2008 Season, Game Post

Game 48: Twins at Tigers

149 Comments

PREGAME: Remember the last time the Tigers swept a series? They were in New York and went to play the Twins and then got swept themselves. Let’s not do that again.

Did you know the Twins have played 28 of their games in the confines of the dome and are 16-12 there? But when they head on the road they are 7-12? Let’s hope that trend continues as Armando Galaragga takes his turn in the rotation.

For the Twins it will be Kevin Slowey who is making his 5th start of the season. He hasn’t made it through the sixth inning yet, but posts a 16:3 K:BB ratio over 19.1 innings. His achilles heel has been the long ball with 6 surrendered all ready. Last year he averaged over 2 allowed per game as well.

MIN @ DET, Friday, May 23, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

IN GAME: I think Leyland had a beef. Those were called strikes in that Guillen at-bat:

POSTGAME: Well, it got interesting there for a while. I missed the first 3 innings while at my son’s game so I didn’t see Galarraga walking everybody, but it sounded similar to his last start against the D-backs but the Twins added hits as well.

The Tigers couldn’t get to Slowey and couldn’t take advantage of his tendency to hit homers, but the offense still managed to put runners on base in most innings. And they did double his walk total for the season (and should have more than doubled it – see above graphic) so they did exhibit some patience.

An inspired rally in the 7th cut it to one, and could have tied it save for the comical play involving Marcus Thames running all over the field. Unfortunately the bullpen imploded under the eye of Lloyd McClendon who took over when Jim Leyland was ejected. McClendon let Willis throw 28 pitches and Bobby Seay 38 which would seem to indicate that both would be unavailable tonight.

Willis struggled with his control walking 2 (1 intentional) and throwing 15 balls versus 13 strikes.

149 thoughts on “Game 48: Twins at Tigers”

  2. This will be somewhat of a test: the Twins actually have half-ways decent pitching.

  6. Hard to believe the Tigers are only 6.5 games out after such a poor start. I like Bondermans and Verlanders recent outings and the bullpen has been much better than I expected (addition by subtraction concerning Grilli).

    I’m becoming faintly optimistic regarding the Tigs chances to compete for a playoff spot.

  7. BOTTOM 1ST

    Disappointing Granderson AB. Old Granderson? Nice, Polly. If the Tigers are patient, they can wear this guy down fast. Way to ground out, RBI guys.

  8. They need to start winning in the division. Why can’t we beat this team? Bases loaded, no outs – are you kidding me?

  10. Wow, Guillen with a defensive miscue. I guess you’re gonna tell me the earth is still round.

  13. If the Tigers do not start winning in this division – this season is over. This inning has been a total disaster.

  15. TOP 2ND

    Dontrelle’s debut later? That was ugly. Are we the Mariners now? Hope the Tigers brought their bats.

    I’m sure I’m way behind here. Dial-up. Bear with me or ignore me.

  17. BOTTOM 2ND

    Having a hard time with major league pitching after the promotion, I see. And I don’t mean Joyce.

  18. TOP 3RD

    Armando, I’m not sure, but I think you need to throw a fastball for a strike more than once every 3 innings. Is he getting it together? Doesn’t “look” like it from here.

  19. I hope Leyland is getting fed-up with Guillen’s D and Shef’s O.
    My 2 cents: Shef-DL, Guillen-DH, Hessman-3B. Lets see what Hessman got with a full time shot in the bigs.

  21. BOTTOM 3RD

    ‘Bout time someone drew a walk. I want to call Stowey a clown (he’s the opposing pitcher, after all), but he seems to be working the Tigers like he was (old) Kenny Rogers. Can’t they catch up with him the 2nd time around?

  22. TOP 4TH

    Did someone have a talk with Armando, or did he have a talk with himself? A quick inning like that can turn a game around. Nice job.

  26. Birding Update for Sean C:
    I saw a Western Tanager yesterday. Very pretty, but I’m not sure what it means as an omen for the Tigers win streak.

  27. I can deal with losing if a team is battling. The 2003 team was more watchable than this team is tonight.

    Tigers’ pitchers are walking 4.3 per 9 innings this year. That’s up from 3.52 last year and 3.06 in 2006.

