Game 34: Red Sox (21-13) at Tigers (14-19)
by Ian Casselberry
on May 6, 2008 6:30 PM EDT
in News
Boston @ Detroit
Tim Wakefield (2-1, 4.03) vs. 
Nate Robertson (1-3, 6.82)
Okay, so maybe tonight is the night Detroit's new lineup clicks and fires. (By the way, don't mention the word "fire" around Jacque Jones right now. Might be a little sensitive.)
Tim Wakefield faced the Tigers in Boston about a month ago, and held them to one earned run over five innings. However, he also walked five batters that night, and the chances are that Wakefield rack up some more walks tonight with that knuckleball. Any chance the Detroit batters can make him pay for putting men on base, instead of letting him off the hook like they did with Dice-K last night?
Nate Robertson won last week at Yankee Stadium, but doesn't that series now seem so long ago? And he's still giving up a lot of runs. Even in winning last week, Nate coughed up four to the Yankees. He hasn't given up less than four runs in each of his six starts. Tigers hitters aren't the only ones who need to bear down. Robertson needs to give his team a fighting chance.
Tiger Town's favorite third baseman, Brandon Inge, gets the start tonight, as he's hit two home runs off Wakefield in 24 career at-bats (.250/.269/.542). That makes it Carlos Guillen's turn to man the DH spot.
Short Hops:
- Red Sox Monster has started an online petition, asking the Red Sox to honor Matthew Boudoin, who was killed in a senseless dispute with a drunken fan, at Fenway Park this season.
- While we were waiting to see what lineup changes Jim Leyland was making, Curtis Granderson tells us what that was like from his perspective .
- Did you know tonight was Danny Knobler's last night covering the Tigers for MLive.com? He's off to CBSSports.com. Print loses another guy to online. Anyway, these Tigers blogs wouldn't have much in the way of updates without the breaking news that beat guys like Knobler and Jason Beck provide, so he gets the BYB slow clap.
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Starting Lineups
DETROIT
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Carlos Guillen, DH
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
5. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
6. Gary Sheffield, LF
7. Edgar Renteria, SS
8. Pudge Rodriguez, C
9. Brandon Inge, 3B
BOSTON
1. Coco Crisp, CF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. Mike Lowell, 3B
6. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
7. J.D. Drew, RF
8. Kevin Cash, C
9. Julio Lugo, SS
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 6:34 PM EDT 0 recs
"Catching is cool"
According to Lynn Henning on the Detroit News, Inge is actually enjoying catching.
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/SPORTS0104/805060447/1129
by pfuhrmeister on May 6, 2008 6:40 PM EDT 0 recs
Great news...
His offense is definitely adequate for a catcher, and he can still help out at 3B when needed.
by russkiejedi on
May 6, 2008 7:00 PM EDT
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I don't care if Guillen likes DHing or not
This line-up I think gives the Tigers the best chance to win at the plate and in the field
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 6, 2008 7:10 PM EDT 0 recs
you're right
completely blanked on Sheff, good call
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on
May 6, 2008 7:16 PM EDT
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And the Tigers have to come from behind again...
Damn, the starting pitching is frustrating as all Hell.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 6, 2008 7:30 PM EDT 0 recs
I've about had it with Nate
Granted, I would’ve said the exact same thing last week. But giving up a double to Kevin Cash to bring in a run? C’mon.
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 7:33 PM EDT 0 recs
A 5 pitch inning?
Ugh.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 6, 2008 7:39 PM EDT 0 recs
I would feel a little better about the team if I saw some hustle, but I see none. Pudge, Renteria, Sheffield…I’ve never seen such poor body language in my life. (Of course, there’s always the chance their bodies have lost the ability to hustle, but I digress.)
I know it’s a dumb question, but do these guys even care???
by bradm on May 6, 2008 7:48 PM EDT 0 recs
Well...
I agree; judging motivation through body language can be a dodgy thing.
But a couple of weeks ago, I was asking the same question and wondering how that reflected on Leyland. What’s the best way to judge a coach? How hard do his players play for him?
by Ian Casselberry on
May 6, 2008 7:51 PM EDT
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When a team isn't hitting...
It can look for all the world to like they aren’t hustling, or just going thru the motions.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on
May 6, 2008 7:56 PM EDT
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Starters
Nate and Bondo continue to make easy out batters look like Ted Williams. Both of them had consecutive horrific outings with one mediocre win which had little to do with their pitching. Their weak W’s followed by talk of them “finding their game” which is BS. These guys are terrible.
by SonOfGibby on May 6, 2008 7:52 PM EDT 0 recs
Totally off-topic
But someone has to explain to me how North Carolina can already be called for Obama, with 0% reporting, yet Indiana is still too close to call. I know there has to be a formula or whatever, but it baffles me.
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 7:57 PM EDT 0 recs
Indiana & North Carolina
All the areas that are expected to go for Obama aren’t in yet, so even though Clinton has the rest of the state, they still don’t know.
North Carolina exit polls were overwhelmingly in favor of Obama.
by pfuhrmeister on
May 6, 2008 7:59 PM EDT
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Thanks
You’re better than Tim Russert, Peter.
by Ian Casselberry on
May 6, 2008 8:01 PM EDT
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And if you'll notice
When you posted that, it was 57/43 Clinton. Now it’s 55/45. So there is still a lot to count.
by pfuhrmeister on
May 6, 2008 8:25 PM EDT
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Explaining
I find it a lot easier to explain elections and polls than I find it to explain what the hell is wrong with our Tigers.
by pfuhrmeister on
May 6, 2008 8:01 PM EDT
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Oh My God!!!!!!
Kevin Cash is 2 for 2…......
