Houston (Dallas?), we have image. Thank you, man!
Victor Martinez is day to day after cutting his thumb badly enough to require stitches. I think it’s time for some bat rack modifications. Jason Beck says no Kelly and no catch if V-Mart is in there. I say more runs for Tigers if Kelly isn’t. Not to take away from Don’s awesome play.
Today the Tigers are up against that old nemesis archetype, the crafty lefty, while Rick Porcello would do well to avoid mistakes against a team far more liable to make you pay for them than the Twins were.
Mark Buehrle’s OPS-against vs. current Tigers (360 PA) is .752 vs. a career .734, and when he’s hittable, these Tigers find him hittable for extra bases. Porcello’s OPS-against vs. current Blue Jays (78 PA… 3 strikeouts) is a whopping 1.150 (BA is .446!) vs. a career .770. This could be a game of Toronto speed (they’re going to get on base against Mr. P) vs. Detroit long ball. Or worse. Or better. Rick appears to have taken it up a notch so far this season. This is not your grandfather’s Porcello.
And now your starting lineups, courtesy of the alert and helpful…
POST-GAME: Blue Jays 8, Tigers 6. Tough loss, a win handed right back to the opponent. Long rain delay before the game and some rain during the game. Dangerous game to be a pitcher, batted balls bouncing off them, knocking them down, and worse.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: J.P. Arencibia
HONORABLE MENTION: Miguel Cabrera, Phil Coke, Prince Fielder, Mark De Rosa
NOT SO GOOD: Brayan Villareal, Octavio Dotel, Steve Delabar, Emilio Bonifacio
Turning points: Both 5th inning: Plus side, Hunter not trying to score on Cabrera double and Buehrle being pulled for Delabar; minus side, rally-fizzling ABs by Avila and Infante. Game loser: Villareal losing batters on 3 straight full counts and Dotel serving it up to Arencibia on a tee for the 3-run double. Tough luck: Martinez ahead 3-0 and flies out deep left in the 6th, Avila’s heartbreak flyout to the RF track in the 7th. Funny, kind of: Dotel taking one for the team where it hurts. Really tough luck: Pouring rain in the home 9th and a home plate umpire calling balls as strikes to get the game over with.
Martinez is back with his stitched up thumb, and the Left-Fielders continue to rotate:
1. Jackson, CF
2. Hunter, RF
3. Cabrera, 3B
4. Fielder, 1B
5. Martinez, DH
6. Tuiasosopo, LF
7. Peralta, SS
8. Avila, C
9. Infante, 2B
Looks good to me. When does the platoon at C start?
Tarp still on the field, this may be a night game at this rate.
Coleman,
I just looked at the forecast, there doesn’t seem any chance to play today or Thursday. Then its a west road trip, so the games are at late at night.
Steve
They are going to try to get it in (I am skeptical); announced a start time of 3:35.
If they don’t play today or tomorrow, can we give them credit for their first series sweep?
Breaking news: Blue Jays just claimed Casper Wells from
Seattle.
R3L20 Fail. With our bullpen that might come back to haunt us.
Well, we have a positive CSR now, after the Toronto bullpen Clown Show.
Uh oh…Clown Show parity.
The Blowpen rears its ugly head.
Throw a strike every now and then!
Unreal not very impressive so far this year. Perhaps it is time for him to work on stuff ……. in Toledo.
A 1-2-3 inning by Coke, with 2 Ks. I think we found out closer.
Let’s not forget the bases loaded 1 out situation in the 5th. Just a really ugly game on both sides.
Another one tomorrow.
7 unanswered runs. Sad
Took my 3 year old son and we gutted through this one – rain delay and all. Villareal looked lost. Can’t understand how he was allowed to stay in for that 3rd batter. Wouldn’t be surprised if he was sent down to work on the mechanics. Kevin is right – just an ugly one all around, but my son got a Cabrera bobblehead (give away today), a hot dog and Sprite – and was in heaven. Provided me perspective to get through the 6th and 7th inning disasters.
Tough loss, but I saw the Tigers smiling late in the game, and why not? Baseball is fun. It was close almost to the end. That pouring rain in the home 9th was the real heartbreaker. All hopes dashed.
mcb – at 3 does your son understand? My daughter is 22 months right now, can’t wait to get her to a game (again – took her at 4 months to Rangers/Cards WS, I don’t think she quite got that one).
Friends – at what age can your kids really become “fans” of a team?
@ Kevin, He totally gets it. Knows all the players, has a ball JV signed for him. In the 6th or 7th inning Avila hit a long ball to right and all he kept saying was “avila almost hit a home run”. So much excitement! He even said when V was pitching “this pitcher is terrible”. Lol. Let me know when you’re coming in for a game. We have season tickets.
Deal.