2009 Season, Game Post

Game 2009.163: Tigers at Twins

264 Comments

PREGAME: Of all the years for MLB to do away with their asinine coin-flipping scenario for deciding home field advantage for tiebreaker games. Of course if the Tigers could have managed 1 more win at some point they wouldn’t even be in this situation. But this situation isn’t so bad, the Tigers are still playing and they’ll be the only game around tomorrow afternoon.

It’s Rick Porcello and Scott Baker. This will be the second time in a week the Tigers will have a chance to clinch the AL Central against Baker. The Tigers certainly had their chances last Thursday with a bevy of baserunners and 4 Twins errors to go along with 6 walks issued by Twins pitchers. Unfortunately the offense only mustered 3 runs.

The Tigers have hit Baker this year. In the 2 previous starts they got him for 4 runs and 6 runs and Baker hasn’t lasted into the 6th inning in any of the 3 starts.

Porcello has faced the Twins 4 times this year and has quality starts in 3 of them. His worst start against them was a 6 run 4 inning effort in the dome. A week ago Tuesday he pitched the front end of the double header and he went 6.1 innings allowing just 1 run while scattering 7 hits and a walk.

For more on the game:

264 thoughts on “Game 2009.163: Tigers at Twins”

  2. Lets go Tigers! If the Twins edge by us again on the last day of the season, I will be sick to my stomach.

  3. I’m making the ~6 hr trek to attend the game tomorrow. Felt like I needed to experience this place that I feel such ire for, its my first trip to the metrodome. And its kind of a big game. Anyone have suggestions for a Tiger fan in downtown Minny? Or is anyone else going?

    1. Hi DA,

      Enjoy the game but please don’t wave a Twinkie Homer Hankie! Let’s hope the Tigers score early and often to silence the crowd!

      I predict Granderson will be the last play to bounce a line drive off the baggie to ice the game!

      Go Tigers!

  7. Where’s Tom Petty when you need him?

    The waiting is the hardest part
    Every day you see one more card
    You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
    The waiting is the hardest part

  8. Vegas favoring the twins pretty heavy on this one. The 5 inning betting lines are tilted even more. I’m suprised as I see the advantage basically tilting one way or the other between the two based on starting pitching and home field. Maybe they figure Cabrera will chase the high cheese all day long??

    2. I’d quibble with Neyer’s assertion that Porcello’s K rate indicates he’s tiring — but it’s just that, a quibble.

      Seems to me our best shot is if Porcello keeps the ball down and the luck of groundouts vs. seeing eye grounders breaks our way, while we get into the Twins’ shaky pen. (All of which perhaps reduces to “keep them from scoring and score ourselves,” but you get what you pay for with free analysis.)

  10. I love the underdog!! Long live the underdog!!

    The Tigers need to show up with fire in their bellies. Cabrera will come through in a big way to redeem himself and the rest of the team will be there to pick him up. I think we’ll get a chance to see a rare smile from Leyland today.

    LET’S GO TIGERS!!!

  11. For whatever the reason I feel good about this game.

    1. The day off maybe slows down the Twins.
    2. The whole L’affaire Cabrera gives the team something to rally against.
    3. The pressure is finally off the Tigers and squarely on the Twinks.
    4. Call it the curse of Brett Favre.

    Do work!

    1. I don’t have a good feeling about this game at all. And I get the feeling that the “L’affaire Cabrera” will not unite this team since it’s hard to rally around a player who was out boozing it up with members of a rival team.

      This team is putting a heavy load on the shoulders of a 20-year old kid. I don’t expect this to go well. But if Porcello can find the magic for one night, we could all witness a legend in the making.

      1. My take:

        Porcello pitches incredibly well but the offense can’t generate enough runs. The legend of Porcello is born, but the Twins steal our division crown (again).

        I hate being pessimistic, but I too just don’t feel good about this one. Maybe I am wrong, the last few times the Tigers have had their backs to the wall, they played some of their best baseball of the season. They’ll need it today.

        1. Well, everyone, EVERYONE figures the Twins will roll and baseball is funny when then happens.

          It would be fitting, wouldn’t it, that the Tigers exorcise their Dome hoodoo (and maybe the Nathan one, too) in the best possible situation.

          Again, everything logical points for a Twins romp, but maybe it turns out to be a sobering Dome finale.

  13. Here is the lineup I’d go with, based on career OPS vs Baker. And I’d punish Cabrera, yet still have him in the lineup. How to do that? Bat him behind Laird…think about it…

    —- Raburn 3B
    .938 Santiago 2B
    1.219 Ordonez RF
    1.134 Guillen DH
    1.102 Thames LF
    .811 Granderson CF
    1.100 Laird C
    .864 Cabrera 1B
    .500 Everett SS

    .500 Huff PH
    .454 Polanco PH/Def Rep (Santiago to SS)
    .358 Inge PH/Def Rep (Raburn to LF)
    .222 Thomas Def Rep
    — Avila PH

    1. You’d seriously sit Polanco for this game?

      The entire blogosphere had a collective hissy-fit last time Polanco sat out a game.

      I can’t imagine the reactions if Polanco sits for the start of this one.

      1. I’m just saying that’s the lineup numbers say to use…I doubt I would actually. But whether the blogoshphere hissy-fitted or not wouldn’t be one of my criteria. I’d leave him in because it would mess with the team chemistry otherwise. But he doesn’t hit Baker, and isn’t great in general in the dome. Grandy and Maggs look to be the key bats today.

  14. Maybe Miguel is our Denny McLain…in that case, we just need to discover our Mickey Lolich and we’ll win. I recommend Ordonez start eating donuts right away…

  15. On the other hand, there’s Baker, and there’s Baker in the D’oh-m. For example Cabrera has hit Baker in Comerica much better. In fact, the Tiger career HumpDome OPS numbers are downright depressing (PAs in parentheses):

    .909 Granderson (169)
    .877 Ordonez (343)
    .803 Raburn (28)
    .767 Thames (118)
    .735 Guillen (229)
    .731 Polanco (176)
    .714 Huff (92)
    .695 Laird (72)
    .667 Thomas (27)
    .662 Inge (222)
    .659 Santiago (77)
    .656 Cabrera (70)
    .559 Everett (107)

    Cabrera seems particularly afflicted with Domephobia…

    Combine this with the vs Baker numbers, and I think this one’s gonna be in the hands of Maggs and Grandy…

  16. Pingback: Detroit Tigers Game 163 Open Thread « Douglas Graham

  17. It’s going to be OK. The Tigers have hired Michael Jackson’s doctor to live with the Cabrera’s to administer I.V.’s while Miguel sleeps(it off).

    1. I’m disappointed…so far I’ve been unable to find any rumor at all of the hoped-for Favre-Mauer drinking binge from last night…

      1. They messed up they sent Mitt Romney instead. However I understand Favre has a few pain killers left over from the old days, I hear he met up w/ Miguel in the parking lot before the game.

        1. Mitt Romney was actually an inspired choice…game time is approaching and Mauer is still snoring away, deep in slumber…

  18. Here it is, fetauring Raburn in left and Santiago at short:

    Granderson cf
    Polanco 2b
    Ordonez rf
    Cabrera 1b
    Guillen dh
    Raburn lf
    Inge 3b
    Laird c
    Santiago ss

  20. I like the looks of the lineup. Now, the guys just have to produce. Here’s to hoping the Tigers get a few runs on the board early & the Twins don’t.

  21. From The Freep: Twins outfielder Denard Span called the Tigers chokers. He told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune after Sunday’s games: “I don’t want to say they’ve choked, but, yeah, they have choked.”

    According to Jason Beck, The Tigers have his remarks posted in the clubhouse and highlighted.

    1. Wow, guy got a little cocky from batting about .600 against us.

      I say Porcello should give Delmon Young a fastball in the thigh and watch Delmon Young chase Span around the Dumb-Dome Rod Allen-style.

      I mean, we’d lose Porcello, but the entertainment value might make up for that…

        1. That never gets old…love the look on the pitcher’s face when Rod starts out after him…

          1. My favorite part is at the end when Rod cannot figure out who the pitcher is anymore in the mass of Japanese players.

  22. As much as I like Ron Gardenhire, nothing would please me more than to see a frown on his face after the game.

  23. I don’t see how we can lose with this line-up…jus’ sayin’.

    (if we lose you’ll forget I posted this come spring time, if we win my words will be prophetic)

  25. Pingback: 163! | Detroit Bad Boys

  26. Polanco shirt, check. Inge jersey, check. Tigs cap, check. Little Ceasar Pizza, check. Cabrera-like BAC, check. LETS GO TIGERS!!!!!

