2008 Season, Game Post

Game 29: Tigers at Yankees

171 Comments

PREGAME: Nate Robertson takes the mound looking to earn a 3rd straight quality start for the rotation. Robertson pitched well his last time out working 7 innnings on only 89 pitches. But the Angels bunched their baserunners in the 4th inning when 4 runs scored.

He’ll be opposed by Ian Kennedy who has struggled so far this year. He’s been knocked out in the 3rd inning on two different occasions and with a 15:17 K:BB ratio he looks like he good be pitching for the Tigers. One positive for Kennedy is that he’s only allowed 1 homer in 19 innnings this year.

The Tigers lineup is:

  1. Granderson, CF
  2. Polanco, 2B
  3. Sheffield, DH
  4. Ordonez, RF
  5. Cabrera, 1B
  6. Guillen, 3B
  7. Jones, LF
  8. Inge, C
  9. Santiago, SS

DET @ NYY, Thursday, May 1, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 7:05

POSTGAME: We’ll probably hear the naysayers talk about how this wasn’t the Yankees at full strength. They didn’t have two big guns in Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada. Well, tough. Yes it’s a break to play a team when they are struggling or banged up. Just ask the White Sox who took 5 of 6 from a slumping Tigers team that had the top third of the line-up banged up or missing altogether. But they still count as wins.

Nate Robertson got his one bad inning out of the way early. And boy was it ugly. He threw first pitch balls to the first 7 hitters he faced. He wasn’t ahead of a hitter until he threw pitch number 25. But he really settled down after a 3 run first inning and he made it through 5.2 innings to get the win. And even with the control problems at the beginning he managed more K’s than walks (3 to 2) which has been a feat this year.

As for the offense it took a trip through the order to get going, but fueled by some solid at-bats and some adventures in the outfield the Tigers took the lead in the 3rd by plating 3 runs. It was a balanced attack with all the starters reaching base except for Curtis Granderson. Granderson hardly struggled despite the 0fer. He hit 3 line drives to the outfield that found gloves, plus he managed a RBI ground out. In another strange twist the Tigers hit 2 triples and neither was by Granderson.

And when the Yankees tied the score in the 6th inning, Detroit responded with 2 runs in the next half inning. The bullpen preserved the lead as they continued to excel. Zach Miner did the heavy lifting with 2.1 innings of work. But we also saw Francisco Cruceta for the first time. After some early jitters that saw him throw 7 of his first 8 pitches for balls, he settled down and got the next 3 outs without incident. It was a very impressive effort and a very impressive series. A nice final trip to Yankee Stadium to be sure.

Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Ramon Santiago. Those were your offensive stars for the night.

Tigers 8 Yankees 4

171 thoughts on “Game 29: Tigers at Yankees”

  4. nice frigging start, robertson.

    at least he didn’t walk abreu.

  6. Looks like a comeback similar to last night is on order. Kennedy shouldn’t be too tough to do this against.

  8. Hey, if we could just take back that ball four pitch, the single pitch, and the home run pitch….Nate Robertson could be perfect!

    So what are the latest and greatest excuses for Robertson’s suck-i-tude?

  12. Seven batters and 25 pitches into the game before Robertson got ahead of a hitter. That’s ugly.

  13. Just kidding Joe.

    Nate will settle down.

    This will just make the offense focus earlier.

  14. do we lead the majors in errors??? and almost all are coming off throws from the left side to a first baseman that doesn’t know the position…just a gentle diversion from watching nate pitch. i guess if we were undefeated we would still bitch about jones in lf lol.

  15. Jeez, can we swing at another eye-high fastball out of the zone? I know it looks great at 89 mph, but there isn’t much you can do with that.

  17. Anyone have any ideas why Jones is only hitting .185? He’s not this bad, is he?

  18. Maybe we can hope that Robertson got his bad inning out of the way early tonight.

  20. Are you pulling our leg, Greg? You know something is wrong when Cub fans were glad to see him go (just like good ‘ol Neifi Perez).

    I think Jones is on the downside of his career and we won’t see much, if any, power out of him.

    Of course, I would happily be wrong about that assumption.

  21. greg,

    Jones is hitting .185 because they’re pitching him like he’s Ted Williams. (according to Inge, anyway).

  24. After Nate’s terrific 1st inning I was hoping we’d get bailed out by the rain. Now we seem to have some momentum now, so I’d kind of like to keep playing…

  28. The issue is control. This isn’t complicated, folks. Throw a strike on the first pitch. If Bobby Abreu is gonna hit the ball over the right field fence, I want him to do it in an 0-0 count, not a 3-1 count. If you get behind too many hitters, you’ll see alot of 3 runs innings on two hits. I like Billfer’s word: UGLY

    The other issue is the the 7-8-9 hitters. That’s a huge hole black hole in the lineup. If we’re gonna claw our way back into this one, we are going to claw our way back into this one, we are going to have to do it batters 1-6.

