Category: Game Post

Well, that was forgettable.  Still, the Tigers came away with their 2nd consecutive road series win, and that against a first-place team, so things are looking good (in fact for the season the Tigers are just one notch under .500 in road games).

Don Kelly provided a brief highlight with a rare home-run, only to undo it with a spectacular 2-run error.  Guess he didn’t hang out later to watch the ESPN highlights after all.

But enough of that. Tonight brings the two words we love to hear:  Justin Verlander.

Now yes, the last time the Mariners came to town the Tigers were the victims of a lopsided sweep.  And the Tigers even lost Verlander’s start 10-1 (it should be added that the bullpen gave up 6 of those runs in the 9th, on the day the term “blowpen” was coined).  But that was then, and this is now.  I mean, just look at the picture above.  See the concentration.

The Mariners send out Doug Fister, whose 3-6 record doesn’t do him justice (3.29 ERA).

In other news, the Tigers drafted Gene Lamont’s granddaughter’s boyfriend in the 740th round of the MLB draft.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Jhonny Peralta

He will like being back at Comerica, where he is hitting .337 (.985 OPS)

Today’s Return-of-the-Burn Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Don Kelly 3B
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez C
6. Andy Dirks LF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila DH
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

More hits than Lady Gaga.  More hits than, um, some fighter in some fight [look this up later].  More hits than…oh, nevermind.

The Tigers had 20 hits yesterday.  That is more hits than Magglio Ordonez has this season. They have 38 hits already in the first 2 games of the series.  That is more hits than Brandon Inge has this season.

And this isn’t against just anybody:  Texas had only given up 40 hits in their last two series combined (7 games);  Harrison, who gave up the bulk of the 20 hits, hadn’t given up a run in 16 innings.  This is not to say the Tigers are hitting good of course; they are hitting well.

So the Tigers head into tonight with a chance to convincingly sweep a first-place team on the road (on the other hand:  see today’s pitching matchup).

Even Raburn is hitting.  And, dare I say, Raburn is a big part of the recent Tiger surge.  Here is the thing:  as much as Raburn’s slump has been driving us crazy, how do you think it feels to the rest of the team, not to mention Raburn himself?  How do you think it must feel feeling like you have a lineup of 8 hitters and 1 black K? So when Raburn hit his grand slam against the White Sox, the smiles all around were mostly about the 4 runs, but also, I think, a huge weight was lifted from Raburn and the rest of the team.

In fact, Raburn has a 7-game hitting streak going.  The Tigers are 6-1 in that time.  Even a minimally contributing Raburn is going to make a huge difference to the team; at any rate, at least for the moment, he has rekindled the idea that when he is at bat maybe, just maybe, he will do something.

Phil Coke returns to the lineup and the mound tonight.  He faces the 6-0 Alexi Ogando (2.20), so he has his work cut out for him.  Or, in the charming words of Ol’ Smokey, “he is pitching in the heat against a guy who is 6-0…so, good luck, Coke.”

With Freakyfoot Phil back, Omir Santos goes back to the mud (thanks for the visit, hope you didn’t unpack).  I had assumed the move would be to send Wilk back now, and Santos back when Ordonez returns (latest intelligence says Monday at the earliest).  But Scherzer’s troubles meant Furbish was used up Monday, and Purcey was used Tuesday, so there is a lefty deficit in the bullpen.  I’m guessing this is plan B, and Wilk is the lefty-du-jour for tonight’s game, and will be swapped for Ordonez.

There is still the question of who goes when Inge returns, but it seems unlikely he will really be back anytime soon.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Brennan Boesch

Keep the Boesch baesching going!

Today’s Lucky Lefty Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Don Kelly 3B
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez C
6. Andy Dirks LF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila DH
9. Ramon Santiago 2B

14:  Home runs by Detroit so far in June (leads the majors)

13:  Number of runs scored by Detroit yesterday against the Rangers

10:  Number of runs given up by the Rangers over their previous 6 games

0:  Number of games won by Cleveland, at home, against the Rangers

1: Number of games won so far by Detroit, on the road, against the Rangers.

1.5:  Number of games Detroit needs to make up to take over the Central Division lead

Sure, only so much can be made of one game, so let’s see what happens the next two.  But just maybe this series could be a good indicator of how we stack up right now against Cleveland.

Tonight Rick Porcello will have the task of keeping the Rangers to a manageable run total.  Unlike Scherzer, Porcello is coming off a good start, a 4-2 win over Minnesota.  Matt Harrison has been doing even better for the Rangers–it has been over 14 innings since he has allowed a run at all.  Time to find out if all the offense last night was a fluke.

