Category: Game Post

PREGAME: The last time the Tigers went into Cleveland it looked like a sure sweep for the good guys. The Indians had just traded Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez and they were done. The Tigers were starting Edwin Jackson in the first game and there was reason for much confidence after the Tigers scored early. Turns out they lost 2 of 3 and needed extras to win that 3rd game. So while the match-ups look good I’m not taking anything for granted.

Jackson has been struggling but the Tigers thing it may be attributable to the fact he was tipping his slider. Jason Beck looked at Gameday data and noted that opposing hitters have been attacking his fastball. I really do believe these things happen quite frequently, but I’m always suspect when team’s make this kind of announcement prior to a game and view these things as attempts at either gamesmanship or changing a pitcher’s psyche.

Aaron Laffey takes the ball for the Indians. Laffey’s numbers aren’t particularly inspiring and the Tigers have gotten to him for 9 runs over the 2 starts he’s made against them this year.

Now for some bonus good news. Tim Bryant at Fox Sports Detroit passed a long a note that the series will be broadcast in HD. Indians games typically have been in standard def because the Indians don’t use a regional Fox Sports network and the HD broadcast capability isn’t usually available. Because this was a very late addition it is unknown if Dish Network will have the HD feed as we go to press.

Detroit vs. Cleveland – September 22, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME:

[audio:https://www.detroittigersweblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/onemoretime1.mp3]

So on a night with a microscopically small strike zone who would figure Fernando Rodney of all people to record a 3 out save with only 10 pitches? Yeah, I’m not raising my hand either.

Rodney’s effort capped a very satisfying win. I’m still skeptical about the Tigers fixing Jackson’s pitch tipping, but he didn’t allow a run thanks to 3 double plays. He only had 6 first pitch strikes and there were a number of hard hit balls. But if anyone had some good luck coming his way it was Jackson.

The Tigers also had a number of hard hit balls, the first 4 hitters had nice swings, but…they were also at people. Miguel Cabrera hit the ball hard 4 times, and had 1 hit and a double play to show for it. And with Ordonez on base 4 times, there were numerous unfortunate RBI circumstances.

But if there was a star of the game it had to be Ryan Raburn. He gunned down a runner in the first. He hit the homer that was the difference in the game for much of the tilt, and he singled and walked. Little Jimmy Jackson had himself a game.

The Tigers took care of business tonight. One more time.

PREGAME: Look, I’m as nervous as the next guy about this game. The Tigers are not playing good right now. But let’s look at the worst case scenario here. If the Tigers lose they still have a 1 game lead and they never have to go to the Metrodome again. Ever. A better case scenario is they win, and never have to go to the Metrodome again. Ever. Either way there is a silver lining.

Nate Robertson returns to the rotation due to the knee induced suckitude of Jarrod Washburn. The first time he returned was due to the elbow induced suckitude of Armando Galarraga. Robertson was solid for 2 starts and then incurred pelvic induced suckitude of his own. But a bullpen session on Thursday was encouraging enough to put him back in the rotation.

Scott Baker goes for the Twins. The Tigers have actually gotten to Baker twice this year getting him for 6 runs in August and 5 runs in May. Baker is much better at home where he’s limited opposing batters to a .637 OPS. He also has a crazy reverse platoon splits where he has allowed 21 of his 25 homers to right handed batters despite facing each side in the same amount of PA’s.

Your, “c’mon Marcus” lineup is

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Thames, DH
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Ordonez, RF
6. Guillen, LF
7. Inge, 3B
8. Laird, C
9. Santiago, SS

Detroit vs. Minnesota – September 20, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME:
[audio:https://www.detroittigersweblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/onemoretime1.mp3]

For those of you who don’t frequent Comerica Park, or don’t pay attention what happens when the Tigers win, their victory music is One More Time by Daft Punk. Hopefully we can say one more time a few more times before the end of the season and I’ll continue to post it after wins until the copyright police come after me (and to try and stave that off, you can find One More Time on the album Discovery. You can also download it legally here).

