From http://awfulannouncing.com/2011-articles/august/matt-millen-jarrett-lee-miami-qb-lsu-espn-sportscenter.html
I see that Matt Millen is going to be as good as a college football analyst as he was an NFL GM for the Lions....
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
A phenomenal re-tweet by Jay Bilas
I'd retweet this myself but it wouldn't be seen by anyone who could appreciate it.
JayBilas Jay Bilas
Only when they want someone to speak in complete sentences. bit.ly/oMTlSV RT @mikeboch They let Duke graduates speak at Maryland?
another 1 run victory for Detroit
It was a quick turnaround from last night's late extra inning game to today's day game. Luckily Detroit's bullpen was in pretty good shape since Doug Fister went so deep in last night's game. Probably the only unavailable pitcher was Joaquin Benoit, who went 2 innings last night and got the win.
Detroit scored 3 times in the bottom of the 8th inning. Wilson Betemit broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI double.
Austin Jackson was 4-4 with 3 runs scored. He doubled and tripled. For good measure he also stole his 19th base of the season and threw out a runner at third base.
Victor Martinez, Delmon Young, and the suddenly hot hitting Ramon Santiago all drove in runs. Miguel Cabrera was also 2-4 with a double.
Daniel Schlereth earned the win, pitching1 inning in relief of Rick Porcello. He's now 2-1 on the season. Porcello gave up 4 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings pitched. Jose Valverde pitched the 9th for his 40th save of the season.
Detroit scored 3 times in the bottom of the 8th inning. Wilson Betemit broke a 4-4 tie with an RBI double.
Austin Jackson was 4-4 with 3 runs scored. He doubled and tripled. For good measure he also stole his 19th base of the season and threw out a runner at third base.
Victor Martinez, Delmon Young, and the suddenly hot hitting Ramon Santiago all drove in runs. Miguel Cabrera was also 2-4 with a double.
Daniel Schlereth earned the win, pitching1 inning in relief of Rick Porcello. He's now 2-1 on the season. Porcello gave up 4 runs on 8 hits in 7 innings pitched. Jose Valverde pitched the 9th for his 40th save of the season.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
the last two nights Detroit has split with Kansas City
Last night the Royals pounded Max Scherzer for 7 runs on 10 hits in 3 innings pitched. They connected for 3 home runs to drop Scherzer to 13-8 on the season. Detroit fell 9-5.
Miguel Cabrera had an RBI double. Victor Martinez, Delmon Young, and Ramon Santiago also drove in runs. But the pitching wasn't there. KC hit 3 homers and had 4 doubles.
Tonight, Ramon Santiago hit a walk-off home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th to send Detroit to a 2-1 win. For Santiago, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 9th, it was his 4th home run of the season.
Magglio Ordonez had a 2-out single in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 1. In the bottom of the ninth KC walked Alex Avila, Jhonny Peralta, and Ryan Raburn with 2 outs, but Wilson Betemit struck out.
Doug Fister took a no-hitter into the 7th inning before allowing a leadoff double. That runner came home to score on a sac fly to give KC the 1-0 lead. Fister allowed 1 run on 3 hits in 7.2 innings pitched, but got no run support. While he'd allowed no hits through 6, Detroit only had 1 hit through 6.
Joaquin Benoit matched his season high with 2 innings pitched. He earned the win, to up his record to 4-3 on the season.
Miguel Cabrera had an RBI double. Victor Martinez, Delmon Young, and Ramon Santiago also drove in runs. But the pitching wasn't there. KC hit 3 homers and had 4 doubles.
Tonight, Ramon Santiago hit a walk-off home run with 1 out in the bottom of the 10th to send Detroit to a 2-1 win. For Santiago, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 9th, it was his 4th home run of the season.
Magglio Ordonez had a 2-out single in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game at 1. In the bottom of the ninth KC walked Alex Avila, Jhonny Peralta, and Ryan Raburn with 2 outs, but Wilson Betemit struck out.
Doug Fister took a no-hitter into the 7th inning before allowing a leadoff double. That runner came home to score on a sac fly to give KC the 1-0 lead. Fister allowed 1 run on 3 hits in 7.2 innings pitched, but got no run support. While he'd allowed no hits through 6, Detroit only had 1 hit through 6.
Joaquin Benoit matched his season high with 2 innings pitched. He earned the win, to up his record to 4-3 on the season.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
another career milestone for Derek Jeter
Deter played in career game 2402 for the Yankees in a 2-0 loss against Baltimore in the first game of a doubleheader. He passed Mickey Mantle for most career appearances in a Yankees uniform.
Another franchise record, for baseball's most storied franchise, for Jeter. He was already the franchise career leader in hits and in stolen bases.
Another franchise record, for baseball's most storied franchise, for Jeter. He was already the franchise career leader in hits and in stolen bases.
Tigers could not complete the sweep of Minnesota
Brad Penny got tagged for 7 runs in 5 innings pitched to fall to 9-10 on the season. David Pauley gave up 4 more runs on 4 hit in 2 innings. His bullpen performance hasn't lived up to expectations since he came over in the trade with Doug Fister.
Detroit hit into 5 double plays that kept them from putting together big innings. Ramon Santiago was 4-4 with a 2 run single. It seems like he's taken over the every day second base role, at least until Carlos Guillen is back again. Alex Avila doubled and had an RBI. Victor Martinez also drove in a run, but Detroit was routed 11-4. Still, they went 5-2 on a 7 game road trip.
Cleveland lost today so Detroit still holds a 6 and a half game lead. They'll head into September with a good sized lead in the Central. This will make the 3rd time in 6 seasons that's happened. In 2006 they played poorly down the stretch and limped to the Wild Card, though they recovered in the post-season to reach the World Series. Two years ago they faded in the final 4 games and lost a 1 game playoff at Minnesota. We'll see what happens this season. One thing they didn't have in either of those two seasons was a dominant starting pitcher. Right now Verlander is pitching like the best pitcher in the game, and that could make the difference. They have a shutdown pitcher who can go to the hill in a must win game.
Detroit hit into 5 double plays that kept them from putting together big innings. Ramon Santiago was 4-4 with a 2 run single. It seems like he's taken over the every day second base role, at least until Carlos Guillen is back again. Alex Avila doubled and had an RBI. Victor Martinez also drove in a run, but Detroit was routed 11-4. Still, they went 5-2 on a 7 game road trip.
Cleveland lost today so Detroit still holds a 6 and a half game lead. They'll head into September with a good sized lead in the Central. This will make the 3rd time in 6 seasons that's happened. In 2006 they played poorly down the stretch and limped to the Wild Card, though they recovered in the post-season to reach the World Series. Two years ago they faded in the final 4 games and lost a 1 game playoff at Minnesota. We'll see what happens this season. One thing they didn't have in either of those two seasons was a dominant starting pitcher. Right now Verlander is pitching like the best pitcher in the game, and that could make the difference. They have a shutdown pitcher who can go to the hill in a must win game.
In Tiger news yesterday, the won again
Justin Verlander went a season low 6 innings last night at Minnesota. He gave up 4 runs on back-to-back home runs in the 5th inning and a 2 run double in the 6th. But he hung in there and battled and the offense and bullpen helped. In the end, Verlander became the first pitcher to 20 wins on the season. Verlander becomes the first Tiger pitcher to win 20 since Bill Gullickson in 1991. He's the first pitcher to reach 20 before the end of August since Curt Schilling in 2002.
Jose Valverde earned save 39.
Miguel Cabrera was 2-4, hit his 24th home run, and had 2 RBIs. Alex Avila hit his 17th home run and was also 2-4. Ryan Raburn had an RBI double. Delmon Young was 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Austin Jackson also drove in a run.
Detroit has now won 7 of its last 8 games with the 6-4 victory.
Jose Valverde earned save 39.
