Game 68: Dodgers (31-36) at Tigers (30-37)
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 2:00 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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PrintLos Angeles Dodgers at Detroit Tigers, Jun 14, 2008 3:55 PM EDT
Brad Penny (5-8, 5.38) vs. 
Eddie Bonine (0-0, -.--)
Unlike last night, the weather should be beautiful this afternoon at Comerica Park. Of course, the sun shines that much brighter, the heat feels more comfortable, and cool beverages are that much more refreshing when the home team is playing well. And right now, it's going pretty well for the men of the Olde English D.
The infusion of Mud Hen power into the big league lineup has been a factor in this turnaround, and one of Toledo's best makes his major league debut today. Here's what you can expect from Eddie Bonine, courtesy of Take 75 North:
He’s big at 6′5″, and is listed at 220 pounds. He works with a fastball that reportedly ranges from 88-91 mph, and complements it with a knuckler. Now, I just recently saw Bonine pitch in person. I think he touched 90 once and the rest was 87-89 or obviously an offspeed pitch. As for the knuckler, that thing is crazy. Have you ever looked at a digital clock and done the motorboat thing with your lips? Well if you do, it you will notice the digital numbers seem to kind of dance before your eyes.
For the Dodgers, Brad Penny is on a four-game losing streak, and has lost six of his last seven starts. As you might imagine with a team that's had as much trouble scoring runs as the Dodgers, run support has been a big problem. In those six losses, only nine total runs were scored for Penny. He hasn't pitched all that well during that span, posting a 7.71 ERA and giving up 52 hits in 39 2/3 innings, but Penny has thrown quality starts in his last two outings.
And if you have to ask why I'm including a banner for Vernor's ginger ale in this GameThread, well, you haven't been paying much attention in recent days. The fizzy golden elixir with the pungent flavor of ginger, vanilla, and spice has brought its effervescence to all of us. We're not messing with a winning streak.
Today's game is on FOX, which means many of you outside Detroit likely won't get to see the telecast. (It's only going out to 17% of the country.) That brings the team of Dick Stockton and Eric Karros into town, and they haven't seen much good baseball from the Tigers. Hopefully, that changes today. Maybe someone should bring some "ginger ale" up to the FOX broadcast booth.
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I will handle the line up today, thank you..
Tig’s
C Granderson CF
P Polanco 2B
C Guillen 3B
M Ordonez RF
M Cabrera 1B
J Larish DH
E Renteria SS
M Thames LF
I Rodriguez C
Dodgers
J Pierre LF
B DeWitt 3B
J Kent 2B
J Loney 1B
R Martin C
A Ethier RF
M Kemp CF
D Young DH
A Berroa SS
Thanks for posting the lineup!
I was at the movies. Hulk smash!
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Not so much love of the glove
Renteria can’t get Kemp on an infield hit, and then Pudge throws it into centerfield trying to catch him stealing.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:15 PM EDT reply actions
THX
I am going to need those little things explained as I can’t watch (It’s Saturday baseball!). Gamecast sucks…
Easy for me to say...
But I wonder if Renteria would’ve gotten Kemp had he not spun before making the throw. Not really a criticism, as I’m sure that works for him 8 out of 10 times.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions
Popped up in foul territory, for what that’s worth.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Bonine
Seems like the knuckler is working as there have been a lot of ground outs so far. Does it look nasty?
Don't know if I'd call it nasty
But it does have some good movement, and flutters down as it crosses the plate.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Grandy again to the opposite field
His average isn’t going to be .240 for very long if he keeps taking it the other way. Another nice piece of hitting to go along with last night.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:43 PM EDT reply actions
His middle name is "Danger"
Leyland trying for the squeeze! Polanco bunted it foul, though.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:44 PM EDT reply actions
Solid
The defense needs to play better behind Bonine. They’ve had a couple of miscues that haven’t really come back to bite him yet.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions
3 runs down against a power pitcher...
Gonna have to battle now. Let’s see if we can claw one or two back in the 4th.
Tiger Claw!
A two-run shot by Cabrera! That’s one way to do it. Penny grooved that pitch to him.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Dick Stockton
I remember Dick calling NBA games in the late 80’s and early 90’s and he seemed a lot more coherent. He’s stumbling over his words and stuff today. He’s slipping.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
The Hammer!
Yeah, I think Marcus Thames needs to stay in the lineup.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:08 PM EDT reply actions
Thames
I’m with ya and if that means cutting Sheffield loose I think they should think about it.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
by spotstarters on Jun 14, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Looper
Did Dick Stockton just call that a “looper”?
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Yeah, that was almost to the fence. Not exactly a ducksnort.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Stockton is horrible
Last season, in the playoffs, he repeatedly referred to Arramis Ramirez as Rodrigo Ramirez.
They are who we thought they were? :-)
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Bullpen
I can’t imagine Leyland is expecting to get more than 5 IP out of Bonine. Luckily, the bullpen is well rested after the last 4 games.
Hey Guys
Over from Diamondback’s Snakepit, just enjoying the whuppin the Tigers are putting on our closes division rival. Keep it up!!!
Let us know the secret to beating the Royals this weekend. We seem to be the only team in the league unable to solve that puzzle this year.
Hmm secret to beating Royals
Well since we managed to score one-run against them in 10 innings, I would say the secret is having awesome pitching, patience and a left-handed bat.
