Game 43: Tigers (16-26) at D-Backs (27-15)
Detroit Tigers at Arizona Diamondbacks, May 17, 2008 8:10 PM EDT
Hi everyone, Al Beaton, aka Big Al, here. You may know me from such blogs as The Wayne Fontes Experience and SideLion Report, along with being a frequent commenter here at Bless You Boys. I was asked, along with Mike McClary of The Daily Fungo, to keep ByB running somewhat smoothly while our good friend Ian spends the next couple of weeks walking the earth.
Please bear with me as I feel my way around SB Nation, and suffer along with me as the Tigers continue to disappoint. Greatly disappoint...
Your pitching matchup tonight has the Tigers' current de facto "ace," Armando Galarraga (2-1, 3.07), facing D-Backs' rookie Max Scherzer (0-1, 3.14). (Never, ever thought I'd use ace and Galarraga in the same sentence) Galarraga's job tonight is to be the stopper, and end the Tigers 5 game losing streak. A big job indeed, as the D-Backs have the best overall record in MLB, and a 4 game winning streak.
Join us in tonight's game thread, and we'll see if the following questions are answered...
Will the Tigers downward spiral into irrelevancy continue unabated? Will Jim Leyland once again amaze and confuse us with his lineup? (I thought Gary Sheffield's shoulder was so bad, he could "barely lob the ball" Yet he was back in LF last night. HUH?) Will the Tigers bats again grow cold when runners are in scoring position? Will Carlos Guillen confound us with his seeming hands of stone? (Yeah, I'm a more than a little cynical right now...)
Then again, tonight could be the night the Tigers' 2008 season turns around! Maybe Ian leaving the states is just the thing to kick start our woeful Tigers!
We'll soon find out.
Short hops:
- At Mack Avenue Tigers, Kurt believes it is time for Dave Dombrowski to take drastic action before the season is too far gone to salvage. How drastic? Jim Leyland should be fired immediately , if not sooner.
- Billfer senses a strike zone conspiracy at The Detroit Tigers Weblog.
- Mike has released the latest episode of The Detroit Tigers Podcast. The title, "Desert Despair," says it all.
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76 comments
Comments
Tonight's lineups:
Detroit:
C. Granderson cf
M. Joyce lf
C. Guillen 3b
M. Ordonez rf
M. Cabrera 1b
I. Rodriguez c
E. Renteria ss
R. Raburn 2b
A. Galarraga p
Arizona:
C. Young cf
S. Drew ss
O. Hudson 2b
C. Jackson 1b
J. Upton rf
M. Reynolds 3b
J. Salazar lf
C. Snyder c
M. Scherzer p
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 7:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Ooooo!
All the Tigers are wearing their socks high! Now that’s some BASEBALL!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Blown DP!
Raburn drops the 3rd out of the inning. Let’s hope it doesn’t comeback to bite the Tigers in the ass. With their luck as of late…
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
all by yourself here tonight, Al?
by Kurt Mensching on May 17, 2008 8:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Till now...
I see rock n rye is here as well. It’s must be blogger’s night!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wow 14 balls in 20 pitches
yet somehow Galarraga sneaks out unharmed.
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That was one scary 1st inning...
But Galarraga gets out of it unscathed. He was behind EVERY batter.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
pure genius, that Bill!
!skrow ti epoH
by Kurt Mensching on May 17, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pudge K's
well at least it wasn’t on a neck-high fastball
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jesus! H! CHRIST! Pudge!
Could that pitch have been any more outside?
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You know how we don't like bunting, Al?
I’m OK if Pudge wants to do it.
by Kurt Mensching on May 17, 2008 8:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thing is, Pudge would take a fastball down the middle
and try to bunt a pitch that’s in the dirt/3 feet outside/over his head. That’s how he rolls.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why do I keep coming back?
Hopefully I don’t storm my way off to bed after a couple fielding gaffes again tonight…
by ThaWalrus9 on May 17, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I was checking out Ian's Twitter feed
He saw Lou Ferrigno at Metro Airport. Wow, the neighbor on the King of Queens!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That's more like it!