(more…)

PREGAME: Well, you have to score to win. That “duh” statement looms large with the Tigers being shutout Friday night and facing Carl Pavano this afternoon. Pavano of course has shut down the Tigers in each of 4 starts this year. He’s been good enough that he’s thrown 30.1 innings against Detroit. You’d hope that would be enough for the hitting coach to build a competent and executable game plan for the Tigers to follow.

Justin Verlander had a light day his last time out when he threw only 104 pitches. He did allow 5 runs though in his 7 innings as he was bitten by a one winning offensive outburst. It’s an affliction he’s suffered too many times this year (against the Mariners, the Angels, the Orioles, etc). He’ll likely have to be near perfect today.

Detroit vs. Minnesota – September 19, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: I waited several hours to write the postgame in hopes that I could paint a game story that would make sense. Yet nothing about this game made sense.

(more…)

PREGAME: Don’t get swept. Don’t get swept. Don’t get swept. That’s basically the message. Don’t get swept. Don’t get swept. Don’t get swept. If the Tigers take 1 they still have a 3 game lead, anything beyond that and they are sitting very pretty. A sweep and Tigers fans will really start to sweat.

The Tigers play their final 3 games in the Metrodome. Thank goodness. Tonight it is Brian Duensing against Rick Porcello. Duensing has only a 3.53 ERA despite allowing 90 baserunners in 66.1 innings. The ERA is probably low because despite the baserunners, he isn’t being hit hard with only 11 extra base hits. He is coming off his strongest performance, 7 innings of shutout ball with 6 K’s against the A’s. He’s been harder early in the count rather than later. The Tigers swing early in the count. This might work out.

The Twins chased Porcello after only 4 innings in his last start in the dome. They knocked him around for 6 runs on 90 pitches. That wasn’t good. Porcello shut the Twins out for 7 innings on 4 hits the first time he faced them. That was good.

Your, “hey it’s another freakin’ southpaw” lineup:

1. Raburn, LF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Thames, DH
6. Inge, 3B
7. Granderson, CF
8. Laird, C
9. Everett, SS

Detroit vs. Minnesota – September 18, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

PREGAME: Edwin Jackson and Zach Greinke today. Prepare to be amazed.

Kansas City vs. Detroit – September 17, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: So was everyone amazed that Josh Anderson was actually able to hit a ball to the wall, let alone over it? Your amazing factoid for the series is:

The Royals have hit 13 3-run homers this season. Five of them came in this series.

This one isn’t worth dissecting. I’ll have more in a “state of the team” type post before the Minny series starts. In the meantime feel free to fret, complain, rationalize, give-up, and stay optimistic in the comments here. I’ll be watching the Ernie video until I’m ready to write.

PREGAME: Tonight it will be Eddie Bonine and Lenny Dinardo doing that pitching thing. I think the Tigers will hit DiNardo pretty hard and I am certain they won’t hit into 5 double plays tonight. I can’t make guarantees about the Bonine/Royals interaction.

Yes, the game should be the focus tonight. But there is something else really big going on and that is Ernie Harwell returning to Comerica Park to say thank you to the fans. I will most certainly applaud until my hands hurt. I will most likely cry. But I feel compelled to be there tonight to say thank you.

Harwell will address the crowd in the 3rd inning and Fox Sports Detroit will carry it live. I’m sure it isn’t in his wishes to be disruptive in any way. The game at hand always comes first with Harwell. I just don’t know that is possible when the living embodiment of the game shows up to say Thank You.

Kansas City vs. Detroit – September 16, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: I’ve heard this game described as an ugly win. I had some of those same thoughts as first, but I quickly pushed those away. First, all wins are beautiful at this point. Second, while the Tigers did have to rely on the Royals ineptitude to pull this out it wasn’t like the Tigers were making a bunch of mistakes. Detroit played a pretty crisp game with two outfield assists, a caught stealing, and some nifty defense by both Adam Everett and Placido Polanco. They also got the hits when they needed them to capitalize on the Royals mistakes. I see nothing ugly about that at all.

Eddie Bonine did a fine job. He is a spot starter and he gave the team 5 innings and held Kansas City to  3 runs. The numbers weren’t outstanding, but they certainly were acceptable given the situation. That the game was close was more about the Tigers inability to pound Lenny DiNardo. He was followed by Zach Miner who had an easy inning thanks to a nice throw by Ordonez. Seay followed and benefited from a caught stealing in the 7th, and then some magic from Brandon Lyon.