I might just have to jump over to NBA
by SonOfGibby on May 6, 2008 8:00 PM EDT 0 recs
My exit polling tells me...
Nate won’t make it thru 5 innings
Thanks for the reminder, though. I’d forgotten there would be primary results.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 6, 2008 8:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Throwing out Cash at third?
Rod’s saying Nate could’ve gotten Cash there, but honestly, what are the chances he would’ve fired that ball into left field?
by Ian Casselberry on
May 6, 2008 8:03 PM EDT
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The BoSox are doing the Tigers a favor by playing small ball...
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on
May 6, 2008 8:03 PM EDT
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Grrrr
Good call Nate, everybody knows that Cash has the speed of a young Rickey Henderson
by SonOfGibby on May 6, 2008 8:04 PM EDT 0 recs
The broadcast of the merry go round might be more competitive Mario.
by SonOfGibby on May 6, 2008 8:08 PM EDT 0 recs
Elections
I might have to call Detroit for Wakefield.
by pfuhrmeister on May 6, 2008 8:09 PM EDT 0 recs
A painless 5th for Nate
He’s doing what he can to keep the Tigers in the game. Now how about some runs?
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs
This is rough.
13 in a row???? Is Wake a Cy Young candidate or is our offense in a coma? If I had to guess I would choose the latter.
by SonOfGibby on May 6, 2008 8:25 PM EDT 0 recs
To the Tigers have somewhere to be tonight?
they sure are swinging like they have other plans
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 6, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs
A great way for Grandy to sell more magazines...
would be to hit a home run here.
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 8:35 PM EDT 0 recs
I've got a bad feeling
Robertson has thrown a lot of pitches and the sluggers are up.
by pfuhrmeister on May 6, 2008 8:43 PM EDT 0 recs
Well, one hitter is finding his stroke
Unfortunately, it’s David Ortiz.
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 8:43 PM EDT 0 recs
BOOM goes Manny
Atta boy, Freddy Dolsi.
How often do you see a ball hit into the shrubs over Curtis’ head? Brutal.
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 8:47 PM EDT 0 recs
That was Manny's way of saying...
“welcome to the big leagues, kid”
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 6, 2008 8:48 PM EDT 0 recs
I am at a loss for words. We sweep the Yankees at Yankee for the first time in 42 years, and lose five in a row. Two steps forward, ten steps back.
Go Tigers
by Tony K on May 6, 2008 8:49 PM EDT 0 recs
Seven Innings
One hit, no walks. The Tigers make every pitcher look like a Cy Young winner. A thousand runs this season? More like a hundred.
by pfuhrmeister on May 6, 2008 8:58 PM EDT 0 recs
Knuckling away
I was silent the last day because of sheer frustration and now I am speechless. I can’t take it anymore for today. To see the knuckler on the mound is painful for me especially when the Tigs don’t get it done against him for the second time now. 1 Hit I cannot believe it. 85 Pitches in 7 Innings. It’s 3 am in Germany now, I am going to sleep. Next time we’ll beat them
Greetings from Germany. Dirk
by Germantiger on May 6, 2008 9:03 PM EDT 0 recs
Glad to hear from you, Dirk
If only the Tigers could’ve sent you to sleep with a better feeling.
by Ian Casselberry on
May 6, 2008 9:07 PM EDT
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ONE HIT??
THE SECOND HIGHEST EFFING PAYROLL IN THE GOD DAMN MAJOR LEAGUES, AND ALL WE CAN GET IS ONE HIT OF A 65 MPH KNUCKLEBALLER
?!
Go Tigers
by Tony K on May 6, 2008 9:07 PM EDT 0 recs
Sheff on D
Was Sheff shooting the breeze with Granderson while that ball was rocketing towards his face
by SonOfGibby on May 6, 2008 9:08 PM EDT 0 recs
Sheff at the plate
That was a NASTY pitch from Wakefield to strike him out.
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 9:09 PM EDT 0 recs
Is it just me
or does Wakefield pitch at least one fastball per at bat? Why don’t they just look for the fastball and swing at it no matter were it is.
holy hell is that a hit and a runner on 2nd
by miggy4mvp on May 6, 2008 9:11 PM EDT 0 recs
crap
I was looking to use Harry Doyle’s quote in a game recap tonight, the Tigers can’t even suck right
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on May 6, 2008 9:12 PM EDT 0 recs
I'd say it's time for a Leyland blowup...
but he’s already played that card. Along with the juggling the batting order card, switching positions card, and the “drastic” change card. Are there any cards left?
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 6, 2008 9:16 PM EDT 0 recs
To me, that's the big worry
What other cards are there for Leyland to play, other than having his blowup in full view of the press this time?
What more can he do, really? This week, he tried to make his players accountable for their lack of production. Now they have to start playing better, don’t they?
by Ian Casselberry on
May 6, 2008 9:18 PM EDT
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Looks like I am glad
I had to play softball tonight, Tim Freaking Wakefield with a two hitter? F* got to be kidding me!
by Zappatista on May 6, 2008 9:16 PM EDT 0 recs
Timlin must need the work
Otherwise, why take Wakefield out?
by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 9:21 PM EDT 0 recs
This is the sort of performance...
or lack thereof, that’s going to set off a firestorm of criticism. It’s gonna get ugly on sports talk radio and in the papers.
Hell, even i feeling like taking my share of potshots at this team. They are awful right now.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on May 6, 2008 9:28 PM EDT 0 recs
Who ARE these guys?
The highest-powered most expensive lineup in baseball gets 3 hits and no runs.
BS
by pfuhrmeister on May 6, 2008 9:30 PM EDT 0 recs
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