Oh, and in the draft the Tigers have taken Colin Kaline, grandson of Al.

And Magglio is still with Toledo.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Miguel Cabrera

After watching Boesch baesch the ball yesterday, Miguel says today it’s the right-handers’ turn.

Today’s Ghost’s-Last-Stand? Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Casper Wells LF
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Alex Avila C
8. Ryan Raburn 2B
9. Danny Worth 3B

92.5%

That’s the current number for the Rangers on the ESPN poll of who will win tonight’s game.

The Rangers are one of the hottest teams in baseball right now, having won 11 of their last 14.  They just completed a 4-game sweep of Cleveland (thank you very much).  We all know the Rangers can score runs, but what was really impressive against Cleveland was the pitching:  Texas held the Indians to 6 runs total over the 4 games.

Max Scherzer will have his work cut out for him against the Rangers in hitter-friendly Arlington, especially coming off two consecutive shaky starts.  Colby Lewis looks to continue the Ranger streak of good pitching, himself coming back from 8 innings of 4-hit shutout pitching against the Rays.

So the Tigers have their work cut out for them tonight.  But 92.5%? C’mon.

In other news, Purcey returns from paternitizing, and Andy Oliver has been sent back to the mud.  Scott Sizemore has been called up to the Oakland A’s, as a 3rd-baseman.  And still no Magglio.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Andy Dirks

Texas hitters will keep Andy busy in the outfield;  Dirks had 2 2-strike hits in yesterday’s game, which should be a confidence-builder.

Today’s Return-of-the-H-Factor Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Don Kelly 3B
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Andy Dirks LF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila C
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

Today is the rubber game of the 3-game series with the White Sox, after which Detroit bounces off to Texas to take on the Indian-destroying Rangers, who will be already underway in Cleveland by game time.  If all goes well Detroit could be 2 1/2 games out of first when today’s game ends.

So, yes, the losing streak was only one game this time.  Because:  Justin Verlander. And: Miguel Cabrera.

After the game, the Tigers took advantage of a little-known change in MLB rules and called up Adam Wilk to replace David Purcey, who was placed on paternity leave (twins!).  Normally, a player has to spend at least 10 days in the minors once he has been sent down, which means Wilk would have been unavailable (which means the lefty would likely have been…Brad Thomas.  Eek!).  But last season in a fit of family-friendliness, MLB added a specific exception to the 10-day rule for players called up to replace a player on paternity leave. Who knew?

And Phil Coke is back, and scheduled to pitch Wednesday, which means that Oliver is to be a hen-in-the-mud, although it is not official yet.

And Magglio may join the team in Texas, so hopefully Omir Santos didn’t unpack all of his bags.

Today Bad Brad Penny aims to revert back to Good Penny, or at least Brutus.  The Tigers draw the always tough Jake Peavy.  Especially against Miguel Cabrera, who does worse against Peavy than against any other starting pitcher he has faced on a regular basis, 2-for-22 (.091). Brad Penny has as many hits against Peavy.

This will be the first time that 2 pitchers with 5-letter names starting with P faced each other since April 11, 2008.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game: Brennan Boesch

One of the lefties will need to step up today for the Tigers.  A Boesch baesch would be just the thing.

Today’s No-H Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Don Kelly 3B
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez C
6. Andy Dirks LF
7. Alex Avila DH
8. Ryan Raburn 2B
9. Ramon Santiago SS

Well, so a bunch of streaks ended yesterday:  the Tiger winning streak, the Tiger winning streak against the White Sox, Charlie Furbush’s career scoreless streak, and Adam Dunn’s 0-for-40 against LHP.

The way the Tigers’ season has gone, one could expect a losing streak to follow.  Not so fast!  Tonight we get Justin Verlander, who not only is Justin Verlander, but has been particularly tough against the White Sox, going 6-0, 2.03 in his last 6 outings against them.  The only White Sox hitter who has hit Verlander consistenly has been AJ Pierzynski (.327).

Verlander will be matched by his former teammate and no-hit buddy, Edwin Jackson, who has struggled since his no-hitter last season (a combined 9-11, 4.44).

Also on the bright side:  Cleveland has to play Texas again tonight.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Jhonny Peralta

Peralta’s .920 OPS leads all MLB Shortstops.  In the All-Star balloting he trails Derek Jeter (.654) by about a million votes, which is inevitable.  He also trails Asdrubal Cabrera (.898), Elvis Andrus (.668), Yunel Escobar (.831) and Erick Aybar (.793), among others (they only have the top 5 vote-getters listed).  We need some love for the H-Factor.