Miguel Cabrera was 2-4, hit his 24th home run, and had 2 RBIs. Alex Avila hit his 17th home run and was also 2-4. Ryan Raburn had an RBI double. Delmon Young was 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Austin Jackson also drove in a run.
Detroit has now won 7 of its last 8 games with the 6-4 victory.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Tigers continue their recent hot play
They beat Minnesota 8-1 tonight. Rick Porcello allowed 1 run in 6.1 innings pitched, breaking a string of recent poor outings. He improved his record to 12-8 on the year.
Victor Martinez was 2-3 with a 2-run double and 4 RBI. Delmon Young tormented his former team again. He was 3-5 with 3 RBIs. Ramon Santiago also drove in a run. Detroit has now won 7 of its last 8 games.
Victor Martinez was 2-3 with a 2-run double and 4 RBI. Delmon Young tormented his former team again. He was 3-5 with 3 RBIs. Ramon Santiago also drove in a run. Detroit has now won 7 of its last 8 games.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
the Yankees busted out the lumber in epic fashion today
At one point the Yankees were down 7-1 to Oakland. Then they busted out the bats. They became the first team in history to hit 3 grand slams in a game. Robinson Cano, Russell Martin, and Curtis Granderson all connected. The Yankees beat up the Oakland bullpen to the tune of 16 runs in 3.2 innings. They routed the Athletics 22-9.
Russell Martin had 6 RBIs. Granderson had 5 to push him over 100. He's got 103 and could be the favorite for the AL MVP at this point.
Also, as a note since there were whispers that Derek Jeter was about washed up around May or June when he was hitting under .270. Jeter was 3-6 with an RBI and has his batting average at .299. Ever since he came off the DL a few games before reaching the 3000 hit landmark he's been on a tear.
Russell Martin had 6 RBIs. Granderson had 5 to push him over 100. He's got 103 and could be the favorite for the AL MVP at this point.
Also, as a note since there were whispers that Derek Jeter was about washed up around May or June when he was hitting under .270. Jeter was 3-6 with an RBI and has his batting average at .299. Ever since he came off the DL a few games before reaching the 3000 hit landmark he's been on a tear.
the Tigers split the last 2 games of the Tampa series, to take 3 of 4
Last night, the Rays won 3-2 in the 10th. The game ended when Ramon Santiago was late getting to second base for a force play on a ball fielded by Brandon Inge. The runner beat him to the bag and the winning run scored. That's the first time I can recall seeing a walk off fielders' choice in the game recap.
Duane Below was the tough luck loser. He gave up that run in 1.1 innings pitched, to fall to 0-2 on the year. Max Scherzer started and went 5. Alex Avila hit his 16th homer for Detroit and Austin Jackson had a sac fly.
Tonight, Detroit finished the series with a 2-0 win. Doug Fister struck out 5 in 7 innings. He improved to 6-13 on the season, 3-1 as a Tiger. Jose Valerde closed out the 9th for his 38th save.
Austin Jackson led off the game with his 7th home run of the season. He also added a sac fly. Jackson also stole his team leading 18th base for good measure. Wilson Betemit was 2-3. Ryan Raburn and Victor Martinez had doubles.
Duane Below was the tough luck loser. He gave up that run in 1.1 innings pitched, to fall to 0-2 on the year. Max Scherzer started and went 5. Alex Avila hit his 16th homer for Detroit and Austin Jackson had a sac fly.
Tonight, Detroit finished the series with a 2-0 win. Doug Fister struck out 5 in 7 innings. He improved to 6-13 on the season, 3-1 as a Tiger. Jose Valerde closed out the 9th for his 38th save.
Austin Jackson led off the game with his 7th home run of the season. He also added a sac fly. Jackson also stole his team leading 18th base for good measure. Wilson Betemit was 2-3. Ryan Raburn and Victor Martinez had doubles.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt has been diagnosed with early onset dementia
That's certainly a bummer. Summitt is only 59. She's on the short list of best basketball coaches, men's or women's, ever. Her 1079 wins are tops for any coach. Coach K has 900 for Duke and will become the Men's Division I record holder with Duke's third win next season, presumably against Colgate. For reference, even Pat Summitt stopped coaching and didn't win another game (which won't happen) even at a typical Duke average of 27 wins a season, Coach K would still have to coach for about 8 more years to pass her. Pretty amazing.
Her 8 NCAA Championships would be second to John Wooden I'd assume off the top of my head without looking. Her success put women's basketball on the map, and possibly all of women's sports. She put Tennessee basketball on the map period. For many years the women's team outdrew the men's team. University athletics programs are still men's sports driven, but Pat Summitt has been no less than the second most powerful coach at Tennessee, and would be THE big dog there now given the recent upheavals with both the football team and men's basketball team.
Her legacy is tremendous. For women's basketball she's Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Adolph Rupp, Bobby Knight, and John Wooden rolled into one. She's vowed to keep battling this with medication and mental exercises and intends to coach this coming season.
Her 8 NCAA Championships would be second to John Wooden I'd assume off the top of my head without looking. Her success put women's basketball on the map, and possibly all of women's sports. She put Tennessee basketball on the map period. For many years the women's team outdrew the men's team. University athletics programs are still men's sports driven, but Pat Summitt has been no less than the second most powerful coach at Tennessee, and would be THE big dog there now given the recent upheavals with both the football team and men's basketball team.
Her legacy is tremendous. For women's basketball she's Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Adolph Rupp, Bobby Knight, and John Wooden rolled into one. She's vowed to keep battling this with medication and mental exercises and intends to coach this coming season.
Tigers beat the Tampa Bay Rays again
It was another 1 run win for Detroit. Brad Penny gave up 1 run on 8 hits in 6.1 innings pitched. He leveled his record at 9-9 on the season. The bullpen was in plenty of jams but escaped. Ryan Perry retired Evan Longoria in the 7th inning with the bases loaded after Daniel Schlereth got into trouble. Phil Coke picked up a 2 inning, 5 strikeout, 51 pitch save as Jim Leyland wanted to rest both Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde tonight.
Around the strikeouts Coke gave up a double in each inning. In each inning Jim Leyland decided to intentionally walk the next batter to put runners at first and second. In the 9th that was Longoria again, which is understandable. The runners in the 9th moved up to second and third after a wild pitch, but Coke finally induced a groundout on a full count pitch after a 10 pitch at-bat to seal the 2-1 victory.
Alex Avila delivered an RBI single in the 7th, and Jhonny Peralta followed that with a sac fly to give Brad Penny just enough support. Avila was 2-4 with a double as well. He's now hitting around .430 for the month of August. I guess Jim Leyland knew something when he said he wasn't worried about Avila's 1 RBI month of July.
Victor Martinez also added a double for the Tigers, who had only 8 hits, but did just enough.
The win coupled with Cleveland splitting a doubleheader with Seattle tacked another game on Detroit's division lead. They now lead both the White Sox and the Indians by 6. Both teams are at .500 on the season.
Around the strikeouts Coke gave up a double in each inning. In each inning Jim Leyland decided to intentionally walk the next batter to put runners at first and second. In the 9th that was Longoria again, which is understandable. The runners in the 9th moved up to second and third after a wild pitch, but Coke finally induced a groundout on a full count pitch after a 10 pitch at-bat to seal the 2-1 victory.
Alex Avila delivered an RBI single in the 7th, and Jhonny Peralta followed that with a sac fly to give Brad Penny just enough support. Avila was 2-4 with a double as well. He's now hitting around .430 for the month of August. I guess Jim Leyland knew something when he said he wasn't worried about Avila's 1 RBI month of July.
Victor Martinez also added a double for the Tigers, who had only 8 hits, but did just enough.