  28. Here we go folks!

    I gotta feeling… (Woohoo)
    That tonight’s gonna be a good night
    That tonight’s gonna be a good night
    That tonight’s gonna be a good good night

    Tonight’s the night
    Let’s live it up
    I got my money
    Let’s spend it up
    Go out and smash it
    Like Oh My God
    Jump off that sofa
    Let’s kick it OFF

    Thanks to the Black Eyed Peas for that!

  29. Top of the first really couldn’t have gone worse for us. PP gets a bad call against him, Baker is up in the zone the whole inning and we give them 3 easy outs. Let’s go RP.

  31. Help — no TBS on my cable, so I am watching mlb.tv.

    Except now it is “postseason.tv”, and I get the “benefit” of picking my camera angle.

    But that just means I don’t get to see where the ball is hit. Anybody know how to just get the normal feed?

  32. Pretty nice play by Santiago there. The thought of pitching to Mauer 3 or 4 more times this game terrifies me.

  36. The Tigs are hitting Baker strong! Keep it going and they will break.

  37. Well, looks like another game where the Tigers struggle to score runners. Why should it be any different at game 163 than it was for games 1-162?

  38. Ugh.
    I didn’t expect Inge to get the run in, but a line drive out? That was unexpected, thought he would strike out or pop out. Then Laird with a really bad swing.
    That inning could haunt us…

    1. Carlos failed, Raburn was lucky, Inge was a bit unlucky and Laird unfortunately remembered that hacky swing that served him so well for most of the season.

  39. i really felt a national league team would bunt every time when carlos was up. you can not leave the lead off double on base, come on!

  40. also meaning i felt tigers should have bunted miguel over, the first run is pretty big mentally in a playoff game!

    1. They already had him on 3B with one out. Certainly you didn’t think they should have done the suicide squeeze with MC Hammered on 3B and one out in the 2nd inning?

  43. I know we are focused on today, but I can’t help think of something Keith Law said on ESPN:

    “Verlander and Porcello in a couple years could be devastating”

    nice.

  45. Granderson has to steal this base. Come on guys. We’re not going to win this one without being aggressive. Let’s pour on some pressure.

  60. How do you spell “I can hear a pin drop in the Twinkie Dome”? MICKEY CABRERA! Score early and often!

  62. Uh, I’m all for moral consistency and everything, but… I’m glad Miggy’s in the lineup today.

  66. RP needs to shut them down this inning. We got him 3 and he’s go t the bottom of the order up.

    …and as I say that he gives up a leadoff single. *sigh*

  69. Can we forbid Tigers pitchers from throwing the ball to first base in big games?

    1. Porcello threw wild to first and the ball hit the ump. Huge break for the Tigers bc the guy on 1st couldn’t advance.

  72. What’s wrong with Kubel’s face in his Gameday picture? Did he want that smirk to piss off opposing fans?

  73. ok lets not give any more away! anyone else have flashbacks to the 2006 WS?

  74. Justice. Way to keep your composure Little Rickey! Let’s score some more – Baggie Time!

  76. What is it with Tigers pitchers that when they get a lead they come out and throw notng but fastballs in the next half inning. 25 piches, 21 FB that half inning for Porcello. Invariably they give something back. Verlander does this also. I don’t get the pitch selection process in tose situations

  78. Maybe Inge should bunt in situations like this. Gotta move that runner up in big games like this.

  85. What a great opportunity for Porcello to show his quest for Rookie of the Year! Let’s score some more!

  91. Debating whether or not to post and jinx things. (Stuck in a meeting, following on the iPhone app…)

    Do the Twins dare pitching to Cabrera with nobody on base to start the inning? Or does he ge the Bonds treatment?

  92. Tigers are making it easy here. I’d like to see a lot more runs here even with Porcello dealing. It’s the “never say die” Twins, ya know.