Today’s He-Bats-9th-Because-There’s-No-10th Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Don Kelly 3B
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Andy Dirks LF
7. Jhonny Peralta SS
8. Alex Avila C
9. Ryan Raburn 2B

Well, they did it:  the Tigers finished off the 3-game home series against the Twins with a sweep, which makes them 5-0 against the Twins this season.  Hopefully the home series was good for cash flow–the Tigers appear to be one of 9 MLB teams that have unacceptable debt loads.

The last time the Tigers and White Sox met, the Tigers swept the 3-game series, and held Chicago to a total of 3 runs for the entire series.  So, yes, the Tigers are a combined 8-0 vs the Twins and White Sox so far in 2011.  Add to that the last 6 games between the teams in 2010 that Detroit won, and Detroit tonight has a chance to win their 10th straight vs the White Sox, something they last accomplished in 1923.

The White Sox come into this game though with a lot of momentum, fresh from a 3-game sweep of the previously hot Red Sox, scoring 24 runs over 3 games.  So which White Sox will we see this series, the 3-run version or the 24-run version?

Attempting to make it the former will be Andy Oliver, making his 2nd start in place of Phil Coke. Chicago counters with lefty Mark Buehrle, who struggled in his Apr 22 start vs Detroit, and gave up 6 runs in 5 2/3 innings, including a 2-run HR to Ryan Raburn.

Rain is in the forecast, so stay tuned.

Oh, and the Free Press has officially jinxed Al Alburquerque, comparing him to Joel Zumaya.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Danny Worth

With Brandon Inge on the 15-day DL with mono, Danny has a chance to prove his worth at 3B. (Curiously, the Tigers called up C Omir Santos to take Inge’s spot).

Today’s Everyday Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Casper Wells RF
3. Brennan Boesch LF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Ryan Raburn 2B
8. Alex Avila C
9. Danny Worth 3B

Tonight is the closet game of the Twins series, as the Tigers look to break out the brooms.  Last night’s game was filled with glove-clownery on both sides, and a phantom tag at home, but the Tigers again came out with the one-run victory.

After the game, Leyland had this to say of Ryan Raburn:  “he’s played good left field this year.”  He then went on to say that Raburn will “probably” be back at 2nd for tonight’s game.  Then today he submitted the lineup:  Ramon Santiago 2B.

He only made the briefest of appearances, retiring the pesky Jim Thome, but the third of an inning by Charlie Furbush gave him the cumulative equivalent of a 9-inning complete game shutout for his young career.  His 9 scoreless innings to start off his career is the most by a Tiger since Chris Mears in 2003.  Nonetheless, he is still stuck carrying the bullpen backpack, a new larger one apparently.  But is it still pink?  Still Hello Kitty?  Or some other horror?  We demand to know.

About the bullpen:  they came through last night.  But, say your closer isn’t available, and your 8th-inning guy blows through his 3 hitters in devastating fashion–well, is there some reason you couldn’t bring him back out for the 9th?  I’m just saying.

Rick Porcello tries to dust himself off tonight from the roughing up he took from the Red Sox last out.  Scott Baker was roughed up by his own bullpen last outing–they blew a 5-0 lead over the last 2 innings.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Andy Dirks

The Dirks has impressed with his play in left field;  now he gets to take a crack at the vast Comerica centerfield.

Today’s I Bet You Didn’t Expect This Lineup:

1. Don Kelly LF
2. Ramon Santiago 2B
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Andy Dirks CF
8. Alex Avila C
9. Brandon Inge 3B

The Twins.  We all know what happens when we play the Twins:  balls are lost in the lights, infield squibs take strange hops, umpires don’t see batters hit with pitches, etc.  Yesterday, luck was finally reversed, as the umpires reversed a fan interference call that gave the Tigers the winning run, and detonated Ron Gardenhire’s head.  The Twins are officially having an awful year.

Tonight Mad Max Scherzer steps up for the Tigers.  His last outing was rather forgettable.  At least I wish it were.  Not to worry, though:  that was actually his evil twin, Matt Scherzer.  You can tell because the twin has the blue eye on the left side.  Or wait, is that Max?  Anyway, the Twins will be without their leading hitter, Jason Kubel.  Those Twins, with the .237 team average, without their leading hitter in the lineup, do you hear what I’m saying Max?

Lefty Brian Duensing takes the mound for the Twins.  Duensing pitched 2 innings against Detroit on May 10 following the hail storm delay, and gave up 2 runs, 2 hits and 4 walks.  He throws a lot of off-speed stuff, and I’m sure the Tiger plan of attack will be to take a lot of pitches, right? Right?

