Brennan Boesch scored Danny Worth on a sac fly in the bottom of the 8th inning, giving Detroit an 8-7 victory over Minnesota. Detroit came back from a 3-0 hole with a 6 run 5th inning, but Max Scherzer couldn't hold a 6-3 lead with 2 outs in the 7th.
I think Jim Leyland kept Scherzer in too long in allowing him to face Justin Morneau having thrown 100 pitches. He uncorked a wild pitch with 2 strikes to allow a run to score. Then he gave up a home run to Morneau, his second of the game, to surrender the lead. His line ended up being 7 runs allowed in 6.2 innings pitched. He didn't quite pitch that poorly, striking out 7, but Morneau took him deep twice.
Detroit again came back though. Al Alburqurque earned his 3rd victory for the season with an inning of 2 strikeout work. He's been racking up the decisions lately and is 3-1 on the season. Joaquin Benoit pitched the 9th to earn his 2nd save of the season. He struck out Morneau with 2 on and 1 out in the inning.
Brennan Boesch drove in 2 runs with a groundout and a sac fly. Not ideally what you want to do with runners on third, but at least he put the ball in play and plated the runs. Jhonny Peralta was 2-3 with an RBI double and a sac fly. Victor Martinez was 2-4 with an RBI double. Casper Wells had an RBI double and Austin Jackson drove in a run. Brandon Inge was 2-3 with a walk and Danny Worth was 2-4 in his first start as the revolving second baseman of the year.
The Tigers have upped their record to 28-26 on the season.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Twins-Tigers: In-game observation
Jim Leyland left Max Scherzer in too long. I didn't think facing Justin Morneau nearing 100 pitches was a good idea. He doesn't have that freakish next gear that Justin Verlander. Nobody does. Verlander fired a 100 mph fastball on pitch 130 yesterday.
2 strike wild pitch then a two run homer. Just like that it's 7-6 Twins.
2 strike wild pitch then a two run homer. Just like that it's 7-6 Twins.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Tigers come back to beat the Twins today
Alex Avila delivered a 2-out RBI double in the bottom of the 8th inning, after Jhonny Peralta scratched out an infield hit ahead of him. That propelled Detroit to a 6-5 win.
Jose Valverde came in and pitched a 1-2-3 9th to earn his 13th safe. Three appearances in the last 2 days with 2 saves. He'll need a rest tomorrow I'm sure.
Al Alburquerque earned the win with a scoreless 8th inning of work. He's now 2-1 on the season. Brad Penny went 6, but got in trouble in the 5th, surrendering 4 runs and what had been a 3-1 lead. Victor Martinez tied it at 5 with his 5th home run of the season, a 2-run shot, in the 6th and got Penny off the hook for the loss.
David Purcey made his Tigers debut and pitched a scoreless 7th. Miguel Cabrera hit his 10th home run of the season. Andy Dirks was 2-3 with an RBI double. Brennan Boesch also drove in a run.
Detroit has again eked its way above .500.
Jose Valverde came in and pitched a 1-2-3 9th to earn his 13th safe. Three appearances in the last 2 days with 2 saves. He'll need a rest tomorrow I'm sure.
Al Alburquerque earned the win with a scoreless 8th inning of work. He's now 2-1 on the season. Brad Penny went 6, but got in trouble in the 5th, surrendering 4 runs and what had been a 3-1 lead. Victor Martinez tied it at 5 with his 5th home run of the season, a 2-run shot, in the 6th and got Penny off the hook for the loss.
David Purcey made his Tigers debut and pitched a scoreless 7th. Miguel Cabrera hit his 10th home run of the season. Andy Dirks was 2-3 with an RBI double. Brennan Boesch also drove in a run.
Detroit has again eked its way above .500.
Surprise in Columbus
Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel resigned this morning amid the allegations of improper benefits that have rippled outwards like a stone in a pond after the players were found to have sold mementos or traded them for free tattoos late last year. That matter is still not closed and seems to be broadening in scope, beyond just a couple players committing an isolated violation outside of the knowledge of the coaching staff.
Some people thought that Tressel might be out after this season as that investigation progressed. Urban Meyer is an Ohio native with an outstanding resume and without a coaching job. He's also shown an inability in the past to stay retired. So the whispers started. Instead Tressel isn't even going to make it through the 5 game suspension.
