2007 Season, Game Post

Game 130: Yankees at Tigers

175 Comments

PREGAME: It will be a battle of rookies as the Yankees send out phenom Phillip Hughes while the Tigers counter with Jair Jurrjens.

Jurrjens seems to have mastered the Cleveland Indians with 2 strong starts against the Tribe. Of course it’s hard to say what will happen when he faces the Yankees because we’ve never seen him face anyone else.

Hughes is making his 5th start since coming off the DL. He struggled with control in his last start walking 5 in 6 1/3 innings. In the early going he’s done a good job keeping the ball in the park with only 2 homers allowed.

Game Time 1:05

POSTGAME: I missed this entire game, but watched the condensed version on MLB.tv. So really, I have nothing to add to the 150 comments that you guys already covered. I will say that at least in the condensed version, Maybin appeared to have his best game in the field.

Also, I think Leyland is trying to get the Rodney/Zumaya platoon working like last year. There’s a huge misconception that Leyland followed a 7-8-9 pattern with Rodney/Zumaya/Jones to close out games. In actuality, he was more likely to going an inning plus with 1 of the 2 before going to Jones. That way at least one of the set up men would be available the next night.

Great win for the team today, despite only mustering 4 hits. But when 3 of them are homers that can help. But the 5 runs wouldn’t have meant a whole lot if not for the efforts of the bullpen.

175 thoughts on “Game 130: Yankees at Tigers”

  1. Kathy: Thanks. I just wanted to confirm what i knew: at catcher and first, Casey and Pudge are worst in OPS. Inge is last except for Punto who I don’t think is a true third baseman. Throw in the black hole that is left field and it’s a wonder we’re as close as we are.

  2. God, I hope JJJ can produce another quality start, even if they lose. Tigers are not going to make the playoffs, and they probably won’t finish above 500. But if somehow he can show that he has a future as a solid starter for this team, then there is something positive out of what has been otherwise and utterly disappointing season.

    2007 Tigers season has been flat-out miserable. Please can we at least have any hope that 2008 won’t be the same?

  3. MLB.com is playing the Tigers/Yanks game for free today, so check it out if you aren’t in the Detroit area and can’t get the game.

  4. I think the last 5 or 6 weeks have definitely been awful, but to say the entire season has been miserable is a bit of an exageration.

  6. Jurrjen’s approach – economical, strike throwing, is so refreshing after watching Bonderman, Miller, and Verlander go to three-ball counts and struggle to put people away. I hope he stays in the rotation. Like vintage Nate ( the Nate we saw vs CLE)

    And Chris, we’re going bad, but I really don’t think we’re going 11-21 the rest of the season.

  7. To call the entire season miserable is just a touch dramatic, methinks. The last few weeks, however…

  14. As soon as it got past Matsui, I thought ‘triple.’But Curtis still finds away to amaze me. Who hits an ITPer down the LF line?

  20. Jurrjens out with an arm injury on the pitch Giambi hit out. Not good. Hopefully Rogers can return to the rotation by next weekend.

  27. man oh man…it’s like there is no karma left…all used up last year…the kid is going great and now this…what else can happen?

  29. It’s just not gonna happen this year. We don’t have the depth, few teams do, to overcome this many injuries. I guess you call Miner back up, but i just don’t see this working out well.

    Rogers is nowhere near coming back, right?

  30. The Tigers can’t recall Miner until the 10-day window has passed. More likely they’d bring up someone like Bazardo.

    It’s not clear where Rogers stands right now, though no comment is probably bad news. They can move Durbin back to the rotation, but he’s helped stabilize the bullpen.

  31. Posterior Shoulder Soreness? At least nothing is torn. Yeah Ken, I was mad when I saw the EI package wasn’t carrying this game, then was going to listen online when I saw it was free on MLB.TV today….NICE.

  32. Telling sign of bad karma: our crummy players, Inge, Casey, Monroe have been the epitome of health. I know Inge broke his toe, but he didn;t miss much time…

    Nice hustle on that fair pop-up Inge!

  35. Inge seemed to hit BETTER with a broken toe! If he needs another one broken, my address is….

  36. are we cursed (since the metrodome sweep)?

    again an injury. Hopefully Chad Durbin has his best stuff available. We need it badly. At least so far it seems so. 1.2 Innings and no runs

  37. So Al Leiter just told the following anecdote about Inge on Yankees broadcast. ‘Inge told me doesn’t really have a two-strike swing. Then Leyland came over and said, ‘Do you realize you’ve struck out 40 times in your last 100 at bats?’ Leiter then said, “Inge had no idea.”

