Knuckled Under: Red Sox 5, Tigers 0

by Ian Casselberry on May 6, 2008 10:11 PM EDT in News

I assume when Jim Leyland made changes to the Tigers' batting order, the intent was to generate more offense. Unless his idea was to try and get his team to score fewer runs(which would be curious strategy). If so, this thing is working out brilliantly after two games.

Now what? Can Leyland already reach for his holster again so soon after trying to six-shoot his lineup on Monday? How many bullets does he have left? At this point, what else can he do to wake this team up? When do these players just start playing better?

Once again, this vaunted lineup that had some people predicting a 1,000 run season played as if they were swinging french baguettes, rather than baseball bats. Tigers batters treated Tim Wakefield's knuckleball as if it came with butterfly wings and pixie dust. Detroit only managed two hits in eight innings against him. That's only two more hits than anybody reading this, by the way, and I don't think many of us had a bat in our hands tonight. (Though I'm sure plenty of you felt like taking the same swing at your television, radio, or computer that Manny Ramirez laid on Freddy Dolsi's very first pitch when you saw the home team's feeble totals.)

Nate Robertson was hardly good, giving up 10 hits and his usual four runs in 6 1/3 innings. And believe me, I'd love to argue that he puts his team behind far too often. But with the lack of fight that his lineup was showing against Wakefield, did it ever feel like Robertson really had a chance? Even if the scoreboard said the Tigers were still in the game?

Remember when we'd talk to fellow Tigers fans or think to ourselves during the winter that it wouldn't matter if some of the starting pitchers gave up four or five runs a game? These guys were going to score five or six runs every time out! That must have been the cabin fever talking. Right now, at this moment, that just seems like crazy talk.

Roll Call

Watching tonight's game was an exercise in aggravation, so those who showed up to discuss it certainly deserve some recognition.

Thanks to pfuhrmeister, BigAl, SonofGibby, rock n rye, miggy4mvp, Tony K, Zappatista, Germantiger, Matt in Toledo, russkiejedi, and bradm for typing in comments through clenched teeth and throbbing temples.

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glad I missed that one

though doesn’t sound like I missed much of anything.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by MackAveKurt on May 6, 2008 10:53 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

At what point...

At what point do these shake-ups have to involve the coaching staff? I’ve been kinda down on McLendon and Hernandez since last season, but this is getting ridiculous. And I hate to say it but the lazy (or what I see as lazy) plate appearances are making me question Leyland’s ability to get his team to grind out wins. I could be totally off base but it just seems like everyone – save for Granderson and Guillen – is waiting for the other guy to carry them.

Bad baseball by a bunch of guys who just don’t have enough talent is one thing. Bad baseball from a team full of All Stars is quite different. I’m not saying I’m giving up on them at all, but the way they’re playing right now is maddening and it’s starting to piss me off.

by MacRae on May 6, 2008 10:59 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Too Early

I agree with MacRae when does the coaching staff get held accountable I have been away from Detroit 10+years now this is humiliating with the talent that team has there is no reason for play this bad!!!!! I think Leyland has lost the respect of his players,Dombrowski needs to take a good long look at his coaching staff there they need to do something else before we get so late in the season,it will be too late for them.I read a post on yahoo sports some doorknob predicted 122 loses for the boys this year< I don’t(hope)it will be that bad but unless some REALLY DRASTIC CHANGES are made 90 losses or more not out of the question,

by STEVIEYz1 on May 6, 2008 11:38 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

These guys were going to score five or six runs every time out!

...but it turns out they’re actually going to score twenty runs once a week, and go 79-81. Sigh.

Well, that’s the depressing scenario, anyway. We can be pretty sure they’re not running away with the Central. But neither is Cleveland. And we have to think this team is at least somewhat better than this, right? A couple good months could be the difference between eighty wins and ninety, right? If even one or two of the starters really gets it going? And ninety wins could be enough, right? Right?

Curtis Granderson for MVP! Curtis Granderson is real good! rocking back and forth and humming with fingers in ears.

by Matt in Toledo on May 7, 2008 9:14 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

that hurts

the fact that after the first week of the season, I had a decision to make, and I dropped Tim Wakefield from my fantasy team in favor of keeping Joe Borowski….ouch

Of course, I’ve also had Wandy Rodriguez in my lineup the past two weeks, he who has been on the DL that whole time. So I think it’s safe to say that I haven’t exactly been paying attention, and the “set lineup by Sunday at midnight for the whole week” set up isn’t the best for a person who is temporarily without a home internet connection.

That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.

by ahtrap on May 7, 2008 10:46 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs