2008 Season, Game Post

Game 77: Cardinals at Tigers

222 Comments

PREGAME: It’s Kyle Lohse and Armando Galarraga tonight. You know which Tigers like hitting against Lohse? All of them.

Meanwhile, here’s hoping that Galarraga can nail down that All Star game invitation.

And here’s really hoping the rain drops hold off so they can get this one in, cuz I’ll be there.

STL @ DET, Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 7:05

POSTGAME: I’m back from the game so you get the 2:00am post game report. I’m exhausted so expect lots of typos, more than normal even. Why did I stay you ask? Because a certain Yankees game last year taught me that good things happen when rain delayed games resume at 11pm. That and rooting on your team with 3000 strangers when the calendar flips to the next day is kind of a fun and surreal experience.

The early 2-0 deficit wasn’t too worrisome. After all, the Tigers were facing Kyle Lohse. It resulted in lots of baserunners. I just had the feeling that the hitters were all saying to each other, “Dude, it’s Kyle Lohse.” And when Galarraga kept giving up homers, the offense probably told him “Don’t worry about it. Dude, we’re facing Kyle Lohse.” The only concern was when Lohse was lifted. But it seemed as if the guys decided “Let’s just pretend these other dudes are Kyle Lohse.”

  • First things first. Todd Jones put on a Magglio jersey and wig and reenacted the 2006 ALCS homerun during the rain delay and he added his own embellishment at the end by sliding into home. I guess the knee is feeling okay.
  • And second things second. Paws caught a foul ball. It was on a ricochet and he made a nice play on it.
  • After the delay we moved down and say behind home plate. And yes, the strike zone was ridiculous from that vantage point as well. We were standing in the concourse when Thames was ejected and I couldn’t really make a judgement on the pitch. But given Thames nature in general I’m going to trust that his reaction indicated a really bad call.
  • This wasn’t the crispest of games. There was the Thames error. And Renteria not converting a double play. And a bad bunt by Polanco (and a questionable bunt decision by Leyland). And the 5 walks from Joel Zumaya and Zach Miner. And the Cardinals had their issues too with a couple double plays, and an error by Kennedy, and a should have been error on Duncan.
  • But it was still very entertaining with multiple lead changes and scoring chances, and some nice defense as well like Carlos Guillen’s play in the 9th inning.
  • And Todd Jones looked dominant. That is rare. And Bobby Seay K’d the only batter he faced.
  • As for Zumaya, it was great to hear Voodoo Child reverberating through the park. Joel had his velocity. And he had his curveball working (but he hardly through it). But he couldn’t control the fastball to save his life.
  • The offense was simultaneously great and frustrating. You can’t scoff at 19 hits. But it probably should have resulted in more than 8 runs. But the Tigers still got big clutch hits like Guillen’s 3 run homer, and Magglio’s game tying single, and Gary Sheffield’s game winning single.

222 thoughts on “Game 77: Cardinals at Tigers”

  1. LaRussa must be going nuts looking at those Tigers splits vs. Lohse. Per “Three Nights in August,” he puts a ton of faith in hitter-pitcher splits, regardless of sample size.

  2. I think the whole world likes hitting against Kyle Lohse. But holy crap, 6 out of 10 guys have an OPS over 1000 agianst him (small sample size be damned!).

  3. That’s all pre-Dave Duncan era Lohse, though. He’s really been pretty good for St. Louis this year. That Duncan does something right….Jeff Weaver, Braden Looper, Chris Carpenter etc. He’s good at cleaning up a trainwreck I’ll tell you what.

  4. I remember batting against Lohse back in 06. He throws grape fruits no doubt. I didn’t get a hit mind you, but I fouled off a couple before watching strike 3–another grape fruit.

  5. I was looking at Lohse’s numbers so far this year, it’s not a smoke and mirrors job. His BABIP, line drive rate, LOB% are all within normal ranges of his career average. Even his FIP ERA is less than half a run above his posted figure.

