Game 9: Tigers (1-7) at Red Sox (4-5)
by Ian Casselberry
on Apr 10, 2008 6:15 PM EDT
in News
Detroit @ Boston
Nate Robertson (0-0, 9.00) vs. 
Tim Wakefield (0-0, 4.50)
So the first one is out of the way. Detroit erased that zero from the win column last night, and after all the anxiety that their season-opening losing streak has caused, taking two out of three in Fenway Park could make things feel a lot better than they have been. I wonder if that means more or fewer people will tune in tonight? (By the way, here's a FSN Plus channel guide, if you weren't able to find the broadcast last night.)
It's actually a big sports night locally, if you also like hockey. The University of Michigan plays Notre Dame in the semi-finals of the NCAA hockey tournament. (Stop by Maize n Brew to pow-wow with Wolverine fans.) And the Detroit Red Wings begin their playoff season against Nashville. (Winging It in Motown has you covered, SB Nation style.) And if you like to take non-sports breathers between innings, there's the return of 30 Rock and The Office on NBC. (Thank you, DVR!)
But we're about the baseball here. None of that other stuff matters tonight, because the Tigers once again look like they're capable of playing some winning baseball, the kind of ball we all signed on for at the beginning of this season. And wasn't that fun to watch last night? How about seeing it again?
On the last episode of The Detroit Tigers Podcast, I may have said that Nate Robertson "is not my Tiger." And the show's host, Mike McClary, has enjoyed reminding me of that since we did the recording. But if Nate pitches like he did last Friday against the White Sox, I don't think I'll be eating those words. Five runs and seven hits allowed in five innings is, how you say, not good.
Has Tim Wakefield really been with the Red Sox for 14 years? I was kind of shocked when that was pointed out to me last night. I mean, I know he's played in Boston for quite a few years, and had a long career. I guess I just figured he pitched for the Pirates for more than two season. What does that have to do with him facing the Tigers tonight? Nothing much at all. Wakefield lost his only start against Detroit last season, giving up five runs (and two homers) in seven innings.
Short Hops:
- With some hard-working investigative journalism, The Big Tilde seems to have determined a key reason for the early struggles of the Tigers and Magglio Ordonez.
- The Oakland Press' Jim Hawkins took in a matinee of "Run, Kenny, Run" before last night's game in Boston.
- Curtis Granderson is basking in the glory of his beloved Kansas Jayhawks winning the national championship on Monday night. (If I can add my two cents - since I don't really blog about other sports anymore - I was happy to see Bill Self finally win the big one, as well, and thoroughly enjoyed Mario Chalmers providing the drama that was sorely lacking in the national semifinals on Saturday.)
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Starting Lineups
DETROIT
1. Brandon Inge, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Gary Sheffield, DH
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
5. Miguel Cabrera, 3B
6. Carlos Guillen, 1B
7. Edgar Renteria, SS
8. Ivan Rodriguez, C
9. Marcus Thames, LF
BOSTON
1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
6. J.D. Drew, RF
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Sean Casey, 1B
9. Kevin Cash, C
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 6:53 PM EDT 0 recs
Nothin like
a bag of pretzels, glass of Oberon and the start of a winning streak to finish of the night.
by miggy4mvp on Apr 10, 2008 7:04 PM EDT 0 recs
Summer is on the way
Tiger are playing and Oberon is back in the stores
by miggy4mvp on
Apr 10, 2008 7:12 PM EDT
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Ian, I thought you would like to know...
I really enjoy BYB, I look forward to reading what you have wrote everyday, definitely is top shelf reading and research. The game threads really enhances my game experience, this is the first year that I have done anything like it.
by miggy4mvp on Apr 10, 2008 7:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Thank you very much
I really appreciate the kind words. I'm glad to hear you like what we're doing over here. And I have to add that it wouldn't be nearly as much fun if you weren't coming over to check things out and leave your comments every day. It means everything. So thanks for that.
by Ian Casselberry on
Apr 10, 2008 7:15 PM EDT
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Bang-bang at first
Boy, it looked like Lugo was out at first glance, but it seemed to be a tie between ball and foot. Goes to the runner.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 7:17 PM EDT 0 recs
Nice throw, Cash
I do like watching the other team make defensive mistakes for once.