• Answer: 1
• Question:  How many hits does Raburn have at Comerica in May?

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  Miguel Cabrera

The state of Florida has returned Mr. Cabrera’s driver’s license, and he celebrates by driving in a few runs.

Today’s Everyday-Except-Today Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Casper Wells RF
3. Brennan Boesch DH
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez C
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Brandon Inge 3B
8. Ryan Raburn LF
9. Danny Worth 2B

Happy Memorial Day everyone!  Summer is here, and no better way to celebrate the beginning of summer than with some Tiger baseball.  And Twins.

Spring ended on a pretty nice note, as Justin Verlander was back to his dominant self and shut down the Red Sox machine 3-0, the AL-leading 8th Tiger shutout of the season.  Verlander was pulled with 2-out in the 8th, because he was at 135 pitches and seemed to lose the strike zone, but it should be noted that his 135th pitch was 100 mph.  100.

With the streaky Tigers this season, a win has usually meant more are coming (as has a loss).  Normally, the Twins have not exactly been the best team to start a win streak against, but this year is not a normal year for Minnesota.  Their team batting average is a woeful .237, they have an AL-worst 3.43 runs per game (Detroit is at 4.23, league average is 4.26), their team ERA is a league-worst 4.77 (Detroit is 4.26, league average is 3.86).  So, not surprisingly, they also have a league-worst record at 17-34.

In the brief 2-game series the teams already played the Tigers battered the Twins pitching for 19 runs in 2 games.  But the Twins will start this series off with the one bright spot in their rotation, Nick Blackburn, who is 3-0, 1.72 for the month of May.  The Tiger least likely to get to Blackburn might be Jhonny Peralta, who is 3 for 20 lifetime against him.

The Tigers offer the Twins a Penny for their thoughts, as Bad Brad Penny returns after his 3 shutout innings against Tampa Bay were disappeared by the rain.

Today’s Player of the Pre-Game:  All U.S. Service members who have given their lives serving the country.

Today’s Memorial Day Lineup:

1. Austin Jackson CF
2. Andy Dirks LF
3. Brennan Boesch RF
4. Miguel Cabrera 1B
5. Victor Martinez DH
6. Jhonny Peralta SS
7. Alex Avila C
8. Ryan Raburn 2B
9. Brandon Inge 3B

Speechless and kinda sick to my stomach after game 1.  Beckett v. Verlander II sounds fun, more later.

(game will be televised on FSD)

Lots going on today.

First of all, in a move that reeks of DD desperation (and rightfully so), Scott Sizemore was traded yesterday to the athletics for LH reliever David Purcey. Considering Sizemore was once a top organizational prospect and is now gone after just over 200 ABs in the bigs demonstrates that there were some serious evaluation problems up and down the chain.  David Purcey is in his 3rd year in the bigs and looks to have finally figured out how to pitch at this level.  He was having a pretty decent ’10 campaign (1.21 WHIP, .210 BAA) until an injury ended his season after 34 IP. Detroit is his 3rd team already in 2011 as he was dealt to Oakland after being DFAd from Toronto early this season.  Though he had pitched well for the A’s, they have a plethora of worthy relievers (and Bailey is coming off the DL soon) which made Purcey expendable.  Apparently, the A’s have coveted Sizemore for some time.

I make the point about desperation because 1) DD is not under contract for 2012, 2) DD is admitting that the bullpen needs help as he has not been able to develop talent internally, nor has Benoit panned out thus far and 3) Sizemore is not the answer at 2B.

I also make the point about desperation because Ryan Raburn, who seems to have tree limbs for hands at times, will now be the regular 2nd baseman.  Whether this move came from the top, or it is Ol’ Smokey’s own doing, a fellow  2012 contract-less Jim Leyland is also beginning to realize that time is of the essence.  Lowe’s article in Today’s Freep contains a very scary chart which displays the offensive output for each of the four different 2B starters this season.  Read it at your own risk.

In today’s exciting news, Andy Oliver makes his 2011 debut after an impressive 9 starts in Toledo. Covering 9 starts with the Hens, Oliver had a 3.31 ERA , 1.26 WHIP, and 8.53 K/9.  The 2009 second rounder will fill in for Phil for at least two starts over the next week.  It will be interesting to see what happens to the rotation if he pitches well.

In other roster news – Wilk & Perry down to make room for Purcey & Oliver.

Tonight’s reasonably composed lineup:

1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Andy Dirks, LF
3. Brennan Boesch, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Jhonny Peralta, SS
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Ryan Raburn, 2B
9. Brandon Inge, 3B