    He is, however, walking fewer batters and allowing about a hit per inning, much less than his career. I’m not an expert, but it’s distinctly possible Dave Duncan has something to do with that. At any rate, Lohse has been legitmately good.

  6. Well, I hope the Tigers legitimately (but not literally) bat his brains out…

  13. Maggs and Miggs both hit DP balls there. Disapppointing.

    Sometimes you play teams at the wrong time. Right now the Tigers seem to be playing the Cardinals at the wrong time.

  15. WTF do we do that every single time ..one thing about going on contact an another when it is a shot one hop to third…have we had 20 0r 30 runners out that way this year,,,common Lamont or Leyland ……!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. plus many times have the Tigers hit that DP ground ball to third of all places with a runner on third less that two outs…

  17. Much better inning for Battelstar.

    I just stumbled across the following, courtesy of ESPN:

    The Brewers decided not to renegotiate Ben Sheets’ contract before the 2008 season, and this may have ended their ace’s tenure in Milwaukee as he plans to test the free agency market this offseason.

    Sheets told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that “(free agency)’s the direction I’m headed right now,” and added that he would probably not listen to any new offers by the Brewers.

    That’s an interesting name to add to the mix, even if he has an injury history. And if the Brewers continue to play well, there’s no chance they trade him.

  18. Sheff is healthy. No doubt. He crushed that ball, and did last night too. Earlier those were popups, now they’re line drives.

    Good to see.

  22. I like the idea that Renteria was actually trying to hit it to the right side to move the runner

  25. judpma – Grandy was in disbelief that Pudge would keep running and stunned into inaction!

  26. Personally, I like the aggressiveness, Tbone. Force the other team to make a play. There’s already one out, and if you’re safe a fly ball gets you another run.

    It was close, and Ankiel made a perfect throw.

  31. For sure, he did a good job minimizing the damage there…

    Did anyone else see that we traded Bautista to the Pirates??

    I saw it on Yahoo sports.

  36. was it a foot outside or just 8 inches..he called the same pith on Maggs o na 3-1 count ..BRUTAL

  38. theres the Sheff we are used to seeing …high chopper to the pitcher on a ball that is 2 feet outside

  40. I hate the freaking Cardinals. Looks like we’re getting back to 06 form when we just hand these scrubs games.

    That pitch to Marcus was off the plate, but the ump has been calling the outside corner…for the most part.

  41. But you can’t blame Sheff. The one to Marcus was 2 feet outside and it was called a strike.

  43. The Dr. of Country Funk should have torn the ump’s limbs off and beaten him over the head with them. That just changed the entire complexion of this game. Who knows how the Sheff AB would have went down with the added pressure (on hitter and pitcher) of having the bases loaded. Awfuulllll!!!

  44. Judpma:

    Sheff had to swing at that pitch, based on what happened to the Funk Dr.

  45. Totally Matt. He just called one off the plate for Galaraga as well.

    This is ridiculous. The cards are a joke.

  46. wonder what the all time worse Team average in MLB history is at getting a runner home from 3rd with less than two outs…..
    you know why stop the runner at third why not just take a chance that the throw will be off or the catcher will drop the ball or better yet like the other night ump makes the wrong call…….

  48. The Marcus pitch wasn’t bad enough for him to get himself tossed over.

    The Tigers are losing their heads and playing themselves out of this game. Very reminiscent of the 06 Series.

  51. The Tigers have 8 MVPs? Who are they?

    They gave us Cochran and Greenberg. I’m guessing McLain. Willy of course. Did Kaline win one? I suppose Greenberg may have one more than one. Kell the year he won the batting title?

  52. Can we please get a run in? It’s ludicrous that we only have 2 runs of this Putz thus far. We’re hitting everything.

  57. Joey

    1911 – Ty Cobb
    1934 – Mickey Cochrane
    1935 – Hank Greenberg
    1937 – Charlie Gehringer
    1940 – Hank Greenberg
    1944 – Hal Newhouser
    1945 – Hal Newhouser
    1968 – Denny McLain
    1984 – Willie Hernández

  60. I finally picked up extra-innings. Have these two been going bananas over “x-mo” all season? I mean good Christ. Get over it.