    EDIT: Post before batters 1-6 come to plate in third

  30. and Miggy rumbles into 3rd with a triple!!!

    (the RF booting the ball around is the only way he’s hitting them, I think we can all agree)

  31. Stick runners on in front of Maggs and Miggy and good things are bound to happen.

  32. I was just thinking to myself how awful their fielders look. Maggs has never looked that bad imo.

  34. How much did those two miss going out by combined, less than five feet.

  36. Kennedy is doing his best Robertson impression, and Robertson is doing his best Bonderman impression. I was trying to reference Magglio’s missed catch at the wall against the Angels, but did it poorly.

  39. Just following on mlb gameday. Was Inge not catching up to the pitches?
    I’m with Andrew about Jones. I just hope he isn’t really finished, but he sure is(n’t) playing like he’s finished.

  40. OK Nate. Here it is. The 4th inning. Rest assured we are on the edge of seats.

    To echo billfer’s comment, let’s hope he got the bad one out of the way early tonight.

    Although I’d prefer to see a Robertson start that doesn’t feature a bad inning, but, baby steps I suppose.

  41. had to pick up the wife for 2innings there, am glad to see we already got the lead. LETS GO TIGERS

  42. I thought Nate might not blow up in the 4th, since he did the Bondo impersonation in the first. Let’s hope he gets out of this.

  44. Joe, did your arms get tired? (from picking up the wife for 2 innings) – I know, terrible pun. Just terrible. 😉

    Just kidding you, Joe Z. Glad to see you came back and we now have the lead. I don’t have to lock up the broom closet yet tonight.

  45. aye sir. lol , the brooms are in the steamer right now, just slow cookin for another hour or so.

  47. Rod said that Curtis Granderson is “an extra hit mahine” just for Tiff tonight.

  48. Leyland says to Nate, “If you don’t get out of this inning with the lead – you’re dead to me. Dead to me, you hear that?!”

    😉

  50. Oh man, I went out to get some food, came back and it was tied.

    Sorry guys, my fault completely.

  53. OK, could have been worse. Won’t it be great to have a game where I never have to say that?

  54. The YES guys nailed it – if that’s Renteria at short, it’s a base hit.

    Nice play Ramon. You’re still a poor man’s Neifi Perez, though (I’m trying to get him fired up).

  64. ..and it works, Ramon with the big hit!!

    I figured it was the least I could do, since the Yankees tied it while I was getting food.

  65. Santiago’s play alone in the bottom of the 5th warranted his playing time. The hitting is simply bonus.

  67. Santiago is hitting .391

    Statistically, that’s a solid 4 innings from Nate after the rocky 1st.

  68. OK, does it still count as a sweep if the game gets cut short by rain? Actually, any way they can get it is OK with me!

  70. Okay. 3 quick outs in the bottom half, then a monsoon. Wrap this thing up before Lost starts.

  72. You got to be happy for Ramon Santiago. The guy has really made the most of his opportunities to play this year. He’s been a real bonus that way.

  74. Nate’s at 96 pitches. Let’s see him get the 6th inning against the bottom of the order.

  78. Cano is hitting under .150, how can you get behind 3-0 on him with a 2 run lead and no one on?
    Good thing he went after that, on gameday it looked like ball 4, but then again so did Granderson’s called 3rd strike.

  80. OK, I’m following along on Yahoo, and it says Damon singled to catcher. How the heck do you do that? Was it a bunt?

  81. yike…gotta keep the lead…don’t want to see Joba or Rivera tonight.

  86. unreal. jeter with a swinging bunt single. can’t catch a break here.

  87. Why did Leyland take out Robertson to bring in Seay? Why not let Robertson throw to one more batter, save Seay for later in the game and then if Robertson didn’t get Damon out then put in Miner to face Jeter. Now if Rapada is not available as Mario and Rod said, we have no LH in the bullpen to get out a predominatley LH hitting team. Dumb move IMHO.

  90. Thank you Zach. I hexed Abreu at the gym in late March here in Tampa.

  92. Chris –

    He was trying to make sure that Robertson could still get the win. I’m not saying it was the right move, but that was why.

  93. Nice job, Miner. Seay too. They were pretty unlucky there to be in that situation but got through it.

  94. Yikes – that was scary. The Yanks didn’t deserve a run there though. Nice work from the bully in the 6th.

  95. Chris – my guess, and its only a guess, is Leyland was thinking that Robertson was up to 106 pitches, and it was going to be the 4th Damon saw Robertson tonight and he didn’t want to press his luck in that regard.

