Open Thread - Game 135: Tigers (72-62) vs. Athletics (66-69)

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 31, 2007 7:36 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

Virgil Vasquez (0-1. 9.39) vs. Joe Blanton (11-9, 3.92), 10:05 p.m. EST

A day after essentially shutting one of their young pitchers down for the season, the Detroit Tigers look to another one to give them a decent start tonight in Oakland. Virgil Vasquez returns to the Tigers' starting rotation for another one-shot, hoping to improve upon his previous two major league outings (the last of which I'd argue he should've won). His last two starts for Triple-A Toledo were outstanding, as he allowed just one run over 16 innings.

Joe Blanton has been rocked and socked in his two starts against the Tigers this season. The first time up, he gave up five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings. The second time around was even worse, as Blanton was massacred for nine runs in four innings. Unfortunately, there wasn't too much enjoyment from that beating on the Detroit side, because that was the game that should never be spoken of again. Except within the next two sentences. The Tigers came back from a seven-run deficit to take the lead, only to allow another eight runs and fall behind by seven again. Children cried, hopes were reduced to smouldering piles of rubble... I really shouldn't have brought it up again.

Your SB Nation opposing view for this series is brought to you by Athletics Nation.

Short Hops:

▪▪ Kenny Rogers pitched a three-inning simulated game today. Jason Beck says Rogers seemed unhappy at times, but maybe that had to do with music blasting from the McAfee Coliseum sound system.

▪▪ Mack Avenue Tigers follows up on Lynn Henning's column about the Tigers' dilemma with Pudge Rodriguez yesterday, and carefully considers the question of whether or not to bring Pudge back next season. I should really figure out where I stand on this some time soon.

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Good luck

to Virgil. Fingers crossed that he can continue to lower his ERA. After that rough first outing at the Metrodome, his second start in Chicago was good. Today it will be better ;)

We need that win especially when, as it looks at the moment, the Indians (0-5, 6th), Mariners (4-6,5th) and Yankees (1-5,5th)lose.

I hate those West Coast Games with its 10.00 PM ET Gamestart (it's 4.00 am CET here). But maybe I can watch the last inning when I stand up :lol:

Good N8 to all.

by Germantiger on Aug 31, 2007 8:52 PM EDT reply actions

Starting Lineups

No Timo Time tonight.

DETROIT

1. Curtis Granderson CF
2. Placido Polanco 2B
3. Marcus Thames DH
4. Magglio Ordonez RF
5. Carlos Guillen 1B
6. Pudge Rodriguez C
7. Brandon Inge 3B
8. Cameron Maybin LF
9. Ramon Santiago SS

Hello, Jack Hannahan.

OAKLAND

1. Shannon Stewart LF
2. Nick Swisher CF
3. Jack Cust RF
4. Mike Piazza DH
5. Dan Johnson 1B
6. Mark Ellis 2B
7. Jack Hannahan 3B
8. Marco Scutaro SS
9. Kurt Suzuki C

And I forgot to mention that the A's shut down three of their more prominent players for the rest of the season today.

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 31, 2007 9:49 PM EDT reply actions

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 31, 2007 10:36 PM EDT reply actions

And the wheels have come off...

Back-to-back jacks by Cust and Johnson to dead centerfield (which seems vastly far away in McAfee Coliseum), and it's looking like Vasquez might not be "the guy" tonight.

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 31, 2007 11:01 PM EDT reply actions