PREGAME: The Tigers try to extend their 4 game home winning streak as they look to finish off a sweep of the Rangers. Texas pitchers have thrown a lot of pitches the last two nights and I’d guess that there are probably at least 3 pitchers in their pen who are unavailable today. So getting to the starter early could prove fruitful.

That starter is Scott Feldman who is making his second start. He went 6 innings against the Blue Jays on April 13th and allowed 3 runs on 8 hits, 2 walks, and 3 strike outs.

The Tigers send out Jeremy Bonderman who has more walks than strike outs so far this year. That ratio swung the wrong way after his 6 walk effort on Saturday against the Blue Jays.

TEX @ DET, Thursday, April 24, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 1:05

POSTGAME: Let us take a moment to rejoice in a sweep and a 4 game winning streak. A series in which the Tigers went from a middling offensive team to the 2nd scoring-est team in the AL. A series in which Curtis Granderson returned to his rightful place at the top of the lineup and Placido Polanco avoided a DL stint. A series where the bullpen was nearly flawless.

Now let’s look at the warts… Continue reading Game 23: Rangers at Tigers →

PREGAME: For those anxious to see the Tigers new defensive alignment, you’ll have to wait. Gary Sheffield and Placido Polanco miss tonight’s game so Miguel Cabrera DH’s and Carlos Guillen plays first. Here’s your lineup:

1. Granderson CF
2. Rodriguez C
3. Guillen 1B
4. Ordonez RF
5. Cabrera DH
6. Jones LF
7. Renteria SS
8. Inge 3B
9. Santiago 2B

That line up will be taking on Luis Mendoza. In his last start Mendoza allowed 5 hits and 3 walks and 7 runs in 3 innings. In his two starts so far this year he has twice as many walks as strike outs.

He’ll be opposed by Kenny Rogers. Rogers nearly picked up quality start against the Blue Jays on Friday night but was hurt by 4 walks. For the season he has 12 walks and only 9 K’s over 4 starts.

TEX @ DET, Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

BTW – Please don’t post pretending to be a player/coach type person. Your post will be deleted as outlined in the comments policy. Thanks for your cooperation.

Game Time 7:05

POSTGAME: That was a nice offensive performance. Granted, the Rangers pitchers weren’t putting up much resistance (unless you count the 10 walks and 2 HBPs as resistance). But this one started off pretty ugly.
Continue reading Game 22: Rangers at Tigers →

PREGAME:  The Rangers have really been struggling and have won only 2 of their last 11 games for an awful 7-13 record.  Err, umm, that’s the same record as the Tigers by the way.

Vicente Padilla takes the mound for Texas.  He’s allowed 40 base runners in 26 innings, but still has a 3.12 ERA.  He allowed 2 homers in his first outing, but none in the last two.  Padilla will look to give his team a chance to snap a 4 game losing streak.

The Tigers will send out Justin Verlander who is searching for his first win, his first quality start, his fastball velocity, and his command.  He allowed 5 runs in 5 innings against the Indians but it felt like so much more due in large part to 4 walks.  In two starts against the Rangers last year he limited them to 1 run over 14 innings with 13 K’s.

TEX @ DET, Tuesday, April 22, 2008 Game Preview – Baseball-Reference.com

Game Time 7:05

POSTGAME: I actually had a lot of things I wanted to hit on from tonight’s game, but some late game control problems from the Rangers, excessive pitching changes from the Tigers, a slow ride home, and some kind of announcement about a switch conspired against me.

• In the first inning Verlander got ahead of Hank Blalock with 2 strikes and then bounced 2 breaking balls. I said to my friend, “last year Verlander just blows him away with a 98mph elevated fastball.” Next pitch was 96mph above the belt and a swing and a miss. The velocity seemed to be partly back last night. And the good news, like in his other starts, is that the velocity he had at the start of his outing was there at the end.
• It wasn’t a dominating outing by any means, but still effective and encouraging.
• Jason Grilli pitched an uneventful 9th.
• The fan who touched the ball was heartily boo’d if you were wondering.
• Ordonez’s homer was a blast, Cabrera’s was a bullet (seriously, who would try to catch that?), but Ramon Santiago? For real?
• Jacque Jones tried to join the party but picked the wrong part of the park to hit it to. We’ll see if his double-triple night is something to get him started or just a blip.