  61. Nice work Mark! Thanks.

    I would’ve guessed Gehringer next, but Newhouser I would’ve overlooked. Unfortunately, I’ve had my perception of him warped by a historical narrative that overlooks his numbers as war-time anomalies.

    As for Cobb…on the broadcast they just said the award wasn’t established until 32 or something. Maybe I misheard that.

  62. Galarraga doesn’t have it tonight. And Kenny last night hopefully this isn’t a trend just a set back for the rotation. Come on guys we need this one!! If our staff cant hold it you guys in the batters box need to start hitting even more!!!

  63. judpma, there were two outs, is Maggs supposed to stay at second on a ground ball to short? If the ball gets through, he can’t score if he waits it out. The ball was in the hole, going to 3rd is right move as long as there are 2 outs.

  64. No, you’re right Joey. There’s 9 on the list (I pulled it from Wikipedia) but only 8 since 1931 when the award was created. How Ty Cobb won an award that didn’t yet exist is a question I cannot answer.

  65. Rain delay. The announcers said the radar looks like it is clear after the rain passes.

  66. Mark no he is to go half way watch the throw and then go on over ..basic play with two outs ..that is why the unwritten rule goes like this NEVER make the first or third out on a tag at 3rd

  67. How Ty Cobb won an award that didn’t yet exist is a question I cannot answer.

    THere was an MVP award given out in Cobb’s era, it just wasn’t the BBWAA award.

  70. Anyone can win awards that don’t exist. I’ve won several. I’ll send you my resume to prove it.

  71. Clear skies now. The trouble is some fans ran on the tarp during the delay and tore it. The crew is trying to fix it before pulling it. I guess we start in 45 minutes.

  72. judpma,
    I cede your point on the Maggs, thing, although going halfway probably leaves him in no-man’s land. But I understand what you’re saying about not making first or last out at third.

    I’m not worried about losing Lohse, the Cards bullpen is a gas can. We actually may have an advantage there.

  74. Ken I thik we as a group should be up for manager of the year…we haven’t been wrong on a play all year!!!

  75. Mark..funny thing about that play is it cost Miggy maybe his first infield single of his life…although I don’t know where he was at the time….as it was he gets a FC and time at bat

  76. long time lurker 1st time poster. Ran into Will Castro from Unique Autosports during the rain delay. One of the Tigers must be pimping out their ride.

  77. You know judpma – I always coach my little leaguers the same way, except half way is too far for that age.

    I think in this situation Maggs was in no man’s land as soon as that ball was hit. Baserunning errors drive me crazy and so far this series the Cards are schooling the Tigers on the basepaths.

  78. Barton got nailed at third yesterday in the first inning (granted, very nice play by Guillen but still bad baserunning) and Ankiel was picked off first in the second. After that the Cards ran the bases smart and aggressively, but it’s hardly been a clinic.

  80. Tbone- it is so frustrating watching Runner after runner after runner tagged out on base running mistakes it just amazes me…that go one contact with a shot to third, runner on third and the runner is out by 50 feet is a perfect example..where does common sense fit in here….maybe the over all problem is the tremendous lack of any kind of speed on this team…

    .you are right about Maggs …there wasn’t much positive he was going to do either way

  81. What is the latest weather update in Detroit? Are we going to resume this game anytime tonight!!!

  82. MarK – I didn’t see the first two innings yesterday! So I guess my assessment has been a little skewed…

  84. Well Tbone, you’re definitely right that the Cardinals have run the bases better than the Tigers. And you’re right in the larger sense that the Tigers aren’t a fundamentally solid team.

    But other than that, we’re in great shape!

  85. Is this one on the books yet if rained out? Tigers up 5-4, yes?

    Anyway. here’s some rain delay/postponement/suspension filler to lift your spirits. Pitching stuff. A potpourri. Item nummah 4 – Pitching Potpourri!