    That sounds about right; clueless about your weaknesses because you’re not studying your at-bats and blaming it on pitcher treating you like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams.’

  41. It’s like I said in an earlier post. Space Jam. The Monstars realized they missed Jair on their first swing through so they came up and grabbed his arm, too.

    I can’t take it anymore.

    Kathy where are you that you can’t get the game?

  42. As much as i carp about Leyland, this batting order should stay the same way until Sheff gets back. It’s the best ordering I’ve seen in a long time.

  44. So, does Miner come up and fill out the back of the rotation (I’m not counting on Rogers coming back or even if he does, being of any worth) or do we go with a Virgil Vasquz/Jordan Tata (god help us) experiment.

    Also, I’m so glad that I missed the game last night.

  45. Unbelievable. Team just can’t catch a break.

    Let’s hope we tack another 5 on because that might be what it takes to win this game today.

  47. Kathy, you sound much closer! LOL One of these days we all should meet and have a Tiger Weblog-fest.
    Let’s hold on, Tigers!!

  58. How is the ump a jackass? We didn’t get a call on a ball that was 3-4 inches outside. Anytime Mario and Rod would like to call a spade a spade would be nice. That was not a strike. Anyone else growing tired of Ivan?

  59. If questec is keeping an eye on them, they can be guilty of a certain number of calls that are more than 2 inches out of the zone. I’m not sure what sort of sanction they face should they pass that threshold.

    Comerica, however, is not a questec ballpark.

  60. I’m not watching Mario and Rod so I don’t know what you’re talking about.

    The point isn’t that particular call, but what seems to me to be an inconsistent strike-zone. He’s all over the place. Hence, he’s a jackass.

    I am getting sick of Pudge losing his temper every five minutes though.

  63. I don’t think the ump’s zone has been that bad. From what I saw in the game Friday, that zone was 100x worse. It wasn’t even a close pitch.

  65. If Pudge would at least get back to his career hitting average, I would be less annoyed by his Prima Donna antics. Although, I must admit I do laugh my butt off every time he calls himself safe.

  66. Looking back over some previous ABs, I guess the umps been okay. That called 3rd on Magglio was questionable but it wasn’t as far off the plate as the pitch Pudge took exception to.

    I also don’t know how to navigate that portion of gameday well enough to get a more comprehensive sense of his overall consistency. From what I saw, though he’s been pretty good.

    Way to stay with that ball Maggs!

  69. Pudge got tossed for continuing to argue a pitch from the Cano HR AB that he thought should have been a strike.

  71. I really wish people would stop screen capping Gameday and saying “See, it was outside!”

    How about a screen cap of the actual pitch? FSN went through and replayed the pitch, showing where it crossed, and it looked like a strike.

  72. Ok, it’s time for the vaunted bullpen we’ve been dreaming of:
    zumaya 7th
    rodey 8th
    jones 9th

    we win 5-4. right? uh, right?

  74. Ok, Pudge is officially a clown. Between this and his lack of discipline his HOF he’s not heading into Cooperstown on a classy note. Don’t pick up his option, spend the 13m elsewhere. I know there’s not a lot of other catchers out there, but we can piece together a platoon that hits the same. Pudge’s defensive fall-off makes it more logical. Spend the 13m on a LF and a SS if you movie Guillen to first. We’re stuck with Inge, but upgrade elsewhere.

  76. Yeah, not picking up that option is probably a good idea. Moving Guillen over to first is great provided we get a slugging SS. What are the odds of that?

    Carmona has a one run lead. We need to hang on here, because chances are KC ain’t pulling that one out.

  77. Adam, I saw the replay on the FSN telecast here and Rod and Mario were wondering where it was and it looked blatantly outside to me. Then I checked gameday and my suspicion was confirmed. My own eyes on the same replay Mario and Rod saw told me it was outside. Gameday just confirmed what I already saw.

    And if the technology is there, why shouldn’t we use it? Wouldn’t a program like that be better then us sitting at home trying to judge from an off-set CF camera?

