Game 7: Tigers (0-6) at Red Sox (3-4)
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 8, 2008 12:00 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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PrintDetroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox, Apr 8, 2008 2:05 PM EDT
Calm (156 games remaining) vs. 
Panic (0-6! No hitting! No pitching!)
Kenny Rogers (0-1, 3.00) vs. 
Daisuke Matsuzaka (1-0, 2.31)
After an off-day for travel, the Tigers see if they can pull themselves together on the road. Unfortunately, there are probably better places to try for the first win of the season than at Fenway Park against the defending World Series champions - who will receive their glorious bling in pre-game ceremonies. Perhaps it's wishful thinking on my part, but I'm of the belief that these sorts of things don't usually work out well for the home team. All the pomp and circumstances creates sort of a lull that the ring-bearers need to snap out of, while the visitors look on from the dugout, nursing an urge to smack the smile off someone's face.
Detroit saw two different Dice-Ks last season. The first time they faced him at Fenway, the Tigers went a long way toward building his legend, as Daisuke Matsuzaka allowed only one run while throwing a complete game. At Comerica Park, Dice-K looked much more mortal, giving up six runs and 10 hits in five innings. But if the same guy who threw nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings against the A's last week, it could be another frustrating day for the Tigers.
Kenny Rogers pitched well enough to win in his first start of the season, but the Tigers had nothing on offense, managing just two hits against Brian Bannister. (Maybe now you remember why you have patches on your head where the hair seems to have been pulled out.) For his career, Rogers has a 5-6 record and 5.48 ERA at Fenway Park.
Over the Monster has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series. Starting lineups are posted in the comments.
UPDATE: This is apparently no April Fool's joke. Bill Buckner will throw out the first pitch today.
Short Hops:
- Fire Joe Morgan trains their knives on the Detroit News' Lynn Henning. Ouch.
- You've probably already heard that Curtis Granderson's hand appears to be healing nicely. He'll begin resuming those baseball activities today, as he traveled with the team to Boston.
- According to someone who studies such things, the Tigers' promotional giveaways are the good stuff this year.
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Starting Lineups
DETROIT
1. SS Edgar Renteria
2. 2B Placido Polanco
3. DH Gary Sheffield
4. RF Magglio Ordonez
5. 3B Miguel Cabrera
6. 1B Carlos Guillen
7. C Ivan Rodriguez
8. LF Jacque Jones
9. CF Brandon Inge
BOSTON
1. 2B Dustin Pedroia
2. 1B Kevin Youkilis
3. DH David Ortiz
4. LF Manny Ramirez
5. 3B Mike Lowell
6. RF J.D. Drew
7. C Jason Varitek
8. CF Coco Crisp
9. SS Julio Lugo
Who knows if it'll matter, but I'm glad to see Renteria back in the leadoff spot. I think Leyland gave up on that too quickly.
after last night, it can only go up
Granted, I'm talking about my fantasy team, a head to head league in which I have Joe Borowski and Francisco Rodriguez, and the other guy has Torii Hunter (ouch! and double ouch!), but it can also refer to the conversation I had with a guy at the bar I was watching the NCAA chamionship game, in which the irrational White Sox fan was crowing about how the Tigers are finished, and the White Sox were going to return to glory.
Give the home sweep, there wasn't much to say, except to point out the obvious holes in Chicago's arsenal, and talk about Granderson, etc....but between that, and watching Kansas come off the mat aagainst Memphis to win....
I'm feeling pretty good about the Tigers chances right now.
Seeing Borowski blow a bottom of the 9th lead didn't hurt, either....well, maybe just a little....
Escape!
Rogers made it a little scary in that first inning, with runners on second and third, but he got Lowell to fly out and escaped.
A balk?
Not sure what happened there, but it looks like the home plate ump thought Rogers didn't set before he threw his pitch. J.D. Drew goes to second.
And... Varitek moves him to third with a single.
Sheffield should probably watch out, too
We know they don't like Sheff in Boston.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 8, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Whew!
It looked like Big Papi might have a grand slam, but Maggs caught it in front of the warning track. Still a scoreless game.
Check that
Boston got a run in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Coco Crisp. 1-0, Sawx. Pay no attention to the blogger doing play-by-play.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 8, 2008 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Rogers
has had to throw an awful lot of pitches.
CRAP
They should've gotten Manny out at third. He was staring at that ball like it was a home run, as he usually does these days. Polanco would've nailed him with a decent throw, but it hit the dirt before it got to Cabrera's glove. Even worse, Manny scored on the play, since the ball got past Miggy.
The End of the Streak
And with that throw, Polanco's errorless streak ends.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 8, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Something brewing?
Polanco draws a leadoff walk. Maybe this is a chance for the Tigers to generate some runs.
Guess what?
Sheff hits into what's become the Tigers' signature play: A double play.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 8, 2008 3:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Shut up, Ian
Clearly, I jinxed the Tigers by daring to think they had a chance to put something on the board. Maggs strikes out.
by Ian Casselberry on Apr 8, 2008 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Guillen AGAIN
Once again, he's standing in the baseline, almost straddling the bag, and a throw (a bad one) got away from him.
Does anyone recall him doing this AT ALL when he played first base last year? Guillen acts like he just moved over there from shortstop. It's baffling.
Guillens leg
I cant handle this. I drove 2 hours on sunday to see them get creamed, now I am sitting in class following this mess.
not that i'm a grilli fan
but in his defense, he was a LOT better on the road last season. Maybe he should just never be allowed to pitch in Detroit.
The Gas Can
He's starting to leak. Leyland's taking him out before he explodes (though it may already be too late).
I wavered in the offseason on whether or not to buy a 27-game package again. My wife and I had just had a baby, and we didn't think spending the money on baseball tickets would be the best use of our income.
But then they went and traded for Miguel Cabrera and, suddenly, we became a favorite in the AL. I imagined a summer full of great baseball in a sold-out Comerica Park. I spent money that I probably shouldn't have spent on tickets because this team looked special.
Well, now I know how absurd that thinking was. My tickets are worthless, and this team is playing like s***.
I want my money back.
Feeling of dread
I told myself I wasn't going to think about baseball yesterday, but at one point while I was lying in bed, this feeling of dread hit me. Probably a future blog post, if this losing streak keeps up. But all of a sudden, this "oh... my... God" sensation bubbled up in my chest.
I clearly remember
what it felt like to be a fan in 2003. I don't need any more reminders. Please.
No, really, I begging you guys, please, snap out of it.
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