Detroit Tigers, 31-34, 4 games behind Chicago.
The Tigers evened up the series with the Rockies, as Miguel Cabrera got the rare double (Home Run plus Little League Home Run), and Doug Fister came back strong with his first victory of the season. (His next start should be Friday).
The Tigers look to take their 3rd consecutive IL series in today’s Father’s Day rubber game. And dammit they are going to get this one.
On the mound for Detroit will be the enigmatic Max Daddy, Max Scherzer, against the struggling righty Jeremy Guthrie (3-5, 6.91). The righty on the mound means we will be treated to the Jacksonberry lineup.
Colorado would just as soon see Interleague season end. They are one 10th-inning clown show from being winless in IL this year.
Stat of the Day: Miguel Cabrera leads all active Tigers with 1 LLHR.
Today’s Player of the Pre-game: Quintin Berry. Q-Berry gets a rare start, and is itching to try his hand at one of those LLHRs.
Today’s Who’s-On-Third? Lineup:
- Austin Jackson CF
- Quintin Berry LF
- Miguel Cabrera DH
- Prince Fielder 1B
- Brennan Boesch RF
- Jhonny Peralta SS
- Ramon Santiago 2B
- Don Kelly 3B
- Gerald Laird C
I think I’d prefer to see Berry ahead of Jackson when they are playing together. He’s a better base runner.
Which begs the question – why doesn’t AJax steal bases?
That will only work if Jackson moves to left and Berry plays CF, because the CF has to bat first.
Also (silly me), if Berry bats first then Fielder needs to bat 3rd, otherwise the lineup isn’t R-L-R-L or L-R-L-R, and then the opponents’ middle relief decisions will be slightly easier, and we will be annihilated.
Good question on Jackson steal attempts. He is 6/6 this year, but hasn’t tried since he came back. Perhaps he really isn’t 100% yet or Leyland has some reason.
Tiger’s tied for 2nd in the AL with 65 GIDPs, and are they’re 2nd to last in BA w/the bases loaded .174 (oddly tied w/the Yankees at .174) – there’s a couple of stats that have haunted them this year.
Even more haunting:
Tigers 8/46 with 23 RBI
Yankees 12/69 with 48 RBI
Talk about a seeing eye single.
Interesting lineup – Leyland decides to experiment with speed at the top of the order. What happened to DY, is he on the DDL? Speaking of Young, the Tigers are 12th in the league for RBI from the 5th spot – here’s looking at you kid.
Happy Fathers Day…….guys!
Perhaps that explains the light attendence.
I think the weather is more to blame for the attendance.
Leyland is always talking about the “hot hand.” How can he not be playing Berry every day? – at least for now.
And of course he should be leading off – if he gets on first he is almost an automatic steal of second.
hey Berry…..keep it going……..speed kills
and Berry please excuse coaches like Lamont and Leyland who are clueless at how to use your speed….
Boesch’s OBP has YET to reach .300 this year. 1 walk (yesterday) in his last 14 games, he is as bad as Young in that regard (9 in 246 AB to 7 in 222 AB). Where’s the patience?
Boesch and , Young have seen very few pitches they don’t like..makes no difference ball or strike…
Young has always been a free swinger. Boesch didn’t walk a lot last year – 35 in 428 AB, but at his present rate this season he will walk fewer than half that in more AB. I haven’t seen any pitch/AB stats this year, but I am guessing it is way down for him this year.
Max Daddy! Rain delays cannot stop him when he’s dealin’.
Scherzer is going to get the strikeouts. If he can keep his GB/FB ratio decent (6/4 today), he should be in good shape. Above average number of walks and the long flies are what end up hurting him the most.
Tigers break the 4-run barrier. Whoo-hooo!
Then Boesch with the Rally-Kill…it will go down to the wire between Boesch and Young for the MRRK award (Most Reliable Rally Killer).
If we are going for appropriate sounding acronyms, I nominate URK (Undisputed Rally Killer).
A couple of questions:
A. Does Boesch have a new girl friend that is keeping he up late at night on homestands?
B. Did you see Christian Friedrich’s glove in yesterday’s game as it had “The Bird” stiched on the thumb?
Yep. He grew up with Bird nickname because he reminded his HS coach of Fidrych.
http://www.examiner.com/article/sitting-down-with-top-rockies-prospect-and-current-driller-christian-friedrich
Thanks Coleman. I still can’t believe The Bird is no longer with us.
Bases loaded Boesch Bust. Not a surprise, unfortunately.
My guess is Leyland pulls Scherzer now (109 pitches), but he is only 3 behind JV for lead league in Ks now (100 to 103).
Putty Time anyone?
Good game Max. The bullpen owes you dinner. You even took a 53 minute rain delay in style!
Anyone else having flashbacks to 2010 v TB?
Raburn in to pinch hit? Clearly a defensive replacement.
I see Raburn’s back. stands there and takes a called 3rd……..what else is new?
why is he even on the team??
Ahem, Mr. Raburn –Per Baseball for Dummies, Baseball 101, etc… a guy hiting .164 has got to swing the stinking bat with an 0-2 count, bases loaded, 2 outs and a ball that anywhere close to the zone.
How about a package of Raburn + Boesch + Young to some team for a halfway decent secondbaseman and some pull tabs. It would clear off some valuable space on the 40-man roster as well.
I would opt for some really good turkey sandwiches, which could be consumed and therefore would not count toward the 40-man roster.
Despite the win, which is mostly due to a fine performance by Scherzer, the offense was its usually inept self in scoring situations. Almost any other team would have scored ten runs there.
Most of the damage was done by the 7-2 spots in the order, who went 13/22 while the “meat” were 2/14 and stranded most of the team total of 12 LOB. And please get someone who knows what to do in the batter’s box to bat 5th. Without some protection for Fielder, he is going to get a lot of singles to left and intentional passes, but that is about it. Most teams are going to be smart enough to take advantage of the fact that there is a patsy hitting behind him and Cabrera.
What are the odds Berry goes back to the bench on Tuesday?
Berry has played his role perfectly, he has a high .OBP and scores a lot of runs. I think he should be given an opportunity to play everyday vs. RH. I don’t know how he will do, but, the bias against Berry and the belief in Raburn is strange. They ar basicallly both AAAA players..one may be able to provide a role that the aTigers currently lack..The other at his best, is a run of the mill kind of guy on the Tigers. What I can not understand is that blog “bless you boys” have any of you read the blog? They have some good stories, but, they are the most pro-Raburn and anti- Berry site, that I have ever read. They seem to think speed, defense, and traditional measures of success are meaningless and try to overdose you with stats as if none of us have ever played or coached sports at some level and understand that complete teams usually win because they can overcome things, when other things are not working. The Tigers are starting to make some noise…but, they are still need Porcello to step up and Young to step up, if those two things happen w/ Albuqurque, Avila, and Dotel due to come back…They could get really, really hot by the end of July…They may be sitting pretty. Tough schedule is coming up, though.