The win coupled with Cleveland splitting a doubleheader with Seattle tacked another game on Detroit's division lead. They now lead both the White Sox and the Indians by 6. Both teams are at .500 on the season.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tonight Detroit defeated Tampa 5-2 and added another game to their lead in the Central
Justin Verlander struck out 8 and allowed 1 run in 7 innings pitched to win his Major League leading 19th game. That ties his career high previously set 2 years ago. He also became just the third pitcher in the last 15 years to strike out 7 and go at least 7 innings for 7 straight starts. The others, Pedro Martinez who did it on 4 occasions, and Randy Johnston. Obviously the two dominant power pitchers of their era in their prime. Verlander is obviously moving into that elite level, finally crossing beyond the "very good" he's been at for the last couple years to ascend to the level of "great".
Detroit added some late offense to boost a 2-1 lead. Jhonny Peralta had a 2-run 2-out single in the 8th. Don Kelly hit his 4th homer of the season leading off the 9th. Alex Avila hit a 2-run homer, his 15th of the season, to stake Detroit to the lead. Avila is earning his stud stripes. How's now caught 16 straight games since Victor Martinez has been nursing a sore knee and has been relegated to the DH role. Avila has 5 home runs and is hitting around .420 in that stretch. Certainly not wilting under the workload. Jim Leyland said tonight that Brandon Inge will be the emergency catcher if the need arises.
Jose Valverde gave up an Evan Longoria home run to lead off the 9th and brought the tying run to the plate with 2 outs, but ended the game in a non-save situation.
Seattle beat Cleveland 3-2. 4 straight wins for Detroit. 4 straight losses for Cleveland. Detroit suddenly has a 5 and a half game lead in the Central.
Detroit added some late offense to boost a 2-1 lead. Jhonny Peralta had a 2-run 2-out single in the 8th. Don Kelly hit his 4th homer of the season leading off the 9th. Alex Avila hit a 2-run homer, his 15th of the season, to stake Detroit to the lead. Avila is earning his stud stripes. How's now caught 16 straight games since Victor Martinez has been nursing a sore knee and has been relegated to the DH role. Avila has 5 home runs and is hitting around .420 in that stretch. Certainly not wilting under the workload. Jim Leyland said tonight that Brandon Inge will be the emergency catcher if the need arises.
Jose Valverde gave up an Evan Longoria home run to lead off the 9th and brought the tying run to the plate with 2 outs, but ended the game in a non-save situation.
Seattle beat Cleveland 3-2. 4 straight wins for Detroit. 4 straight losses for Cleveland. Detroit suddenly has a 5 and a half game lead in the Central.
Saturday and Sunday were two scintillating Tiger wins as Detroit swept the Tribe
Saturday Detroit pounded Cleveland 10-1. Brandon Inge triumphantly hit his 2nd home run of the season in his first Tiger at-bat since his designation to Toledo. He hit a 400 foot ground rule double in his second at-bat, missing a 3-run homer by a few feet, and a 3rd RBI of the game due to the bounce over the wall. Still he was 2-4 with his home run and a double, and 2 RBIs. Ironically the last time Inge had 2 extra base hits in a game was August 20, 2010, exactly one year to the day.
Ramon Santiago was 2-3 with 2 RBIs. Victor Martinez was 2-4 with an RBI. Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Don Kelly also drove in runs.
Doug Fister was the recipient of all that support. Fister came to Detroit from Seattle having the lowest run support of any starting pitcher in all of baseball. He got plenty Saturday, though he didn't need it. Fister allowed 1 run on 6 hits, with 7 Ks in 7 innings pitched. He improved to 5-13 on the season, 2-1 as a Tiger.
The box score for the season finale will say that Jose Valverde secured his 37th straight save in Detroit's 8-7 win. That's what the box score will say. But it was Austin Jackson who earned the save. He threw a perfect strike to the plate to gun down the tying run, completing a game ending fly out double play to get Valverde out of a runners on second and third with 2 outs jam. Valverde wasn't sharp. He walked a batter and hit a batter to set the dramatic stage.
As fine a game ending walk-off play as I've ever seen. Jackson also did it with his bat. He was 2-4 with an RBI and also stole his 17th base of the season. Delmon Young atoned for being the only Tiger without a hit in the 10-1 rout on Saturday. Young was 2-4 with a 3-run home run and a double - 4 RBIs total. It was Young's second home run as a Tiger.
Victor Martinez hit a 2 run homer, his 8th of the season. Ramon Santiago also drove in a run.
Detroit smacked around Ubaldo Jimenez to the tune of 8 runs on 9 hits in 3.1 innings pitched. There's a little bit of satisfaction in taking it to the big trade deadline acquisition of the Indians, who could have also been a Tiger. That of course is not Jimenez's fault at all. Colorado wanted more than Detroit wanted to give up, and Detroit is right to be pleased with what they got in Doug Fister instead.
Rick Porcello wasn't any better than Jimenez, giving back the lead that Detroit gave him in a 7 run 3rd inning. Porcello. Porcello allowed 5 runs on 7 hits in 3.2 innings pitched. After his 5-0 July, Porcello has been hammered in 3 starts since. His ERA has ballooned over 5 on the year.
Phil Coke was the 5th of 7 Tiger pitchers and got the win with 1.1 innings of relief. He improved to 2-8 on the season, earning his first win since his lone win as a starter early in the season.
Detroit extended a 1.5 game lead in the Central to 4.5 games with one very good weekend of play. It's been a good while since they've swept a series.
Ramon Santiago was 2-3 with 2 RBIs. Victor Martinez was 2-4 with an RBI. Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Don Kelly also drove in runs.
Doug Fister was the recipient of all that support. Fister came to Detroit from Seattle having the lowest run support of any starting pitcher in all of baseball. He got plenty Saturday, though he didn't need it. Fister allowed 1 run on 6 hits, with 7 Ks in 7 innings pitched. He improved to 5-13 on the season, 2-1 as a Tiger.
The box score for the season finale will say that Jose Valverde secured his 37th straight save in Detroit's 8-7 win. That's what the box score will say. But it was Austin Jackson who earned the save. He threw a perfect strike to the plate to gun down the tying run, completing a game ending fly out double play to get Valverde out of a runners on second and third with 2 outs jam. Valverde wasn't sharp. He walked a batter and hit a batter to set the dramatic stage.
As fine a game ending walk-off play as I've ever seen. Jackson also did it with his bat. He was 2-4 with an RBI and also stole his 17th base of the season. Delmon Young atoned for being the only Tiger without a hit in the 10-1 rout on Saturday. Young was 2-4 with a 3-run home run and a double - 4 RBIs total. It was Young's second home run as a Tiger.
Victor Martinez hit a 2 run homer, his 8th of the season. Ramon Santiago also drove in a run.
Detroit smacked around Ubaldo Jimenez to the tune of 8 runs on 9 hits in 3.1 innings pitched. There's a little bit of satisfaction in taking it to the big trade deadline acquisition of the Indians, who could have also been a Tiger. That of course is not Jimenez's fault at all. Colorado wanted more than Detroit wanted to give up, and Detroit is right to be pleased with what they got in Doug Fister instead.
Rick Porcello wasn't any better than Jimenez, giving back the lead that Detroit gave him in a 7 run 3rd inning. Porcello. Porcello allowed 5 runs on 7 hits in 3.2 innings pitched. After his 5-0 July, Porcello has been hammered in 3 starts since. His ERA has ballooned over 5 on the year.
Phil Coke was the 5th of 7 Tiger pitchers and got the win with 1.1 innings of relief. He improved to 2-8 on the season, earning his first win since his lone win as a starter early in the season.
Detroit extended a 1.5 game lead in the Central to 4.5 games with one very good weekend of play. It's been a good while since they've swept a series.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Tonight Detroit beat Cleveland 4-1 to open a key 3 game series
Detroit entered this 3 game series in Detroit with a 1.5 game lead in the Central over Cleveland. They're hoping to rebound from losing 2 of 3 in Cleveland a week ago or so, and they'll have to do it without Justin Verlander being on the mound for these three games.
So far so good, as Max Scherzer went 7 and allowed only 1 run on a wild pitch and 5 hits. He improved to 13-7 on the season, setting a new career high for victories in a season.