  96. How about a couple of tack-on runs here?

    Heart of the order to get us started.

  97. Chris in Nashville:

    Two reasons:
    Robertson was at 100 pitches and Leyland is a genius at handling pitching staffs.

  98. Ugh….I guess I didn’t think of that Bilfer, but I just don’t think it was worth losing your only LH in the pen. Not that I’m saying that is your argument or anything.

    I guess Miner will go the 7th and I wonder if he’ll go with Bautista again (I hope not) or if Crucerta is available in the 8th. I wouldn’t mind seeing him in action.

    Vince in MN, what’s the difference between 106 and 111 pitches?

    It might be a moot point now!

  101. anne, the down pour has stopped. can hardly pick up any rain on the screen at the moment. MIGGY!

  103. Mark in Chi:

    Ask and you shall receive. Now please don’t go anywhere.

  104. Vince, if it was that easy, I’d do it all the time. Trust me.

  105. * casually sweeping in the distance * ill come closer as we get closer 🙂

  106. Nine outs to go…how do they breakdown…Curceta or Lopez to finish it out to Jones?

  110. Looking for a repeat of Tuesday: tiger win, pistons win, wings win.

  111. Seattle just took a 2-1 lead over Cleveland. They are now bottom 10th.

  112. Chris in Nash:

    Leyland seems to stick to the 100 pitch limit more often than not – so far this year anyway.

    And I was being sarcastic.

  113. Man, if Miner can throw that changeup consistently with that location, he’ll get a ton of outs coming out of the bullpen.

    Very nice, he looks solid.

  115. Putz is pulling a Rollercoaster in Cleveland. Indians tied it in the 10th

  117. I figured you were Vince in MN, but in case you weren’t, I figured I would make my point. Oh well. Hey, it worked out either way, so alls well that ends well. How does 14-15 sound? 12-5 since the 2-10 start…not too shabby.

    I was just thinking, what if, and this is a big if, Rodney AND Zumaya come back this year? Who do you put on waivers or trade? Bautisa or Crucerta? I guess time will tell on that one, but there is a potential numbers problem in the bullpen, which is a good problem to have..which I can’t believe I’m saying after the first 2 or 3 weeks of this season.

  118. Good point, Chris. There’s always the possibility of a trade if Rodney and Zumaya can show they are healthy and effective before the deadline.

    Miner has an option left, of course, and Leyland could send Raburn down and carry 13 pitchers. Plus I’m sure somebody else will get hurt at some point. And somebody like Aquilino Lopez might get through waivers.

    We’ll burn that bridge when we come to it.

  131. No better way to get the butterflies out than against the Yankees in NYC.

  132. Nice sweep! This was a hobbled Yankee lineup but still, it’s nice to see them not let up.

  134. Anybody know when was the last time the Tigers swept a series with the Yankees in NY? Must have been a long time ago.

    Good job by the boys after the bad loss on Sunday.

  135. Start spreading the news…

    According to YES, first Tiger 3-game sweep in the City since 1966.

  136. BALLGAME. SWEEP EM OUTTA YANKEE STADIUM

    wow that stat. first tigers 3 game sweep at the stadium since 1967?! stunning.

  138. Cleveland just won in extras, 3-2.

    Ass-dribble Cabrera with a bases loaded single (sorry billfer if that’s over the line for what’s considered acceptable)

  140. Wow, that was before I was born by a couple of years. No wonder I didn’t have any idea when it last happened.

  142. Kyle J:

    If both teams make the playoffs it might only be “au reservoir.”

  143. we’ve won 5 straight vs. the yankees and 6 of 7 dating back to last year.

  145. Is there anywhere I can catch the postgame show on the net with the Wings game on 97.1?

  146. Gotta agree with the above – what a sendoff from the Tigers to Yankee Stadium!

    Holy Red Wings… look like we’ve got the complete Trifecta for Detroit sports tonight, everyone.

    Franzen has 7, yes SEVEN, goals in this series – and this is only the 4th game!

  147. Did anyone see what the skipper said about cruceta

    “He has great stuff ” “If he gets it over he do well” “If he Don’t , He won’t” “hey man can i bum a lucky?”

  148. The Red Wings have scored more tonight than the Yankees did each of their games against the Tigers. 🙂 And the Pistons drubbed the Sixers. It’s a good night all around.

  149. Yup, all around warm fuzzy sports happiness in D-Town.

    And my lord Franzen, 8 – nope, 9! – goals in a 4 game series? Seriously? Wow.

