2010 Season, Game Post

Game 2010.118: Tigers at Yankees

62 Comments

Tigers head to New York for a four game set versus the Yankees.  The way Scherzer has been pitching as of late gives us a great chance for our first 3 game win streak since early July.

Who’s your Tiger tonight?

62 thoughts on “Game 2010.118: Tigers at Yankees”

  4. Tonight’s lineup:

    AJax – CF
    Damon – DH
    Boesch – RF
    Cabrera – 1B
    Guillen – 2B
    Raburn – LF
    Inge – 3B
    Peralta – SS
    Avila – C

  9. Damn, Boesch with the bases loaded is a nightmare. But I must give him props for turning it into an eight pitch at-bat instead of popping up the first pitch.

    1. Randolph: I’m pretty sure the Yankees are not missing A-Jax. He’s hitting .284 with a .333 OBA and 18 rbi’s since May 1. (OPS around .725) He has a 4:1 strikeout to walk ratio. He would be the Yankee’s 4th outfielder or still in Scranton. I like Jackson, but he’s not a leadoff hitter for a contender and is probably best suited to be batting 9th and seen as a defensive specialist. Jackson winning ROY based on that April wouldn’t be as ludicrous as Inge making the all-star game based on last April, but his batting average is his best offensive skill and we know batting average is way overrated.

      1. But honestly, to not include one month of baseball in statistics are just as ludicrous. I’m not here to argue statistics, but it’s obvious you could say the same thing about MVP candidates, CY Young contenders that have had a really good three, four or five week stretch that padded their stats for the season.

        Why not question Cabrera’s MVP candidacy since he had an incredible July, or say he should definitely not be an MVP because his team tanked in August and that’s when his statistics have bottomed out as well. My belief is you haev to take into consideration the entire season, including ever UP and DOWN, offensive and defensive.

        1. Well, because it was his first time through the major leagues and players have been known to do things in their first 100 ab’s that they don’t ever do again because pitchers figure them out. Also, every line drive he hit was falling in, a statistical anomaly that every sabermetrician predicted couldn’t possibly be maintained.
          I’m not say he’s not going to be a good player, he already solely based on his defense. I’m just not convinced by this year or his minor league number that’s he going to be a major league .300 hitter. And if you don’t walk, but strike out a lot, and don’t hit for power means you should be batting eighth or ninth.

  10. Last thing on Jax: his OPS+ is currently 102. (100 being league average) Factor out April, before the pitchers had a book on him, and he’s probably having a 93/94 OPS+ aka a slightly below average year among regulars. That really shouldn’t be good enough to be ROY.
    Sorry to be a buzz kill.

    1. Not that $$ matters to the Yankees, but considering that Granderson is at an OPS+ of 97 at 12x what Jackson costs, is past his baseball prime, and is 6 years older, I’m pretty sure that even the Yankees would rather have Jackson these days.

      I’m not arguing that Jackson should be ROY, but he looks to be a good piece for a long time to come.

      1. I actually disagree somewhat. They might wish they didn’t have Granderson, but Jackson’s 4 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio pretty much excludes him for playing for the modern Yankees. That’s anathema to their whole philosophy. They wouldn’t trade him up for Gardner that’s for sure. If Jackson gets moved to the bottom of the lineup he can have a great Gary Pettis gold glove career. But expecting him to be a top of the lineup guy, I just don’t see it.

  11. Yes the Yankees have good outfielders and Jackson likely would’ve been traded at some point anyway because there really is no room for him to hang around in the minors another for five or six seasons with no chance (except injuries) to play in the Bigs.

    I really don’t understand your point on Jackson though. The point I was making was trading Granderson for Jackson and Coke has worked out this season much better for the Tigers then the Yankees, long term things could change though. I would rather take a rookie with more upside and potential then a guy whose statistics have been on the decline for the past three seasons.

    1. Well, I was just responding to your ‘show the Yankees what they’re missing.’ The trade has been a total boon for the Tigers, but I don’t think Cashman and the Yankees regret it. Granderson is flawed, but he more fits into the Yankees model than Jackson does. I just don’t think Jackson was ever going to get on the field with the Yankees. They don’t care about the age difference or the cost difference. They’ll just re-load in 2011 or 2012 with a different outfielder if Grandy fails.

