2012 Season, Game Post

Game 2012.36: Tigers at White Sox

52 Comments

17-18, 2nd place, 2 games behind Cle.

Don’t let the smile fool you, Mad Max is MAD.

He’s angry that Coleman jinxed Smyly yesterday. He’s upset that Putkonen pitched like a Mud Hen and not a Tiger. He’s furious that the Tigers are 0-9 in games following their last 9 wins. And he’s livid that we are in the middle of may, and Mad Max sports a 5.7+ ERA.

After a great start to the game yesterday which saw the Tigers plate three runs in the top of the first, the bullpen woes continued when Putkonen came in and gave up 3 ER on 4 hits and a walk while retiring only 1 in the top of the 6th. Leyland pulled Smyly after only 69 pitches because his pitches were high in the zone, (and he had to get to the bar to see Pacquiao), but why Putkonen wasn’t pulled after he loaded the bases wasn’t asked. This is just one of those Leyland let the rookie work it out quirks. Burned him last night.

Mad Max is looking for his 3rd straight quality start, and to boost his league leading 10.75 k/9. This will actually be Scherzer’s third start against the White Sox this season. He gave up 3 ER on 5 hits and struck out 11 in a loss on April 13th, and the allowed only 1 ER and struck out 9 just 10 days ago (no-decision).

Today’s back to .500 lineup:

1. Jackson, CF
2. Dirks, DH (haven’t we established that Dirks is a better fielder than Kelly? Do we really need to rest a 26 year old?)
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Avila, C
6. Boesch, RF
7. Raburn, 2B (apparently a hit moves you down in the lineup)
8. Peralta, SS
9. Kelly, LF

 

52 thoughts on “Game 2012.36: Tigers at White Sox”

  2. my God, I haven’t seen someone round third so slowly since Sean “Plow Horse” Casey wore the D! Pierzynski had a smoke break waiting for Miggy to get there

  4. Wow, Mad Max will be Frickin’ Furious Max by the end of the day, Dirks has gone all Boesch in the 2-hole, Crazy Uncle Geno strikes again, and a Clown Show Kelly appearance, all in the first inning. This game has everything. Except, you know, the good stuff…

  5. With Max’s pitch count nearing 40 after the first inning, I would dare say we might get another opportunity to see Putkonen attempt “pitching” again…

    1. Ah yes, Putty. I also predict Valverde getting shelled in a non-save situation, then being unavailable in a save situation tomorrow.

  8. Well, it looks like Dirks has caught whatever Boesch had in the 2-spot… Gosh, this team is a joke…

  11. Bad Max and Slow Max today. It was like waiting for Sergio Garcia to finally hit a golf ball….

  16. Umm…did hell just freeze over? Is there a chance that the Tigers might win this one?

  17. I don’t know, I still don’t have a good feeling about this game. We’ll see how long this rally can go.

  20. I don’t know, I have seen this all before. This could be a precursor to just another cruel ending after the “blow pen” takes over. But I will remain open minded.

  22. Balester? Balester?? Are you kidding me? Apparently, the Sox have not seen him either (Puntkonen style).

    1. It’s 83 degrees in Chicago. Maybe Raburn thinks it’s summer now.

  25. This game was going pretty badly until the 6th inning, then the wheels fell on.

  26. He’s tripled his RBI total in one game. Will Leyland reward him tomorrow with a day off?

  27. i left the game in the 5th, w/ the Tigers trailing 6-0 coupled with Hawk calling the game, it was becoming torture… but low and behold the Tigers put up 10 runs in 2 innings – hanging 6 of those on “The Jake-Meister” and listening to Hawk call it, must have sounded like a slice of heaven

    http://www.heavethehawk.com/

    1. I wish I would have DVR’d the Hawk for this game, instead of Mario and Rod…That must have been awesome.

  28. ok, I just got home from work……..who’s this guy with a 3-run HR named “Rayburn? is he related to k-burn?……

  29. if RaYburn keeps this up we just might have to drop the Y….i am still very skeptical after only 2 games though..,….

    1. Ya’ need to brush-up on your Tigers knowledge scott! No Rayburn plays for the Tigers. Keep studying bud.

      Is Jud related? He needs to borrow your Tigers book after you’re done reading.

    1. Raburn is going to have to hit for this team…IMO, he has become critical…because I think Delmon Young is a lost cause…it will only be a matter of time before they cut him, just like his brother…I could be wrong, but, he just doesn’t look like he even cares, so, 2nd half Raburn may become critical…that is, unless a certain DH returns for the stretch run.

    1. Seriously… Must every game end with so much drama? What’s the word on Valverde?

  32. not sure about the extent of Valverde’s injury…hopefully not a long-term injury. Had Valverde been injured last yr, it would have been a critical loss… cannot say the same based on this year’s performance

    1. i just heard it was a blister on his pitching hand or something along those lines

  34. Just watched the DVR of the game and the Tigers found a way to win a very, very big ballgame. I know we say this every time they have a big scoring game…but, hopefully, this gets them going. They had a number of good at-bats against a quality pitcher. Now, to the bad news…Jose Valverde’s back…I think Benoit will be fine as the closer, a preview to next season. Dotel could probably take the 8th (although, he seems to be great in the 7th and a roller coaster any time later) The question I have for DD is…Where are all the power arms? There is nobody in the minors that throws hard, that we can give a shot at the 7th inning, if Valverde goes down for a few weeks,

    1. Al Alburquerque should be back by the All Star break. Detroit owned the 7th-8th innings when he was healthy last season. I think it’s also too soon to write off Villarrheal.

      1. And Luis Marte is making his way back from injuries. Considering he made the team coming out of spring training, I suppose he’s expected to be better than some of these other guys.

        2. Original prognosis was mid-July, he is going to start mound work ahead of schedule. Obviously it depends how that goes, and a lot can happen between now and then, and it would be a mistake to rush him just because others aren’t cutting it.

          1. Rush Schlereth back? Is that a joke? Who in their right mind would want to do that? I’m sure there are five guys in Toledo who can get shelled just as easily as Schlereth can. I’m hoping he can come back…………….never. He is not good even when healthy and I wouldn’t be the least bit sad if his injury is as serious as Zumaya’s. In other words, good riddance Mr. Schelreth! Don’t do us any favors by trying to return anytime soon.

            1. Yikes, Jerry! I posted the link to answer a question about Alburquerque (a few paragraphs down in the story) and the comment pertained to Al. So how do you really feel about Schlereth? Rush Schlereth! Yeah, the Bum’s Rush…

  35. Quote:
    “Do we really need to rest a 26 year old?)”
    ————————————————
    You mean the player that’s been hobbling of & on lately?
    Well…. yes!

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