  82. Just a thought, maybe Casey should use a smaller bat or just try to go the other way with more regularity. His bat speed seems really slow of late. Either that or take a walk every now and then, just a suggestion.

  86. Tigers are winning 5-4?

    If you get this frustrated now, I dunno how you survived Tiger baseball, 1993-2005.

  92. But Stephen has repeatedly stated that this team is not good enough to make the playoffs. So why get so bent out of shape if you don’t think we’re a playoff team?

  93. Well, they didn’t have any good players so my expectations were adjusted accordingly. I expect a HOF catcher not to be so petulant, I expect a 4m a year first baseman to hit at least 6 hr’s a season, and I want my 24m 3rd baseman to actually approach his at-bats intelligently.
    When we had Rick Schu at first base and, uh, Jim Walewander has our utility guy my goals were slightly lower.

  94. I’m surprised F-Rod didn’t come out for the 8th. Excellent work from the pen so far and it’s great to hear the crowd so pumped.

  96. Jim Walewander was the utility guy on our last division winner!

    And bigtime K by Zumaya there. Good to see the velocity back up too.

  98. MAN….this reminds of me of the ’06 Tigers right here…score all of your runs by HR’s, and get solid relief pitching. That was Zum Zum at as good as we can hope for him the rest of the season. Hopefully Jonesy can close the door in the 9th!

  99. It’s up to the top 5 in the order to tack on a couple of runs here, because after that ain’t nothin gonna happen. And with Jones coming on in the ninth, I’m stating to hold my breath already

  101. Well, no. I don’t think a guy with 54 ab’s over the year makes him the utility guy. That makes him the 25th man. And i was thinking more of Walewander and his .211 on the 88 team as the Tigers collapsed in the second half and began the big fade into oblivion.

  103. I remember channel 4 doing a piece on Walewander’s love of the Milkmen. Totally hilarious.

  112. It’s the Rabelo/Jones anti-save combo. Commence smokin’, pacing and all other sweat prevention practices!

  117. Woo-hoo! We have a chance to win a series tomorrow….

    Carlos looks like our 1st baseman of the future.

  119. I’ll be at tomorrow’s game (with my buddy the Brit, seeing his first game ever), how nice it would be to WIN the series!

  120. I would like to say a special thanks to the Tigers much beleaguered bullpen. What an excellent job when we had to have it with the starting pitcher leaving early with an injury.

    Thanks Seay, Zumaya, & Jones! 🙂

  127. Win tomorrow and the worst is behind this team, the schedule gets a lot easier. Three games at Cleveland and three at home vs. Seattle, no other opponents more than 10 over .500

    At least Rodney is rested for tomorrow’s game if needed.

  130. great game

    absolutely terriffic!!

    seems to me our Tigers still growl!

    just a super job!

    my play of the day was Inge bare hand pick up and put out at 1st. I just love what Inge can do that way!

  131. the real Play of the Day though was that game ending double play — what was that — 3-6-4 ? how’d that go?

  133. Dan Dickerson and Jim Price couldn’t say enough about Carlos at 1st base. They were amazed at his play.

  135. Indians couldnt score a runner from 3rd in the top of the 8th. Heading into the 9th, and Soria is looking for a 4-out save. This would be nice.

    And by the way, though i don’t want to write a long rant about it, this season is turning around. Not just today, not just Friday, but this team is now slowly and surely regaining its footing. Granderson is coming back around, the bullpen has had probably its best stretch all season, guillen has had his consistent power stroke. There are still areas to improve but its going to happen.

    In the time i wrote that, royals got the first two indians, now sizemore is the last hope.

  136. And Asdrubel Cabrera comes through with a clutch single to plate Sizemore after a bloop double. Its a new game…

  139. Just got back from the game. Started worrying a little bit but we held on. Pulled my record to 1-5 for the season of games I have gone too. haha.

  140. Bummer. Royals just blew a one-run lead to the Indians in the 9th. Bottom of the 9th now; 3-3.

  141. Man I hate that Grady Sizemore. Out of all of their players he annoys me the most. It might have something to do with my trip to Jacobs Field last year and seeing female fans wearing t-shirts saying “Grady’s Ladies”. Ugh.

  142. Royals equals 1990s Tigers. Geniuses at snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory. Welcome to not controlling your own destiny.