    GROUND BALLS %-BAbip

    Galarraga 48% .153
    Bonderman 48% .297
    Rogers 45% .259
    Verlander 42% .293
    Robertson 41% .258

  86. It’s 5-5, Sean. Ankiel hit his second HR in the 5th to tie it. No idea if they’ll be finishing this one tonight.

    Anybody got info?

  87. FLY BALLS %-BA-BAbip

    Verlander 42% .129 .056
    Robertson 41% .252 .183
    Rogers 37% .220 .157
    Bonderman 36% .183 .104
    Galarraga 35% .113 .059

  89. Thank you, Mark. What a drag. Hate that Ankiel. He should go back to piching, maybe tonight. I don’t want Carlos’s 3-run boom-diggity jimmy jack wasted, believe you me. Those things are becoming an endangered species.

  90. anyone know anything about Kyle Pearson just traded to Detroit tonight for Bautisa..
    i hope he is a wrong arm we have enough Rh pitchers

  91. LINE DRIVES %-BA-BAbip

    Rogers 18% .690 .672
    Robertson 18% .667 .667
    Galarraga 17% .667 .647
    Verlander 16% .735 .735
    Bonderman 16% .730 .694

  93. Full Name: Kyle David Pearson
    Born: October 8,1984 in Panama City, Florida
    Height: 6-1 Weight: 180 Bats: Right Throws: Right
    High School: Mosley (Panama City,FL)
    College:

    good point Sean…who knows..but he is a righty if that arm is working

  95. this game will not go in the books by reverting back to the 4th…the Tigers have to have a lead through 4 1/2 not tied…if Tigers don’t bat in the 5th it is a no game

  96. INFIELD BALLS %-BAbip

    Galarraga 56% .060
    Rogers 49% .100
    Bonderman 45% .067
    Robertson 45% .089
    Verlander 43% .080

    OUTFIELD BALLS %-BAbip

    Verlander 57% .419
    Robertson 55% .542
    Bonderman 55% .492
    Rogers 51% .497
    Galarraga 44% .400

  98. I came home. I had my regular tickets for tonight but through a stroke of luck and good connections was invited to a suite. So I spent the rain delay drinking beer and eating tenderloin. And of course, a baseball cupcake from the dessert cart. Had my daughter with me and we both have to be up early tomorrow so we made a run for it when the rain broke a little bit after 9:30. I’ll try again tomorrow. Good luck to those of you who are sticking it out.

  99. The tarp is coming off. Woohoo. Is there any word on the condition of the tarp after the torn oblique? I would hate to have another member of the team hit the DL.

  100. BALLS NOT IN PLAY OPS

    Galarraga .886
    Verlander .938
    Robertson 1.054
    Bonderman 1.201
    Rogers 1.353

  102. Verlander’s BAbip strength against (played to 43% of the time):

    UP THE MIDDLE RHB .128
    UP THE MIDDLE LHB .217

    Verlander’s BAbip weakness against (played to 16% of the time):

    PULL RHB .457

  103. Also, is there any way that we could have Thames back for the second half of this game? I’m sure he’s had sufficient time to cool off. Time cures all, eh? Let bygones be bygones eh? At the very least, he should be available as a pinch hitter after 12:00, eh? I mean it’s not even the same day. Everything changes after midnight. Carraiges turn back into pumpkins, mogwais turn into gremlins, etc. etc.