He was a good coach. I can't deny. I have to admit too that he owned Michigan. 9-1 in his 10 seasons. He famously came in promising he was going to turn around Ohio State's previously dreadful record against Michigan (a big reason why the job opened up for him) and dominate them. He did just then. But I wonder how much he did turn a blind eye too as he built them into a regular national championship contender.
I also wonder how Pryor and the others who accepted the 5 game suspension as part of their promise to come back for this season in exchange for playing in the Sugar Bowl in January feel now. They came back for their coach. Now their coach is gone and they'll be out for the first 5 games. It is possible though that the 7-8 games they do still play this coming season are 7-8 more than they'd have played if they'd have gone to the NFL Draft, if the NFL owners and players' union don't get that lockout resolved.
As a result of this, when Michigan and Ohio State lock horns this season it will be with 2 first year coaches. I wonder when the last time that happened, if at all? Lots of legendary and longtime coaches on either side. Bo. Woody Hayes. Lloyd Carr. Tressel.
It will definitely be a whole new phase in THE rivalry in college football. Michigan can definitely use a clean slate.
Some people thought that Tressel might be out after this season as that investigation progressed. Urban Meyer is an Ohio native with an outstanding resume and without a coaching job. He's also shown an inability in the past to stay retired. So the whispers started. Instead Tressel isn't even going to make it through the 5 game suspension.
He was a good coach. I can't deny. I have to admit too that he owned Michigan. 9-1 in his 10 seasons. He famously came in promising he was going to turn around Ohio State's previously dreadful record against Michigan (a big reason why the job opened up for him) and dominate them. He did just then. But I wonder how much he did turn a blind eye too as he built them into a regular national championship contender.
I also wonder how Pryor and the others who accepted the 5 game suspension as part of their promise to come back for this season in exchange for playing in the Sugar Bowl in January feel now. They came back for their coach. Now their coach is gone and they'll be out for the first 5 games. It is possible though that the 7-8 games they do still play this coming season are 7-8 more than they'd have played if they'd have gone to the NFL Draft, if the NFL owners and players' union don't get that lockout resolved.
As a result of this, when Michigan and Ohio State lock horns this season it will be with 2 first year coaches. I wonder when the last time that happened, if at all? Lots of legendary and longtime coaches on either side. Bo. Woody Hayes. Lloyd Carr. Tressel.
It will definitely be a whole new phase in THE rivalry in college football. Michigan can definitely use a clean slate.
Tigers earned a doubleheader split with Boston yesterday
Rain washed away Saturday's game. But unlike the last couple rainouts over the last couple weeks, Detroit could make up this game immediately.
Andy Oliver made his season debut in the first game of the day-night doubleheader. He'd been brought up specifically to pitch the Saturday game, with Phil Coke on the DL with his ankle injury. Oliver was in trouble each of the first 3 innings but managed to only be down 3-0. He allowed a double, hit a batter, walked a batter, and allowed 4(!) stolen bases, all without a throw from Alex Avila, in the first but miraculously gave up only 1 run.
Oliver settled down to go 6 innings, allowing the three runs on 5 hits. Andy Dirks hit his 2nd homer of the season and Brennan Boesch his 4th. Jhonny Peralta tied the game with a single.
But David Ortiz hit a pinch hit home run off of Jose Valverde in the top of the 9th to win it for the Red Sox 4-3. Valverde fell to 2-2 on the season. It was Ortiz's 1st pinch hit home run since 2003. As it turns out Valverde had faced Ortiz only once before, and gave up a grand slam last season. Off the top of my head I think that was the terrible game where Valverde needed around 50 or so pitches to get out of the 9th inning, and almost blew a huge lead before barely holding on. He was never the same for the rest of the season, probably because of that extreme pitch count.
In the nightcap Justin Verlander returned to his dominant form. He pitched 7.23 shutout innings. He threw a career high 132 pitches. That was the highest pitch count for a Tigers starter since 1996. But Verlander's velocity kept increasing as the game got later, so he obviously had his groove last night. He improved to 5-3 on the season.
Brennan Boesch and Miguel Cabrera had back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning. Don Kelly added an insurance RBI single in the 8th. Joaquin Benoit got the final out of the 8th with 2 runners on. Jose Valverde retired the side in the 9th for his 12th save. He earned some redemption by retiring David Ortiz on a grounder to first to end the game. The final was 3-0.
