PREGAME: Losing streaks aren’t any fun. So let’s keep this one to just two games okay? The Tigers face Carlos Silva which has been good for Detroit this year with the 4.2 innings in his 2 starts and 14 runs.
The Tigers send out Justin Verlander who has been a)striking out more people as of late, b)walking quite a few, and c)racking up big pitch counts. Verlander threw 118 and 115 pitches in his last 2 starts and didn’t make it through the 6th in either. In fact Verlander has broken the 110 pitch mark in 5 of his last 7 starts.
Miguel Cabrera is back in the lineup, but Marcus Thames sits in favor of one of Matt Joyce or Clete Thomas. I’m not a fan of Joyce hitting between Cabrera and Sheffield and I’m not a fan of Thames sitting. But the Tigers actually have more lefties than righties in the lineup tonight.
- Granderson, CF
- Polanco, 2B
- Guillen, 3B
- Cabrera, 1B
- Joyce, RF
- Sheffield, DH
- Thomas, LF
- Rodriguez, C
- Hollimon, SS
DET @ SEA, Thursday, July 3, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
Game Time 10:10
POSTGAME: This one didn’t start out so pretty. Carlos Silva got outs. Justin Verlander needed 25 pitches in the first inning. But things worked themselves out as the night wore on.
The Tigers started hitting line drives off of Carlos Silva and strung enough of them together to score in 4 consecutive innings starting in the 3rd. Justin Verlander continued to struggle with his command, but somehow made it through 6 innings and he kept the Mariners off the board.
- Some dumb blogger complained about Matt Joyce and his position in the lineup. Of course Joyce gets player of the game honors with 2 doubles and 2 singles.
- Mike Hollimon gets his first homer and first on field post-game interview and there’s no shaving cream treatment? Disappointing. This team has no chemistry (I’m kidding).
- I’m a little worried about Justin Verlander’s workload this year. He’s averaging the most pitches per game in the bigs. I don’t feel he’s been abused, but there is talk of moving Verlander up with the off day next week. An extra day of rest might not hurt. This is 3 consecutive games where he hasn’t had real good command. I don’t know if there is a fatigue issue, but it is something to consider.
- Todd Jones=not good tonight. What was supposed to be an inning of work turned into 24 pitches of hell.
- Joel Zumaya=good tonight. A couple of hits, but both were weak. Thirteen pitches and nine for strikes. Can’t complain about that.
- Very nice defense by Clete Thomas. A couple nice catches and an outfield assist.
It would be nice to see Verlander back to more efficient form for this game. It would also be nice to see Cabrera or Sheffield or better still both take on the mantle of carrying the Tigers through these days of Maggslessness. (New Tigers soap opera: The Young and the Maggsless.) I also want to see a pinch hit home run by Marcus, just for fun.
That’s the wish list. Oh yeah – a Tigers win would be nice, too. I’m not going to push my luck by asking for good defense. But I’ll take it if they insist.
Well jeez, kids, this one isn’t starting out very well at all
Just incredible how wild JV gets. So scary!
Watching the MLB broadcast. These Seattle announcers would put a dog asleep in a meat market. They are just as flat and bad as anything I have ever heard. Small markets..no traditions!
Mario: “Polly wants an RBI!”
Dave: *kills self*
Seeing that inning ending DP off Guillen’s bat just took the steam out of what looked like a big Tiger inning. Thanks, Carlos…….
I was hoping I’d just imagined that Polly bit
Once again Guillen proves how his throws are off …….costs a run……thanks again, Carols.
Well, Sky, if you think Guillen is a detriment to this team, I bet Neifi’s available to replace him. Rested and ready.
JV certainly doesn’t have his best stuff tonight and his pitch count is way up again. This is a game the Tigers really need to win given the matchup.
Wow that flyball had serious hang time
Verlander needed to have a better outing than this tonight. The pen has more innings that the starters the last 2 games, and they’re going to be asked to get at least 12 outs tonight.
I think Granderson just woke up Gene LaMont
Hey all. I’m in Australia for my honeymoon, so I’ve missed the last week of games or so. Trying to catch up a bit. Looks like the Tigs have played some good baseball these last 7 games. On the injury front, does Maggs’ injury appear to be serious? And does Cabrera look ok at the plate today? He tends to play through injuries, so just hope he doesn’t hurt himself further.
Actually Cabrera is at the plate at this very moment…
Cabrera is noticeably limping
And yet a nice AB, ending with a single to right field. So it doesn’t look like his hitting is hampered, but he doesn’t look real comfortable running (even by Cabrera standards)
Give Cabrera credit for getting from 1st to 3rd on that throw home by Ichiro. You’d expect that from most players, but not from a hobbled guy who was already slow to begin with.
I love all these consecutive singles–sometimes it all looks so easy doesn’t it?
That’s right guys…let’s break this game open righ tnow.
I like the idea of Verlander pitching with a 5-2 lead
Carolyn They DL’d Maggs thru the All star break…pulled chest muscle (oblique pull….) new injury everyone seems to be getting…should be ready after all star break
Matt Joyce,,,u go boy
The Sox actually lost!! Chance to get back to 6 GB
I guess thats how you stay in last place..thank you
Got to give Justin credit: He was effective, holding Seattle to 2 runs, despite having less than his best stuff. He was wild here and there, but never really got off-track… I mean, he was putting himself behind in counts, but making good pictches to every batter, too. And pretty good defense tonight, too.
