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Game 39: Tigers (16-22) at Royals (16-21)

Watchmen_button_tiny by Ian Casselberry on in News

Detroit @ Kansas City


Nate Robertson (1-4, 6.64) vs. Zack Greinke (4-1, 1.80)

Two teams will enter, one team will leave.  Last place in the AL Central, that is.  The Kansas City Royals are currently a 1/2-game ahead of the Tigers for fourth place, having lost six of their last 10 games.  Of course, Detroit has lost seven of its last 10, so we're not talking about two teams gathering momentum here. 

This would be an excellent opportunity for the Tigers to exact some revenge for getting swept by the Royals in the opening series of the season.  To wreak vengeance, however, they'll have to go through KC's best starting pitcher.  Zack Greinke leads the Royals in ERA, strikeouts, and shares the team lead in wins with Brian Bannister.  Against the Tigers in his first start of the year, he was brilliant, allowing just one run and six hits over seven innings.

As I said on Sunday, when Nate Robertson was originally scheduled to start, the Tigers will probably have to score at least five runs tonight, because we know ol' Nate is likely to give up four.  He's allowed four runs or more in each of his seven starts this season.  But maybe getting to pitch in front of family and friends in Kauffman Stadium will provide a little more inspiration against a Royals lineup that hits Robertson quite well.  Here's hoping.

Royals Review has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series.

Short Hops:

  • Our buddy Sam Mellinger interviewed the Freep's Jon Paul Morosi at Ball Star today.  I wonder if Sam thought about me at all during the chat?  Do you think he likes me better?  I thought about Sam the whole time I exchanged e-mails with Joe Posnanski.  At least that's what I told him.
  • Sam also wrote a post about Five Guys, which I enjoyed because I finally got to try one of their burgers a few weeks ago in Charleston.  They need to open a franchise in Michigan ASAP.
  • As expected, the Tigers couldn't find a trade partner for Jacque Jones, and filed for his unconditional release today.  Jones will become a free agent on Thursday, and has made it known that he'd like to sign with the Florida Marlins.

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THE STRAP..

Well Ian, a Zagnut is coated in toasted coconut while a butterfinger has milk chocolate surrounding it. A person could equate this scenario to oh…...The strap of five years ago (pretty good) to that of present day (messy and not nearly as good).

The link to the story and especially the slide show of TS was pretty moving. Great photo’s.

Here’s to Nasty Nate tonight boys!

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 7:08 PM EDT   0 recs

I must be thinking of a different candy bar

There’s another candy bar which has chocolate coating a crunchy peanut butter flavored substance, isn’t there?

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 7:18 PM EDT   0 recs

5th Ave.

I believe you speak of the 5th Ave bar, which is much to high class for me. The funny thing is, I barely eat candy bars, but that changes if I go into a place and they actually have the zag, then it is a whole new ball game.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 7:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

5th Avenue – that’s it. Thank you. How I got that mixed up with Zagnut, I don’t know.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 7:28 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I remember when I worked at Kroger as a teenager, and noticed the box of 5th Avenue bars by the register coated in dust. Clearly a popular treat in my neighborhood. And a great job in turning over product at that store.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 7:30 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Starting Lineups

DETROIT

1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Carlos Guillen, 3B
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
5. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
6. Gary Sheffield, LF
7. Matt Joyce, DH
8. Edgar Renteria, SS
9. Pudge Rodriguez, C

KANSAS CITY

1. David DeJesus, LF
2. Mark Grudzielanek, 2B
3. Alex Gordon, 3B
4. Jose Guillen, DH
5. Billy Butler, 1B
6. Mark Teahen, RF
7. John Buck, C
8. Tony Pena, Jr., SS
9. Joey Gathright, CF

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 7:28 PM EDT   0 recs

Greinke

Man, his numbers are GOOD. Kind of reminds of me of another young pitcher that people thought would turn into a really good #1. What was his name….?