With the split Detroit's record is even at 26-26. They salvaged the final game out of their 6 season meetings with the Red Sox. If they meet again in 2011 it will be in the playoffs.
Andy Oliver made his season debut in the first game of the day-night doubleheader. He'd been brought up specifically to pitch the Saturday game, with Phil Coke on the DL with his ankle injury. Oliver was in trouble each of the first 3 innings but managed to only be down 3-0. He allowed a double, hit a batter, walked a batter, and allowed 4(!) stolen bases, all without a throw from Alex Avila, in the first but miraculously gave up only 1 run.
Oliver settled down to go 6 innings, allowing the three runs on 5 hits. Andy Dirks hit his 2nd homer of the season and Brennan Boesch his 4th. Jhonny Peralta tied the game with a single.
But David Ortiz hit a pinch hit home run off of Jose Valverde in the top of the 9th to win it for the Red Sox 4-3. Valverde fell to 2-2 on the season. It was Ortiz's 1st pinch hit home run since 2003. As it turns out Valverde had faced Ortiz only once before, and gave up a grand slam last season. Off the top of my head I think that was the terrible game where Valverde needed around 50 or so pitches to get out of the 9th inning, and almost blew a huge lead before barely holding on. He was never the same for the rest of the season, probably because of that extreme pitch count.
In the nightcap Justin Verlander returned to his dominant form. He pitched 7.23 shutout innings. He threw a career high 132 pitches. That was the highest pitch count for a Tigers starter since 1996. But Verlander's velocity kept increasing as the game got later, so he obviously had his groove last night. He improved to 5-3 on the season.
Brennan Boesch and Miguel Cabrera had back-to-back RBI doubles in the first inning. Don Kelly added an insurance RBI single in the 8th. Joaquin Benoit got the final out of the 8th with 2 runners on. Jose Valverde retired the side in the 9th for his 12th save. He earned some redemption by retiring David Ortiz on a grounder to first to end the game. The final was 3-0.
With the split Detroit's record is even at 26-26. They salvaged the final game out of their 6 season meetings with the Red Sox. If they meet again in 2011 it will be in the playoffs.
Friday, May 27, 2011
possibly an omen of things to come...
This afternoon Detroit traded Scott Sizemore to Oakland for left handed relief pitcher David Purcey. Sizemore had hit .222 since he came up to take over second base from Wil Rhymes. Second base is now handed to Danny Worth. He's the 3rd of the 4 headed second base monster we say last year. The fourth, Carlos Guillen, is still at least 6 weeks away from being game ready. Worth is by far the best defensive second basemen of the four, but questions will be can he hit? He hit a passable .270 in his time up last season.
This trade indicates that Detroit had given up on Sizemore. They also have interchangeable skill sets at second base, so if they needed another left handed relief pitcher they had a part to move. Ryan Raburn can play second as well, and played there a bit this season before Sizemore came up. Daniel Schlereth is the only left handed pitcher they have up right now, and he's been inconsistent.
This move may also mean that Detroit isn't going to keep Charlie Furbush up. They'd rather have that prized arm getting regular starts in the minor, with eyes of maybe seeing him in the starting rotation next season.
I think this trade may foreshadow something more significant down the road. Assuming they are still in striking distance of the Central lead, with a second half that on paper in the preseason looked very favorable, I would not be surprised at all to see them to make a move with a bigger piece.
There are whispers of the Mets possibly holding a fir esale as they shed assets and payroll given the financial struggles of the franchise and the impending partial or full sale to raise cash for the Wilbon family as they continue to be entangled in the Bernie Madoff affair. Maybe they make a run at David Wright to put a big time bat, who plays good defense as well, at third base. Maybe they make a run at Jose Reyes to put legitimate speed and a pure leadoff hitter at shortstop and move Jhonny Peralta to third.
Brandon Inge could be on a short leash. The offense is totally gone. Ryan Raburn could be on a short least. He's still young and with talent but he can't put it all together after multiple shots. If Magglio Ordonez continues to not hit at all we could see the end of him. Detroit needs another bat. They need another arm they can trust in the bullpen.
The point is I expect something more to happen. The Tigers are very close to having a 2006 caliber team. That team went to the World Series, and was actually favored to win it before they played a poor 5 games against St. Louis.
They're also very close to a 2008 caliber team. That team went 74-88 and finished last in the division, after underachieving epically.
This trade indicates that Detroit had given up on Sizemore. They also have interchangeable skill sets at second base, so if they needed another left handed relief pitcher they had a part to move. Ryan Raburn can play second as well, and played there a bit this season before Sizemore came up. Daniel Schlereth is the only left handed pitcher they have up right now, and he's been inconsistent.
This move may also mean that Detroit isn't going to keep Charlie Furbush up. They'd rather have that prized arm getting regular starts in the minor, with eyes of maybe seeing him in the starting rotation next season.
I think this trade may foreshadow something more significant down the road. Assuming they are still in striking distance of the Central lead, with a second half that on paper in the preseason looked very favorable, I would not be surprised at all to see them to make a move with a bigger piece.
There are whispers of the Mets possibly holding a fir esale as they shed assets and payroll given the financial struggles of the franchise and the impending partial or full sale to raise cash for the Wilbon family as they continue to be entangled in the Bernie Madoff affair. Maybe they make a run at David Wright to put a big time bat, who plays good defense as well, at third base. Maybe they make a run at Jose Reyes to put legitimate speed and a pure leadoff hitter at shortstop and move Jhonny Peralta to third.
Brandon Inge could be on a short leash. The offense is totally gone. Ryan Raburn could be on a short least. He's still young and with talent but he can't put it all together after multiple shots. If Magglio Ordonez continues to not hit at all we could see the end of him. Detroit needs another bat. They need another arm they can trust in the bullpen.
The point is I expect something more to happen. The Tigers are very close to having a 2006 caliber team. That team went to the World Series, and was actually favored to win it before they played a poor 5 games against St. Louis.
They're also very close to a 2008 caliber team. That team went 74-88 and finished last in the division, after underachieving epically.
Two nights. Two games. Two poor pitching performances. Two Tiger losses
The starting pitching has been the strength of the team this year, as starters have pitched a ton of quality starts. Not the last two nights though.
Last night, Max Scherzer easily had his worst outing of the season. He got battered by the Red Sox for 7 runs on 7 hits in 3 innings pitched. Detroit got blasted 14-1, and the game was even shortened by rain to 7.5 innings. Scherzer has lost 2 straight decisions and is 6-2 on the season. Alex Avila had the lone Tiger RBI.
Earlier tonight, Rick Porcello got smacked around for 6 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings pitched. He fell to 4-3 on the season.
Charlie Furbush kept Detroit in the game by pitching 5.2 innings of shutout 2 hit ball. He struck out 6 and hasn't give up a run in 8.2 innings of relief work this year. He may be making a strong claim to stay on the roster, if he can actually come out of the pen and get outs. Contrast that with Ryan Perry who gave up 4 more runs last night. He now has an ERA over 12 in 10 innings of work this season.
Detroit couldn't manage enough offense though. Jhonny Peralta hit his 8th homer of the season and had 2 RBIs. Miguel Cabrera had an RBI. But in general Detroit was baffled by Tim Wakefield and his knuckleball. They allowed 5 hits. Wakefield went 7 innings. He's 44 years old but still fluttering it up to the plate. The final was 6-3 Boston.
Last night, Max Scherzer easily had his worst outing of the season. He got battered by the Red Sox for 7 runs on 7 hits in 3 innings pitched. Detroit got blasted 14-1, and the game was even shortened by rain to 7.5 innings. Scherzer has lost 2 straight decisions and is 6-2 on the season. Alex Avila had the lone Tiger RBI.
Earlier tonight, Rick Porcello got smacked around for 6 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings pitched. He fell to 4-3 on the season.
Charlie Furbush kept Detroit in the game by pitching 5.2 innings of shutout 2 hit ball. He struck out 6 and hasn't give up a run in 8.2 innings of relief work this year. He may be making a strong claim to stay on the roster, if he can actually come out of the pen and get outs. Contrast that with Ryan Perry who gave up 4 more runs last night. He now has an ERA over 12 in 10 innings of work this season.
Detroit couldn't manage enough offense though. Jhonny Peralta hit his 8th homer of the season and had 2 RBIs. Miguel Cabrera had an RBI. But in general Detroit was baffled by Tim Wakefield and his knuckleball. They allowed 5 hits. Wakefield went 7 innings. He's 44 years old but still fluttering it up to the plate. The final was 6-3 Boston.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)