  28. BOTTOM 4TH

    Joyce, yeah, but it coulda been any of them. Is Stowey really dealing, or is this a case study in how Tigers hitting has managed to lose a majority of the 27?

  29. I agree Jeff. Lifeless AB’s tonight. Heading for the 8th shutout. Tigers are 4-15 in the Division.

  32. I imagine others have said this, but I think a significant part of the starting pitchers problems have stemmed from the Tigers subpar infield defense.

  33. TOP 5TH

    I wanted to say sweet recovery halfway through Morneau’s AB. Is AG looking as hittable again now as he was? “Looks” that way from here. But he can stay or go – I want an end to these sleeping bats. Now!

  37. BOTTOM 5TH

    Nice AB, Pudge. Worked ya right into the DP. Renteria must make Stowey nervous. No one else does. Last time around, it looked like Sheffield-Ordonez was 2 different results on the same pitch. Telling, or was that just more of a luck thing?

  39. Another struggling righthander(0-4 5.5 era) comes in and has his best outing of the season. This time a soft tosser with below average stuff.

  40. TOP 6TH

    Armando wants to join the 4.00+ club. He’s lonely. Let Willis pitch the rest of this loss. Add some interest to the game. Down 5-0? Long odds indeed.

  41. Dontell Willis reminds me of Sheffield in one regard- Unconventional, complicated motion (Willis pitching, Shef swing)
    that has to be just right to work properly.

  42. We are getting close to the season being 1/3 over and we are right where we were after the first week

  44. Another case where a pitcher struggles against all of MLB and then masters the Tigers….. I am absolutely frustrated by this lineup. Unless a pitcher is really terrable, this lineup is weak.

    Oh but do not fear, we got Cabrera….Boooooooooooooo!!!!!

  45. no way that pitch to guillen was strike 2. he should be on first. not that it would make much difference but it makes me feel better to complain.

  46. Leyland went off. Good for him. That was ball four by a foot up and outside.

  47. BOTTOM 6TH

    I’m sorry, Carlos. I truly am. Cabrera came through nicely, and I’ll try to remember that. That was only Sheffield’s 47th groundout to third in 2008. He’s coming along. Nice to see a sign of life here in the 6th, though same crappy result. One AB short of getting to a tired Stowey, who’s had them in his pocket. Yuk.

  50. The silent hand of Bud Selig thwarts another Tiger’s rally.

    Let’s see if the f/x data mysteriously disappears tomorrow.

  52. I’ve given up on winning this game, now I just want to see Willis pitch well for a couple innings.

    He was good after Mauer walked.

  53. There is too much young talent on this team to keep this current team together. Pudge, Maggs, Polanco, Guillen. Someone has to be willing to give up near major league ready prospects with these guys. Something’s gotta give, and with a good/great young core like Verlander,Cabrera,Grandy etc., they are falling into the bad habits of guys like Sheffield. Maybe I am over-reactng, but this is getting hard to watch

  54. T Smith – conspiracy theorist.

    your thoughts are intriguing to me, I’d like to subscribe to your newsletter

  55. Can there ever be a day when pitching F/x is be used to instantly assist the call of balls and strikes to the ump? I think it would be nice to see technology be used to make strike zones consistant.

  57. Yak – right on. Sheff cannot even run through a ground ball. Leyland and big Dave need to send a message and use Sheff as the example

  58. TOP 7TH

    Good Lord – a 5-minute hangup for me here with the count 2-2 on Young. That can’t be good news.

  60. Gene Lamont – “Well, we can’t get shut-out if I let Raburn score. Better hold him up.”

  61. TOP 7TH

    I meant 1-2. Did Willis get a standing O for the first strike? The first pitch on GameCenter showed up on my mouse pad. And is there any need for an intentional walk with Willis?

  64. This seems like one of those abs where Pudge battles, and then swings at a pitch 3 feet out of the strike zone.

    EDIT: Or one of those at-bats where he hits a triple

  69. Pudge really likes the seventh against the Twins. That’s his second triple.

  70. I’ll take a triple please, billfer.

    He better triple after swinging at ball three 5 times in that AB

  72. Mark – You did see the strike called against Carlos right? I’m not sure any of those were definitive balls.

  73. Yes!!!!!

    No shutout tonight. Somehow that has become the substitute for victory as a feeling for satisfaction can I get from this team.

