2007 Season, Game Post

Game 95: Monarchs at Stars

63 Comments

PREGAME: In the retro uni’s tonight will be Justin Verlander taking on Jorge de la Rosa.

I was looking at de la Rosa’s game logs trying to get a feel for tendencies, and I really have no idea what to expect. He has decent control except when he doesn’t, and he strikes out a decent amount except when he doesn’t. What I do see on his splits page is that right handers have a 893 OPS against versus a .687 mark for lefties. And right handers account for 15 of the 16 homers he’s allowed. So I’m guessing/hoping that either Ryan Raburn or Craig Monroe have left field duties tonight.

Justin Verlander hasn’t been quite the unhittable pitcher we saw in June, but has still pitched through the 7th in his last 2 starts while fanning 13 and walking only 1.

Game time 7:05pm

KCR @ DET, Saturday, July 21, 2007 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

63 thoughts on “Game 95: Monarchs at Stars”

  1. Good evening from Germany to all at DTW.

    Justin seems a little bit “wild” in the first Innning. But I am sure he will adjust and then go, as above mentioned, through to his usual 7 Inning Game

  4. Good morning from Japan Dirk, I think everyone else must be at the game. Nice start for the home team.

  5. Hi rene,

    I wish I could be there, too. Wonderful Retro Uni’s. I like it

    Justin adds 2 WP to his league lead but 5 K’s in 2 Innings is exceptional, too

  6. Wow! We really have a global presence tonight. Kind of a weird 1st inning but JV seems to have gotten himself in a groove.

    Thank God C-Mo got a hit.

  13. Isn’t it a relief to see Grandy in CF again. Whenever he’s not playing, it makes me nervous.

  14. Is anyone watching live? I’m watching on Gameday and all of Verlander’s fastballs seems to be in the low 90’s. Seems a little strange.

  22. I’m watching live. I think he threw one for 96mph but most stayed in the low 90’s like you said.

  24. I’ll take a tired arm over an injury. They can always give him a week or so off like they did with Nate if it comes to that. Hope not, though.

  25. They are having some kind of fun tonight at the CoPa. For some reason, I can hear the ball when Pudge catches it, the vendors screaming in the background and people yelling at the umpires and the players. Sounds like a great big party!

  27. I found this neat webpage that lists the odds of the Tigers making the playoffs. See Tiger Playofff Odds. The way I understand it is they are taking the teams in the entire American League that have any chance of beating Tigers out for at minimum a wild card birth. That must be why they say their chances go up if Minnesota beats L.A. Angels. Still I’d rather see the Twinkies lose after their comeback last year to win the Division, odds or no odds.

  28. Check ou this webpage on Tiger Playoff Odds . It lists the Tigers odds of making the playoffs. The odds say it’s statistically better for us if Minnesota beats the Angels. Still I’d rather see the Twinkies lose after last year’s come back.

  38. Now they’re playing Eye of the Tiger just like they did when I went to the July 7th game that went into extra innings against the Red Sox. Pleeeeeeease, Tigers!

  42. I can’t believe this. Did the real Tigers get left in Minnesota? I was there last night and cut them a little slack because of the previous series, but tonight settled in at home to watch what I thought would be a happy game (love the retro uniforms). But this is horrible.

  44. That’s it – Get the Rangers on the phone, make the deal for Gagne happen RIGHT NOW.

    Jones should be on the next plane to Yokohama or somewhere. His locker should be emptied onto the streets before he even hits the showers.

  51. Okay, just a bullpen hiccup? It’s hard to be too harsh on the relief corps given their preformance since the break. I’ll let this one slide and chalk it up as a hiccup — especially since we eeked out the W –but I certainly hope a familiar pattern is not emerging.

    In particular, Jones did not look good tonight. Again, I’m letting it slide with his preformances in the last series fresh in mind. But any further transgressions on his part and I’m right there with ADR on this one.

  52. I agree with Leyland in his post-game presser, the bullpen did fine. They got the team to the 9th with a 2-run lead and really it was a fluky hit, a bad break on a DP ball and a seeing eye single.

    TJ came back to get the last 2 outs in the 9th and Chad was solid in the 10th. Strange game, great win!

  53. Pen was fine. Durbin did really well. The hits off Jones were weak.
    Another hit off a lefty for Granderson. Inge’s HR was a nice line drive shot.

    The bunt by Polly really pissed me off though. I would have rather seen a hit and run.

  54. 1) Todd Jones got kind of dinked to death. But, it’s a blown save nonetheless and that happens when he doesn’t K anyone. And a trade for Gagne isn’t likely. We’re not on his list of teams the Rangers can trade him to without his consent, and they’re talking contract extensions with Gagne. That may be lip service to the media and whatnot, but still noteworthy. And Otsuka is hurt, but if he’s healthy, a deal could be made and his value will be lower because of the injury; may play into our hands if we go that route. I still think Octavio Dotel is man we wind up getting or maybe we can make a play for Chad Cordero, then again Jim Bowden’s probably asking for a package of Verlander, Bonderman, and the city of Lansing.

    2) I’m not a fan of bunts with a runner on first and 0 out. Granderson’s yet to be thrown out stealing, I think. Can a brotha steal a base in a crucial situation at some point!? Let him run. Or hit and run. Something other then a bunt.

    3) Typical Inge guessing and connecting. I don’t get throwing him a first pitch fastball. I’d go at him with breaking balls all day long.

