Game 2010.102: Tigers at Red Sox

(try to stay relaxed like Battlestar is here)

The boys of summer kick off a three game set at Fenway vs. Jon Lester and the Red Sox.

Jon Lester is good at pitching.  He had a perfect game blown up in the 6th inning during his last outing, where an error and HR ended up leading to 4 ER over 7.2 IPs.  Of his 20 starts this year, he’s allowed 1 run or less in 9 of them, and 10 of his last 12 starts have been of the quality variety.

Galarraga toes the slab for your Tigers.  His road efforts have not done much to compensate for the team’s road problems in general, as he is 1-2 with a  7.78 ERA away from Comerica.  On the bright side, Galarraga is good enough to throw a complete game, and he’s never faced the Red Sox.  We’ve seen him range from brilliant to average, but on a good night, we all know he can beat anyone.

There may be some fresh faces in the Tigers lineup tonight.  Jeff Frazier was called up from Triple-A.  He hasn’t had much mention around here, but he was leading the International League in doubles, total bases and XBH, and second in HRs.  I’m also expecting Peralta to be in the lineup today, batting 6th since that is where he batted in Cle, who was happy to see him go.  Actually, I’d love to see him 5th to give the pitchers a different look when they IBB Cabrera, but who knows with Ol’ Smokey.  I am anxious to see this lineup and will post it ASAP if someone doesn’t beat me to it.

A few questionable moves in the AL Central today, as Edwin Jackson was dealt to the White Sox today (I guess they still see his 2009 numbers, and not his 2010 5.16 NL ERA) and Minnesota added Matt Capps for Wilson Ramos.  From what little I saw of him, I’m happy to see Ramos dealt out of the division.  Unfortunately, the only rumor involving the Tigers concerns Mike Lowell. (Are the Yankees really gonna get Berkman?)

The guys at BP argue that CWS may be using Jackson as a piece for Adam Dunn, so stay tuned.  (Link – subscription required.)

(edit)

Lineup posted:

Jackson cf
Rhymes 2b
Damon lf
Cabrera 1B
Raburn rf
Peralta 3b
Frazier dh
Laird c
Worth ss

66 thoughts on “Game 2010.102: Tigers at Red Sox”

    1. Raburn is more comfortabe batting 5th than Laird?

      Actually Raburn is hitting LH better than Laird (.239 to .171) and BOTH of his homeruns have come against lefties this year. Exactly the kind of guy you want batting behind Cabrera.

  1. Saw this joke on the internet:
    Tigers play eight rookies in doubleheader against Blue Jays. Elias reports statistical anomaly: Their combined ages equaled Leyland’s.

  2. Boesch dips below .300 for he first time since May 4th.

    But I do like the last minute insert into the 3 hole.

      1. hits a homerun in his 1st Tiger AB off of Jon Lester, no less. Some mediocre player.

  3. Reading the interviews, it seems that Jhonny really wants to be a Tiger and stay with the team for a while. I am guessing he just wants them to pick up the option, but so far he has said the right things and done the right things.

  4. at his current pace he’ll hit 122 Homers for us before the season is over.

  5. Peralta 2 for 15 career vs. Lester before tonight. Baseball is a funny game.

  6. I gotta admit, I have had a complete 180 about Peralta in the last hour or so. Now I think he is awesome instead of a bum.

    1. Not only is baseball a funny game sometimes, but baseball fans can be funny too.

  7. Since June 11, with the start of IL play, the Black Sox are 31-11. Are they for real? They are winning tonight by the way, as are the Twins.

      1. Gut feeling. I just do not believe in the White Sox. They could prove me wrong, but I just do not think they are a good team. I still think the Twins will win the division.

        Also, what the hell Leymont?

  8. Amazing: 3 hits and a walk = no runs – and without a DP. Only the Tigers can do that.

    1. Pretty bad call. Looks like he went out of the baseline, and he was tagged.

      Things are turning around friends.

  9. Years ago the idea was that you could bunt successfully more often against a knuckleballer than a regular type pitcher. Don’t know if they think that way now, but it worked there.

  10. Small ball nets two runs. That’s rare – wish they could get that down more often.

  11. Nothing is coming easily for this team right now…Man…I called that grand slam too…I knew it as soon as he went down 2 balls on Youkilis…

  12. Why the intentional walk to Drew? Now the bases are about to be walked full again? This is ridiculous….

  13. did that ever remind me of the night vs the indians when smokey left jones in and we lost…tonight it worked out but scary nonetheless.

  14. I hope Valverde managed to shake the rust off – it took him 61 pitches to finish the game off. He should be ready to go again by ……… Monday?

    If there is a god, please send a lightning bolt down on Leyland’s head …….. RIGHT NOW!

  15. I hate to mess with the psyche of a closer, but 61 pitches…let’s hope Valverde didn’t get injured.

    1. Yeah..that seemed a bit much…I wonder how much longer he would have left him in there…

  16. He’s always cold when he hasn’t pitched for awhile. As far as I’m concerned, what Leland did was a crime.

  17. Yeah, that was bad. Leyland was trying to one up Gene Lamont for stupidity. Well, Leyland won that bet.

  18. The phone rings in Leyland’s office after the game:

    JL: Hello
    DD: Dombrowski here.
    JL: Hey boss what can I do for you? $%&#&^$# exciting game tonight, right?
    DD: Um……. yeah, right…………… Put Brookens on the line will you.

  19. Valverde was lights out the first half of this season, but could we all really expect him to keep up a sub-1.00 ERA with no blown saves for the entire season. He’s having a career year this season so a correction is expected. I must say though, that after Rodney’s ride last year with nearly blowing non-save opportunities, I really hope Leyland only puts Valverde in SAVE situations. Leave the clean up job to somebody else.

  20. The four out save was a little presumptuous. I’m sure it’s the last time it will ever happen this season. Thank goodness it did not cost us the game.

    1. It didn’t cost us the game, but its going to cost us something down the line. They should be dealing Valverde tomorrow for prospects. Alas, hard to do after a possibile season killing 60 pitch count. Seriously, that’s like a starter pitching a 150 pitches. He’s going to be toast for a week.

  21. Vince eh?

    Well, I picked up the Strib to see the Tigers no hitted by TB and the Twins winning 19-1. Geez! I will only admit to the good doctor on Monday that I am a Tigers fan AFTER the sergury.

    Maybe he has some suggestions for the Tigers. Will have 2 SIs for you from Sheila’s work.

Comments are closed.