Throwing out basestealers with a knuckleballer has to be tough, though.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 7:29 PM EDT 0 recs
Hmm...
Good question. One of us Tigers bloggers should get on that.
by Ian Casselberry on
Apr 10, 2008 7:34 PM EDT
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No future as a long snapper
I don't ever want to see Nate Robertson try to throw a ball between his legs again. Even if it was kind of the only play he had to make.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 7:38 PM EDT 0 recs
Gotta get a run out of this
Wakefield is ready to melt down, a la Grilli.
by Ian Casselberry on
Apr 10, 2008 7:48 PM EDT
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Just checking in...
Looks like we're working the counts tonight! Wakefield already hits 60 pitches.
by LosTigres on Apr 10, 2008 7:48 PM EDT 0 recs
Way out in front
Wakefield fooled Cabrera big time on that pitch.
by Ian Casselberry on
Apr 10, 2008 7:52 PM EDT
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OH!
What a stop by Cash. That was a run. Easy.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 7:52 PM EDT 0 recs
Crap
I need to stop leaving comments like "They need to score here." Because then, they don't do it.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 7:54 PM EDT 0 recs
FSN Plus?
Does anyone know what channel comcast has the game on, I can't find it on either 900 or 901, so I have it on the radio right now.
by jgrubbs on Apr 10, 2008 7:55 PM EDT 0 recs
It's on 900 and 901
The guide listings don't show the game, but if you switch over there, it's on. At least it is here in Ann Arbor.
by Ian Casselberry on
Apr 10, 2008 7:57 PM EDT
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Thanks
Im in Ann Arbor too, but I was decieved by the guide
by jgrubbs on
Apr 10, 2008 7:58 PM EDT
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Pictures
Much better to be able to see it and not just hear it, only now I have to lisen to Rod Allen
by jgrubbs on Apr 10, 2008 8:00 PM EDT 0 recs
One gets by
Cash was stopping everything, but a wild pitch finally gets buy him. Runners on 2nd and 3rd.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 8:08 PM EDT 0 recs
Inge Again!
Dude is getting it done. Sac fly drives in a run. 1-0, Tigers.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 8:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Man, did Polanco need that
Drives a ball to left that would've been extra bases in any other park, probably. 2-0.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 8:11 PM EDT 0 recs
Any chance
when granderson gets back, that Inge moves back to 3rd because he is better at defense and more Cabrera to left where he started out at. Just was thinking.
by miggy4mvp on Apr 10, 2008 8:11 PM EDT 0 recs
There's been a lot of chatter about that
I think Inge is playing too well to take out of the lineup. Plus, Cabrera's defense is causing a lot of problems at 3B. Leyland should be considering such a move.
by Ian Casselberry on
Apr 10, 2008 8:14 PM EDT
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Miner warming up
I've been wondering why we didn't see him pitch last night.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs
Long inning
43 pitch inning, so much for Nate going deep into this game.
by jgrubbs on Apr 10, 2008 8:35 PM EDT 0 recs
So much can change in one pitch
Cabrera looked like he had no clue how to hit the knuckleball, then almost one hands it for a home run. (Had he not been out in front - or if his hamstring hadn't twinged - that might have been in the seats.)
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 8:41 PM EDT 0 recs
Nate vs. Ortiz
That's one battle Nate's won tonight.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 10, 2008 8:50 PM EDT 0 recs
I would be curious to know how many times we have gotten the leadoff man on and not scored so far this year. For a few baserunner as there have been, I feel like they have done a good job of getting guys on w/ no outs.
by tbliggins on Apr 10, 2008 9:00 PM EDT 0 recs
ND beating Michigan
3-0 at the end of the 1st period
by rossjohnson87 on Apr 10, 2008 10:06 PM EDT 0 recs
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