Lyon once again came up big. With runners at the corners, nobody out, and Billy Butler at the plate I was sure that David DeJesus would score from 3rd to tie the game. I didn’t know if it would be a sacrifice fly, a hit, a ground ball double play that scored the run, I was just sure that Butler would get the job done. Yet Lyon induced a come backer, followed by a strike out and suddenly there were 2 outs and thoughts of extra innings didn’t seem so imminent.

• Granderson had a good game picking up 2 singles against the lefty and then driving a ball to the wall in left center.
• Adam Everett doesn’t hit a lot, but he certainly makes the most of the hits.
• There was much rejoicing in the comments about the BOOBs (bottom of the order boys) and it was well deserved.
• The comment of the night was delivered by Coleman:
  

  A weird coincidence, Billy Butler shares the same middle name as Carl Pavano, Joe Crede, and Luke Scott, “F’ing”

PREGAME: Tigers fans a couple weeks ago looked at the schedule and though, “dude we’re playing the Royals at home, that’s like a sweep,” and the dudes probably would have been thinking the Tigers would win. But then the Tigers lost. And Jarrod Washburn struggled in his last start. And Robinson Tejeda was bringing serious stuff in his last start and suddenly things don’t look so bright and shiny. At least not in this match-up.

Maybe the Tigers can learn from their last time out against the Royals though. Like maybe the hitters should try a different game plan against Tejeda and maybe Washburn should try a different game plan against the Royals. (oddly enough Washburn didn’t allow a homer in that game, just lots and lots of baserunners). It is noteworthy that Washburn has allowed homers in every game he’s pitched as a Tiger – except when facing the Royals.

Your, “Drinks are on Maggs, the boy is vesting tonight” lineup:

1. Granderson, CF
2. Guillen, LF
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Huff, DH
6. Avila, C
7. Inge, 3B
8. Santiago, 2B
9. Everett, SS

Kansas City vs. Detroit – September 15, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: Washburn is toast. Tejeda is good. Maggs is rich(er). Boras is a clown. At least nobody got hurt.

PREGAME: After Amber Grand delivered a big win yesterday (with some help from Rick Porcello, the bullpen, and a decent offensive attack) the Tigers will turn to Lori Adams who has a 4-2 record this season when performing the Star Spangled Banner. Sounds like a favorable match-up. Well, that and Justin Verlander taking on David Purcey.

Verlander gunning for a Cy Young (and having to pass Zach Greinke and Felix Hernandez) and Purcey returning to the rotation for the first time since April. Then again, Tigers have made lesser pitchers look great.

Your “Inge isn’t going to get anything good to hit” lineup:

1. Raburn, LF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Thames, DH
6. Inge, 3B
7. Granderson, CF
8. Laird, C
9. Everett, SS

Toronto vs. Detroit – September 14, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: A walk-off FC E-6. Lori Adams gets to stay in the National Anthem rotation.

Justin Verlander had another one of those outings where he has his great stuff. Doesn’t look like he’s going to get touched. And then gives up a crooked number on less than 10 pitches. I don’t get it.

But how about that bullpen. They have now thrown 6 straight scoreless innings and have allowed only 4 baserunners after getting beaten up for 5 straight games. And it wasn’t even the big guns today with Fernando Rodney serving game 1 of his reduced 2 game suspension and Brandon Lyon having worked 3 straight days. This time it was Ni and Bondo and Perry and Seay.

As for the offense, I thought they had let this game slip away when they didn’t make Purcey hurt in the first. Raburn with the leadoff homer and 2 straight walks that never moved. But like in many of the Tigers recent wins, everybody contributed in one way or another. Inge fanned on 2 pitches at his shoulder, but drew the walk and scored the winning run. Granderson got on with an error and later walked. Raburn had 2 hits. Maggs reached base 3 times. Avila with a big pinch hit single. Oh yeah, and Huff.

Honestly I was kind of upset when Huff came into pinch hit. He hasn’t made a great impression with the stick since coming to Detroit. But crow tastes good. Give me seconds.