    No Shutout = Victory….. YAYY

  76. I’m not blaming Thames too much for what happened, but why the hell are they laughing about it in the dugout?

  77. I don’t even know what to say. I can’t really get mad at Thames. Great at-bat, great hustle.

  80. Hmm. Do we leave Willis in for the eighth? 😛 I don’t mind if we lose now. We finally went down swinging for a change.

  81. Mark in Chicago:

    I’m not typically a conspiracy theorist kind of guy, but when I see a ball so far out of the stike zone called a strike, in the words of Arthur Conan Doyle, when you have eliminated the impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the true. I’m fairly certain Ray Charles could have made a better call. That was just horrible.

    I’m still shocked.

  83. yeah, i get your point, billfer. everything in the same zip code as the plate is a strike according to the knucklehead behind the plate, so you might as well swing.

    pudge just swings at so much crap it frustrates me.

    and how big is that thames play now? oh man, i hope we don’t lose this game by one run.

  84. Jeff – What are you supposed ot do after a play like that? Marcus looked crushed after that and his teammates picked him up.

  85. what do you want them to do yell at him?

    No, but I don’t think they should be laughing about it.

  87. I know, T, I agree completely. That call was ridiculous. I actually agree with you, only I think it’s the baseball gods that have clearly conspired against us.

  88. Okay, on another note. We’re in a one run game now. It’s time to nix the Dontrelle Willis experiment.

  90. But what if somebody said something really funny? Is this what people want from the team? Life and emotion? It was a ridiculous play, laughing doesn’t hurt anything.

  94. Woo reverse psychology. That’s exactly what I was tying for. Yep, that’s my story and I’m stickin to it.

  95. BOTTOM 7TH

    Whoa, nice rally! Podge, way to work that hack! He makes it so confusing. Lei’s trade him, with an option to get him right back. sweet AB by Marcus – bad call to try for 3B, or just trying for the win?
    On my lips right before Sheff’s home run – pitchers seem afraid of him still. Why? That’s why! Very poor AB by Ordonez, but hey – he did good earlier to no avail. I have a feeling the D-train experiment is over for now.

  96. TOP 8TH

    Oh man – why is Willis still in there? Confidence my foot. Leave!

  97. Sean – Marcus overslid the bag going into 2nd. He had no choice but to run to third and was tagged from behind, only to have the ball dropped, but Thames didn’t know it so he kept running to the dugout.

  100. thames made a couple of honest mistakes…and i could see laughing at a bit. just don’t see it as an extended knee slapper after the homerun.

  101. How in the hell could the Tigers orginization be so WRONG about a player before aquiring him. Is it the scouting? What? Couldn’t anybody have seen that Willis was really on the decline or at least not stable as a starter? This trade and this contract is a disaster. And note that Miller has really been pitching well lately.

    God, would we have like to have that trade back. Imagine what this pitching staff would look like with Miller & Jurrjens instead of Willis and Rogers.

  103. Oh Lloyd. Lloyd Lloyd Lloyd.

    Why didn’t you leave Lopez? WHY DIDN’T YOU LEAVE LOPEZ?!

  105. i was baffled from the very begining with the Willis trade (while being a total shill for the offense)….Anyone who plays fantasy baseball knows Willis is a fill the seats kind of guy at best and not a winning pitcher.

  106. Chris: Miller would have a 5+ ERA like he does, and Jair would have slipped on the wet mound and hyperextended his knee. Ha.

  107. TOP 8TH

    Not bad, Aquilino. Sweet call, goin’ with the Seay-meister. A bunt single to 3B -who’da thunk it, with the Tiger D? Oh, Bobby. Why? There’s how you kill the spirit. Well, put this one on the bullpen, then. Leyland only gets charged for half the loss. He’s winless in 14 appearances so far, I think.

  109. How many cigerettes do you suppose Leyland has had in the clubhouse since the ejection?

  110. Sean, if you don’t have the data, Leyland was ejected in the sixth for arguing the ball call against Guillen. McLendon is calling the shots.

