Game 2013.5: Yankees at Tigers

Now that was a Hope Opener.

Like most of you, I surmise, I came into baseball consciousness well before the internet, streaming scores and instant updates. Growing up in Arlington, the only way I could get Tigers scores was to maybe catch a glimpse on the evening news (if I was allowed to stay up that late), or hopefully catch the “out of town scores” during the Rangers radio broadcast. I didn’t understand how they got those scores, but I wasn’t complaining. I don’t remember the TV guys being too concerned with the AL East back in the day (or AL Central post 1994). Typically, I did not get the Tigers score until the next morning when it was a race against my brother downstairs to grab the sports page and dive into the box scores. I used to stare at them for what seemed like an hour a day.

Then, however, there was the magic of the ballpark – and the out of town scoreboard. I didn’t quite understand how, but ballparks had mystical powers which allowed them to get updated scores every inning! And they would even let you know who was pitching (if you knew their numbers)! I yearned to see the wormhole in time which allowed the scoreboard guy at Arlington Stadium to get instant score updates; but I was content to just watch the numbers roll over.

Well, I went out to the Ballpark yesterday, and thanks to cell phone connectivity issues in crowded places, I was transported back to my childhood and found myself scoreboard watching. And it was fantastic.

2-0. Nice start.

2-3!?! I hate the Yankees!

5-3!!! There must have been a home run, right? 5th inning – I wonder if one of the big boys hit one out? Did Cabrera get another RBI?

6-3! That was fast. Maybe a solo shot? A double then single? Not enough time to load the bases and WP one in. When did I last check the scoreboard?

8-3. Final. I couldn’t wait to get home and read about it.

Just like I had hoped.

**************************************

Remember that today’s game is the Fox Game of the Week.

1. Jackson, CF
2. Hunter, RF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Dirks, LF
7. Peralta, SS
8. Avila, C
9. Santiago, 2B

Comments

48 responses to “Game 2013.5: Yankees at Tigers”

  1. TIGERS RULE Avatar
    TIGERS RULE

    It looks like Smokey is still senile … look at the numbers Infante has put up so far this year … and Smokey puts Santiago in instead … what an idiot!!! He costs the Tigers at least 5 games a year with his incompetent management.

    1. The Strategy Expert Avatar
      The Strategy Expert

      And the Yankees will use a Catcher as a backup infielder due to a depleted bench with Nunez out a couple games from bruised biceps.

    2. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      He wants to get them all playing time early. Whether that is necessary by game 5 is open for debate. I’m guessing Pena starts tomorrow.

      1. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        Define “playing” (having seen Santiago’s first 2 ABs).

        1. Kevin in Dallas Avatar
          Kevin in Dallas

          Leyland’s players love him b/c he plays everyone. I don’t agree with it, but I get it. And it seems to work. I’d bet money that Pena starts tomorrow.

          1. Vince in MN Avatar
            Vince in MN

            Define “works” (having seen Santiago’s first 3 ABs).

          2. Jeff Molby Avatar
            Jeff Molby

            Avila’s wife is going to give birth any minute now. 100% chance Pena starts tomorrow.

          3. The Strategy Expert Avatar
            The Strategy Expert

            Leyland said today during an interview that Pena is playing tomorrow.

  2. Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi Avatar
    Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi

    Have the Cards v. Giants on the local Fox channel so I am going solo with Dan and Jim.

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Same here…after cursing MLB for a while for their stupid MLB.TV game blackouts.

      1. Jeff Molby Avatar
        Jeff Molby

        hint: Proxy server

        1. Coleman Avatar
          Coleman

          Doesn’t help with the “Nationally Televised” game, does it? Or does it? (foreign country IP).

          1. Jeff Molby Avatar
            Jeff Molby

            Good point. Never tried it on a national game. Foreign might work. Try Canadian or Caribbean.

  3. Kevin in Dallas Avatar
    Kevin in Dallas

    Finally some RISP hits.

    1. Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi Avatar
      Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi

      And the Yankees go with Logan again against the Prince!

    2. Kevin in Dallas Avatar
      Kevin in Dallas

      R3L20 score.

      1. Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi Avatar
        Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi

        Batting Dirks with 2 KS?

