Game 2010.028: Tigers at Twins

Yesterday Max Scherzer built upon a previous underwhelming outing by performing considerably worse. Maybe Dontrelle Willis can build upon a satisfyingly strong outing by doing better. Of course better than 0 runs is tricky.

Last week Willis fanned 6 Twins in 6 innings while allowing only 6 base runners and his 3.75 ERA would certainly qualify as surprising.

The Twins send out Nick Blackburn. The Tigers torched him for 9 runs in 3.1 innings the first time they faced him last year. Then he held them to 3 runs in 16 innings over his next 2 starts. Blackburn’s peripherals are pretty ugly this year with 8 walks, 7 K’s, and 6 homers allowed in 23.2 innings.

Your stat to watch tonight: opposing hitters have led off an inning get on base at a .520 clip off of Blackburn this season.

Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins – May 4, 2010 – MLB.com Preview

Comments

29 responses to “Game 2010.028: Tigers at Twins”

  1. charlie Avatar

    Rest in Peace Ernie. I will always remember falling asleep to your voice as a kid.

  2. TM Avatar
    TM

    Let’s come from behind again and win this one for Ernie

  3. Smith Avatar
    Smith

    RIP Ernie.

    Willis looks wild, but not ‘Willis wild’, just regular. He’s around the plate. I think he’ll settle down and find his groove.

  4. Tigers Fan in Toronto Avatar
    Tigers Fan in Toronto

    It looks like it’s going to be another long night for us and a short night for our starting pitcher.

  5. jason Avatar
    jason

    What horrible news. RIP Ernie. An entire chunk of my was spent listening to him.

  6. Tigers Fan in Toronto Avatar
    Tigers Fan in Toronto

    It was always a joy tuning in a game called by Ernie on WJR…..no matter where I was or if the Tigers were winning or losing.

  7. Tigers Fan in Toronto Avatar
    Tigers Fan in Toronto

    When I was a kid I could never figure out how Ernie knew the name and where the person lived, who caught the foul balls in the stands……until my dad clued me in.

  8. Ken in Vegas Avatar
    Ken in Vegas

    How did he do that?? Clue me in.

  9. mcb Avatar
    mcb

    Gotta be hard for Mario and Rod, Dan and Jim, to call tonights game.

    1. Smith Avatar
      Smith

      Dan and Jim both teared up when they made the announcement. They were silent of a solid 30 seconds. Pretty tough to listen to.

  10. Tigers Fan in Toronto Avatar
    Tigers Fan in Toronto

    Was Sizemore in dreamland.

  11. kathy Avatar
    kathy

    So far, this game feels like I’m having a tooth pulled.

  12. Ken in Vegas Avatar
    Ken in Vegas

    At least the cameramen have stopped holding the cameras like they are being tasered.

  13. Smith Avatar
    Smith

    Willis has really settled down. Changing speeds, and hitting his spots. Fun to see. Perhaps we can get another inning or two out of him.

  14. fuprete Avatar
    fuprete

    I think this is the Willis the trade was expecting. If he lasts, he could become one of the best in the game. Those low outside strikes are unhittable for right hand batters.

    1. stephen Avatar
      stephen

      Lets not get crazy now! He still hasn’t got 6ip with less than 3 earned runs more than five times over the length of his 30 million contract. Edwin Jackson did that in a month last year.

  15. Smith Avatar
    Smith

    I would have liked to see him finish this inning, but he sure did settle down nicely. 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, and 6 K’s in 5 1/3.

    It’s Zoom-Zoom time now.

  16. kathy Avatar
    kathy

    Oh, Brennan!!! btw, Guillen is on the mend. That’s good news, isn’t it?

  17. stephen Avatar
    stephen

    That ball is long gone!

  18. stephen Avatar
    stephen

    The rookies giveth and the rookies taketh.

  19. Tigers Fan in Toronto Avatar
    Tigers Fan in Toronto

    Who made the boo-boo…..Avila or the third base coach?

    1. Tigers Fan in Toronto Avatar
      Tigers Fan in Toronto

      Avila’s gaf…..and it could be a big one.

  20. fuprete Avatar
    fuprete

    Is that a surprise that Perry gave up that hit??

  21. fuprete Avatar
    fuprete

    Really great job, Perry!

  22. RoseTattoo Avatar
    RoseTattoo

    Wow. Tough to be the rookie goat tonight.

    I hate the Twins.

  23. Keith (Mr. X) Avatar
    Keith (Mr. X)

    what a crappy day. Harwell dies, Wings lose in OT, now this.

  24. Joey in Portland OR Avatar
    Joey in Portland OR

    Ouch, that one hurt.

  25. Tigers Fan in Toronto Avatar
    Tigers Fan in Toronto

    The last inning of tonights game might diminish the value of AA’s stock for a while..

    1. Dr. Detroit Avatar
      Dr. Detroit

      Yeah not to jump on him, and certainly one error does not cost any team a victory in the bigger picture of the game, but that pitch went right thru his 5-hole. Fairly easy block if he plopped down properly when he knew it was going to be in the dirt–and he was looking for it low too by the action of his glove before the pitch came. Man, this one stings.