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:14 PM EDT   0 recs

Scoring on Greinke early

Love to see the Tigers take a lead, which has felt so rare this season.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:17 PM EDT   0 recs

FIve Guys

One of the reasons I’m glad I live down south

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 13, 2008 8:17 PM EDT   0 recs

FG's

I was trying to think, and then remembered! I ate one when I lived in Florida. I just searched and there are 4 in Indy, didn’t even know it. I love me a good burger, and I’m leaving for LA on Sat….first stop, In n’ Out….mmmm

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:23 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

In & Out

I don’t suppose there’s one in the LA airport? I’ll be there for five hours on the way to Malaysia.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:24 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

John F'n Buck...

err, I would have HATED to let Miggy actually bat with a RISP.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:21 PM EDT   0 recs

Um

What just happened?

by pfuhrmeister on May 13, 2008 8:22 PM EDT   0 recs

Ok, but

Did he tag and try to advance on the fly out, or was he trying to steal with Midge at bat?

by pfuhrmeister on May 13, 2008 8:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

blocked

a ball in the dirt, then threw

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:26 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I think Guillen thought it was a passed ball/wild pitch and went for third. Buck recovered in time to throw him out.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:27 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Almost had that one...

Not the best start for nate.

by LosTigres on May 13, 2008 8:27 PM EDT   0 recs

One shame about Cabrera playing 1B

He has a heck of an arm. Almost gunned down Grudzielanek trying to take second.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:27 PM EDT   0 recs

by the way...

I just realized that cabrera hasn’t driven in a run since May 1st.

by LosTigres on May 13, 2008 8:31 PM EDT   0 recs

wow

miggy got to 2nd rather quickly

by miggy4mvp on May 13, 2008 8:32 PM EDT   0 recs

Re-Joyce

HR #2…Clete who?

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 13, 2008 8:33 PM EDT   0 recs

The cult is shrinking.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:34 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Hard to have a cult when your leader is M.I.A.

by miggy4mvp on May 13, 2008 8:35 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Easy...

I still really like Clete. His speed was top notch, top notch….

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I liked him to

and he will be back with the big boys in the future, he just gone missing at the plate in AAA

by miggy4mvp on May 13, 2008 8:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

dare I say

we’ve found our DH??/

by miggy4mvp on May 13, 2008 8:33 PM EDT   0 recs

JOYCE!

it would have been nice to not have that dp!

by LosTigres on May 13, 2008 8:33 PM EDT   0 recs

Sheff

This is one more reason he should leadoff – he’ll hit into less DPs!

by pfuhrmeister on May 13, 2008 8:36 PM EDT   0 recs

You always hope that doesn’t come back to haunt you.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:39 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Anyone else

think Pudge has looked much better at the plate this year? He’s not the hitter he once was, but I feel like he’s been a much better hitter this year. The numbers are pretty close to last year, except that he’s already taken 7 walks this year (only 9 last season!) so maybe he just doesn’t seem to be flailing at everything as much…

by ThaWalrus9 on May 13, 2008 8:38 PM EDT   0 recs

it's a contract year

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 13, 2008 8:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I agree

Much better on defense, too. He’s blocking more balls and gunning down basestealers again.

Somebody’s playing for a new contract

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

contract, ya

I think it has more to do with him getting back to his roots. He has been hitting liners, especially the other way.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:41 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

3 hits, 1 error

and we only manage 1 run.

by LosTigres on May 13, 2008 8:39 PM EDT   0 recs

Carlos

whoo, that was quick…

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Now THAT'S a scoreboard

Were the scoreboard people at Comerica Park looking at that? Imagine that – providing more game information to the crowd…

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 8:55 PM EDT   0 recs

care to explain

for those of us stuck watching the Royals’ TV feed?

by ThaWalrus9 on May 13, 2008 8:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

I have the feed too,

but that thing is ENORMOUS. HUGE. No crown though, that kind of sucks..

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:58 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Miggy!

Look at those skillz to pay da billz!

pretty impressive, could he be the reincarnate (sp?) of the Big Cat?

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 8:59 PM EDT   0 recs

I hope

that Urbina was able to watch that catch from his cell, wow.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:01 PM EDT   0 recs

Re: Scoreboard

You have the player’s roster photo (in this case, Carlos Guillen) taking up the top half of the screen.

Below, from left to right, you have the Tigers batting order; Guillen’s batting average, at-bats, hits, home runs, RBIs, and stolen bases, along with what he did in his last at-bat, his OBP, SLG, and OPS; then the Royals’ defensive alignment.

Below that, from left to right: The two pitchers’ stat lines on each side of the screen, with the radar gun reading in the middle.

