Game 2011.138: White Sox at Tigers

The Tigers lost yesterday and Justin Verlander  (20-5, 2.38) is pitching today, we we all know what that means.

Tonight will be Verlander’s 20th start of the season following a Tiger loss (which says something about the bottom of the rotation, doesn’t it?), and his record in those games is 14-3.

Verlander was a bit shaky his last start, but the Tigers pulled out a win.  Tonight the stakes are high, since Chicago has won 7-of-10 and pulled into a 2nd place tie, 5 1/2 games behind Detroit, with 6 games between the teams remaining (3 this weekend at Comerica and 3 more in Chicago in 2 weeks).

The always entertaining Ozzie Guillen has decided to celebrate the pennant race by demanding a contract extension beyond next year, has threatened to walk if he doesn’t get one, and by all accounts is openly feuding with his general manager.

Chicago has proved to be a bit tricky for the Tiger ace–he is 3-1 this season against the Sox, but with a rather unimpressive 4.03 ERA.  He does enjoy a bit of Adam Dunn though, who has struckout 9 times in 13 AB against Verlander.

The White Sox send out John Danks, who has been inconsistent, but when he is good he is quite good.  His last start was a 3-hitter with 10 strikeouts, beating Seattle 3-0.

In other news Al Alburquerque has been cleared to resume pitching again, and is beginning a rehab assignment at Toledo.

Player of the Pre-Game:  Magglio Ordonez

Where did THAT Magglio come from yesterday?  2007?  And look at that:  Magglio is a career 15-for-29 against the Dank One.  Go Magglio!

Today’s Maybe-Magglio-Batting-2nd-Ain’t-So-Bad Lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Magglio Ordonez, RF
  3. Delmon Young, LF
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Alex Avila, C
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Ramon Santiago, 2B
  9. Brandon Inge, 3B

 

13 thoughts on “Game 2011.138: White Sox at Tigers”

  1. Sick seats 3 rows behind CWS dugout. I’m pretty sure that Cabby was talking smack to the White Sox dugout on his way out to first.

    And Ozzie in a sweat shirt though it’s 95 degrees. Take that Williams.

  2. 2-for-2 with a run scored, raising his avg to .185, not to mention a nice fielding play. Brandon Inge, a clear choice for player of the game.

  3. OK, Kevin in Dallas [in Detroit (3 rows behind Chicago dugout)]: your mission is to creep closer, give a listen, and report back what Ozzie Guillen has to say about the game.

  4. its a sincere treat to watch this game on MLB network because Hawk Harrelson is calling this game… his ‘smugness’ is not to happy or colorful tonight

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