  111. If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, “Indiana Jones and the Adventure of the Crystal Skull” is opening.

  112. Bilfer

    If you look at the last three games, you’ll notice that I made comments there as well…. And sure I comment and complain more when they are losing. But everybody is gulty of that. I’m sure you’ve noticed that there are meny more comments on losing games then there are on blow-out wins.

  113. You knew Guillen was going to get punched out on that one just so the ump could prove his manhood. Granted, this one was a lot closer.

  114. Someone get me the pitch f/x for that called strike on Carlos. Looked outside to ME.

  116. For all the complaining about Leyland’s managing, the un-clutch hitting, inconsistent pitching and flimsy defense, the travesty that this game has become definitely has to be placed squarely on the shoulders of rally-killer Bud Selig.

  117. BOTTOM 8TH

    I kinda like this Cabrera guy. Glad we got him locked up for his final 2 years in the bigs (joke). Was Carlos frozen? Start another rally, Raburn! OK, don’t. Nice AB, Edgah! Those first 2 pitches didn’t even show up on my screen, let alone the little red box.

  118. TOP 9TH

    Let’s give Todd some work, get the occasional blowup out of the way right here and now.

  119. I left my tv for a bit, and when I came back, Granderson was out. How come? He didn’t get hurt or anything, right?

  120. Adam

    It wasn’t just outside… a little more movement on it coupled with a missed signal from the catcher and it’s a borderline passed ball.

  121. TOP 9TH

    No Jones? I’m not sure if that’s surrender or defiance. Oh – they plan on extra innings. Good. It’s doable. Uh-huh.

  122. Maybe ol’ Bud Selig is trying to reward the Twinkies for not chosing to move the the NL, allowing his Brewers to make that switch….. Maybe this a delayed reward….

    OK, time to take off my tin foil hat.

  124. I’m sure Leyland is thrilled that Lloyd has rendered both lefty relievers unavailable for tomorrow.

  125. Earlier I noted that the Twins were last in the league in getting walks. Actually they are last in MLB.

  126. TOP 9TH

    OK, Seay really ddn’t have it tonight. At all. The 8th was a heartbreaker, but I’m still glad for that rally in the 7th. Not a good loss – they’re the Mariners! – but not a completely flat one, anyway. That’s something, I guess. How could Stowey own them? Man.

  127. BOTTOM 9TH

    Thames on base with none on? This pitcher can be had! Come on, Placido.

  128. Tonight they played baseball for one inning. How many times have we seen them play well for an inning or two and then just not bother to show up for the rest of the time. Even in some of the big blowout wins it all came in one or two bursts. What happened to the “nine innings” mantra of two years ago?

  129. BOTTOM 9TH

    Well, Sheff, I’ll remember the homer. It was big. Can’t hit a home run every time.

    Sorry again about the time lag for me. If it was annoying, I won’t do it again. Kinda fun to comment on a game in progress, though, even if I’m out of sync (and can’t peek if I want to truly comment in MY here and now).

    They need more comments from former players, I think. What does Chris Shelton have to say? Mike Maroth?

  130. Well, in happier news Maybin has 61 strikeouts in 159 ab’s at AA! He’s on pace for 200.
    Yikes!

  131. ya know, all in all tonight, i missed second half of the game. but i am very happy the tigers didnt get shutout , and even put more than a couple runs on the board. i think thats sayin something.

  132. OK, having read through now:

    Mark – Drinking? Why do you ask? Despite a joking comment a while back, in truth I hardly ever drink, certainly not while sitting home alone “watching” the Tigers. I was on a time lag due to a dial-up connection. Or did I say something really stupid? (It can happen.)

    Sorry I missed the Leyland ejection – they don’t tell you that in the play by play! Coulda looked at the Glog, but no time. If McClendon left Willis in – well, bad move. Half a loss for him.

    I can see laughing after the Thames play, Must have been comical. Bad baseball fundamentals by Thames, no doubt (go the next base no matter what, fool!), but what can you do right after it happens? I don’t think scowling or giving him the cold shoulder would have been any better. Live, laugh, learn.

    Sad way for the Tigers to go down, no doubt. My latest projection, which tied up the mainframe for a full 3 days, has their ceiling at 86-76, with a probable 77-85 in store.