      1. That argument passes for April 1, and I’m on board.

        But are you telling me that right now, if DD called Cashman and offered Jackson for Granderson, Cashman would pass?

  13. Listening to Mario about Boesch makes me sick. “He’s still the same guy, still joking and laughing” , something like that and then he says that speak to the kind of person he is. OMG, the guy is a spoiled brat and Mumbles is the one spoilng him.

    1. Rod Allen needs to go. No one has parlayed 11 major league hits into so much unearned money.

  17. It’s one of those unwritten rules of baseball…any game involving the Yankees or Red Sox should take 4 hours to play.

  22. and ValVerde pitched in the 8th for what reason……didn’t you learn from the last time you tried this….Mumbles learn!

    1. What is going through Leyland’s head??? And now Valverde is struggling to find the strike zone in the 9th…

  27. Valverde cannot go more than one inning. Why, why, why did Leyland go with him in the 8th? Unless he decided beforehand to close with someone else in the 9th…

  29. Jeter is 340 career with the bases loaded…and Leyland is being showed up by the Yankees coaching!!!!

  30. Did Leyland hit his head somewhere? This man has no idea how to manage a bullpen anylonger…

  31. Maybe Leyland will learn to keep the BP warmed up!!!
    Its just what I’ve been saying all along…..
    Mismanagement of the pitching staff

  34. You know, I was fine with this the first two times, but this is too much. Until he gets his groove back, he’s gotta either be strictly one inning, or be ready to replace him when he throws 42% strikes.

    Though I’m not sure why any of us were surprised by Jimmy’s mgmt.

    1. I’m not a guy who thinks there’s a magical manager out there to replace Leyland, but Jesus, he manages like it is 1988 and he’s got Mike Henneman on the mound. Seriously, just terrible bullpen management.

  37. Nice to see Scherzer get a win. He has been pitching very well lately without much to show for it….and despite Leyland mis-managing the PEN for the 1.423,212,000 time…. the Tigs hang on……

  39. Imagine what it would’ve felt like watching that 9th inning if Cabrera hadn’t added that HR

  40. this will be all ValVerde’s fault ….despite he’s been hurt…despite he’s been struggling…despite the fact that this just happened the last time Mumbles tried it…..you hear Leyland and he will say…”well the guy has to throw strikes….I can’t do it for him. he just didn’t throw strikes……..thank you Captain Mumble, Grumble,Stumble

    1. Seriously though. If Valverde would have just thrown strikes and had a 1-2-3 9th, nobody would be whining right now. Nobody would be crying about firing Leyland. The closer needs to throw strikes. And if he’s hurt, he needs to be on the DL. The crazy 9th falls squarely on the shoulders of Papa Grande.

      1. I agree with you. However, the Tigers second half of the season has been awful and Valverde has not been used like a typical closer ie waiting days and days to pitch for a win, having to come into the 8th inning. In the first half, his pitching to close a game was pretty consistent. Now, not so much.

  43. just watched MLB replays of the double play,,,,Amazing play by Guillen. His foot was firmly planted when Gardner took him out, but that was the only way to get off a strong throw…you can see his leg buckle when he gets hit so he might be hurt. As good a play as I’ve seen in 30 years…Thanks Carlos!

  44. Right or wrong, “closers” and relief pitchers roles have changed over the past 25 years. I’m sure most remember Willie Hernandez’ (Cy Young, MVP) 1984 year – he pitched in 80 games and threw 140 innings – so plenty of more-than-1 inning outings (for the Tiger ‘closer’).

    Its fair to say that a good percentage of a ‘closer’s’ success (or failure) is mental. Having said that, MLB teams over the past 20 years have created the reality that every team needs ‘A closer’, and that guy typically ONLY pitches one inning (the 9th) in save-type situations.

    Sure there are some exceptions, but for the most part closers and wanna-be closers have adopted the above cited prevailing mentality – ONE inning… adrenaline/concentration amped… get 3 outs.

    So based on the current mind-set (regarding closers) and more importantly Valverde’s recent more-than-one inning relief outings, how can JL bring him out in the 8th? Put all the past and current ‘closer’ history aside, doesn’t recent results (and failures) ever enter into the thought process?

    1. I’m sure Leyland has never given any of this a thought. Thought! – what am I saying. Leyland is very dogmatic in his managerial approach. He goes by the book, and an early edition at that. There is a wrong way, and there is the book way. Results don’t matter.

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