Do you ever feel like the Tigers are never going to lose again? Me neither.
In off the field news – Zumaya is going to have exploratory surgery, reports the Freep. This just confirms the inevitable.
The Tigers bring their 1 game win streak and 1-0 record with SS manning 2B to Comerica tonight to take on the resurgent Freddy Garcia.
Garcia is a wily 12 year vet who has a trio of 17+ win seasons on his resume (’99, ’01, ’06). Problem is that he also has spent significant time in the minors over the last three years rehabbing various injuries (including 3 starts for the Tigers in 2008), and was a non-roster invitee for the Yanks this spring. A combination of a tremendous showing in spring training plus a lack of depth for the Yankees leads us to today. Tonight will be Garcia’s 4th start of the season, with his first three going about as well as they could. To date he’s allowed only 4 ER in 18 IPs, and the first one came in a relief appearance on April 10th. He’s struck out 15 and posted a 1.17 WHIP during that time. I’d like to go ahead and jinx Garcia and point out that in his career he’s 18-7 against the Tigers, and 8-3 at Comerica.
Scherzer got a little roughed up last time out, largely due to 5 walks in 6 2/3. Though his 4-0 record is stellar, his peripherals are about average, with a 1.51 WHIP, 3.82 ERA and 4.3 BB/9. With the way the Yankees take pitches, control will be imperative tonight.
Note, Derek Jeter, who’s stolen more gold gloves than Rafael Palmeiro, only has 2 XBH this year. And Adam Dunn is still batting .153, though his .576 OPS dwarfs that of Maggs (.411). Still, I expect him to be Maggs is batting 6th tonight in JLs new lineup.
Today’s player of the game – Miggy Cabrera. He’s going to get a big boost with SS and BB ahead of him, and VMart behind him. He’s also a career .400 hitter off of Garcia (8-20) with 3 jacks. I’m looking for a three run bomb from him today.
Tonight’s Why is our 2nd Best Hitter Batting 8th Oh Yeah That’s 2nd Cleanup Lineup:
1. Austin Jackson, CF
2. Scott Sizemore, 2B
3. Brennan Boesch, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Victor Martinez, DH
6. Magglio Ordonez, RF
7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
8. Alex Avila, C
9. Brandon Inge, 3B
Uh oh, the wily-injured-rehabbed-vet guy, he beats us almost as much as first-major-league-start guy
Let’s see if KJax or AJax shows up tonight?
KJax
Batting before Cabrera will hopefully allow Boesch to see better pitches? Let’s hope so as he hasn’t been batting too well this past week. (However, no doubles please as they will only walk Cabrera.)
IF AJax gets on track, and IF Boesch isn’t going 2010 on us, and IF Victor can be back to average-Victor levels, and IF Avila doesn’t go completely cold, and IF Magglio–OK forget that one, too iffy–this could be a decent lineup.
If if’s and but’s were candy and nuts oh what a Christmas(Tiger season) it would be!
Magglio in RF = ankle strain = excuse for Magglio to DL. At least we aren’t playing Raburn Roulette in LF; the combination might lead to a nervous breakdown for AJax in CF.
Rumors that the Giants have been talking to the Mets, who are entertaining offers for Reyes. Imagine, if you can, our lineup with Reyes leading off at SS, Ajax at the bottom of the order, Peralta at 3rd, and Inge replacing Kelly as utility guy…
Turner or Crosby?
Whichever one is the next Andrew Miller
It looks like Freddy Garcia is due vs Cabrera
Inge can’t hit, and he’s lost a step at 3rd. But the guy is still money chasing popups and putting a tag on someone.
Groundouttlio -> Singglio = Winnlio
OK, now he’s Homerunnlio, look out everyone! Bonus points for Smokey for finally fixing the order.
Ironically, now suddenly I’m worried about his ankle
Ghost comes in to save Ankklio
Will the real slim Magglio please stand up?
Early candidate for POG.
This should have been a reply to Coleman’s ankle comment. I still stand by it.
What the heck is going on? Magglio is a hit machine.
Mad Max is dealing (but beware! 7th inning dead ahead!)
Anybody else feel like we stole Max Scherzer from Arizona? This guy has been incredible.
Arizona was the 3rd wheel in that trade…Detroit benefited, NY benefitted, AZ…thank you for playing
8th inning today = 7th inning last start. Leadoff walk = bullpen! bullpen!
John Sterling and Suzie Waldman spent the entire 5th inning talking about how great a manager and GM combo JL and DD are. They’ve been reading some of the local media and were surprised by the articles calling for JL and DD to be canned.
Waldman said “you can’t blame the injuries (Zumaya, VMart), 2B uncertainty, and Maggs’ slow start on JL.”
I thought that everyone might find that amusing.
Are they the same ones that called a Texeira home run by saying “and Texeira sends a Tex message to the Tigers!!”. Yes, I think so
Derek Jeter = only SS for whom defensive substitutes are sent in.
That should be “only Gold Glove SS.”
Maybe both Jackson and Wells should be sent packing to Toledo to find their strokes. We could then bring up Dirks and who else?
Buddy Carlisle: not a good baseball name. More golf, really.
That’s Carlyle. And Sparky would be a better first name.
That’s what happens when you take radio broadcast + iPhone posting
We don’t care about no stinking shutouts – Albaturkey in.
Captain Querque has huge upside it seems
OK, two in a row vs NY because the pitching came through. But the offense still needs to put more than 4 runs on the board to make me a believer.
Quite considerate of the Tigers also to wrap this thing up in time for the fans to catch the 3rd period of Wings/Sharks
I feel like the Tigers are never going to lose again…well, not really, but my feelings are tending to the positive