  102. I’d have given Porcello 1 more batter, but he did seem to pitch away from contact to Cuddyer there.

  104. Damnit. I didn’t want to see Miner in this game. He’s too much of a wild card. He might do great, but he’s just as likely to completely give the game away. I’ll gladly take a tiring Porcello instead.

  107. Good call JL. Let Ricky get the win! Hold you head up high Porcello as you did more than we could ask for!

  110. Pulling Porcello was a bad move. A very bad move. Why can’t you just let him finish the inning?

    WTF?

  117. And 800,000 people exhale!

    Miner’s A-game is pretty good, but his B-game blows. I still can’t believe JL brought him in without having a solid backup plan.

  121. Need to get this run in.

    B-U-N-T

    Then maybe Ramon attones for his pop-up vs. Baker on Thursday.

  122. Wow, Inge is on base. Now gotta move him over and hope Santiago or Granderson can get a hit. We NEED to get a run this inning.

  126. Well…right decision. Bad execution. A bunt was in order there, but Laird fails to deliver. Damn.

    1. Looked great off the bat, but it seems impossible to sneak anything past Span the last month.

  131. If a runner gets on base while Zach is in the game I’m going to delete your comment and pretend it never happened. I hope you don’t take offense to this.

    1. I guess I haven’t attended enough of the game threads… is the “rabbit” thing a play off of the “celery” thing?

  132. Is Miner coming back for the 7th? Who has his back? I can’t imagine he’ll have a whole lot of leash.

    1. Apparently Miner, but I’d probably have Perry already loosening up. Ni, Lyon, Seay and Rodney are the only other guys I’d use today.

  136. Gotta keep and add to this lead before Nathan comes into the game. For the Tigers offense, this game only lasts one more inning.

    1. Or less… Wouldn’t Gardenhire bring in Nathan in an 8th inning jam? Hopefully we get some quick runs before he has a chance.

  140. Is it to early to bring Lyon in for 2 innings now or go with Miner/Seay 8th.
    And I agree whole heartedly bring on the Rabbit.

  141. Good call Billfer. Ahem, I wonder if JL did Pitcher take fielding w, Fernando?

  143. Well Porcello delivered like I said yesterday.

    Please Tigers win it! WINT IT! WIN IT!!! 🙂

  153. Wow, that homer was so close. Our LF has been weak at the track. OK boys, the next innings makes our season. I am behind you!

  154. wowowowowow.

    one of these streaks is ending today, the Tigers perfect record when they lead going into the ninth or Nathan’s streak vs. them.

  160. Well for the record after the Twins home run I turned off the TV and Radio and shook my head in disgust. I will continue my rally blackout with only this forum as my sports communication outlet. I switched my tv to two in a half men if anyone wants to know

  162. C’mon Inge, come through here and even stephen will cheer for you, I promise! Time to show us if that “clutch’ stuff is fluke or not…

  166. Why oh why is he keeping Miner still in the game? Thanks Leyland, for one of the worst managing performances ever.

  167. Wow! What a season! We can do this and leave the Twinkie Dome forever! Proud to be a Tiger!

  168. Wow! What a season! We can do this and leave the Twinkie Dome forever! Proud to be a Tiger!

  174. Only the Twins could wiggle out of that. Horrible. Just horrible. That inning likely will leave a permanent scar.

  176. Brilliant. Typical. And yeah, the Tigers inability to get a run with R3L2O is statistically unimportant…

    And also: Granderson, strangely, is an awful baserunner…

    1. Yeah, looked like a ball to me too. And the final pitch to Laird in the 8th also looked like a ball.

  198. Worst baseball facility ever.

    Not original I know, but it needed to be said one more time.

  199. Listening on internet; Should Granderson got to that ball Raburn missed before it got to the wall?

    1. Looks like he could have made the catch.

      But that one’s still on Raburn – stupid-a** play in the 10th of the most important game of the year.

  210. Hey American Central! You are showing baseball tonight! I have two exchange students in my hiuse that are now Tiger Fans! Let’s win this for Norway and Germany!

  211. Hey American Central! You are showing baseball tonight! I have two exchange students in my house that are now Tiger Fans! Let’s win this for Norway and Germany!

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