Just 24 hours ago and the Tigers were cruising toward finishing off a sweep of the Rays: they had put up 2 runs already and threatened more, and Brad Penny was mowing through the Rays lineup. Then the clouds let loose, that bit of a game became a daydream, and we awake here instead looking at a Red Sox team that just put up 2 touchdowns against Cleveland, and has already swept a short series against the Tigers.
Of course it’s more than likely the whole downpour/partial-game-unhappening could happen again today: early weather reports show a small but well-timed window without rain today.
If they do play, Max Scherzer will have his hands full with a Boston lineup which has won 10 of its last 12, while outscoring its opponents 74-41. And the hottest hitters have been the lefties: Adrian Gonzalez, David Ortiz, and, finally, Carl Crawford. Scherzer will counter with Comerica magic: he is 3-0, 0.77 at home so far this season. The Tigers will face Alfredo Aceves, added to the Boston rotation when Daisuke Matsuzaka ran off to Japan with a sore arm.
Kevin Youkilis is day-to-day with a sore hand, so we may or may not see a rematch of Kid Rick vs The Youk on Friday, weather complications pending.
Today’s Player of the Pre-Game: Brandon Inge
Inge’s job is to provide the hockey gear for the rain delay, as Brad Penny, fresh from a sharp 3-inning outing which never happened, gets another chance to put a few shots on goal. When the game resumes Inge, having read that Avila’s recent show of power is due to a heavier bat, attempts to bat with the warmup donut still on the bat and strains an oblique.
Today’s Singin’ in the Rain Lineup:
- Austin Jackson CF
- Don Kelly LF
- Brennan Boesch RF
- Miguel Cabrera 1B
- Victor Martinez DH
- Jhonny Peralta SS
- Alex Avila C
- Scott Sizemore 2B
- Brandon Inge 3B
Crap…Boston rolls into town and Scherzer forgets how to pitch…I hate how the pitchers always seem timid against the AL East…
Maybe it will rain.
At this point, that would be great…
I hate Boston…..can it start raining now?
What the heck, Scherzer was already taken out? Is he injured? I’m only watching it online.
MMR (Mazzaro Mercy Rule).
Deja vu… earlier this month the Tigers had a 7 game winning streak going into the last game of the Royals series, which was postponed due to rain – to which the Tigers responded by losing the next 5 game. Going into the last game of the Rays series, they had a 3-game winning streak, then another rainout…
Apparently rainouts and winning streaks are not a good mix for the Tigers.
Yeah….this is getting ridiculous….
Apparently Perry needs a AAA tune-up or something. He’s obviously not fooling many hitters with his stuff – a 10.00 ERA, eight walks in 9 inning and hitters are batting .342 against him.
I guess there’s always the ego-saving 15-day DL for struggling pitchers… either way, the cupboard is getting pretty bare for AAA pitchers (with the Oliver and Wilk call-ups)
I would say that Gonzalez’s time in the bullpen is limited to one day, but then that would assume we actually had someone to replace him with. Either way, this joker should never be brought up to the Major’s again. I’d rather have Jason Grilli in the bullpen than this guy.
I predict Inge will hit a 15-run walkoff HR
I have two questions:
1. Perry
2. Gonzalez
Why?
Answer A.1: no more Brad Thomas
Answer A.2: no more Brad Thomas
Wrong answer.
Thomas ERA: 9.00, WHIP: 2.09
Perry ERA 12.19, WHIP: 2.52
Gonzalez ERA: 12.79, WHIP: 2.68
Although to be fair, Gonzalez has only pitched 6 innings.
…just announced, until further notice Raburn will be serving as the Tiger’s middle reliever and sometime setup man… Raburn indicated his ‘defensive skills will be elevated’ (literally, 10 1/2 inches) in his new position.