PREGAME: The Tigers will go for the sweep today against the Cardinals. With it being a day game after a night game, and an off day tomorrow, and the series already won, I’m expecting to see the B lineup today.
The Tigers will send out an A pitcher though with Justin Verlander taking the hill. Verlander is coming off his best start of the season, a 2 run 7 inning performance against the Red Sox.
The Cardinals will again turn to their bullpen in search of a starter. This time it will be Brad Thompson making his 4th career start, and 3rd of the season. Thompson posts a solid 4.03 ERA. But, he has a below average strikeout rate (4.7 per 9), an average walk rate (2.7 per 9), and he’s allowing more than a hit an inning. The most glaring item on the stat sheet though is 7 homers in 29 innings. Luckily for Thompson 6 of the 7 have been solo shots.
Game Time 1:05pm
POSTGAME – with Pictures
Sean Casey’s doubles in 2 runs
I made it down to Comerica for the first time since the 2nd game of the year. And let me say it was a great day. I’ll get to the action on the field in a minute, but first the kids day experience.
Sunday’s at Comerica Park are terrific if you have 4 to 6 year old kids. There’s the face painting, the free rides, and of course kids run the bases. We took part in all of those events. They also do a car giveaway. Actually, 4 car giveaways and they are the Little Tikes Hummer H2’s. Well, in the 2nd inning a woman came to sit by us. This woman works for the Tigers and was there to inform us that my son had won!
So my son and I got to go underneath the stands and we watched a half inning with the grounds crew. While we were waiting one of the employees down there came up with a ball for my son. We went on the field for the presentation. My son of course was into the car he just won while I was just looking around at being on the field and being a few feet from Brandon Inge and Curtis Granderson waiting to come up to bat. (I could play it cool and say it was no big deal, but come on. Of course it was a big deal!)
On to the game notes:
- It was another fine outing by Verlander. From my seats in the bleachers, he didn’t appear dominating, but never was really in a lot of trouble.
- Chris Duncan’s home run was just a bomb. First time since 2005 a homer went out to centerfield. I really think the drought was more of an anomaly than anything since it seemed there would be 4-5 a year.
- Carlos Guillen made a couple nice plays at short, but once again blew a routine play. That’s 4 by my count in the last week.
- Speaking of guys playing defense, Sheffield put the glove on and made a couple sliding plays in right field and at one point recorded 4 straight putouts.
- Curtis Granderson led off with a triple. I don’t know if he’s got blazing speed, but he’s still fast and seems to get around the bases with eases. How many times has he made not even close taking the extra base when it isn’t necessarily expected? It must be that “baseball speed”
- Sean Casey continued to rip the ball with a couple more hard hit line drives today. Is he shaking out of the early season slump? Is it one of those inevitable hot streaks that all players experience? Is it the Cardinals?
- The bottom of the order came up big with the 7-8-9 hitters knocking in 5 of the 6 runs. That included a 2 run blast by Brandon Inge.
Polanco and Rodriguez out.
Perez in playing and batting 2nd. Rabelo in batting 8th. Ordonez at DH. Sheffield in RF.
No TV for me today but at least it’s on the radio.
Well, I lied. I found the game on another station. Weird. Oh, goody, I get to watch.
2 pitches and 2 out. So far so good.
Today’s game is on WJBK (channel 2 for those who don’t have cable). Does that mean it’s not on FSN? I thought they were simulcast.
It’s not on FSN here but a new channel called CW7 ( some type of local station, but Rod and Mario are broadcasting). Hey, Anne, is this the game your hubby and son are attending?
Yep, hubby, son and son’s friend. I keep looking for them on TV. I’m pretty sure I’ll at least hear them before the game’s over, they get pretty loud. 🙂
4th inning already. I thought the Tigs would have broken out by now.
I didn’t think I’d be able to watch it, but after reading your remarks I found it on channel 6…for some strange reason.
OUr local station has been advertising that they are now carrying some of the games and give a channel if you have comcast or dish. Wasn’t on the channels they gave but I just kept scrolling and found it on channel 253 called CW7
Different commercials too. At least I don’t have to listen to “you see how he plays, now see how he lives.”
Grrrr! 2-1
I thought that nobody ever hit it out to straightaway center.
Sean Casey is my Tiger for when we play the Cardinals.
Um, Rod’s been saying no one has hit it out in like two years. He’s so wrong.
I love Carlos, but what’s with all these errors.
And costly errors at that.
I get home from church in time for this! Allowing Walker to get away will haunt this team all year.
Was Verlander dominant
Hey, do you know anyone interested in a team signed baseball from 1962, includes Al Kaline.
Who would’nt be interested? How much?
$600.00
Out of my league.
*** Allowing Walker to get away will haunt this team all year.
***
What he was commanding on the market, over three years, would have tied the Tigers’ hands. Seay can do a similar job for a lot less moolah.
I don’t know if I’d say dominant, but definitely effective. He did give up 5 hits, including two to Pujols and a HR to Duncan. I guess he didn’t have his top velocity but was still good, and most importantly went 8 innings. He also got some timely DPs and Pujols was caught stealing after his single in the 4th.
The numbers very similar to his start against Boston, however.
Awesome, Billfer. Sounds like you and your son had quite the day to remember.
that face painting is nuts btw!
Those pictures are great Bilfer. What kind of camera is that?
Glad you like them. The camera is a Panasonic DMC-FZ5, and is a couple years old.
No need to play it cool, Bilfer. We’d all be pumped. Great memory for your kid. My younger son had a ball tossed to him by Magglio in Toronto last month and both of us are still beaming about it.
What a cute little boy and he got his face painted. A wonderful day and memories for you and your son. There do seem to be so many young families at the games now along with the teenage girls, 20-30 crowd and us oldies like me. Glad you had a good day and on top of that we won.
Now I know we’re all adults here and we’re above such things but…TAKE THAT ST. LOIUS! Mwhahahahahah….REVENGE! Sweet sweet revenge! No routine throws into the dugout for you this time!
That was terrible. I’m glad it’s out of my system, though. Also, I’m glad I was aparently the only one who even for a moment had a slight feeling of vengence.
I think the only vengeance that will satisfy me–well, I won’t say it just it yet, to avoid jinxes, but it involves some rings St. Louis has that I want the Tigs to get.
Great pix, Billfer. What a memorable day for you and your son. Lucky kid!
Billfer, Can you tell us what it is like under the stands. Were you anywhere near the tigers clubhouse, did you see anything interesting involving the operations under comericapark?
Congratulations to you, well, actually your son on the H2 win. Had to sell tix to yesterday’s game, otherwise I would have been there and my 5 year old and I would have tracked you down.
wow. that pic is the same view i had from my seat. i think we were sitting right by each other.
Congrats, Bilfer and Little Bilfer!
Jason – we were in section 104 row Z. Were you in the neighborhood?
Mark S – It is quite spacious under the stands. I’d say you could probably drive a semi through the “underneath” concourse. As for seeing the clubhouses, we were right between them.
The only thing that really struck me was how many people working during a game can’t even see the field.
If you want to see more, I’d recommend taking the tour. They’ll take you through the visitor clubhouse and into the visitor dugout. You get to see a lot of that stuff.
section 104, row H. 🙂