PREGAME: The Tigers look to end their Metrodome misery by taking the series. They’ll send out Chris Lambert. Lambert allowed half as many runs and lasted almost twice as long in his second start. If he can continue on this improvement trajectory the Tigers hould be in good shape.
The Twins will feature Glen Perkins. Perkins has uninspiring peripherals, but he’s held the Tigers to 5 runs in 20.2 innings this year with 13 K’s and 5 walks.
Also worth pointing out, the 250,000th Major League homer will be hit some time today.
DET @ MIN, Sunday, September 7, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com
Let’s see if Lambert can go more than two innings before blowing up. Tigers have found a new catcher, still looking for a thirdbaseman though.
Why is Sheffield (BA .222, OPS .699) batting 5th? In fact, why is Sheffield batting?
Lambo seems to get into trouble after the first time through the order. On the othr hand, no 6-run innings today, so I guess that gives him a leg up replacing Rogers or Robertson as the “ace” lefthander.
Deja vu from yesterday Ordonez hits a homer to put the Tigers up 6-4 🙂
Kind of makes up for that GIDP in his last AB; his 23rd of the year by the way, which must be close to leading the league.
Asking Seay to go more than 1 inning is pushing your luck if you ask me.
Isn’t this what we expected from them all year?
Farnsworth will probably be making an effort to finish strong so that he can sign a BIG contract with some OTHER team over the winter.
What are the chances of Morneau hitting a 3-run homer off of Rodney here?
Did we just take a series at the Metrodome? I think we did.
As frustratingly inconsistent as Rodney can be, I really am enjoying have a closer with great stuff.
Meanwhile, I have learned a valuable lesson in head-to-head fantasy football: beware when your opponent has the running back that will be starting against the Lions on opening day.
Rodney owns the Twins, at least this weekend. It’s nice to see them make an effort even though 88% of the season has passed. It’s like the unfaithful husband coming home for dinner because he’s hungry. Hey let’s amp it up a little guys…our reputation, future paychecks…yeh we’re okay. Wait till next year, you’ll see. I’ll get better, I promise you honey…
“Why is Sheffield (BA .222, OPS .699) batting 5th? In fact, why is Sheffield batting?”
Leyland doesn’t want to be called a racist or any other derogatory names in Gary’s next book.
Well, its nice to get a series win against the Twins; playing 3 meaningful September games (although not so much for them). Next weekend its the WSox for the last three meetings of the season and they may have an impact on the division also. It would be nice to get a series win there too. They finish with four against TB, but my guess is that by then those games won’t mean anything. The other 12 games are definitely meaningless; just finishing off the schedule. In the meantime we can at least root for Granderson, who is hot, Ordonez who is still in the batting title race, Cabrera to just keep doing his thing and a few of the younguns who are trying to get a jump on a roster spot for next year.
Its not who you play but when you play them…
Homer #250,000 wasn’t hit yesterday. We’re at 299,996.
There are no day games today, and only four games starting at 7:05. Our game is one of those games, so there’s a fair chance that a Tiger may hit that homer.
Nice win, nice series win on the road. A winning season is still possible. That would be nice.
Maggs finishes the season vs. the Twins 20-for-42 with 6 HR. I sense that he may not be the favorite visiting player at the Metrodome.
Yeah, Maggs is great. 1.330 OPS at the Metrodome in 6 games. DON’T TRADE HIM.
On the other hand:
Mauer vs. Detroit: 1.082 OPS, 15 RBI in 76 PA
Morneau vs. Detroit: 1.080 OPS, 18 RBI in 81 PA
That’s only 2008. This is why Rodney earned his Rejoin Team In 2009 Free card this weekend. From me, anyeway*.
* Olde English.
I was very impressed by Dusty Ryan yesterday. 1 for 3 in your first major league start with a two-run shot is pretty good, especially for a catcher (and especially for a catcher in the Tigers organization). I know it was just one start, but I have no problem with him being the back-up catcher in ’09.
No passed balls, either. If he would just gun down a runner, I’d start him in 2009.
I like to plan far ahead.
“In case anyone hadn’t noticed, Granderson is now 7th in the AL in OPS”
So… may we please have Granderson batting #3 in 2009 and get a few more RBI out of that world-beating OPS? Is he “ready” for it, Jim Leyland/New Manager Guy?
Who’s gonna bat leadoff? How about Guillen, eh? Or Sheffield, if they have to keep him and if he agrees to at least try to draw walks again. Or Santiago. Or Renteria. Anyone but Granderson.
“that gives him [Lambert] a leg up replacing Rogers or Robertson as the “ace” lefthander.”
At least I knew Lambert was a righty. OK, so Paul Foytack had to remind me.
You know, Smoking Loon, I thought about making a case for Ryan as a starter in ’09, but thought I’d get laughed at (or at least not taken seriously). With regards to throwing runners out, Mario and Rod said yesterday that he has a cannon for an arm.
I especially like Ryan starting if you scoot Inge back over to third.