    The Tigers are 2-18 in the Nemesis Division, 6-0 in the Patsy Division, and 12-10 in the We’ll Beat Them When The Clubhouse Vibe Is Just Right, Assuming We’re Also Awake Division. Does not bode well.

  133. Sean,

    I was just joking, it was really a commentary on your post for the bottom 7, 9:37PM which struck me as kinda rambling (like I never do that!) and had a few misspellings (also guilty here on that one).

    It just looked funny and a little out of character for you, you’re usually pretty succinct and cogent with your thoughts.

    Besides, I still owed you for that dirty trick you played on me 😉

  135. Mark

    Ha! You’re right, that post does look a bit drunk. I had a lot stored up for that inning, typing fast to get it in, knowing that I was probably so much more out of sync by then because of that hangup I experienced with Young batting (1-2 count) with 2 on and 2 out for the Twins in the top half. No TV, dial-up connection – I might as well be on the moon. Or live at work.

    That out of sync quality annoys ME, reading through. A failed experiment. And I’m 5-3 now, too. Sinking fast.

  137. Slashpyne

    Western Tanager, very nice (yet to see one myself). But you must get rid of the bird at once, or surely more losses to the Twins will follow. My Eurasian Wigeon brought home the Seattle series and is now gone. It’s all on cib now, and she must have gone off the cheeseburgers tonight.

  138. Dave BW, just got home and I could not have said it better. The fireworks were good, though.

    Sean, I did indeed have a cheeseburger. I give up!!

  139. You know, I get the impression something’s up with defense when I can’t follow a game without seeing at least 2 “infield singles” and virtually any ground ball with a man on first netting only one out. That’s not intended to be funny. Weak defense just seems like such a strong subtext in so many games, even when other failures are more obvious. Am I wrong? This aspect of play seems like a “chronic fatigue” that is just dogging this team relentlessly.

    Bad calls at the plate tonight, huh? Well, that’s a drag, but from my seen through a glass darkly perspective, there were enough poor at-bats to take away that excuse.

    Armando pulled 6 despite the horrendous 2nd. That’s a silver lining, I guess.

  140. cib

    Well, you did what you could, then. NOW it’s time to fire Leyland and trade Guillen. DFA Cabrera, too. And Raburn to the DL!*

    * He popped out. Glory days are over.

  141. Leyland will get thrown out of the game early tomorrow so he can catch the Wings and Pistons games on T.V.

  142. Let’s trade Guillen, Raburn, and Bobby Seay for Brandon Webb and Justin Upton!!!

  143. Be Advised…another sweep by the Twins is on the way….no pitching, no offense..after a great series of that….this team is just sick….

  144. Lets not get carried away with the “great” series we had against the M’s. Seattle ran out Carlos Silva, Jarrod Washburn, and Miguel Batista all while batting Jose Lopez 3rd. The M’s are terrible.

  145. Optimistically:

    the one bad outing for Armando Galarraga for 2 more starts. Tigers hit the hell outta the ball the last two games, so it’ll take them some time to reload(Much like the Braves after killing the mets in their 4 game set, they sucked tonight with a 11-1 lose)
    Willis hit the strike zone. And Pudge did some good.

    The Ugly:

    Armando was just really horrible tonight. Tigers were only playing for an inning tonight,(like they have for the last 4 games scoring a lot or all of their runs in one inning.). Willis goes one, but allows one run UGH. And yea our lefties are out for tomorrows game more then likely.

    So there you guy got my side of tonights game both bad and good. Brenden is more the likely right but Ill stay on the optimistic side for a little while longer. I say 1-2 in the three game set. With a big outing for Verlander on Sunday.

  146. Also, I’d argue that this isn’t just Galarrag’s first bad start, he was showing signs of returning to earth in Arizona (5 BB’s, twice the amount of flyballs than groundballs) and he was roughed up by the Red Sox (could give him a pass for that).

  147. Be Advised…another sweep by the Twins is on the way….no pitching, no offense..after a great series of that….this team is just sick….

    Be advised you need to relax. Good grief, they lost a game, that doesn’t mean they automatically get swept.

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