Austin Jackson broke a scoreless tie with a 2 run home run in the 6th. It was his 6th of the year. After Cleveland cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half, Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta hit back to back 2-out home runs in the bottom of the 7th. It was number 14 for Avila and number 18 for Peralta.
Joaquin Benoit held the 8th and Jose Valverde earned save number 36 on the season.
After the game Detroit recalled Brandon Inge from Toledo and sent Andy Dirks back down. The plan is for Inge to platoon with Wilson Betemit at 3rd. It has been Betemit and Don Kelly of late. It would be great to see Inge make some final contribution to the Tigers after all his years with the team. Especially after it looked like his time was over after the Betemit trade. His future after this season has to be cloudy unless he shows that he really figured out the cause of his season long slump in Toledo and manages to hit and drive in some runs down the stretch.
So far so good, as Max Scherzer went 7 and allowed only 1 run on a wild pitch and 5 hits. He improved to 13-7 on the season, setting a new career high for victories in a season.
Austin Jackson broke a scoreless tie with a 2 run home run in the 6th. It was his 6th of the year. After Cleveland cut the lead to 2-1 in the bottom half, Alex Avila and Jhonny Peralta hit back to back 2-out home runs in the bottom of the 7th. It was number 14 for Avila and number 18 for Peralta.
Joaquin Benoit held the 8th and Jose Valverde earned save number 36 on the season.
After the game Detroit recalled Brandon Inge from Toledo and sent Andy Dirks back down. The plan is for Inge to platoon with Wilson Betemit at 3rd. It has been Betemit and Don Kelly of late. It would be great to see Inge make some final contribution to the Tigers after all his years with the team. Especially after it looked like his time was over after the Betemit trade. His future after this season has to be cloudy unless he shows that he really figured out the cause of his season long slump in Toledo and manages to hit and drive in some runs down the stretch.
Wednesday night Detroit fell to Minnesota 6-5 to lose that series
Brad Penny allowed 3 runs on 5 hits in 6 innings pitched. But Jim Thome bit Detroit again with his 3rd homer of the series and number 601 of his career. Jose Valverde came in in the top of the 9th in a tie game in an effort to give Detroit a chance to win it in the bottom half. Instead Valverde gave up 2 unearned runs, fueled by his own error on a bunt. Detroit scored 1 in the bottom of the 9th but neither Ryan Raburn nor Alex Avila could drive in the tying run. Valverde has been shaky in non-save situations and fell to 2-4 on the season.
For Detroit Jhonny Peralta was 2-3 with his 17th home run of the season. Miguel Cabrera was 2-5 with 2 RBIs. Wilson Betemit and Delmon Young also drove in runs.
For Detroit Jhonny Peralta was 2-3 with his 17th home run of the season. Miguel Cabrera was 2-5 with 2 RBIs. Wilson Betemit and Delmon Young also drove in runs.
I don't understand the uproar over Terrelle Pryor being suspended the first 5 games of the NFL season
There's been a lot of uproar about NFL Commissioner Goodell making Pryor eligible for the NFL Supplemental Draft, but suspending him for the first 5 games. There was talk of "collusion" with the NCAA, since it had already suspended him for the first 5 games of this season before additional information came to light that ultimately made him ineligible due to the benefits that he took over the last couple years at Ohio State.
Since he was now ineligible, Pryor decided to declare for the NFL Draft. But since he did that after the submission deadline he wasn't eligible for the regular draft. Thus the supplemental draft, though there was debate over the fact that his situation wasn't exactly a circumstance outside of his control, which is the normal criteria for opening a supplemental draft. In that case he'd have to wait for next year's draft. Just like Mike Williams did out of USC a few years ago. Williams went pro late, then tried to sue his way into the NFL Draft. He lost the suit, and they didn't open up a special draft for him. He had to wait until the next April.
Goodell felt that Pryor had manipulated the timing of when he confessed additional violations to the NCAA, which then escalated things from a "minor" 5 game suspension to being totally ineligible, so that he could avoid the draft and talk to teams individually to try to get some control over what team takes him in the supplemental draft. Any team can make a pick, they just lose a corresponding regular draft pick the next draft.
Had Pryor finished off his admissions to the NCAA earlier he could have then declared for the regular draft, but he'd then be stuck playing for the team that drafts him. He still is now, but teams don't have to draft in the supplemental draft if there's nothing that interests them. I think there are 4 or 5 players overall this year due to various circumstances. So Pryor can make a sales pitch to stir up interest.
He'd also been due a 5 game suspension from the NCAA. Given that he left the NCAA on bad terms, due to being caught receiving improper benefits, like free cars, from a booster, it's totally reasonable for the NFL to hold to the same thing. The NCAA and NFL don't work together, nor should they be obligated to. But since 99.9 % of players in the NFL come in from college football, the NFL should do its part to help uphold the integrity of the NCAA by not turning a blind eye to players who violated rules so badly that they got suspended, then later lost their eligibility in a situation that ultimately got Ohio State on NCAA probation and Coach Jim Tressel fired. If the NFL does nothing that just says "do what you want guys. Don't worry about what the NCAA does to you. Come to the NFL. We'll forget all about it and give you millions of dollars." That would just make things worse
A case could also be made of "if you don't play by the NCAA rules who says you'll play by the NFL rules?" So that shouldn't be rewarded. In truth Pryor not being able to play or practice for the first 5 games is minor. He probably wouldn't be playing anyway. He can still be at his team facilities and it would probably take him 5 games to learn his team's offense and get into football shape again, all of which he can do in that 5 weeks.
Since he was now ineligible, Pryor decided to declare for the NFL Draft. But since he did that after the submission deadline he wasn't eligible for the regular draft. Thus the supplemental draft, though there was debate over the fact that his situation wasn't exactly a circumstance outside of his control, which is the normal criteria for opening a supplemental draft. In that case he'd have to wait for next year's draft. Just like Mike Williams did out of USC a few years ago. Williams went pro late, then tried to sue his way into the NFL Draft. He lost the suit, and they didn't open up a special draft for him. He had to wait until the next April.
Goodell felt that Pryor had manipulated the timing of when he confessed additional violations to the NCAA, which then escalated things from a "minor" 5 game suspension to being totally ineligible, so that he could avoid the draft and talk to teams individually to try to get some control over what team takes him in the supplemental draft. Any team can make a pick, they just lose a corresponding regular draft pick the next draft.
Had Pryor finished off his admissions to the NCAA earlier he could have then declared for the regular draft, but he'd then be stuck playing for the team that drafts him. He still is now, but teams don't have to draft in the supplemental draft if there's nothing that interests them. I think there are 4 or 5 players overall this year due to various circumstances. So Pryor can make a sales pitch to stir up interest.
He'd also been due a 5 game suspension from the NCAA. Given that he left the NCAA on bad terms, due to being caught receiving improper benefits, like free cars, from a booster, it's totally reasonable for the NFL to hold to the same thing. The NCAA and NFL don't work together, nor should they be obligated to. But since 99.9 % of players in the NFL come in from college football, the NFL should do its part to help uphold the integrity of the NCAA by not turning a blind eye to players who violated rules so badly that they got suspended, then later lost their eligibility in a situation that ultimately got Ohio State on NCAA probation and Coach Jim Tressel fired. If the NFL does nothing that just says "do what you want guys. Don't worry about what the NCAA does to you. Come to the NFL. We'll forget all about it and give you millions of dollars." That would just make things worse
A case could also be made of "if you don't play by the NCAA rules who says you'll play by the NFL rules?" So that shouldn't be rewarded. In truth Pryor not being able to play or practice for the first 5 games is minor. He probably wouldn't be playing anyway. He can still be at his team facilities and it would probably take him 5 games to learn his team's offense and get into football shape again, all of which he can do in that 5 weeks.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
basketball and international diplomacy
http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/6873726/georgetown-hoyas-chinese-professional-team-game-ends-brawl
Georgetown showing China how to play basketball the Big East way I see...