  143. Tigers were literally a centimeter from gaining a game; royals cf had final out in his glove but didn’t hold it. It would have been a great play, but that close…

  144. The Tigers are going to have to keep winning. We can’t depend on Cleveland to lose, like the Twins did with us last year.

  146. here’s an update:

    Danny Knobler reports Jair is going on the DL. The MRI didn’t show anything too serious (something about bursitis) and Kenny Rogers threw today but he’s not close to being ready. Yuck!

    Probably call up Miner.

  147. That’s really too bad about jair, he was beginning to be alot of fun to watch….

    It’s really time for Justin to come threw big tommorw. If we cant show we can win 2 in a row…well…

  148. ***The Tigers are going to have to keep winning. We can’t depend on Cleveland to lose, like the Twins did with us last year***

    Technically speaking, that’s not exactly true. If we win every game from here on out, we’re still not guaranteed sole possession of first place. So, technically, we do depend on Cleveland losing.

    Of course I couldn’t agree with you more. We need to just keep winning.

  149. If we can’t show that we can win a series after eleven attempts, well… Tomorrow’s win is a must win. Especially since KC choked on the last pitch in the ninth today.

    I know people will say it’s absurd to say so and still way too early to talk about. And you won’t read about it this soon in the watered-down coverage a la Danny Knobler, but when you dig a whole like the Tigers did, letting winnable games slip away, you have to face facts. There are only 32 games left and we need to gain four games on the Indians to win the division (You have to assume the Tribe will win the 1/2 game on our off day, so I’m rounding up).

    That’s a lot of ground to make up. We need to start by winning a series.

  150. There are only 32 games left and we need to gain four games on the Indians to win the division

    It’s important to note that the “no playoff/use head to head record” rule only applies if both teams have already clinched playoff berths. So if the Indians and Tigers finish with the same record and the wild card is from the East or West, there will be a one-game playoff for the division, regardless of head to head record.

  152. Sorry, but I can’t let a Dead Milkmen reference slide without pointing out the simple genius of “Bitchin’ Camaro”.

  153. The Detroit Tigers and the Dead Milkmen have somewhat of a history together. Former Tiger Jim Walewander often mentioned them as his favorite band during the 1987 season. The Dead Milkmen-Tiger connection came to a climax in 1987 when Walewander actually invited the band to come see the Tigers play and subsequently hit his first and only homerun as a Tiger in front of them.

  154. Going 22 and 10 should be enough, including 2 out of 3 from the Indians. This means playing the exact opposite from the last 5 weeks. Tall order, but the relievers have stepped up and maybe we don’t have to go as deep into the game with our shakey starters. A good start would be winning this Yankee series. Let’s go “Muss” hunting tomorrow.

  155. Random Trivial Thing: Curtis Granderson’s ItpHR took 14.291 seconds from the crack of the bat to the touching of home plate.

  156. I haven’t been able to post comments consistently for about a month now. Every time I try and can’t, it makes me not want to try anymore.

    I put in a different email address this time, so maybe it’ll work.

    Um. I was trying to say that Grandy’s Home Run took 14.291 seconds.

  157. Not to look too much ahead, but Minnesota has 6 games with us, 6 games with Cleveland and their last 4 against Boston. They don’t have to rely on anyone but themselves. If Boston has clinched going into that last series, then you know a lot of regulars will be sitting. We are definitely going to have to win a boatload of games from here on out.

  159. Maybin runs a 3.9 home-to-1st base time. That’s fast. The only other guy that comes to mind that runs like that out of the box is Jose Reyes (though I’m sure I’m missing a host of other speedsters).

    We secured the split. I would love to win this series (and would argue that we need to win it) but at the worst we’ve split, meaning hope for the rest of the season. If we win tomorrow night, though, the hope train is up and running.

  160. If Adam was correct, then Grandy was motoring at an average 17.175mph. A world class sprinter running 100 yds. in 9 seconds flat is running at an average of 22.275mph. A Zumaya 100mph. heater would take 2.4 seconds to round the bases. Adam, you’re in charge of timing Maybin when he hits his itpHR tomorrow. We need to time Casey too.

  161. Honestly, how far would Sean Casey have to hit the ball to get an inside the park job? And would all 3 outfielders colliding and spontaneously combusting have to be apart of the deal as well?

