Game 2010.060: Pirates at Tigers

Is anybody else ready for this team to start playing good baseball again? Justin Verlander and Ross Ohlendorf do the honors tonight.

Comments

85 responses to “Game 2010.060: Pirates at Tigers”

  1. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    “I think we’re just one click away from getting it going,” catcher Gerald Laird told the Tigers’ official website. “We’ve just got to find this click.”

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      I think Gerald is several clicks short

      1. Vince in MN Avatar
        Vince in MN

        There is some cruel irony attached to someone hitting .160 giving their opinion as to what the team needs to do to “get it going.” This was undoubtedly lost on Mr. Laird, but at least he didn’t complain about the opposition pitching to him like he was Johnny Bench.

        1. Coleman Avatar
          Coleman

          He hits more like Johnny Bench’s Bench (random 70’s commercial reference).

          1. Vince in MN Avatar
            Vince in MN

            Speaking of Johnny Bench’s bench, do you recall the “no runs, no drips, no errors” commercial he did for Krylon (I think) spray paint years ago?

            1. Coleman Avatar
              Coleman

              Actually, I do…also all the Aqua Velva commercials, “when a man wants to smell like a man,” Pete Rose and Enos Cabell among others. I mean, good lord, who out there was thinking, oh yeah, wanna smell like Pete Rose and Enos Cabell…

      2. jud Avatar
        jud

        Laird not only can’t get the click going ….. he has no idea where the click gizmo is

  2. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    Anyone care to predict how the Tigers do over the next 15 pointless IL games. I’ll go out on a limb and say 9-6 (6-3 home, 3-3 away), after which they will still be at least 4.5 games behind the Twins, but do to the weak opposition will have retained their undeserved status as pretenders to the Central crown.

    1. Mark in Chicago Avatar
      Mark in Chicago

      The Tigers tend to do really well in IL play, so I’ll go with 11-4

      1. jud Avatar
        jud

        they play really well in IL….. so taking recent performances into consideration i say 9-7 few breaks 10-6

    2. T Smith Avatar
      T Smith

      Undeserved? They are only one click away!

  3. Kevin in Dallas Avatar
    Kevin in Dallas

    Does McCutchen look like on of the Milli Vanilli guys? The one that’s still alive?

    1. kathy Avatar
      kathy

      No. He looks like himself….damn good!

  4. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    Anyone catch Verlander mouth ‘wow’ after that Jackson catch? He made that a little more interesting than it needed to be

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Encore!

  5. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    Don Kelly is batting third. #$(#($ $@$#% #%%($%.

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Isn’t it required to bat him 3rd since he’s filling in for Maggs?
      Besides, once you get used to seeing Ryan Raburn batting 3rd what could possibly surprise you/

      1. charlie Avatar
        charlie

        well i want to know why opie didn’t get to bat third

      2. ouchudied Avatar
        ouchudied

        Even Rod acknowledged this on the telecast, saying “Leyland doesn’t like to mess with the line up card much”

    2. stephen Avatar
      stephen

      Seriously, Don Kelly batting third is just stubborn dumb assness.

      1. T Smith Avatar
        T Smith

        Or, it’s… “we’re only playing the Pirates so I will consult Nancy Reagan’s astrology guide…”

  6. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Cy Ohlendorf

  7. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    36 pitches combined total after 2 innings…I think they can just go and rent out the bullpens to a private party tonight

  8. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Verlander just cost himself a run by blowing it on that bunt. We must have the worst fielding pitchers in baseball.

  9. TPB in Troy Avatar
    TPB in Troy

    Inge, Avila and Santiago. The heart of the line up.

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      So far it’s the only part of the lineup that’s hitting. B.O.O.B. rally!

  10. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    Since it looks like the Pirates are trying to hand us a run here, we should probably try to cash in

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      R3L2O-K Fail

      1. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        R3L2O-Kx2 Fail

  11. jud Avatar
    jud

    Hey Ramon at least swing at pitches that care in the city limits of Detroit….you did the same thing in the ninth inning at chicago swung at four balls….same thing today not even close…..

  12. Kris in SJC Avatar
    Kris in SJC

    Sigh. Dead team walking.

  13. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    Well I’m gonna nominate the bottom of third as “the most frustrating offensive half inning of the year”

    1. Randolph Avatar
      Randolph

      Agreed. I’ve started to change the channel knowing 7-9 are coming up, waiting for the next inning.

      1. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        Looks like you’re missing a good game so far

        1. Randolph Avatar
          Randolph

          I’m glad I still had the radio on while painting. Maybe I should stop watching more often…

  14. TPB in Troy Avatar
    TPB in Troy

    what awful ABs. Just a waste.

  15. Randolph Avatar
    Randolph

    It’s still early…but seriously, you can’t get Inge home!

  16. jud Avatar
    jud

    infield back and there going to give you a run or two on a ground ball 3Ks’ god this offense is disgusting ……..just a ground ball fly ball too much to ask for……..

  17. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    With runner on 3rd Less than 2 out we are striking out 20% of the time (125 PA, 24K).
    League average is 15%.

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Ouch–Austin Jackson with R3L2O: 10 PA, 5 K.

      Perhaps some coaching is needed here…

  18. TPB in Troy Avatar
    TPB in Troy

    this is a sad statement about this tiger team. playing the lowly Pirates — one if the worst teams on in MLB — with JV on the hill and they are losing 1 nothing in the 4th.

    1. stephen Avatar
      stephen

      Well, I’m not the most positive baseball fan, but lets not extrapolate too much about a one run deficit in the fourth. That’s like Blanche Lincoln conceding just based on the absentee ballots from Pulaski County.