        1. Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi Avatar
          Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi

          Give the guy a much needed hit!

  4. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    We’ve got a legitimate shot at seeing a sombrero presentation today.

  5. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    How do you not swing at a pitch right down the heart of the plate with 2 strikes?

    1. The Strategy Expert Avatar
      The Strategy Expert

      By not being a good hitter and/or also not being coached well.

      Leyland did an interview pre-game and said Santiago is a “big part of this team” however. I would like to know who else is a big part and which players aren’t a big part. This is a player who would be a full-time starter for us if he could only run, according to Leyland.

      Not sure how a guy who can’t hit and can’t run is such a big part of our team, I find that to be pretty sad. Not to mention being overpaid to perform horribly.

  6. judpma Avatar
    judpma

    The bottom of the order is slowing rounding into midseason form…good thing the top is on this weekend

  7. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Uh oh.

  8. judpma Avatar
    judpma

    Side note. Here’s how the Indians are so much smarter than the Tigers…they have Rayburn on their roster but the don’t play him!y

    1. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      1 for 3 with an outfield assist tonight.

  9. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    I’m surprised Leyland didn’t go with Downs to face Overbay there. That’s what I would have done anyway. On the other hand, maybe AlAl is the long man for today.

  10. Kevin in Dallas Avatar
    Kevin in Dallas

    6.74 – guess what this is.

    1. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      Kevin, you should be ashamed of yourself. This is a family site.

  11. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    Good for Dirks. Sometimes a little luck is what it takes to get a guy going.

  12. judpma Avatar
    judpma

    Wait….6.74…i thought Kevin was posting the price of gas here in California

  13. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    I thought 6.74 hours was the average length of a Yankees – Red Sox game.

  14. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    That was a close call! (The sombrero is carefully returned to its box).

    1. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      Meat of the order coming up in the eighth, he could get another shot.

  15. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    Given Santiago’s proficiency with the stick, I would have had him bunting there. A hit and run with Avila on first just never would have occurred to me.

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      And you said Kevin was bad.

  16. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    Anybody know what the record is for consecutive games with an RBI? Miggy has one in each of the first 5 games is what made me think of it.

    1. The Strategy Expert Avatar
      The Strategy Expert

      I think it is 17 by Oscar Grimes in 1922.

      Speaking of stats, I really liked the time they spent on the air today doing a basic overview of what OPS is and how it works, and then they spent a little bit of time talking about WAR. It’s about time that they start trying to talk about the stats a little bit more.

      1. Vince in MN Avatar
        Vince in MN

        Even though there is some question of the viability of some of the sabermetric formulas, they do seem to be getting more accurate and they definitely have opened up different ways to look at the game, which certainly makes for more interesting discussions than just using the old traditional measures. It’s kind of funny though, as lately OPS and WAR especially have come under some scrutiny for not being accurate enough measures. It’s possible that by the time they become part of the day to day conversation, they could be as obsolete as some of the older ones are looking to be now.

      2. Vince in MN Avatar
        Vince in MN

        Oscar Grimes in ’22. If so, that would be even more amazing, being the dead ball era.

        1. Coleman Avatar
          Coleman

          As opposed to Oscar Gamble, who played in the live hair era.

            1. Smoking Loon Avatar
              Smoking Loon

              Very nice Oscar exchange there. I’m nominating you guys for an Oscar.

              1. Coleman Avatar
                Coleman

                That would be wild.

  17. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    Leyland to Lamont strategy discussion: “Let’s surprise them and have Prince steal third”.

    1. The Strategy Expert Avatar
      The Strategy Expert

      It was one of those instinctual moments. Leyland had a visit from an old baseball ghost last night that told him to keep an eye out for an opportunity like that. It was only a foot or two short of being amazing and graceful. Maybe next time.

    2. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      I think Prince did that on his own. Something about making it home in time for the Michigan-Syracuse game.

  18. Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi Avatar
    Only Tiger Fan in Mississppi

    That throw out at the plate by Hunter helped turn things around. Al would be proud!

  19. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    Thumped ’em good the first two games. This is the kind of offense we have been expecting to see. Hope they can keep it up and do it again tomorrow.