At the very bottom of the screen is the line score.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 9:09 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh, one more thing

Below the batting order, the scoreboard says what the last hitter did. Great for if you’re keeping score, looked away, and missed the play.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 9:11 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Joyce

That takes some maturity. Gets a dinger in his first at bat, but doesn’t get giddy and has a good second AB resulting in a walk. I like to see that.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:12 PM EDT   0 recs

Tigers' double play grounder skills

are in mid-season form. They’ve hit 4 of them (Sheff and Polly were able to leg out 2 of those).

by ThaWalrus9 on May 13, 2008 9:27 PM EDT   0 recs

did he hit the bull?

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 13, 2008 9:33 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Not quite

But he smacked that behind-home-plate ad pretty good.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 9:40 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh boy. Here comes the big inning.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:34 PM EDT   0 recs

Disaster

averted. Woo, thank them for the tailor made…

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:35 PM EDT   0 recs

Well, I might be wrong. Actually, I am certainly wrong. Way to bulldog it, Nate.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:35 PM EDT   0 recs

NBA

I hate it. and to make things worse, TP just threw up a nasty block, but I can’t like him being a Wildcat and all. Congrats to you all.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:40 PM EDT   0 recs

Piston Update

Tayshaun whit a HUGE block, Pistons have the ball, and 2 Rip free throws are now up 5 with 12.7 in the 4th

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 13, 2008 9:40 PM EDT   0 recs

Miggy with some nice patience there. Let’s avoid the double play. Please.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:41 PM EDT   0 recs

Mr. Joyce is earning himself a job.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:44 PM EDT   0 recs

Renteria

If ruled a BH, which it should be would make him 1 for his last 21. ouch.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:45 PM EDT   0 recs

At this point Edgar will take anything.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:46 PM EDT   0 recs

This team is just exhausting.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:48 PM EDT   0 recs

Pudge and his

MO, high heat, man he loves to swing at that.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:48 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh yeah...

The KC broadcasters just mentions Sheff’s injured fingers. I’d forgotten about those. Whatever happened with them?

by ThaWalrus9 on May 13, 2008 10:17 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

What makes it worse

Is the KC announcing crew on XM

by pfuhrmeister on May 13, 2008 9:49 PM EDT   0 recs

Don't get me wrong

They’re not bad announcers, they just way too much glee in Pudge’s strikeout.

by pfuhrmeister on May 13, 2008 9:50 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Not that I'm complaining...

But what’s up with Billy Butler? He’s usually a Tiger Killer.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 9:51 PM EDT   0 recs

You could have waited

until after the SERIES was over there, big boi!

c’mon!

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:55 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

XM generally has the home team’s announcers.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:51 PM EDT   0 recs

I know, but

sometimes when the Tigers miss a great opportunity, they are just salt in the wound.

by pfuhrmeister on May 13, 2008 9:54 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Patience, Ian. He’s got at least one more AB coming.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:52 PM EDT   0 recs

Lots of hits,

not too many runs…and that goes for both sides

by spartyboy40 on May 13, 2008 9:52 PM EDT   0 recs

C’mon Nate. Let’s get a big out here.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:53 PM EDT   0 recs

Well, if Nate’s done after 6, he’s battled hard without great stuff.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:54 PM EDT   0 recs

you can!

say it, every third start with NN. Hopefully, he can put more of them together.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 9:56 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

pitch count only in the 70s in the 7th

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 13, 2008 10:05 PM EDT to parent up   0 recs

Grandy has looked pretty bad the last week.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 9:57 PM EDT   0 recs

Carlos

that was nice.

by Zappatista on May 13, 2008 10:05 PM EDT   0 recs

Best performance while letting up 9 hits i’ve seen in a while

by spartyboy40 on May 13, 2008 10:09 PM EDT   0 recs

another walk for Miggy

1.000 OBP tonight

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on May 13, 2008 10:15 PM EDT   0 recs

3-2. Come on, Sheff.

by rook34 on May 13, 2008 10:18 PM EDT   0 recs

Oh yeah...

The KC broadcasters just mentions Sheff’s injured fingers. I’d forgotten about those. Whatever happened with them?

by ThaWalrus9 on May 13, 2008 10:19 PM EDT   0 recs

Good question

You never hear about that finger anymore. Overshadowed by the shoulder, perhaps.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2008 10:22 PM EDT