  104. Rogers’s BAbip strength against (played to 43% of the time):

    UP THE MIDDLE RHB .216

    Rogers’s BAbip weakness against (played to 20% of the time):

    PULL RHB .469

  105. besides that umpire should have been tossed for calling that pitch a strike in the first place…..that wasn’t even in the Detroit zipcode

  106. Bonderman’s BAbip strength against (played to 5% – yes, only 5% – of the time):

    OPPOSITE FIELD RHB .182

    Bonderman’s BAbip weakness against (played to 12% of the time):

    PULL LHB .444

  107. I’ll disappear when the game’s back on, don’t worry!

    Robertson’s BAbip strength against (played to 45% of the time):

    UP THE MIDDLE RHB .234
    OPPOSITE FIELD RHB .241

    Robertson’s BAbip weakness against (played to 23% of the time):

    PULL RHB .500

  110. Galarraga’s BAbip strength against (played to 43% of the time):

    PULL RHB .097
    UP THE MIDDLE RHB .143

    Galarraga’s BAbip weakness against (played to 5% – yes, only 5% – of the time):

    OPPOSITE FIELD RHB .300

  119. “Miner was dominant in that 1/3 inning.”

    Even so, his OUT/IP ratio remains stagnant. Stale, too, I might add.

  120. hey hey!! let there be baseball!!

    and let the Sox continue to lose, down 2-0 in the 4th to the Dodgers

  121. We need one of those patented Pudge-bombs we’ve grown so accustomed to.

  122. Mark, tell me that broadcast is Scully and not Hawk and DJ. I’d like to watch it.

  123. Sean, do you happen to know our record when the field is moist? We’ve already established that the Tigers are vampires, but are they aquatic vampires?

  125. Sorry, Ken, that’s a question for your alter ego Coleman and his banks of super-cooled HAL 9000s.

    Aquatic vampires. Hmmm. Come on, man – that’s TOTALLY Coleman.

    By the way, someone asked about K-Bot 3000. That was the creation of the poster known as Ryan, I believe.

  127. Did I mention my nickname was K-Bot in college? My old buddies still refer to me in that manner when drunk. Damn, I wish I was joking.

  128. We totally lead the league in hiting batters with an 0-2 or 1-2 count. Jeez that is frustrating.

  129. I agree, Mark. We have to be up there. At least with the double play it was all for naught.

  131. Even after a 2 and a half hour rain delay we still pull a larger crowd than the Oakland As on a perfect night. And we don’t have any annoying air horn guy either.

  132. Mark,

    Hilarious new names for those jerks. I lived in Chicago for years, and I couldn’t believe my ears the first time I heard those guys. I thought I was watching a high-school game. And it made watching the perennially terrible Tigers get beat up by the Sox even more unbearable.

    Rod was really concerned that we were all going to think that Curtis didn’t run on that strike-out because he doesn’t care.

    Carlos is on fire!

  133. Carlos just needs a triple to hit for the cycle. Once he acheives that he can try for the ever illusive uni-cycle by reaching base on one leg.

  134. “Carlos is on fire!”

    A set up line whose time has passed.

    Coleman from Cincinnati is really T Smith, I’d wager.

  135. atta boy Polly…amazing strategy by Miner EVERY inning …put that lead off hitter on

  136. maybe Miner thinks he will have to wind up with no one on so he just puts hitters on so he can pitch from the stretch!!! what other explanation could there be???

  137. Man, this strike zone has shrunk big time.

    Miner is just toying with the Cards right now. Let them get their hopes up with the leadoff man reaching, then cruch them with a double play!

    Very shrewd. Devious, even.

  138. Joey,

    My hatred for those two knuckleheads knows no bounds. I think it’s ridiculous to wish death on somebody because, well, I just don’t think it’s right to joke (or worse, mean) that sort of thing.

    But those two get me close, I tell you. They are insufferable.

  140. I dunno about using Zumaya here. You don’t need a strikeout, just an out. Is this high leverage enough?

  141. hey Zoom it is a little different when it isn’t a video game and you have to throw strikes for real

  144. I’m probably talking to myself at this point, but Sheffield absolutely has to bunt.

  145. no matter what the outcome, the Tigers have looked terrible in the same ways they did a few weeks ago.unable to hit in critical moments and relief pitchers who are incompetent.

    I said it before and I repeat it: Zumaya is way overrated.

  147. “Oh! When Rodney and Zumaya come back, we’ll really show’em!” How many times did I hear that last year and this year too!