  162. I don’t trust the reliability of the Hope Train anymore.

    Too many times during this now month & a half slump, I have gotten on that train only to immediately crash as the tigers lose and lose in a way that demonstrates that their problems aren’t over. The last time the train left the station was in game one of the Cleveland series, when the Tigers got an impressive outing from their new promising rookie to beat the incredible Carmona. I thought for sure the Tigers could win another game and take the series, especially since we had Verlander take the mound the next day…. and then……

    ****SCREECH*****
    ****BAM****
    ****CRASH******

    …..Verlander throws one of his worst games, which marked a disturbing trend showing a steady seasonal decline by our young ace. And then the bullpen gives up more runs, wasting a sizable number of runs from the Tiger bats….. Oh yes. Those same bats that would go silent on the next game as Nate Robinson throws a shutout. All this before the tigers lose that game in extra innings….. Oh ya. That loss by Zumaya….CRASH, CRASH.

    If the Tigers do win tomorrow, I will be happy. But I will NOT get on that train. No way.. not unless it also leaves KC with a series win.

  163. ron–not be be a negative nelly, but if we go 22-10, I’ll be stunned. our pitching has just not been there–as Chris said above, we’ve been here before: every time we think we are turning a corner, one of our starters throws a big-time clunker.

    the good news is, I don’t think it will take 92 wins–we may get it with 90 or less. let’s get one from JV today and see what we can do against KC and Oakland–who both beat up on us the last time out.

  164. Anybody else disappointed in Grandy’s homerun? 😉 It’s all about the triples!

  166. after the game, interview w/ Zoom they talked about punching out A-Rod

    and Zoom sez to the effect — I didn’t back off from him; I went right after him

    I say that from Tiger pitching throughout the game. a lot of pitches were thrown for 0-1

    and this Is what Leyland was talking about when he talked about Zach needs to “pitch to the bat”

    It ain’t easy to entice the hitter to swing without throwing a peach but hey that’s why we have big league pitchers on our staff

    Tonite JV needs to get out there and do likewise. if he thinks he’s gonna get the Yankees out all by himself he’s gonna get the crap pounded outta him

    I liked what Jar said about his victory against the Tribe: “I let them get themselves out”. he pitched to the bat made ’em swing and let the infield do their magic

    speaking of magic I like this Santiago better each time I watch him play

    remember I’m just a fan though, ain’t no baseball analyst so my job is to watch the game and make comments on this here blog.

  167. Just read through all your comments… I was at the game, and even though the score was close, it never felt like a nail biter. Reading through your comments I would’ve thought the Tigers were trailing the entire game, instead of playing with a lead.They seemed in control, and the crowd was into it. Also a perfect day for baseball. Maybe I need to just go to all the games and stop listening/watching them from home!

  168. Tiff, if you’re our good luck charm, then please if you can afford it, go to the games.

  169. P.S. Tiff, I checked out your blog and love it. I’m old enough to be your mom or even your grandma. But, truly, your are a girl after my own heart (at least back in the day).

  170. Why baseball is such a great game is that a team like the Tigers can catch fire at just the right time. We’ve had our downtime. Time to go back to work. We got the talent. It’s all about heart,desire and the will to win. Championship teams have it, the others don’t.

  171. We got the talent. It’s all about heart,desire and the will to win. Championship teams have it, the others don’t.

    yep, that was the creed of the legendary Vince Lombardi

  173. Shane Trapped in Athens:
    I was at that game Walewander hit his home run. It hit the facing of the upper deck right at the seam between the bleachers and the grandstands in right.

    I think Marty Castillo also drove in a couple runs that day. I was sitting about row 5, lower deck, left field. I remember FEELING the magic that team had. I remember thinking to myself “if Castillo gets a hit here, we’re going to win the World Series.” BAM

  174. **Adam, you’re in charge of timing Maybin when he hits his itpHR tomorrow. We need to time Casey too***

    Adam, I think if you do chose to take on this task, it might behoove you to adopt another unit of measurement in timing Casey. Seconds become meaningless.

    Maybe I suggest innings? As in, how many innings does it take Sean Casey to round the bases?

  175. ***Adam, you’re in charge of timing Maybin when he hits his itpHR tomorrow. We need to time Casey too***

    Adam,

    If you chose to undertake the task of timing Sean Casey on an itpHR, it might behoove you to adopt another unit of measurement. “Seconds” would be meaningless. Might I suggest innings? As in, “how many innings does it take Sean Casey to round the bases?

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