      1. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        OK, you’ve pretty much nailed down the obscure reference of the night award.

        1. stephen Avatar
          stephen

          thank you and goodnight!

  19. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    Woah that was a missle

  20. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    Pitch wasn’t even a strike according to gameday, even though Rod said it went right down the middle

  21. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Boesch Bash!!

  22. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    I wonder when the last time Inge got a 2 out hit with RISP with 2 strikes on him…

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Probably the last time he got a 2 out hit with RISP. He pretty much always has 2 strikes on him…

  23. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    “Inge now has a 7 game hitting streak, his average is slowly but surely beginning to climb.”

    OK, slowly maybe, but surely might be stretching it.

    Hey, look at that! RBInge!!!

  24. jud Avatar
    jud

    Inge clinches the POW no more votes needed!!!!!

    1. ouchudied Avatar
      ouchudied

      POW–player-of-the-world?

      1. jud Avatar
        jud

        7 game hitting steaks will do that!

  25. jud Avatar
    jud

    they just got Boesched and Binged in the same inning….wowoie

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Boesch is now leading the team in BA and OPS, now that Miguel has fallen into a bit of a slump

  26. ouchudied Avatar
    ouchudied

    JV, stop throwing fastballs to McCutchen. Thanks.

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Especially if you’re gonna walk the 9 hitter in front of him

  27. jud Avatar
    jud

    I see the Pirate catcher is hitting under .200 there must be a club or official group of these catchers…Laird for Pesident

    1. jud Avatar
      jud

      Mauer applied…they told him forget it!

    2. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Avila has just been notified that he has been put on probation

      1. jud Avatar
        jud

        I hope the kick him out!

  28. jud Avatar
    jud

    Avila……atta boy……

  29. jud Avatar
    jud

    is this how you get as bad as Pittsburgh is????
    obviously They didn’t scout out the BOBS very well!

    1. Coleman Avatar
      Coleman

      Maybe they were counting on Laird and Raburn

  30. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Pittsburgh, you’ve been B.O.O.B. Bombed!

  31. TPB in Troy Avatar
    TPB in Troy

    Santiago takes him deep??

  32. jud Avatar
    jud

    Holy frickin Jackson…he ran 100 yards after that thing!!!!1

  33. Ronald Scrutchions Avatar
    Ronald Scrutchions

    Please give this to Rob In 1971, the Pirates also became the first Major League Baseball team to field an all-black starting lineup.[7] That lineup, on September 1, was Rennie Stennett, Gene Clines, Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Manny Sanguillen, Dave Cash, Al Oliver, Jackie Hernandez, and Dock Ellis

  34. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    Maybe Cabrera needs a day off…he hasn’t looked good at the plate in several days, could there be a bit of fatigue there?

    Not that we need him, with guys like Inge and Avila in the lineup…

    1. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      His wife isn’t having another baby is she?

    2. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      Batting fourth and playing 1st Base, Ryan Raburn.

  35. jud Avatar
    jud

    is is to much to hope that given the chance Avila really can play!!???????

  36. Randolph Avatar
    Randolph

    Ouhc, A-Jax fourth 0-5 game in the last seven. That’s in a bit of a rut.

    1. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      He needs a couple of days off. Then Kelly can lead off and Raburn can return to the 3-spot.

      1. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        Only if Kelly plays CF–whoever plays center has to lead off, it’s a rule. And since Leyland will want Damon to lead off, that means he also has to play center…wait, he’s actually done that already, hasn’t he?

  37. jud Avatar
    jud

    8 hits 5 RBI is that a modern day BOOB record….atleast for this year

  38. Vince in MN Avatar
    Vince in MN

    Valverde – the Un-rollercoaster.

  39. TPB in Troy Avatar
    TPB in Troy

    Damn those Twins: 2 to 1 over the Braves in the middle of the 8th

    1. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      On 5 soft singles around a K for both runs in the 7th. Liriano pitched another good game -11 Ks in 8 innings.

      1. Vince in MN Avatar
        Vince in MN

        Rauch fanned the side in the 9th. They aren’t skipping a beat without Nathan.

  40. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    When you look at the overall numbers, our overall hitting has been about as good as the Twins; in fact we have actually had fewer 0 and 1 run games than them. Their starting pitching has been the difference, and who would’ve predicted that?

    1. Vince in MN Avatar
      Vince in MN

      Twins have a slightly better BA/OBP than the Tigers (.271/.348 vs.267/.339), but the bigger difference (before tonight) is in 288 RS vs.Tigers 257. They K less and W more, and in general play better small ball (do the Tigers actually play small ball?) which allows them to deal better with their own lineup holes (both Hardy and Hudson are on the DL right now) and still keep winning.

      As far as pitching, one could argue that it has actually been the Tiger starters that have made the difference.

      And then there is the defense. No matter how you want to evaluate it, the Twins are superior there as well.

      1. Coleman Avatar
        Coleman

        Starting pitching:

        DET 18-23 4.87 344 IP 1.44 WHIP 1.87 K/BB
        MIN 30-20 4.01 383 IP 1.31 WHIP 3.23 K/BB

        Check out that last one. Twins starters have walked 82 batters in 383 innings. Tiger starters have walked 131 batters in 344 innings. If I was going to pick 1 statistic from hitting, pitching, and defense as the biggest difference right now between MIN and DET, there you go.

  41. Coleman Avatar
    Coleman

    New baby often = not much sleep

    1. stephen Avatar
      stephen

      Somehow, I don’t thing Cabrera is doing a lot of midnight getting ups…