PREGAME: It’s a 4 game losing streak, and thus the backwards post. I’ve invoked this with other Tigers 4 game losing streaks in the past, and we’ve yet to see it flip to 5 games. Let’s hope the mojo keeps working. (the Twins lost by the way).

Edwin Jackson gets to play the role of stopper, and not just the role of stopping the the losing, but stopping the short outings of starters and getting into a favorable Seay-Lyon set up. Jackson went 8 innings his last time out, I’d take 7 with no complaints.

Scott Richmond will try to play the role of non-descript starter who the Tigers struggle against. Actually, Richmond’s peripherals are pretty solid but he has allowed 21 runs over his last 4 starts. He is allowing 1.5 homers per 9, but the Tigers have only mustered a single Ryan Raburn homer in this 4 game skid.

Your “it’s a right handed starter for a change” lineup is:

1. Granderson, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Guillen, LF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Huff, DH
6. Thomas, RF
7. Avila, C
8. Inge, 3B
9. Santiago, SS

POSTGAME: Yeah. I’ve got nothing. Commence hand wringing.

The offense did something against a starter for a change, but did nothing after knocking said starter out of the game. The Tigers got a starter to go deep in a game, but not with a high degree of effectiveness. The Tigers got to hand the game over to the late inning specialists and avoid the seedy underbelly of middle relief, but both Lyon and Rodney faltered. Crap.

PREGAME: There was a time when the Blue Jays looked like they may be a surprise team. That was April when they took 3 of 4 from the Tigers and generally were winning with regularity. They even spent 44 days in 1st place. They played a lot of AL Central teams back then and there may be a chance that had something to do with it. The Jays are now 14 games below .500.

Tonight Toronto sends out the mustachioed Brian Tallet. He’s left handed. And he has a 5.31 ERA.

The Tigers send out there own trusty southpaw, Nate Robertson. If Nate’s pitching, I’ll be there. Through scheduling quirks, I will be at this Robertson start, and I was at the last one, and I was at the one before that too.

Your “I hope the top of the order is productive” lineup is:

1. Raburn, LF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Thames, DH
6. Inge, 3B
7. Granderson, CF
8. Laird, C
9. Everett, SS

Toronto vs. Detroit – September 11, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday

POSTGAME: Brian freakin’ Tallet . The Tigers fanned as many times as they got hits against Tallet. Tallet. Put this in the Bruce Chen disappointing offensive performance bucket. And I just don’t get it. Raburn is hitting. Thames is swinging the bat well. Maggs is up to .290. The Tigers have some guys hitting lefties well, but the team is still struggling at the dish.

I’ll give them credit for making things interesting in the 7th and 8th innings. They strung hits together, and Thames had himself one heck of a sac fly with the bases juiced. A sterling defensive inning in the top of the 8th and it felt like stuff was starting to lean in the Tigers favor, but the threat ended on a foul pop-up off the bat of Polanco and that was that.

Of course the offensive had to pick up 5 runs in the late innings just to tie the score as Nate Robertson was awful and channeled his inner Dontrelle and eventually left with a groin injury. His first 2 outings were very encouraging. This one the stadium gun had him at 85/86 (haven’t checked gameday yet), and Nate doesn’t really have a strong 85/86mph pitch.

Galarraga started off great and retired the first 5 guys he faced before reverting to Galarraga form. Ryan Perry didn’t help the matter. Runs just kept getting piled on.

Ugh.

The Tigers haven’t lost more than 4 in a row this season. It will be up to Edwin Jackson to get deep into the game and stop the slide and once again take command of their September.

PREGAME: Afternoon tilt today as Jarrod Washburn gives his bum knee a test against Lenny Dinardo. Dinardo hasn’t made a start this year, but he’s hardly a rookie. He’ll turn 30 next week and has spent 5 years banging around primarily as a reliever for the A’s and Red Sox. He’s had impressive numbers at AAA this year with only 5 homers allowed in 151 innings.

Your wilkin-ized lineup is:

1. Raburn, CF
2. Polanco, 2B
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Thames, DH
6. Ramirez, LF
7. Inge, 3B
8. Laird, C
9. Everett, SS

Detroit vs. Kansas City – September 10, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday