PREGAME: The Zach Miner show comes to Milwaukee. Miner has proven to be a pretty capable replacement for Mike Maroth against some tough offenses. Things won’t get easier tonight, or even going forward, as the film library on Zach becomes more robust.
He’ll be facing Rick Helling who makes his first start of the season after coming back from elbow problems.
Craig Monroe will take Marcus Thames’s spot in the lineup as he makes his first start since Wednesday.
POSTGAME: Well at least that Zach Miner film library isn’t getting a lot of footage of guys having success against him. Awesome outing by Miner, and of course it was a slight disappointment he couldn’t get the shut out as well.
The Tigers went long ball crazy again and Jeremy Bonderman can’t help but wonder why an offense that hits 12 homers in 3 games can’t get give him a little run support.
And while the White Sox won again, the other team that is matching the Tigers blow for blow is the Twins. While the Indians may be wilting, the Twins are doing their best to make things interesting. I don’t think things will be as easy the next time they meet up.
Mags, baby! 2 for 2 already. That’s what I’m talkin’ about!! 8-0 after 3 innings………. 🙂
Too bad the White Sox are having a great day too. I want to get more than a 2 game lead over them. It’s looking like the 2nd best record in the American League is going to only get a Wild Card birth. If things continue it is going to add fire to the Yankees and Red Sox pennett race with the possibility that the 2nd place team in the East won’t even make a Wild Card with the way the top two in the Central are lighting it up.
So do you think Leyland let’s Miner go for his first major league complete game shut out? His pitch count isn’t bad going into the 9th and it rests the bullpen for tomorrow.
Is Smoltz going to be the 6th starter when he gets to Detroit? 🙂
Bummer Miner did not get the shut out but a W is a W.
Does anyone else out there get MLB extra innings? The Brewers announcers were doing the game tonight. Although they are the “road” announcers they were really quite good, even during a rout against their own team. I would rank them at the top of the “road” list and the BOGUS CWS homer crew at the bottom.
How about those two shots Mags hit today. Hopefully Big Red gets it going again. We need production from everyone.
Bilfer good post on Z vs Smoltz.
People must use common sense when these situations come up. DD got us to where we are now with reasonable trades, good F/A signings and great drafting. He is not going to deal Z or any other solid prospect without an upside. I agree with your notes, Smoltz is staying and DD will get us a deal near the deadline once we see where we are with personal and injuries.
Steve
i loved how on mags 2nd homer & monroe’s moon shot, lee didn’t even take a step…he just turned at watched.
geez, Miner pitched great tonight – got 20 outs in a row at one point. Everything’s going the Tiges’ way right now; Leyland brings in a rookie who almost throws a shutout….I’m glad Leyland let him finish; he deserved it. Things looked bad after the 1st; their guy struck out our first 3 men on 9 pitches. But, that ended with the 1st pitch in the 2nd (Mags’ first HR). It all went downhill pretty fast after that. Anyway, that was fun…let’s do it again!…….. 🙂
Too bad the White Sox are having a great day too. I want to get more than a 2 game lead over them. It’s looking like the 2nd best record in the American League is going to only get a Wild Card birth. If things continue it is going to add fire to the Yankees and Red Sox pennett race with the possibility that the 2nd place team in the East won’t even make a Wild Card with the way the top two in the Central are lighting it up.
The good news is that we’re now 7 1/2 games up on the Yankees. Nice to build a decent lead on them while they’re struggling through injuries. If the Tigers played .500 from here on out, they’d win 93 games. We’re definitely in it for the long haul.