PREGAME: I figure we’re one bad game away before I have to post this backwards again. Hopefully the team will fare a little better. Did you know that through 64 games the 2008 team outscored the 2009 team 09 version has only outscored the 08 version by 7 runs?
Edwin Jackson is the man tonight and hopefully he can work deep into the game with Verlander leaving early yesterday and Porcello on the mound tomorrow.
Todd Wellemeyer hasn’t had a quality start since May 22nd. That doesn’t mean a lot given the Tigers recent struggles against struggling pitchers. Who knows, maybe tonight’s new look lineup will be the one to get it done:
- Granderson
- Polanco
- Cabrera
- Thames
- Ordonez
- Inge
- Laird
- Everett
- Jackson
Detroit vs. St. Louis – June 17, 2009 | MLB.com: Gameday
POSTGAME: Another day, another loss. I guess the difference is this wasn’t an awful game. Edwin Jackson was fine, 3 runs in 6 innings wiht 7 K’s, just not great. He hurt his cause with an error on a pickoff throw and Magglio Ordonez butchered what might have been caught and at the least should have been a double.
Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera hit, but again that was it. The Tigers had some good at-bats early on, forcing Wellemeyer to throw a boat load of pitches in the 1st and in the 3rd, but the big inning continues to elude them instead settling for solo homers and other 1 run innings.
And then there was Joel Zumaya who had another tough outing. He didn’t get hammered and he mixed in a number of curves. But he also couldn’t find the strike zone and he walked in the Tigers 13th run of the season. Nine of those have come in the month of June (the Tigers had 20 in 2008).
I like this lineup configuration.
Look guys, a lineup that makes sense.
First 64 games
2009 – 306RS /289RA
2008 – 299RS/ 329 RA
So actually 2009 outscored 2008 so far.
I’m calling a W tonight.
we are not the only team with pitching problems. the blue jays 5 starters and one of their best relievers are all on the DL.
And they still have about the same record as us in a much tougher division.
I know we have some good, some mediocre and some not so good players on the roster. Obviously there is something missing. In hockey it would be that gritty been a captain on an other team guy. A leader with skills and a can do attitude, maybe won a championship type.
I kind of feel we need a veteran older guy that has this. I don’t have anyone in mind but I was just thinking what can be done here to get the guys going. What brings this altogether?. I don’t feel we are way off but off enough to get a decent lead in our division and beat or hang with some of the better teams outside of our division. Im not a fire Jim Leyland guy either but what do we need to do? Is it coaching?, a leader that is not here? What will get our guys to get it going and mash it out the rest of the season. Coming off a day off and seeing that game last night…. Laying an Egg (or worse) and looking pathetic doing it really got me thinking WHAT ITS IT?.
Ok I feel better now, lets go get 8 runs for EJ and start it up.
I know what you mean. Honestly, the Tigers are missing Magglio/Polanco/Guillen. They’re all missing in action or on the shelf. But I’m inclined to think the solution offensively is in the clubhouse, not elsewhere. (Except they may need a starting pitcher).
I think that veteran guy that the other players listened to, by many accounts, used to be Guillen…in which case more than his bat is on the DL…
wellemeyer up to 27 pitches already…i would like to see more of this patience at the plate
Why is Maggs still in the lineup? Don’t we have anyone who could possibly do better? come on.
Call me crazy, I’d rather see Inge up here than Ordonez
“Ordonez” – from the Spanish for “Weak groundball to second”.
Now that’s funny
This lineup is a good first step. Does Leyland read DTW?…
Ordonez is doing ok at getting on base and horribly at hitting in runs. He should be batting 2nd or 7th. Inge is being wasted, too far down in the order.
Now that would have been useful last inning
Dave What is Everett English for?
I think Everett is English for “little-headed Polanco”
Who would win between the Cardinals and a giant Granderson?
The good news is that this means Inge hits one soon…
“Everet” – from the English for “Howdy Doody is my big brother”
What’s the Spanish for misplayed fly ball?
Maggs got his power back!
That would be “canseco.”
Someone remind me the last Tiger to hit 3 HR in same game. Could be Grandy’s night.
This weak ground ball can be a powerful weapon when used correctly
How about the last leadoff hitter with 3 HR in a game? Rickey Henderson?
Picked
Now that’s some brilliant strategery…not just the SB attempt, I mean the let-your-pitcher-whiff-then-replace-him-once-he-takes-the-mound-strategery…
I do NOT understand taking Ejax out at this point.
Sure, you want to put a bat in but the heart of the order is coming up next inning and our bullpen? Not so good….
I agree, sine Ed-Jack was going strong…yet I admit I would have thought Leyland a genius if Raburn hit it 5 feet further
Agreed, but it’s not going to matter because Zumaya will give up two runs.
maybe try robertson again…just in case everyone is wrong and he really, really hasn’t lost it….whatever “it” may be
Geez that was totally a swing. Come on blue!
Probably a swing, but the point is Zumaya can’t throw a strike. Lame.
lolwhyisthisteamsobad
Becauseourbattersrepeatedlyfouloutandourmanagermakesstupiddecisons.
And again an Inge hit wasted with bases empty…and what’s with Pujols clowning around with Inge on 1st…is he the new Sean Casey or something?
This whole three run business is starting to piss me off.
oh boy. the wheels have fallen off the wagon
What the crap Zumaya? All of the walks all of a sudden by this staff, it looks like 2008! I thought we fired Hernandez! And the offense? They are finally getting a few more knocks, but not with men on. And I have yet to see any movement on the roster. Galarraga should not be in this rotation, and Willis needs to be gone….After Illitch’s little message, I thought there would be movement….I guess not…
“Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera hit, but again that was it.”
No, that wasn’t it.
Inge had two hits; they didn’t mean anything because Leyland had him batting 6th, which left him with no RBI opportunities.
Again why Polanco and Ordonez are batting ahead of him in the lineup is ludicrous.
LOok OoOo
We all know their track record, but now it doesn’t mean a darn if it isn’t getting the job done. You want to bunch your good…scratch that….productive hitters together.
One possible way is to clump all the .800 OPS(and above) hitters together
Right now assuming we have the DH here is ONE way it could be done (and also assuming Don Kelly is semi hot)
CF Granderson
LF Kelly
1st Cabrera
3rd Inge
DH Thames
SS Santiago
RF Ordonez
2nd Polanco
C Laird
On a side note check out Ryan Raburn’s situational splits
*bottom of the page
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?playerId=6124
assuming there are runners on base, he KILLS the ball, compared to when they aren’t . wow
Mid 600sOPS to nearly 900
Ordonez as you can guess is somewhat opposite of that, but still bad in each category. Cabrera is hitting terrible in June.
We currently have a 4-game losing streak. If we lose tonight, we’ll get swept by the Cards then it will make that a 5-game losing streak.
BTW- visit my baseball blog at http://evansbaseballblog.blogspot.com/
Thanks for the insight. Sounds like you know your stuff. 😀
Definitely some deep analysis there.
You know it! 🙂
I plan on visiting Evan’s baseball blog @ blogspot any and every time I need to learn how to count.
ah ah ah
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delete the excess periods in the following link 😉