Georgetown showing China how to play basketball the Big East way I see...
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
the last 2 games, Detroit has split with Minnesota
Tuesday night Delmon Young hit a home run in his first Tiger at-bat. He was 2-4 and was hit by a pitch. But Tuesday was the Jim Thome show. Thome hit his 599th career home run off of Rick Porcello. In his next at-bat he hit number 600, a three-run shot off of Daniel Schlereth. Thome becomes the 8th player to reach the 600 home run plateau. He's the first player to ever hit 599 and 600 in back-to-back at bats.
Powered by Thome's 5 RBIs Minnesota won 9-6. Porcello gave up 6 runs, 4 earned, in 6 innings pitched. He fell to 11-8 on the season.
For Detroit Victor Martinez hit a 2 run home run, his 7th of the season. Alex Avila was 3-4, with an RBI triple. Wilson Betemit and Ryan Raburn both drove in runs. Magglio Ordonez was 2-4 in what could be his last regular playing time barring injuries. Jim Leyland said that Magglio's playing time is going to be limited and that Delmon Young and Brennan Boesch were going to be the regular outfielders going forward.
The roster move Detroit made to make room for Young ended up being Will Rhymes. He was sent back down. Ryan Raburn and Ramon Santiago will play second until Carlos Guillen returns from the DL. After that though, Detroit will have to make a decision regarding a roster regular I would think. The easiest choice is sending Andy Dirks back down. He's hit well enough to deserve staying , but he'd probably be back when the roster expands to 40 in a couple weeks anyway, so that's more likely than cutting someone loose entirely.
Last night Justin Verlander had another dominant outing, allowing 1 run in 7.2 innings pitched. He struck out 8 to pass 200 K's on the season. Verlander is now 18-5 on the season with a 2.31 ERA. He leads the Majors in wins and leads the American League in strikeouts. He's got to be the A.L. Cy Young front runner at this point.
Miguel Cabrera was 2-3 with 3 RBIs. Ramon Santiago hit his 3rd home run of the season. Alex Avila was 2-2 with an RBI. Jhonny Peralta was 2-4 with an RBI. Victor Martinez drove in a run. Delmon Young was 2-4, and Brennan Boesch hit a double and scored 3 times in his first start since being relegated to pinch hit duty for 4 games due to a sore thumb. Detroit finally won a game by more than 1 run, 7-1.
Cleveland lost to Chicago last night so Detroit's lead is back to 3 games.
Powered by Thome's 5 RBIs Minnesota won 9-6. Porcello gave up 6 runs, 4 earned, in 6 innings pitched. He fell to 11-8 on the season.
For Detroit Victor Martinez hit a 2 run home run, his 7th of the season. Alex Avila was 3-4, with an RBI triple. Wilson Betemit and Ryan Raburn both drove in runs. Magglio Ordonez was 2-4 in what could be his last regular playing time barring injuries. Jim Leyland said that Magglio's playing time is going to be limited and that Delmon Young and Brennan Boesch were going to be the regular outfielders going forward.
The roster move Detroit made to make room for Young ended up being Will Rhymes. He was sent back down. Ryan Raburn and Ramon Santiago will play second until Carlos Guillen returns from the DL. After that though, Detroit will have to make a decision regarding a roster regular I would think. The easiest choice is sending Andy Dirks back down. He's hit well enough to deserve staying , but he'd probably be back when the roster expands to 40 in a couple weeks anyway, so that's more likely than cutting someone loose entirely.
Last night Justin Verlander had another dominant outing, allowing 1 run in 7.2 innings pitched. He struck out 8 to pass 200 K's on the season. Verlander is now 18-5 on the season with a 2.31 ERA. He leads the Majors in wins and leads the American League in strikeouts. He's got to be the A.L. Cy Young front runner at this point.
Miguel Cabrera was 2-3 with 3 RBIs. Ramon Santiago hit his 3rd home run of the season. Alex Avila was 2-2 with an RBI. Jhonny Peralta was 2-4 with an RBI. Victor Martinez drove in a run. Delmon Young was 2-4, and Brennan Boesch hit a double and scored 3 times in his first start since being relegated to pinch hit duty for 4 games due to a sore thumb. Detroit finally won a game by more than 1 run, 7-1.
Cleveland lost to Chicago last night so Detroit's lead is back to 3 games.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Detroit has just acquired outfielder Delmon Young from Minnesota
Interesting that Minnesota would trade Young to a division rival, unless they're considering themselves out of the pennant race. They're not making a move upwards so far. Detroit's also trading a minor league pitcher and player to be named later to their division rival.
Detroit will be announcing a roster move before tonight's game to make room for Young. I wonder who it will be. I'd say it could be the end of the road for Ryan Raburn. But Carlos Guillen was placed on the 15 Day DL before yesterday's game. Opening Day second baseman Will Rhymes was recalled. I'd expect Raburn would be playing second base while Guillen is out. He's hit at least a bit better lately but is still hitting about .238 on the season. Maybe they'll just turn second base to Rhymes until Guillen is back.
Or could this be the end of the road for Magglio Ordonez? He's shown signs of hitting a hair bit better of late. But he's still slumping a bit to fall back to .230 or so. For the last couple weeks he's driving in runs with sac flies and groundouts, not clutch hits or drives to the gap to plate multiple runs.
Delmon Young's impact for Detroit will be immediate, since Detroit is starting a series with Minnesota tonight. So Young will just be switching clubhouses and dugouts.
Detroit will be announcing a roster move before tonight's game to make room for Young. I wonder who it will be. I'd say it could be the end of the road for Ryan Raburn. But Carlos Guillen was placed on the 15 Day DL before yesterday's game. Opening Day second baseman Will Rhymes was recalled. I'd expect Raburn would be playing second base while Guillen is out. He's hit at least a bit better lately but is still hitting about .238 on the season. Maybe they'll just turn second base to Rhymes until Guillen is back.
Or could this be the end of the road for Magglio Ordonez? He's shown signs of hitting a hair bit better of late. But he's still slumping a bit to fall back to .230 or so. For the last couple weeks he's driving in runs with sac flies and groundouts, not clutch hits or drives to the gap to plate multiple runs.
Delmon Young's impact for Detroit will be immediate, since Detroit is starting a series with Minnesota tonight. So Young will just be switching clubhouses and dugouts.
Dan Uggla's hitting streak ended at 33 yesterday
The Cubs managed to shut down Uggla, ending the Majors' longest hitting streak in 5 years. The Chicago second baseman made a tremendous running catch out in short right field to rob Uggla of a hit.
Uggla's streak raised his batting average from .173, lowest in the National League among qualified hitters, when it started to .231.
When his hitting streak hit 20 games, Uggla gained a pair of distinctions. He was both the hitter with the lowest batting average in history to ever start a 20 game hitting streak. He was still hitting .195 I think it was at that point, which gave him the lowest batting average in history for a batter with an active 20 game hitting streak.
Uggla's hitting streak though helped restore some luck to his season. The analysis of his power numbers, his walks to strikeouts ratio, his ground ball/fly ball ratio, etc., all indicate that he's hitting the ball pretty much the same as he always does in a normally productive year for him. The difference is that his batting average on balls put in play was a ridiculous .196 or something before the streak started. So that meant he was hitting the ball, he just had the dumb luck of not hitting it into empty space for a hit, ALOT. At some point when you hit the ball it's going to find holes and not gloves. That finally happened for Uggla, all at once it seems.
Sometimes batting average on balls in play goes the other way. Last season Detroit's Austin Jackson led the major leagues in BABIP with a .396. That offset the fact that he led the American League in strikeouts, and I think set the major league record for strikeouts by a guy who didn't hit 20 home runs (since most big strikeout guys hit a lot of home runs and swing for the fences alot). So he hit in the .280's and was over .300 until a late slump the last couple weeks of the season. This year Jackson's hitting a more normal .338 on balls put in play. He's again leading the league in strikeouts, thus his overall batting average sits at .245. He's the worst at not putting the ball in play but the fact that his BABIP was insane last year maintained his good batting average. With his skillset though he needs more balls in play.