1-2-3 inning for Galarraga. How about stringing together some hits!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
great minds, eh?
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's more like it
1-2-3 for Galarraga
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I thought I double posted for a sec!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Grnderson hasn't looked this bad...
since the last couple of months of 2006. He’s just plain lost at the plate.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it's odd
seeing as he was so hot when he came back. You’d expect it to be the other way around.
by ThaWalrus9 on May 17, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's more like it
1, 2, 3, for Galarraga (might as well get in on the act)
by ThaWalrus9 on May 17, 2008 8:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
After Friday's screw up...
I don’t want to see Renteria go after ANY pop ups.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
so if managers won't tolerae the mental errors
Why does Leyland?
by Kurt Mensching on May 17, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wish I had an answer for you.
But I have no idea. Leyland seems like he’s on cruise control, letting things ride, hoping they get better.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Max Scherzer
wasn’t he Col. Klink’s right hand man on Hogan’s Heroes?
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I know nuhtink! Nuhtink!
HOOOOOOOOOOOOGAAAN!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pusge, Pudge, Pudge...
The Tigers must lead the universe in hitting into DP’s.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
sounds like a nice start for Willis
There was a lot of gnashing of teeth but breaking down his last start, it wasn’t bad until the end.
by Kurt Mensching on May 17, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
We could use some good news...
I hope the D-Train is finally figuring things out.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Leyland looked like he was rolling his own in the dugout
Has this team driven him from his beloved tobacco, to the chronic?
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
!PSIR htiw tih esab tuo 2 !dekrow tI
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
yay!
I have a hard enough time typing forward.The only way I’m typing backwards is if I speak in all palindromes
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 9:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
All from a 2 out rally at that...
Been quite some time since we’ve seen one.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They walked the pitcher with two out?
And they still beat us last night? Come on, these guys are punks
by pfuhrmeister on May 17, 2008 9:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Miggy sure loves him some NL pitching
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 9:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Should they have hit for Galarraga?
Thoughts?
by pfuhrmeister on May 17, 2008 10:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
only at
85 pitches coming into the inning
by ThaWalrus9 on May 17, 2008 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Galarraga is, as they say, dealing.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 10:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That Joyce kid is pretty damn good!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 10:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Mud Hen Connection
tearing it up tonight
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 10:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
two points
1) I don’t really think Galarraga should have come out for another inning at that pitch count unless Leyland was trying to get him through to a left hander, then remove him. So it’s not that bad of an idea. Just makes me uncomfortable
2) that shoulda been a strikeout.
by Kurt Mensching on May 17, 2008 10:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
it's like a bad dream
same shit, different day
by ThaWalrus9 on May 17, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
exhale.....
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lucky to get out of that giving up only 2 runs
I’m breathing again…
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
wow, thank you Orlando Hudson
finally a break for the Tigers
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
OK, that was fun to watch...
and a nice play by Pudge. 2 out, just like that.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How I feel before every Todd Jones appearance...
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by BigAl on May 17, 2008 11:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
How
can Todd give up his obilgatory run when they only are giving him a 1 run lead?
by ThaWalrus9 on May 17, 2008 11:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm trying not to think about it...
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
oh man
Jones’ last save was in APRIL
by Kurt Mensching on May 17, 2008 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh God
He hit Upton!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 11:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Oh man!
Grandy caught it! That was too close…
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 11:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Byrnes hit that on the screws
Typical Jones out, use your defense.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 11:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Four Batters of Fear
A Todd Jones save
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 11:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thank God
1-23 when scoring 4 or less. Nice to finally win one.
by ThaWalrus9 on May 17, 2008 11:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can't help but laugh when Jones gets his "typical" save
Out 1 is a diving catch, out #2 is on a shot to left, and out #3 is a deep fly to the RF warning track. Where’s my blood pressure meds?
Still, a much needed win! Finally…
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 11:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he went a little out of order this time
usually the base runner gets on after the first out
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 17, 2008 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good night, everyone
See you tomorrow! The Tigers will win the series! Right? Right?
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 17, 2008 11:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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