  148. I would have left Miner in for all of the seventh and eighth. When Leyland took him out I was confused, and even more confused when I saw he picked Zumaya to go to with runners on.

    But then again, you don’t know what these Cardinals would have done against Miner if he’d been left in. Maybe the next guy would have hit a three run bomb off him.

    If we’re meant to win, we’ll win. No worries.

  150. Credit the Tigers. They keep coming….

    Although turning bases loaded, 0 out into one run and inning over in 2 pitches was not very pleasant to watch.

  151. I have this horrible feeling the relievers will again find a way to give the Cards some more runs.

  153. Wow, fantastic play by Guillen!

    I really feel like if we can actually hold them to not scoring for one inning, we can win this game off the Cardinal pen.

  155. Please, PLEASE score. I don’t want Leyland even entertaining the thought of running Jones back out there, no matter how solid he looked.

  156. Great job by Jones. He has done nothing to hurt us this year. Crazy to think after some of last year’s meltdowns. Let’s take this one right now.

  163. Also, I was at the game, but the two and a half hour rain delay did my wife and I in. The tickets were free, and I screwed up my ankle today, so it was a long night as is. But I’m having fun watching it on HD!

  170. And with that, I’m off to bed. I see an AL Central that looks like this:

    Minnesota
    Detroit 3 GB
    CWS 4 GB
    Kansas 5 GB
    Cleveland 5 GB

    By next week. Anyone have similar thoughts?

  171. what an absolutely lousey,,,,,crap filled ,,,mistake filled,,,, poorly played ……wonderful win …thanks Sheff adn Clete

  172. What a win baby! I can sleep with visions of sugarplums and sheffields dancing in my head.

  174. OK, let’s examine the facts:

    Much better starting pitching lately (even though the last two days weren’t great)

    Return of Rodney and Zumaya at a minimum add depth to the bullpen and best case can shorten the game (they are along ways from that, though)

    Sheff is back and punding the ball all over the field

    5 games back of a so-so White Sox team with 85 to play

    NOW I’m excited.

  175. “If we’re meant to win, we’ll win. No worries.”

    We were meant to win. It feels good to be the chosen ones.

    Also: 19 hits! 2 by Polly, 2 by Maggs, 2 by Grandy, 2 by Miggy, 4 by Sheff, 4 by Guillen!

    Everything works out for a reason. If Thames doesn’t get his self pulled, Clete doesn’t score the winning run!

  176. Man, the freaking Twins just don’t lose lately, they’re up 9-3 on the Padres in the 9th.

  178. the brutal strike zone didn’t help the Tigers at all /..I know we are watching on TV but when the catcher reaches outside his body and he is lined up behind the plate come one man there were 10–15 of those……..that guy was the worst…but fortunately he tossed Thames and Clete got a GWR….atta boy

  182. Coleman from Cincinnati is really T Smith, I’d wager.

    I would spell illusive with an o, not an i. You lose wager.

    (There really is a Coleman, OH, by the way. But it’s no where near Cincinnati).

  184. Watched Thames’s second strikeout. I don’t understand how that last pitch is called a strike.

    If you go to sportsline.com’s Game Chart, the pitch is shown as being just off the middle of the plate at the bottom of the strike zone. So now I know how reliable that source is. Is there are a source for more accurate information on pitch locations?

  185. Very coherent postgame, for 2:00 AM. Kudos. All points covered.

    What was up with the strike zone? Did a certain plate ump turn into a pumpkin after midnight? — if the Thames strike was questionable (it was a ball, but it was at least close) the last two balls-called-strikes to Clete Thomas were atrocious. The double off the LF wall was poetic justice — but, man. Those calls were horrible.

  186. Well, if Thames hadn’t gotten chucked, you all do realize he would’ve hit a walkoff bomb, right? I’m just sayin’. Anyway, it seems as if Sheffield is feeling OK. That was a rope.