Uggla's streak raised his batting average from .173, lowest in the National League among qualified hitters, when it started to .231.
When his hitting streak hit 20 games, Uggla gained a pair of distinctions. He was both the hitter with the lowest batting average in history to ever start a 20 game hitting streak. He was still hitting .195 I think it was at that point, which gave him the lowest batting average in history for a batter with an active 20 game hitting streak.
Uggla's hitting streak though helped restore some luck to his season. The analysis of his power numbers, his walks to strikeouts ratio, his ground ball/fly ball ratio, etc., all indicate that he's hitting the ball pretty much the same as he always does in a normally productive year for him. The difference is that his batting average on balls put in play was a ridiculous .196 or something before the streak started. So that meant he was hitting the ball, he just had the dumb luck of not hitting it into empty space for a hit, ALOT. At some point when you hit the ball it's going to find holes and not gloves. That finally happened for Uggla, all at once it seems.
Sometimes batting average on balls in play goes the other way. Last season Detroit's Austin Jackson led the major leagues in BABIP with a .396. That offset the fact that he led the American League in strikeouts, and I think set the major league record for strikeouts by a guy who didn't hit 20 home runs (since most big strikeout guys hit a lot of home runs and swing for the fences alot). So he hit in the .280's and was over .300 until a late slump the last couple weeks of the season. This year Jackson's hitting a more normal .338 on balls put in play. He's again leading the league in strikeouts, thus his overall batting average sits at .245. He's the worst at not putting the ball in play but the fact that his BABIP was insane last year maintained his good batting average. With his skillset though he needs more balls in play.
this past weekend Detroit took 2 of 3 in Baltimore
In the series opener Detroit won 5-4. Brad Penny scattered 4 runs on 7 hits in 5.1 innings pitched. The bullpen pitched shutdown baseball, and Penny improved his season record to 8-9 on the year.
Phil Coke, Joaquin Benoit, and Jose Valverde combined to pitch 3.2 innings of 1 hit ball. Coke struck out 3 of the 5 batters he retired. Valverde struck out 2 of the 3 batters in the 9th to make it 34-for-34 in saves.
Wilson Betemit was 3-4 with his 2nd home run as a Tiger, and 5th of the season, and 2 RBIs. Andy Dirks went 4-4 with a double and an RBI. It was the first 4-hit game of his career.
Austin Jackson was 2-3 with a double and an RBI. Miguel Cabrera was 2-4 with an RBI.
In the second game of the series, Detroit scored 5 runs in the 6th inning to come back from the hole dug by Baltimore's 5 run second inning of Max Scherzer.
4 of those runs off Scherzer were earned but he allowed no other runs and 7 hits in 7 innings. He struck out 10 and went 7 innings to end up getting his 12th win of the season when the offense arrived. Scherzer is 12-7 on the year, tying his career high in victories, set last season.
Miguel Cabrera hit a 2-run homer, his 23rd of the season, and 3 RBIs overall. Ryan Raburn capped off the 6th with a 2 run single. Alex Avila also drove in a run. Phil Coke was perfect in another inning of relief. He's finding last season's form. Jose Valverde made it 35-for-35 in the save department.
The 6-5 win was Detroit's 8th straight win by 1 run. That sets a new franchise record and is the longest string of 1 run games since the St. Louis Cardinals in 1994.
The good news is that Detroit is winning alot of 1 run games. They also play a ton since a few of their recent losses were also by 1 run. The bad news is that they're playing in a ton of 1 run games. Hopefully needing Jose Valverde seemingly every victory doesn't wear him down in about a month.
Yesterday Doug Fister allowed 8 runs, 6 earned, on 12 hits in 5.2 innings of work. At list David Pauley .struck out 2 and allowed only 1 hit in 1.1 innings. Hopefully he's settling in.
Detroit tried to come back but lost 8-5. Baltimore's left fielder made a running catch on a slicing line drive by Brennan Boesch near the line with the bases loaded to end the game.
Ramon Santiago hit his 2nd home run of the season and had 2 RBIs for Detroit. Magglio Ordonez had an RBI, but it was a groundout in the 9th instead of the big hit. Alex Avila walked with the bases loaded in the 9th to bring in a run, as did Santiago right after him for his second RBI. Austin Jackson also drove in a run.
It was a 4 run 8th but so close to a huge inning. This is the second time this season that Boesch has ended a game with the bases loaded on a ball that was well-hit but found a glove (line-out double play against the Rockies in the other case).
Phil Coke, Joaquin Benoit, and Jose Valverde combined to pitch 3.2 innings of 1 hit ball. Coke struck out 3 of the 5 batters he retired. Valverde struck out 2 of the 3 batters in the 9th to make it 34-for-34 in saves.
Wilson Betemit was 3-4 with his 2nd home run as a Tiger, and 5th of the season, and 2 RBIs. Andy Dirks went 4-4 with a double and an RBI. It was the first 4-hit game of his career.
Austin Jackson was 2-3 with a double and an RBI. Miguel Cabrera was 2-4 with an RBI.
In the second game of the series, Detroit scored 5 runs in the 6th inning to come back from the hole dug by Baltimore's 5 run second inning of Max Scherzer.
4 of those runs off Scherzer were earned but he allowed no other runs and 7 hits in 7 innings. He struck out 10 and went 7 innings to end up getting his 12th win of the season when the offense arrived. Scherzer is 12-7 on the year, tying his career high in victories, set last season.
Miguel Cabrera hit a 2-run homer, his 23rd of the season, and 3 RBIs overall. Ryan Raburn capped off the 6th with a 2 run single. Alex Avila also drove in a run. Phil Coke was perfect in another inning of relief. He's finding last season's form. Jose Valverde made it 35-for-35 in the save department.
The 6-5 win was Detroit's 8th straight win by 1 run. That sets a new franchise record and is the longest string of 1 run games since the St. Louis Cardinals in 1994.
The good news is that Detroit is winning alot of 1 run games. They also play a ton since a few of their recent losses were also by 1 run. The bad news is that they're playing in a ton of 1 run games. Hopefully needing Jose Valverde seemingly every victory doesn't wear him down in about a month.
Yesterday Doug Fister allowed 8 runs, 6 earned, on 12 hits in 5.2 innings of work. At list David Pauley .struck out 2 and allowed only 1 hit in 1.1 innings. Hopefully he's settling in.
Detroit tried to come back but lost 8-5. Baltimore's left fielder made a running catch on a slicing line drive by Brennan Boesch near the line with the bases loaded to end the game.
Ramon Santiago hit his 2nd home run of the season and had 2 RBIs for Detroit. Magglio Ordonez had an RBI, but it was a groundout in the 9th instead of the big hit. Alex Avila walked with the bases loaded in the 9th to bring in a run, as did Santiago right after him for his second RBI. Austin Jackson also drove in a run.
It was a 4 run 8th but so close to a huge inning. This is the second time this season that Boesch has ended a game with the bases loaded on a ball that was well-hit but found a glove (line-out double play against the Rockies in the other case).
recent Tigers catchup...they lost 2 of 3 at Cleveland
The series opening marathon ended in the 14th inning not long after I posted my in-game update. David Pauley hit a batter with the bases loaded to force in the winning run. He took the loss in his first Tiger decision, to fall to 5-5 on the season. Detroit's bullpen went 11.1 innings and gave up 1 run on 3 hits. Pauley was the 8th Tiger pitcher. Luckily for the rest of the series, Cleveland's bullpen was just as spent as Detroit's, if not worse. Neither starting pitcher returned after a third inning rain delay that went almost 2 hours.
