air finale on TNT. So much more enjoyable.
I do wish Cusack had more to do than just yell and cover his face when things explode. Cage’s choice to play his character as redneck seems like a cliche. But the explosions are good.
I was wondering when the Clown Show would start!
You don’t pull $hit like that at this point of a game!
This strategy is dumb.
and the clown show comes to and end…….fire Leyand
I’ll give Leyland a pass for last night — not pulling Scherzer after his tank was empty — questionable call. Scherzer had good stuff all night, but after 6 and 2/3 he couldn’t find the strike zone. THe meatball after a 3-1 count was inevitable. The right move would have been to pull him. It was a gamble that didn’t pay off.
But tonight… lead-off double and Boesch isn’t bunting? Unacceptable. In my estimation Leyland cost this team 2 wins in the last two nights. Yes, Boesch is a slugger, but the team is struggling to score runs. For the love of God, when you’re struggling, execute…. sacrifice Cabrera to third and give the veterans two shots at a sac fly. Duh. This isn’t brain surgery folks.
Note to V-Real.: Don’t go for the heroic pick in the bottom of a frame in extra innings.
Question to self: Did I just watch a little league game?
But then Cusack and Cage chase after Malkovich on choppers in Vegas. It’s like a second great ending.
So, it’s like extra innings…I think there is a metaphor for tonight’s game in here somewhere…
Malkovich gets beheaded, bunny goes down the gutter, and free money for the gamblers. Power ballad. Cue credits.
Check out ToledoBandito’s comment: http://www.freep.com/comments/article/20110501/SPORTS02/105010577/Cleveland-3-Detroit-2-13-inn-Tigers-offense-falls-flat-epic-game