Wednesday night Tigers 2- Royals 3
Thursday afternoon Tigers 7 - Royals 3
After last night's game lasted until almost midnight and then playing an afternoon game today it's time for some catch up here in Section 148.
Last night started out with Scherzer and Hochevar going head to head in a pitching duel. Scherzer was almost perfect through 5 2/3. He didn't allow a hit or a walk until then (although he did hit two batters). Flirting with perfection through almost 6 innings SHOULD be enough. But as good as Scherzer was Hochevar was almost as good, neither team could get a run across until KC got one off of Fu Te Ni in the 7th. It looked like Detroit would lose 1-0 until Miguel Cabrera drove one juussst over the wall and hitting the Right Field foul pole to tie the game up in the Tigers' 9th to send it to extra innings. Both teams tried to score in the 10th but failed to make it the last 90'. Then in the 11th Detroit put a series of singles together off of Kyle Farnsworth (I never did like him much as a Tiger, but I love to see him pitch for the other guys!). Finally Don Kelly was waved home from 2nd on a not-very-deep single to Left Field, testing the arm of Posednik. Pods failed that test miserably- I mean Kelly should have been out at 3rd much less getting all of the way Home! But he scored and the Tigers took the lead 2-1 going into the bottom of the 11th. It was time to bring in our shiny new Closer...
I hope you've had the chance to see Valverde, aka "Papa Grande/ The Big Potato" enter a game from the bullpen. It's as though you got a ticket to the walrus show at Sea World. He steps up to the gate leading onto the field. He looks to his left- and spits a stream of water on to the warning track. He looks to his right- and spits another stream. Then he looks straight ahead and spits out the rest. Apparently he does this every time he comes into a game.
So our Walrus makes his entrance- and gives up a home run to the first batter he faces. Game tied. He then continues his mis-adventures until the winning run comes across on an error by Sizemore. And that was that. As I said in last night's game thread at BYB: "This is not how you make fans in your new home!"
Today (Thursday) was another debut. It was Dontrelle Willis' coming out party. He made his first Big League appearance in almost a year and nobody was sure what he would do.
Well he did pretty well. He pitched 6 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 7 hits and 2 walks. You have probably guessed that he had some help to pull that line off- the Tigers made 3 double plays behind him to keep him in the game. Not a great performance, but we'll take it.
Early on the Tigers continued to struggle at the plate, with only 1 run first 7 innings. But Cabrera came through again with ANOTHER home run (a 3 run shot in the 8th) to give them the lead. He pushed in another run as the Tigers batted around in the 9th.
MVP of the series is no question- Miguel Cabrera. He had 8 hits in 14 (.571) including 2 home runs for 7 RBI (of the total 17 runs the Tigers scored). His SLG is currently 1.600!
Tomorrow is the Home Opener for Detroit! I hope that you can find some place to enjoy it. Game time is 1:05. Rick Porcello has been given the honor of the start for Detroit. The Cleveland Indians will do their best to spoil it.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Game 2: Tigers at Royals
Game Day Link
Tonight is Max Scherzer's Tiger debut. The word on the internet is that Scherzer is a top tier pitcher and Detroit did well to get a hold of him. I'm sure not going to doubt wiser people than me, but his Spring numbers did not impress me (I know, "Spring stats don't mean anything" but that's all I have). Apparently Max decided about half way through Spring Training that he needed to focus more, so he started approaching the games like he would a regular season game. Here is what Tom Gage wrote in this morning's DetNews:
He goes up against Luke Hochevar. Hochevar has a slightly higher WHIP (1.47) and a much higher ERA (5.88). Hopefully the Tigers can take advantage of Royals pitching tonight as they did on Opening Day.
The game starts at 8:10 pm EST but because it "April in the D" we can't watch the game until the Red Wings game is over. Normally if there was a conflict the Tigers would be bumped to FSN+ but they have the Pistons there, so we have to wait. Maybe I can watch American Idol and a Tigers' game. The game will be re-broadcast at midnight in its entirety on FSN Detroit.
Tonight is Max Scherzer's Tiger debut. The word on the internet is that Scherzer is a top tier pitcher and Detroit did well to get a hold of him. I'm sure not going to doubt wiser people than me, but his Spring numbers did not impress me (I know, "Spring stats don't mean anything" but that's all I have). Apparently Max decided about half way through Spring Training that he needed to focus more, so he started approaching the games like he would a regular season game. Here is what Tom Gage wrote in this morning's DetNews:
What was learned in spring training is that for Max to become SuperMax, if indeed he can, he has to be all in, all the time.
He can't get by with half intensity. It has to be max for Max.
He can't get by approaching any outing as less than a huge outing.
His entire spring training turned around when he stopped treating it like spring training. He knows himself well enough to realize that unless he's into every outing 100 percent, he's not himself.
Even with the turn around Max had a WHIP of 1.76. So he basically averaged almost 2 base runners per inning he pitched. For comparison, Nate Robertson had a WHIP of 1.30 when he was traded and Rick Porcello had 0.78. Max's ERA was 7.15 for the spring. Historically Max has a WHIP of 1.32 and an ERA of 3.86 in 226 1/3 innings over his 2 years with the Diamondbacks.
He goes up against Luke Hochevar. Hochevar has a slightly higher WHIP (1.47) and a much higher ERA (5.88). Hopefully the Tigers can take advantage of Royals pitching tonight as they did on Opening Day.
The game starts at 8:10 pm EST but because it "April in the D" we can't watch the game until the Red Wings game is over. Normally if there was a conflict the Tigers would be bumped to FSN+ but they have the Pistons there, so we have to wait. Maybe I can watch American Idol and a Tigers' game. The game will be re-broadcast at midnight in its entirety on FSN Detroit.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Tigers 8 - Royals 4, Game 1 is done...
