Open Thread - Game 109: White Sox (50-59) at Tigers (61-47)

Javier Vazquez (8-6, 3.63) vs. Jeremy Bonderman (10-3, 4.33), 7:05 p.m. EST

With the way the Tigers have been playing lately (losing three in a row, and 10 of their last 13 games), it's been difficult to stay positive.  But let's try to start off today's game thread by looking on the bright side.

Jeremy Bonderman can't possibly pitch worse than he did last Sunday, right?

Bondo was eviscerated for 11 runs (10 earned) in just 2 1/3 innings.  That was a career stink-bomb, an effort that reduced certain bloggers to using pictures instead of words, and this is from a guy who almost lost 20 games in his rookie season.  Even if Bondo goes out and loses tonight to the White Sox (and they tagged him with a loss two weeks ago in Chicago), groundskeepers shouldn't have to make a chalk outline of his body near the pitching mound tonight.  Should they?

Javier Vazquez opposed Bonderman in that game two weeks ago, and got the win after holding the Tigers to three runs over eight innings.  He took the loss in his last start vs. Toronto, which was the first "L" he earned in his past nine games.  And during that span, Vazquez allowed more than three runs only twice.

So on paper, this doesn't look too good.  But things can change.  Especially when Vazquez has a 2-4 career record and 5.35 ERA against the Tigers.  Saturday night's all right for fightin'.  Get a little action in.

Short Hops:

▪▪  Andrew Miller is now on the 15-day DL due to a hamstring injury suffered in last night's game. Fernando Rodney will take his place on the roster after being activated from the DL (Via the BYB diaries).

▪▪  Curtis Granderson needs your help again.  This time, it's to inflict practical joke revenge upon Brandon Inge.  Make sure you read the comments thread, as there are already many awesome suggestions.  (via Roar of the Tigers)

▪▪  Hard to argue with Ozzie Guillen on this quote: "Every time we play Detroit, we play pretty well."

▪▪  Ozzie also calls Placido Polanco "the most underrated player in baseball."