    EDIT: 7-1 in the 2nd period now… sheesh!

  150. These things are so great to read after the fact. Go back and read Andrew’s first two posts. Imagine how beaten down he must have been as he posted that second one. Hilarious (well, in hindsight anyway).

  151. I hate the Avs… Any way the Wings can humiliate them more will be even more sweet.

    Pistons win in convincing fashion, and good for them. But my team is the Lakers, and man, let me tell you, the dynasty is back.

    If the Tigers can continue with their April “correction”, then this could definitely be a very good year for my teams (accept for the lousy Lions of course. That team will never win until WC Ford is dead, which hopefully won’t be long.)

  154. Kevin in Austin –
    I am happy to be wrong the past two nights against the Yankees. I really thought that Nate wouldn’t rebound just like I thought Bonderman was toast. If it takes me being wrong to collect wins, then I’ll be wrong every night ;).

    I guess our starters are starting to come around. I need to start thinking of our current success as not being a mirage I guess.

    Maybe the Tigers 2008 slogan could be –

    I want to believe!

  155. I think the song we should sing during the 7th Inning is obvious –

    Journey – Don’t Stop Believing!

  156. tiff –

    The White Sox commandeered that song in 2005. It’s bad enough that the Tigers can’t beat them. We shouldn’t stoop to using their songs also (even with the “South Detroit” reference).

    I like Bob Seger’s Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man, in honor of Jim Leyland, who may actually have been born lonely down by the riverside.

  157. tiff – third line of that song:

    “just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit…”

  158. Of course, there isn’t really a South Detroit — South Detroit would be Windsor 🙂

  160. Re “south Detroit,” I grew up in Michigan, just not near Detroit. I was pretty sure there wasn’t really a South Detroit, but is there a South Side of Detroit commonly referred to as such?

    Reminds me of the Paper Lace song (The Night Chicago Died). British band, obviously. There is no “East Side” of Chicago, either. That would be Lake Michigan.

  161. It’s all East and Westsides in Detroit. The closest approximation to South Detroit would be ‘downriver.’

  163. It’s an excellent time to be a Detroit Sports fan. Actually, it’s been an excellent time pretty much since, what, ’96? 3 Stanley Cups, a college football National Championship for Michigan (I’m a State fan/graduate, but it still, it goes on the ledger), Hockey National Championships for both Michigan and Michigan State, Basketball National Championship and a bunch of Final Fours for Michigan State, World Championship for the Pistons, American League Championship and the “restore of the roar” for the Tigers…That’s pretty impressive, and that’s not even mentioning everything. Not to mention how competitive some of the teams have been in years where they didn’t win any significant hardware. With all that talk of “Titletown” on ESPN, Detroit has to be mentioned, if not crowned. If only the stupid Lions weren’t dragging us down.

    As far as the discussion about a 7th inning song, I think “Don’t Stop Believin'” is still the best choice. Bawitdaba is Detroit appropriate, but it’s not really a song you can sing along to, and that’s kinda the whole idea. The songs that the whole stadium sings have to be just a little cheesy. That’s what makes ’em fun. Anyway, just my 2 cents.

  164. Hmm, on the subject of songs. If we still played at Tiger Stadium we could reach in the wayback files and play “Down on The Corner” by CCR.

    😉

  166. You’re all the devil. I’ve spent my entire life avoiding Journey, and you want it at the stadium? My Journey-less sanctuary? It really oughta be a song by a Michigan artist.
    Howzabout “R.E.S.P.E.C.T.”? Or “Higher Ground”? Or “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby”?

  167. In terms of large group sing-along-ability I’ve always been partial to Buttercup by the Foundations. It has nothing to do with anything, but fun nonetheless.

  168. aw Ryan, would you prefer Foreigner? 😉

    I really like how the Mets organization did the fan voting to see what song would be sung (although they voted being Rickrolled). It would be fun to get some interaction like that.

  169. Best 7th inning song ever – “Roll Out the Barrel” in Milwaukee!

    Zing! Boom! Tararrel!

  170. HA! I’ve had my mike cut off multiple times doing “Build Me Up, Buttercup” at karaoke. Great, great song.

    And Tiff, I actually have a longstanding theory that Journey and Foreigner are the same band. Think about it; they kinda sound the same, were big at the same time, and when was the last time you saw one touring without the other? The proper name for this is “The Unified Field Theory of Jouriner”*.

    * A corollary to the REO Styxwagon law.

  171. It probably does have to be a little bit cheesy for everyone to get into it. I still love Eye of the Tiger. All the other suggestions were good, but (this will sound strange coming from an old lady) I wish they would play Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” (at least the music part, maybe not the words) but I find that song very inspiring.

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