We saw two of last year's best pitchers to start things off in KC today: Zack Greinke (2009 AL Cy Young winner) against Justin Verlander (3rd place in the 2009 Cy Young voting).
Verlander went 5 innings and gave up 4 runs with 1 walk and 6 strike outs. Greinke went 6 innings, giving up 1 run with 1 walk and 4 strike outs. But there is only 1 Zack Greinke and after the 6th he was done.
The difference in this game was the difference between the bullpens. Detroit's was solid, KC's was not.
Fangraph of the game.
After JV was done Zumaya went out and threw a 7 pitch 6th inning. Coke took over for him and got 2 in the 7th. Perry came on, finished the 7th and took care of the 8th. Valverde came in for the 9th and there was some "questionable" fielding but got out of the inning without allowing a run. The Detroit 'pen only allowed 3 hits in the last 4 innings.
KC's bullpen allowed 4 hits and 5 runs in the first 1/3 of an inning after Greinke left the game to give Detroit a lead they would not give up. Austin Jackson not only got an RBI double on his first Major League hit and later scored, he also gunned down a run at the plate in the 7th inning from Center Field. Johnny Damon was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Ordonez had a double and scored a run, Cabrera had 2 RBI and a run scored.
It was a solid win for the Tigers. A great way to start the year.
Tuesday is an off day and then we get to see Max Scherzer take the mound on Wednesday evening (8:10 start time in Michigan).
Verlander went 5 innings and gave up 4 runs with 1 walk and 6 strike outs. Greinke went 6 innings, giving up 1 run with 1 walk and 4 strike outs. But there is only 1 Zack Greinke and after the 6th he was done.
The difference in this game was the difference between the bullpens. Detroit's was solid, KC's was not.
Fangraph of the game.
After JV was done Zumaya went out and threw a 7 pitch 6th inning. Coke took over for him and got 2 in the 7th. Perry came on, finished the 7th and took care of the 8th. Valverde came in for the 9th and there was some "questionable" fielding but got out of the inning without allowing a run. The Detroit 'pen only allowed 3 hits in the last 4 innings.
KC's bullpen allowed 4 hits and 5 runs in the first 1/3 of an inning after Greinke left the game to give Detroit a lead they would not give up. Austin Jackson not only got an RBI double on his first Major League hit and later scored, he also gunned down a run at the plate in the 7th inning from Center Field. Johnny Damon was 2 for 5 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Ordonez had a double and scored a run, Cabrera had 2 RBI and a run scored.
It was a solid win for the Tigers. A great way to start the year.
Tuesday is an off day and then we get to see Max Scherzer take the mound on Wednesday evening (8:10 start time in Michigan).
Opening Day 2010
Tigers at Royals
4/5/2010
Here it is! Opening Day for a brand new season! The Roster has been whittled down to 25 men. Names we have known for years are gone (Granderson, Polanco, Rodney, Robertson). New ones are now on the team (Sizemore, Jackson, Valverde).
No one really knows how well they will do (the individuals or the team). For today they are just as good as the eventual World Champions- for all that we know they will BE the eventual World Champions.
In order to do that they will have to beat weaker teams on a regular basis, and today's Royals should be one of those weaker teams. If there is anything we should understand after 2009 is that EVERY game counts, even the ones played in April and May. Just one more win along the way would have avoided Game 163 and the Tigers would have won the AL Central Pennant.
I believe that the 2010 Tigers can do that. Ordonez should be much better than last year (now that his wife is healthy). Inge has been to the repair shop and his knees appear to be strong again. Cabrera has apparently faced his demons and should focus better. Laird should bat better (more to his norm) also.
What I hope, more than anything, is that those players who are still here from Game 163 will be angry. They had the prize taken from them at the last moment. I'm not trying to take anything away from what the Twins did, they earned it- but the Tigers should be pissed about losing like that. And they have to take that energy and focus it.
I have read the story of the 1968 Tigers' team. They too had lost a chance at the post season taken away on the last day (in 1967). They came back angry and determined. They won the last true AL pennant and then the World Series that year.
Others may think I'm crazily optimistic, but I see a lot of talent on this 2010 team and I believe they can do this. Starting in about 10 minutes we're about to find out!
4/5/2010
Here it is! Opening Day for a brand new season! The Roster has been whittled down to 25 men. Names we have known for years are gone (Granderson, Polanco, Rodney, Robertson). New ones are now on the team (Sizemore, Jackson, Valverde).
No one really knows how well they will do (the individuals or the team). For today they are just as good as the eventual World Champions- for all that we know they will BE the eventual World Champions.
In order to do that they will have to beat weaker teams on a regular basis, and today's Royals should be one of those weaker teams. If there is anything we should understand after 2009 is that EVERY game counts, even the ones played in April and May. Just one more win along the way would have avoided Game 163 and the Tigers would have won the AL Central Pennant.
I believe that the 2010 Tigers can do that. Ordonez should be much better than last year (now that his wife is healthy). Inge has been to the repair shop and his knees appear to be strong again. Cabrera has apparently faced his demons and should focus better. Laird should bat better (more to his norm) also.
What I hope, more than anything, is that those players who are still here from Game 163 will be angry. They had the prize taken from them at the last moment. I'm not trying to take anything away from what the Twins did, they earned it- but the Tigers should be pissed about losing like that. And they have to take that energy and focus it.
I have read the story of the 1968 Tigers' team. They too had lost a chance at the post season taken away on the last day (in 1967). They came back angry and determined. They won the last true AL pennant and then the World Series that year.
Others may think I'm crazily optimistic, but I see a lot of talent on this 2010 team and I believe they can do this. Starting in about 10 minutes we're about to find out!
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