    4) I probably won’t see the game tomorrow, but here’s to hoping for 2 out of 3 from the Royals.

    5) I am officially a Billy Butler fan. When he’s not playing Detroit, of course.

  55. Some of you still talking trade this guy ,that guy. Were going to the playoffs with this team come hell or high water. Last time I checked, we had the best record in the world. Inge can keep guessing all he wants. He’s a helluva player and we need him. I think Jones is doing just fine. 10 to 8 is as good as 10 to 0. It’s a win.

  56. Agree Grandy should be running there. Especially against Buck’s 29% throw-out rate. I usually advocate the bunt (mostly with runners on 1st and 2nd, no outs), but this time I was wondering why Grandy didn’t attempt a steal. Or why the hit and run play wasn’t on. These days it seems Polly can just as easily hit the ball to the opposite field as he can bunt. It is curious.

  57. Let’s call a spade a spade, and at the same time give credit where credit is due:

    The pen has been stellar since the break. Some of us are just a little on edge when it comes to the rollercoaster we’ve endured before the break — and rightly so.

    Tonight Grilli did very well. McBride didn’t record an out. Miner did well. Durbin was exceptional. Result: one run over three innings: 3.00 ERA, respectable.

    However — as for the ninth inning:

    Call it what you like, a weak hit, a flukey hit, a seeing-eye single — whatever. A blown save is a blown save. The closer’s job is to record three outs without surrendering the lead. Tonight our closer didn’t do his job. Period. Even given the double-play-that wasn’t, a run still scores, 8-7. Then there is the hit up the middle, and you still have your blown save. I’m not saying Gagne is the answer — and I’m not saying I expect Jones to pitch at 0.00 ERA for the remainder of the year — I’m just not willing to sugar-coat a blown save with string of excuses.

    That said, it’s exactly Leyland’s job to back his closer. Baring a complete meltdown of unforseen proportions, the Tigers are sticking with Todd Jones as their closer (sorry sports’ fans), and there is no reason not to support him here. The last thing Leyland wants to do is errode Todd Jones’ confidence by criticizing his blown save as bluntly and candidly as some rather unforgiving bloggers.

    And finally, if Polly didn’t homer to cushion the lead, we lose this game. I think all the condoning moods — including Leyland’s –would be quite different given a different outcome to this game.

  58. Well, on a hit and run, even a grounder to SS would likely advance Curtis to 2nd base, thus fulfilling what Jim wanted Placido to do with the bunt.

    Ron: Offense will slow down and I’m not exactly comfortable with a combination of Miner/Durbin/Jones to end a game and I’m not expecting much of anything out of Joel when he comes back and Fernando’s proved to be inconsistent when healthy. Just because we’re the best team, based on win %, doesn’t mean we should stand pat. You can never have enough pitching.

  59. Ron: if you think we’re goona win a world series with this relief pitching, well let me introduce you to my good friends santa claus, the easter bunny, and casper the friendly ghost.

    i see to remember us having the best record–or close–this time last year and well august and september we went from best record to 2nd worst record over the last fifty games. I just don’t think you can stand pat with this bullpen. If we got even one blue chipper, rodney came back healthy and we made miller the lefty specialist in october, i’d be ok with it. durbin and miner are great long men, but i don’t think you can magically make them late inning guys and expect them to do the job come crunch time.
    I just fear a situation where todd jones et. al has a meltdown come sept or october. As I’ve said before, we’ve got #1 offense, #1 starting pitching, and #10 or so bullpen. If we make a move and move the bullpen up a notch, there’s no reason we can’t win it all

  60. Whose sugar coating? T Smith, Mike R and Stephen form quite a trio. They’re like the guy married to the beautiful woman. They are always thinking ” if I have her, why can’t I get someone even more beautiful”. Changing boats in midstream is not good unless you’re drowning. Quit looking at those stats. Those numbers will drive you nuts. On July 22, 58 and 37 are the only numbers of concern. Don’t worry, Inge has Jones’ back.

  61. I’m afraid I have to agree with them, Ron. The Tigers do need bullpen help. Especially come October, you need a reliable, power pitching bullpen. A move for that kind of pitcher plus great hope that Zumaya and Rodney come back in good shape, Detroit will be fine. Anything else, and I’m going to be a bit worried.

    And Mike, far as Gagne as concerned, it’s possible Detroit is on his no-trade list because he wants to close for contract bonus reasons. If the Tigers were really committed to replacing Jones (and I doubt they are), I think he’d be more likely to waive it. Do I see Gagne-to-Detroit though? No.

  62. I agree, Kurt, it’s possible. But the chances of us looking to replace a healthy Todd Jones are almost zero, so the chances of Gagne coming here, I’d put close to zero as well. Especially with reports out of the Dallas Newspaper that Texas and Gagne are talking about an extension, apparently.

  63. “They got the team to the 9th with a 2-run lead and really it was a fluky hit, a bad break on a DP ball and a seeing eye single.”

    Not the entire bullpen – just Jones. He can’t pitch with any kind of a lead – he needs the adrenaline rush with the game on the line. I’ve just been to one too many games where he gives up all the margin, even when he does get the save. We need someone who can pitch well with a 2-3 run lead; not someone whose pitching only kicks in when there’s a one run lead with runners at the corner.

    Even when Jones wins, you usually don’t get to enjoy it. There’s always an excuse for Jones, like that above. I was at the game in DC when I had to listen to Leyland give the “I didn’t tell him it was a save situation” when Jones almost blew a 5 run lead.

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