  187. Man, I just can’t pin all these guys from Ohio down anymore. They’re popping up like mushrooms in the lawn. Yet they remain so allusive.

    If Mark and Chris join in on this, I’ll be so confused that I may have to leave. I’m having a kind of identity crisis.

    If you don’t stop it, Smith, I’m going to start calling you T-Bot.

  188. “Well, if Thames hadn’t gotten chucked, you all do realize he would’ve hit a walkoff bomb, right?”

    That is EXACTLY what I was thinking when I read the comments about Clete coming in being a blessing in disguise. Not to take anything away from Clete.

    I just found out Mr. Thomas is not dark-haired as I had somehow thought. Kinda blond. Next thing you know, I’ll probably find out Brandon Inge isn’t black.

    Casey Fossum’s nickname is “The Blade.” Is a punchline required here?

  189. I’m kind in favor of calling Fossum “Fredo”. He’s dead to me. Anyhoo, I think it’s encouraging that the Tigers haven’t lost consecutive games since June 4th & 6th.

  190. By the way, Sean, Inge isn’t black. He’s Asian. Geez you call yourself a Tigers fan.

  192. Chris,

    I don’t think there’s any question Fossum’s new nickname is Fredo. That fits him perfectly.

    Well done.

  195. I think he’s actually Drew Carey. Though if you completely abbeviated the name, it would be OH OH OH. Yikes.

  196. Bringing the Battlestar discussion over here:

    I defer to all who have watched Galarraga a number of times on what kind of stuff he has and the potential it indicates. I also don’t dispute that extreme numbers either way will tend to settle toward the middle.

    I guess I just don’t like to see “this can’t last” hand-wringing, much like I don’t care for “his numbers show he’ll get better” and other excuses used to explain away suckitude. Galarraga was delivering when the rest of the staff wasn’t, and he’s been good as well as lucky.

    Also, overachievement for an entire season is possible. Happens all the time, even if it doesn’t happen most of the time. So a little recognition of Battlestar as a find with potential is in order, even if it’s not ace potential. Maybe he’s Mark Fydrich in a way. I’ll take a season of that.

    When I look over 2008 stats to date, I tend to use them to evaluate what has actually happened and the value of various contributions, without projecting them forward. For instance, it may not jibe with his career numbers, and it may not mean he’s the SS of the future, but Ramon Santiago was just insane at the plate in limited action earlier this season. I look for what has worked, demonstrably, evidently, and usually advocate rolling with what works until it stops working. But mostly I’m interested in recognizing and understanding what has happened rather than what will happen.

    What is supposed to happen doesn’t, and what isn’t, does. All the time. I feel safer on the solid ground of what did happen.

  197. The Blade is good, too.

    I kinda like Top Forty for Fossum, as in Cassey Fossum’s Top Forty…problem is, I’m not so sure Cassey Fossum is in the Top Forty.

    By the way, I’m inventing a new word: ullusive. Now I just need to figure out how to use it.

  198. Way to go, Ohio.

    Yeah, Fredo is perfect. Time for Jimmuh to take him out on the boat, just him and the skip. Sorry, Junior, no fishing with Uncle Fredo today. Maybe another time.

  199. Top Forty is a good fit for Fossum’s ERA. Fredo Fossum has that ullusive alliteration going for it, too, so important for a DJ.

    Sorry, Mark. Didn’t mean to introduce a traumatic word. It’s not that DJ.

  200. Casey gives us a new verb, “foss,” which means “to benefit the opponent by allowing inherited runners to score while also leaving runners on for the next guy.” Usage example: In the 8th inning, Jimmy’s plan of attack against the Cards will be to foss ’em.

  201. Avid readers may realize that Casey’s older brother Sonny is destined to be the ace of the staff, so to speak, though his career will be cut short, tragically.

    Look what they did to my boy. That’s how I felt after 4.2 of Battlestar last night.

    Galarraga is a bum, and I’ve always said so.