Also, I think it’s time to get off Guillen’s back… He’s hitting over .300, stealing bases and constantly improving his defense at 3rd. That play at the plate today was well-done (bare-hand grab and off-balance throw), and that was a very hard throw to make. So he put it 18 inches to the left of where we wanted him to… big deal. Tough play.
I’ve got to say I wouldn’t care if the Tigers lost this game. Sorry. Seattle deserves a little break after the Sonics moving. I spent much of my childhood out there and went to games with my dad. The Sonics moving to Oklahoma City is just an absolutely devastating moment for the community. I can’t imagine what the mood is like at Safeco tonight. I know it’s just sports, but everyone should take a moment and be grateful for the Tigers and their other favorite teams. If the Brooklyn Dodgers, LA Rams, and Seattle Sonics can be put of business, nothing is guaranteed forever.
The closer can’t close out a game with a 6 run lead. Jeez.
Clete…one half of the dynamic duo does it on defense
Great catch by Clete. Whew.
what is wrong with Jones? Has he lost it?
Carolyn, who cares about the Tigers. Tell us about Australia.
better to win ugly than to lose at all….the Toledo connection comes thru again…..picked up one on the Sox ….a good day indeed
Yeah, nice win and all. Much good news I’d like to cheer about. But only Leyland and Jones can make a win feel like a loss.
This isn’t second-guessing. This is first-guessing. Bringing Jones in to close an 8-2 game? That is suicide, my friend. I am so sick of this compulsive, habitual, business as usual, give the veterans what they “deserve” crap….
I wanted Zumaya to finish it off, really, really badly (the desire, not the result). I wouldn’t be complaining about that decision even if the Tigers had gone on to lose 9-8 (I’d be complaining about something else then.) But man! I just KNEW Jones was coming in, and I saw the nightmare coming on before the first 2 pitches for balls. Exasperating, and not just in the usual Rollercoaster way.
Dumb move! Dumb, I tell you! Predictable, even if you’re a hunch guy. I don’t care if Jones needs work. He can throw in the bullpen from the 5th inning on for all I care. just keep him out of these kind of finishes at all costs.
Stephan,The @%^#@$% owners look at the bottom line. Community is not in their vocabulary. How about the middle of the night Baltimore Colts move.
Yeah, the Colts one is another moment of sports infamy. The Browns etc.. I’m watching Sportscenter now and it’s 30 minutes in and no mention of the franchise move.
Owners are all about community. That’s why the community gets to pay to build the stadiums and arenas. But it puts so much into the local economy! Uh-huh.
Joyce, Clete, Hollimon had a good game collectively.
I can’t believe I’m going to say this but … I think I’d like to see Gary Sheffield move out of the DH spot solely so Migg’s can get in there and rest that hip flexor/bum leg he’s got. I don’t want to see his bat out of the lineup altogether (especially with Magglio out) but that’s my 2nd preferable option. Though, Sheff out of the DH spot means Thames to 1st and less time for Joyce/Clete but … I think I’d be okay with that.
I just want so badly to see a 100% healthy Miguel Cabrera. I get the feeling that it’s very Magglio Ordonez circa 2006-2007 with more power.
I cast my vote for Marcus in that Pepsi Clutch thing.
I’m not knocking Jose Guillen, maybe he had an excellent month, but his headline over at the Pepsi thing was too funny:
“Provided veteran leadership all month.”
Aha.
Mario: “Polly wants an RBI!”
Dave: *kills self*
I mourn your passing, Dave, but at least you went out with a good one. I’m hoping you’ll be able to read this somehow from that great blog in the sky, but if not, well… never mind, then.
Carry on.
“so Migg’s can get in there and rest that hip flexor/bum leg he’s got.”
He still needs to run the bases, Mike. If he’s really hurt, he should sit or go on the DL, as hard as that is to swallow with Maggs already on the DL. They don’t need another performance of the long-running smash musical “If Only He Was Healthy,” starring Gil instead of Gary this time.
Running the bases is a problem for him regardless of position while he is hurt, Sean, i grant you that. That said, standing for 9 innings at first base and running to the bag and stretching out for throws I’m sure hurt it worse than running out a double or something of that ilk would.
Back from the game. This one was fun. Great to see Hollimon’s first HR. Some great plays by both teams. No Seattle HRs, so I didn’t have to endure them misappropriating “Funk Blast” for someone other than the Dr. himself. Fun night at the ballpark.
Place was dead, though. Attendance couldn’t have been more than 15,000.
Back from the game as well.
Not sure how much can be attributed to this, but Jones had a fan thrown out of the park (after words were exchanged) just less than 15 minutes before he started warming. Guy said something about Zumaya’s mom and Zoom got riled. Jones really acted like the Captain in the bullpen tonight; even sat on a chair that was literally on top of the bullpen. As much sh*% as I give the guy, he’s a leader.
Other nice thing about sitting next to the pen in Seattle is my 3-yr old scored Freddy Solid’s autograph. Super nice guy. Nice pics to boot.
Beautiful night at SAFECO, overall. Always love a Silva game.
Gotta say, the Tigs travel well. Always makes me glad I follow this team.
Keep it fun!