Don Kelly drove in a run, as did Austin Jackson on an 0-6 night. Cleveland won 3-2. That kinda hurts when your pitching gives up 7 hits in 14 innings but you can't win.
On Saturday, Cleveland rolled 10-3. They hit Rick Porcello around for 8 runs on 11 hits in 3.2 innings pitched. He fell to 11-7 on the season. David Pauley got hit around some more, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits in 2.2 innings of work. So far he hasn't been the stellar reliever that he was in Seattle.
Ryan Raburn had an RBI triple, and Wilson Betemit had a 2-run double for Detroit.
In the series finale Sheriff Justin Verlander restored some order to Tigertown. He gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in 7 innings, while striking out 10. He became the Majors' first 17 game winner, and is 17-5 on the season. Joaquin Benoit struck out 2 in the 8th to setup Jose Valverde's 1-2-3 9th for his 33rd save. He now holds the Tigers longest in-season save streak, as well as the longest consecutive save streak in team history.
Detroit's offense did just enough to win 4-3. Alex Avila and Wilson Betemit supplied RBI singles. Magglio Ordonez had a sac fly, and Austin Jackson executed a suicide squeeze to drive in a run.
Don Kelly drove in a run, as did Austin Jackson on an 0-6 night. Cleveland won 3-2. That kinda hurts when your pitching gives up 7 hits in 14 innings but you can't win.
On Saturday, Cleveland rolled 10-3. They hit Rick Porcello around for 8 runs on 11 hits in 3.2 innings pitched. He fell to 11-7 on the season. David Pauley got hit around some more, giving up 2 runs on 2 hits in 2.2 innings of work. So far he hasn't been the stellar reliever that he was in Seattle.
Ryan Raburn had an RBI triple, and Wilson Betemit had a 2-run double for Detroit.
In the series finale Sheriff Justin Verlander restored some order to Tigertown. He gave up 3 runs on 3 hits in 7 innings, while striking out 10. He became the Majors' first 17 game winner, and is 17-5 on the season. Joaquin Benoit struck out 2 in the 8th to setup Jose Valverde's 1-2-3 9th for his 33rd save. He now holds the Tigers longest in-season save streak, as well as the longest consecutive save streak in team history.
Detroit's offense did just enough to win 4-3. Alex Avila and Wilson Betemit supplied RBI singles. Magglio Ordonez had a sac fly, and Austin Jackson executed a suicide squeeze to drive in a run.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
In game observation: Tigers at Indians
This game needs to end soon or Jim Leyland is going to end up pitching. The game is in the top of the 14th. Doug Fister went only 2 innings for Detroit due to a lengthy rain delay.
The Detroit bullpen has pitched 11 innings of 2 hit ball, but we're still tied at 2. I figure Detroit has an inning or 2 of Pauley as well as Valverde. After that I don't know what they'd do.
The Detroit bullpen has pitched 11 innings of 2 hit ball, but we're still tied at 2. I figure Detroit has an inning or 2 of Pauley as well as Valverde. After that I don't know what they'd do.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Over the weekend the Tigers took 2 of 3 in Kansas City...all games were 4-3 finals
On Friday night, Brennan Boesch had an RBI single in the top of the 10th inning, which ended up being the game winner. Jose Valverde closed the door to make sure it was the game winner, for his 31st save of the season.
Brennan Boesch had 2 RBIs. He and Austin Jackson led off the game with back to back triples. Magglio Ordonez scored Boesch with a sac fly, and Detroit was quickly up 2-0 3 batters into the game.
Rick Porcello gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 6.1 innings pitched. But Phil Coke and David Pauley couldn't get him out of a jam. Both allowed inherited runners to score after Porcello left with runners on first and second and 1 out.
Daniel Schlereth pitched a hitless 2 innings of relief. He's been up and down this season, explaining why he's been up in the majors and down in the minors multiple times. But he was sharp Friday and earned his first win of the season. He's 1-1 on the year.
Alex Avila hit his 13th home run the season to round out the scoring. Wilson Betemit was 1-2 with a double and 2 walks in his first game against the Royals since being acquired by Detroit from Kansas City.
On Saturday, Justin Verlander improved to 16-5 on the season, tying CC Sabbathia for the Major League lead in wins. He allowed 3 runs on 5 hits over 7 innings, escaping a jam in the 7th.
Victor Martinez was 3-4 with 2 RBIs. Miguel Cabrera was 2-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Magglio Ordonez also drove in a run.
Joaquin Benoit locked down the 8th inning and Jose Valverde pitched a perfect 9th to make it 32-32. The 32 straight saves in a season ties Willie Hernandez for the longest single season save streak. Hernandez of course was named the AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner for the World Series Champion Tigers that season. That also speaks to the difference in closers in the 27 years since then. Hernandez had 32 saves on a 104 win team. That netted him the Cy Young Award, which is rare for a relief pitcher. It also netted him the MVP award. Rare for a pitcher. Pretty much unheard of for a relief pitcher. It was a dominant year in 1984. Fast forward to 2011. Valverde has 32 saves in Detroit's 61 victories. Sure the '84 Tigers blew out alot more teams than the 2011 Tigers do so Valverde gets more save changes. But closers get used in pretty much every tight 9th inning now. That wasn't the case in '84. Jack Morris, Dan Petry, or Milt Wilcox stayed on the mount in the 9th frequently.
On Sunday Kansas City jumped out to a 4-1 lead on Max Scherzer. He allowed 6 hits in 5 innings to fall to 11-7 on the season.
Duane Below pitched a nice hitless 2.1 innings of relief with 4 strikeouts to give Detroit time to mount a rally. But it fell just short. Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Andy Dirks all had RBI doubles for Detroit. Alex Avila was also 2-4.
Brennan Boesch had 2 RBIs. He and Austin Jackson led off the game with back to back triples. Magglio Ordonez scored Boesch with a sac fly, and Detroit was quickly up 2-0 3 batters into the game.
Rick Porcello gave up 3 runs on 7 hits in 6.1 innings pitched. But Phil Coke and David Pauley couldn't get him out of a jam. Both allowed inherited runners to score after Porcello left with runners on first and second and 1 out.
Daniel Schlereth pitched a hitless 2 innings of relief. He's been up and down this season, explaining why he's been up in the majors and down in the minors multiple times. But he was sharp Friday and earned his first win of the season. He's 1-1 on the year.
Alex Avila hit his 13th home run the season to round out the scoring. Wilson Betemit was 1-2 with a double and 2 walks in his first game against the Royals since being acquired by Detroit from Kansas City.
On Saturday, Justin Verlander improved to 16-5 on the season, tying CC Sabbathia for the Major League lead in wins. He allowed 3 runs on 5 hits over 7 innings, escaping a jam in the 7th.
Victor Martinez was 3-4 with 2 RBIs. Miguel Cabrera was 2-5 with 2 doubles and an RBI. Magglio Ordonez also drove in a run.
Joaquin Benoit locked down the 8th inning and Jose Valverde pitched a perfect 9th to make it 32-32. The 32 straight saves in a season ties Willie Hernandez for the longest single season save streak. Hernandez of course was named the AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner for the World Series Champion Tigers that season. That also speaks to the difference in closers in the 27 years since then. Hernandez had 32 saves on a 104 win team. That netted him the Cy Young Award, which is rare for a relief pitcher. It also netted him the MVP award. Rare for a pitcher. Pretty much unheard of for a relief pitcher. It was a dominant year in 1984. Fast forward to 2011. Valverde has 32 saves in Detroit's 61 victories. Sure the '84 Tigers blew out alot more teams than the 2011 Tigers do so Valverde gets more save changes. But closers get used in pretty much every tight 9th inning now. That wasn't the case in '84. Jack Morris, Dan Petry, or Milt Wilcox stayed on the mount in the 9th frequently.
On Sunday Kansas City jumped out to a 4-1 lead on Max Scherzer. He allowed 6 hits in 5 innings to fall to 11-7 on the season.