  203. After reading the rather aloof posts of Sean C. and T. Smith regarding Coleman from Cincinnati’s supposed misspelling of the word illusive, I feel I must step in to defend his honor, intelligence, etc. Foremost, the word illusive is actually a word, albeit a rather allusive one. The definition is as follows:

    illusive
    adjective
    based on or having the nature of an illusion; “illusive hopes of finding a better job”;

    I believe Coleman from Cincinnati was describing the uni-cycle in this manner, as reaching base on one leg to complete the uni-cycle is often accomplished with the aid of smoke and mirrors.

    Just saying…sometimes people are so smart that much of their verbage goes right over your heads.

  204. Sean: I’m in agreement – what actually did happen is the most important stat. And by and large Battlestar has posted wonderful results. However, I’m also interested in why things happen as well. Sometimes pitchers are just dominating (see Volquez, Edinson or Lincecum, Tim) and will be All Stars for many years to come. Other times guys catch lightning in a bottle for a little while and then settle back into where you thought they would all along. That’s where I see our man Battlestar. He’s gotten the most out of his ability to this point, and for that I tip my hat to him. I have a soft spot for guys like that. On the other hand, I don’t expect him to keep it up for much longer. He’s no ace. Of course, they gave up absolutely nothing to get him and he’s been very valuable to the teams (limited) success. In summary, I like the dude but I don’t have his name pencilied in on my fictitious Hall of Fame ballot just yet.

  205. Sean, is there any way you could find out Nate’s career stats during day games? I’m thinking about putting a sizeable bet on the game today but that would be great to know.

  206. Aloof, Ken? Hardly. Just tough love. Because we care.

    T Smith and I refuse to recognize the word “illusive.”

  209. Sean – use mlb.com’s gameday instead of sportsline. MLB uses pitch f/x which has camera’s triangulated to measure where the ball crosses the front of the plate to within an inch.

  210. You know, I’m curious about… well, not just Galarraga, but all the Tigers starters in regard to the pitching stats I posted earlier along this thread. We’ll start with Galarraga.

    I was struck by his BAbip against RHB who pull the ball. And the difference between that and BAbip against RHB to the opposite field. The other Tigers RHP seem vulnerable indeed to RHB pull, and it would seem as though if a pitcher is getting raked, it tends to be by pull hitters from either side, though especially the opposite-handed side. What does this say about Galarraga? It must say something.

  211. Thanks, Sean. Those aren’t the results I wanted to see though. Could you run those numbers again, this time with some clear justification for betting on Nate?

  212. Billfer

    Thanks. You’re a godsend. You should really consider starting a Tigers blog or something.

  213. My mistake, Ken. Transposed some numbers in error.

    Nate in day games:

    W-L 251-5
    ERA 1.59

  214. Wow, those are truly amazing day stats. How can I NOT invest my life savings on the integrity of those numbers. Thanks for the inspiration, Sean! On the very unlikely event that the Tigers lose, I’ll be trecking north to live a more sober life with you in your amish community.

  215. Ken: Nate is 1-0 with a 3.60 career against the Cardinals. So there’s that. I won’t mention that those numbers a) don’t include the World Series and b) include only one 6 inning start…no wait, I just mentioned that.

  216. Thanks, Chris, but it’s too late. I just blew my bank roll on Big Brown in the Belmont. I wonder why they were playing the race on ESPN Classic?

  217. Ken: I’d also take the Celtics over the Lakers in 6. I’ve just got a gut feeling about it.

  218. I’m pretty sure MLB.com’s GameDay lies on pitches that are way out of the zone when they are called strikes. Seems like it, anyways.

  219. Chris, I was thinking the same thing. Let’s go halfies on it. Wire over $500 bucks pronto.

  220. “I’ll be trecking north to live a more sober life with you in your amish community.”

    Haven’t you heard? Thanks to Ron, I’ve moved on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky. I’m finally going to get a piece of… well, never mind.

  222. “I wonder why they were playing the race on ESPN Classic?”

    That was classic, Ken.

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