Thanks for popping in
Very cool. Love how the new SB Nation platform makes that easier for everyone.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Bonine
In line for the win here. Good for him.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
Larish
Even he’s getting in on it, good to see.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
Berroa spikes the throw home
Nice to see the other team make the dumb mistakes now.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:35 PM EDT reply actions
Berroa
He’s been doing that for years. Some things never change.
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by spotstarters on Jun 14, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Spoke too soon?
The Tigers have two guys on third base in a rundown. Lucky not to get a double play out of that.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Hey
That looks familiar. Nice to be on the other side.
When it rains, it pours
Proctor throws a pitch in the dirt, Larish comes home.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:38 PM EDT reply actions
I'm only listening to this game
but it sounds like the Dodgers are doing the Keystone Kopps routine this inning.
For all the gnashing of teeth over the makeup of our roster the last 2 months, at least DD didn’t give Pierre $45M and Andruw $36M/2.
Fighting Conditions?
Aren’t blowouts the kind of environments where fights become more possible?
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HD
I simply was not prepared to see Polanco in HD the 1st time after I got my new tv.
And that's probably it for Bonine.
A double and a home run. Don’t squander that big lead, kid.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:48 PM EDT reply actions
I’m sorry, but how does Leyland not have someone warming up already?
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Decent debut
For all the hits he gave up, only a few were hard hit. Hopefully they can hang on to get him the W. And he’s got a great name. Sounds like he should have been pitching for the 1919 Black Sox
Good enough
Which is exactly what the Tigers needed.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions
Casey Fossum
Doesn’t fill me with confidence.
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Casey is just trying to be helpful
He’s trying to make Dombrowski’s decision about who to send down easy
Surprised they sent down Rapada
I know it comes down to options. And maybe they kept Fossum in case Bonine didn’t work out. But Rapada should be in the bigs.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions
Hmmm...
That would be a tough one to digest, at this point. Don’t you have to wait and see if Zumaya and Rodney are back healthy?
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 6:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Dolsi
I don’t think they can send Dolsi down at this point, options or not.
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by spotstarters on Jun 14, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
That would be no
He and Larish could have a curl-off. Maybe Maggs could join in, too.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Let's Get Ready To Rumble?
Here comes Cory Wade.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 6:07 PM EDT reply actions
fight
I like a fight as much as the next guy but the last thing we need is some key guys getting suspended right when we finally get hot.
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by spotstarters on Jun 14, 2008 6:08 PM EDT up reply actions
fick
The best brawlers were Fick and Weaver, those guys threw down.
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by spotstarters on Jun 14, 2008 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions
A brief geek break
They just showed a commercial for ‘The Dark Knight’ – Holy overkill, I can’t wait for that movie!
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 6:09 PM EDT reply actions
Better than I thought it would be
A solid, overblown action movie. Kind of like Iron Man, I thought it was better until the climactic battle. The first part of the movie is actually really good.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions
Thames
Did I miss Cleven come in last inning or did they just PH for Thames?
Maybe Leyland wants Clevlen to get a few at-bats, too.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Dolsi sent down?
Here’s the Tigers’ current pitching staff: Verlander, Rogers, Robertson, Galarraga, Bonine, Fossum, Lopez, Bautista, Jones, Seay, Dolsi, Miner.
When Rodney comes up, lets assume they send down Fossum. What happens when Zumaya gets called up? Does anyone else (besides Bonine and Galarraga, who the Tigers need right now) even have options left?
no comments
on the grim math of the bullpen crunch? Some would call it a good problem to have, too many good arms…
I thought that Miner and Lopez each had an option left. But I am not confident in that thought.
It is nice that Rodney and Zumaya will not be coming back at the same time. It gives Leyland time to see how Rodney reacts and more time to shed some light on who should be sent down for Zumaya.
honestly
I don’t have a good handle on who has options left. If Lopez has an option left, I think he’s the one to go. If Miner is the only guy with an option left, I still think they send Dolsi down. Miner would be the only long relief type, and has pitched great after a bad April.
And if Rodney/Zumaya are effective then where does Dolsi fit in? May as well send him down to get late inning opportunities.
I agree
Look at Dolsi’s career stats:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/D/Freddy-Dolsi.shtml
He has 11 inning above single A. As well he’s done, a little more minor league seasoning couldn’t hurt.
Agreed
Should you tell DD what we decided or shall I?
Pudge
I am not Pudge’s biggest fan at this stage of his career, but he has had some excellent ABs today.
he's a shell of his former self
but he’s probably a league average catcher still, especially when you consider he’s still an above average defender (but not the defensive god he once was)
Pierre
Love to see Juan Pierre step up to the plate in that situation.
Comerica Park's centerfield
Doesn’t that 420-foot distance make more center fielders look bad (balls going over their heads) than any other?
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 6:42 PM EDT reply actions
Update – he has played about 1/3 of his games in CF in his career. But, they gave Jones that ridiculous contract this past winter, so they obv don’t see him as their LT solution in CF.
I totally forgot Andruw Jones plays for the Dodgers now.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 14, 2008 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Granderson
Plus, if you compare everyone to Granderson they just about all look bad out there.
agreed
remember the ridiculous Nook or Grandy debates from a few years back. Glad to say I was always behind Grandy….
It just goes to show how far this team has come. It wasn’t too long ago that they were running Alex Sanchez out there everyday.
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