Duane Below pitched a nice hitless 2.1 innings of relief with 4 strikeouts to give Detroit time to mount a rally. But it fell just short. Miguel Cabrera, Austin Jackson, and Andy Dirks all had RBI doubles for Detroit. Alex Avila was also 2-4.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
the last two nights Detroit took 2 from Texas
Last night Brennen Boesch hit his 16th home run of the season to snap a tie, and propel Detroit to a 6-5 win over Texas. He was 3-4 on the game. He bailed out Joaquin Benoit in the bullpen. Benoit inherited Max Scherzer's 3 run lead in the top of the 8th, after Scherzer gave up 2 runs in 6 innings pitched. Solo home run, double, and 2-run home run in a 4 batter span and the lead was gone. Benoit did end up getting the win though. His record is now even at 3-3 on the season.
That after David Pauley made his Tiger debut in the 7th inning, working around a double to the first batter he faced to get 2 outs. Phil Coke then got Josh Hamilton to ground out to second with the runner on third to get out of the jam. Jose Valverde notched save number 29 on the season.
Alex Avila was 2-3 with his 11th home run of the season and 3 RBIs. Victor Martinez was 2-3 with an RBI. Wilson Betemit was 2-4 with an RBI. Miguel Cabrera was 2-4.
Tonight Doug Fister made his Tiger debut. His first start lived up to the buzz of his sterling 3.30 ERA despite the 3-12 record that Seattle's terrible offense had saddled him with. Fister allowed 2 earned runs on 8 hits in 7 innings pitched. He earned the win in his first Tiger start, snapping a personal string of 9 straight losses.
Alex Avila was 2-3. He hit his 12th home run and drove in 2. He seems like he's breaking out of the slump he was in for a couple weeks after the All-Star break. Ryan Raburn was 3-4 with his 10th home run of the season and 2 RBIs. Miguel Cabrera added an RBI double. Detroit won another 1 run game 5-4.
Jose Valverde made it 30 for 30 in saves, despite giving up a solo home run in the 9th. He's converted 32 consecutive save opportunities dating back to last season, which ties him for the longest streak in Tigers' history. Valverde's 30 saves also leads the American League.
That after David Pauley made his Tiger debut in the 7th inning, working around a double to the first batter he faced to get 2 outs. Phil Coke then got Josh Hamilton to ground out to second with the runner on third to get out of the jam. Jose Valverde notched save number 29 on the season.
Alex Avila was 2-3 with his 11th home run of the season and 3 RBIs. Victor Martinez was 2-3 with an RBI. Wilson Betemit was 2-4 with an RBI. Miguel Cabrera was 2-4.
Tonight Doug Fister made his Tiger debut. His first start lived up to the buzz of his sterling 3.30 ERA despite the 3-12 record that Seattle's terrible offense had saddled him with. Fister allowed 2 earned runs on 8 hits in 7 innings pitched. He earned the win in his first Tiger start, snapping a personal string of 9 straight losses.
Alex Avila was 2-3. He hit his 12th home run and drove in 2. He seems like he's breaking out of the slump he was in for a couple weeks after the All-Star break. Ryan Raburn was 3-4 with his 10th home run of the season and 2 RBIs. Miguel Cabrera added an RBI double. Detroit won another 1 run game 5-4.
Jose Valverde made it 30 for 30 in saves, despite giving up a solo home run in the 9th. He's converted 32 consecutive save opportunities dating back to last season, which ties him for the longest streak in Tigers' history. Valverde's 30 saves also leads the American League.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tigers split the last two games with the Angels, to split the series
On Saturday, Jacob Turner made his much anticipated major league debut. He supplied the best outing from a 5 starter in quite awhile, though he did surrender 5 stolen bases, becoming the sixth pitcher to have 5 stolen bases against him in his debut since 1919. Roger Clemens was one of the others.
Overall though he pitched well, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in 5.1 innings of work. He walked 3 and hit a batter, but he did strike out 6. In general he was pretty sharp. He could have gotten out of the 6th with the lead but Phil Coke came in and hit 2 batters, including one with the bases loaded.
In the end though, Turner took the loss and added to the Curse of the Fifth Starter. Phil Coke, Charlie Furbush, Duane Below, and Jacob Turner are now a combined 1-12 on the season.
Dan Haren pitched a complete game in the 5-1 Angels victory, going the distance in a win against Detroit twice in the last 6 weeks or so.
Magglio Ordonez had an RBI single for Detroit.
On Sunday it was Justin Verlander doing the mowing. He came without 4 outs of a 2nd no-hitter on the season, allowing his only hit on an RBI single with 2 outs in the top of the 8th. He becomes the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1989 to carry 3 or more no-hitters into at least the 7th inning. Ryan did it 5 times that year, but didn't notch one of his 7 career no-hitters that year.
Verlander upped his record to 15-5on the season. Jose Valverde made it 28 for 28 on saves this season.
The game got testy though. Jared Weaver was miffed when Magglio Ordonez hit his 4th home run of the season, a 2 run shot just inside the left field foul pole. He stayed at the plate to watch it, seeing if it would stay fair. Weaver didn't like it, and thought that Ordonez trotted too slowly around the bases. I saw the replay and honestly think Maggs wasn't sure it was going to stay fair. His home run trot seemed normal.
In the 7th, Carlos Guillen hit his 2nd home run of the season. He did stand at the plate and watch it, then flipped his bat. Guillen said that he did that because he was not happy with Weaver shouting at Maggs on his home run. That led to Weaver throwing his next pitch over Alex Avila's head and getting tossed.
Verlander had his moment in the 8th when the Angels tried to bunt for a base hit. That's against the etiquette of late game no-hitters, though the game was only 3-0 at that point so a couple base runners could have put the Angels right back in the game. Verlander ended up throwing the ball away trying to make a play , for an error. He had words after the play, and that run ended up scoring
Overall though he pitched well, allowing 2 runs on 3 hits in 5.1 innings of work. He walked 3 and hit a batter, but he did strike out 6. In general he was pretty sharp. He could have gotten out of the 6th with the lead but Phil Coke came in and hit 2 batters, including one with the bases loaded.
In the end though, Turner took the loss and added to the Curse of the Fifth Starter. Phil Coke, Charlie Furbush, Duane Below, and Jacob Turner are now a combined 1-12 on the season.
Dan Haren pitched a complete game in the 5-1 Angels victory, going the distance in a win against Detroit twice in the last 6 weeks or so.
Magglio Ordonez had an RBI single for Detroit.
On Sunday it was Justin Verlander doing the mowing. He came without 4 outs of a 2nd no-hitter on the season, allowing his only hit on an RBI single with 2 outs in the top of the 8th. He becomes the first pitcher since Nolan Ryan in 1989 to carry 3 or more no-hitters into at least the 7th inning. Ryan did it 5 times that year, but didn't notch one of his 7 career no-hitters that year.
Verlander upped his record to 15-5on the season. Jose Valverde made it 28 for 28 on saves this season.
The game got testy though. Jared Weaver was miffed when Magglio Ordonez hit his 4th home run of the season, a 2 run shot just inside the left field foul pole. He stayed at the plate to watch it, seeing if it would stay fair. Weaver didn't like it, and thought that Ordonez trotted too slowly around the bases. I saw the replay and honestly think Maggs wasn't sure it was going to stay fair. His home run trot seemed normal.
In the 7th, Carlos Guillen hit his 2nd home run of the season. He did stand at the plate and watch it, then flipped his bat. Guillen said that he did that because he was not happy with Weaver shouting at Maggs on his home run. That led to Weaver throwing his next pitch over Alex Avila's head and getting tossed.
Verlander had his moment in the 8th when the Angels tried to bunt for a base hit. That's against the etiquette of late game no-hitters, though the game was only 3-0 at that point so a couple base runners could have put the Angels right back in the game. Verlander ended up throwing the ball away trying to make a play , for an error. He had words after the play, and that run ended up scoring
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