That’s five series in a row now where the Tigers have lost the opening game, and unless they win today, that will be four out of five series losses. Not a good start to the 2nd half of the season.
JV looks to continue his dominance tonight. I’d post the numbers, but you’ve likely already seen them. In case you haven’t, 8 in a row would be big time.
He’ll be opposed by the formidable Dan Haren. Actually, formidable might be downplaying it. Haren is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. He was roughed up for 6 ER in 4+ against the Mets 3 starts ago, but 14 of his 17 starts have been quality, and he has 6 starts where he’s allowed 1 or less runs and pitched at least 7 innings. Now quality doesn’t necessarily get it done against JV, but we’ll need JV to really be JV tonight.
Kelly Gets the Nod at Third Tonight:
1. Jackson, CF
2. Boesch, LF
3. Ordonez, RF
4. Cabrera, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Peralta, SS
7. Avila, C
8. Raburn, 2B
9. Kelly, 3B
In my mind, this is a really, really big game for the Tigers. A JV loss could turn a bad two week slide into an avalanche. So JV is my pick to click tonight. He’s gonna be filthy.
In my mind, this game is no greater than or less than any of the next 5 games. A win here would be nice, but I can’t expect Verlander to dominate like he has every single game lately. We have 4 games at KC coming, so we should be going into the All-Star break on a high note. I think we’ll retake 1st place before going into the break.
and right now Cleveland is losing 8-0 to the Yanks!
It’s hard to argue with you Mr. X, you nailed the May to June frenzy. But I’ll stand by my comment until proven wrong, and then I’ll conveniently forget it and make some other ridiculous statement rooted in fiction and knowledge garnered from Topps baseball cards and free previews of Baseball Prospectus articles. And then I’ll forget that one and focus on TSE’s latest irrational logic.
I don’t see us doing much damage against Haren, considering how Cy Pinero just shut us down. Justin may need the shutout to keep his win streak going.
Actually, lineup correction: Cabrera is DH, Martinez at 1B
I wish the Tigers had a good 3B coach like that
BTW – this is pretty typical for Dallas.
http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/phillies_prospect_jarred_cosart_and_girlfriend_amber_hartman_have_public_break_up_on_twitter/5392342
Bases loaded, nobody out…Verlander had them just where he wanted them
I missed it. What happened?
Single, single + error, walk, K, infield fly, fly out to CF
Still, we look destined to be shut out
Sorry, I meant Leyland. Why did he get tossed?
Because Joe West is the umpire? I have no idea. He was jawing from the dugout, I have to guess about ball-strike calls. Unless he was ejected for putting Raburn in the starting lineup.
Breaking news, after a 2nd consecutive dismal offensive showing, hitting coach Lloyd McClendon has been fired. Haha, just kidding.
JV had some nice words for Joe West on the way out.
So….how long before we start hearing “Fire Leyland” chants at home games?
Probably never. We’re just 1.5 games out of 1st.
Most people that go to Tigers games, go to root for the Tigers and enjoy themselves. They are loyal fans. Back in the day, agitators would get their butt’s kicked at the old Tiger Stadium. The bleacher crowd there didn’t put up with insolent fans. At Comerica, most of the adults know not to start “fire anyone” chants, especially for someone as well liked as Leyland. Many fans here love the guy. Leyland’s career with the Tigers goes back 48 years. There is no way he gets fired. When he leaves the Tigers, it will be on good terms. You can count on that.
Haren owned us. That’s just the breaks.
Mad props to Haren. Not much we could do.
Tough way for JV to lose his win streak
got home from the ballpark in Anaheim and I just had to type this…. the ball Maggs played into the winning run was brutal. It was a rocket base hit that ( Miggy would have caught) but whistled by Martinez….it was about 20 feet to Maggs left….Raburn was in the cutoff position to go home near the first base line. as the runner approached third…. Maggs Had the ball…..AND FOR SOME REASON he threw to second base….no cut off it bounced once or twice…everyone was kind of stunned as Aybar hesitated at third but the third base coach read it all the way and Aybar scored easily….WTF…was Maggs doing????
oops it was Kendricks not Aybar..I now remember that because he was out at first on the GB to Peralta..but called safe…..this call eventually led to the Mumbles ejection….in fact Mumbles ejection and JV’s ripping of the ump upon leaving the game were the only life the Tigers showed during the entire game…..
According to ESPN, whatever that’s worth, Verlander was ejected. Yes, after he was removed from the game. What was up with the umps tonight?