Game 80: Rockies (32-48) at Tigers (39-40)
by Ian Casselberry
on Jun 28, 2008 4:00 PM EDT
in News
Colorado @ Detroit
Jeff Francis (3-7, 5.65) vs. 
Justin Verlander (4-9, 4.49)
At the risk of invoking any sort of disfavor from the baseball gods (particularly the one named Jinx), I won't explicitly mention what the Detroit Tigers will accomplish with a win tonight. But you know what I'm talking about. It's something that hasn't been in reach since the first week of April, something that we took for granted before this season began.
Jeff Francis was knocked around by the Royals in his last start, giving up seven runs, seven hits, and three walks in just 4 1/3 innings. The first inning has been particularly problematic, with opposing lineups batting .413/.471/.600 against him. Francis has given up more hits, runs, and walks during the first than in any other inning, so the Tigers should have a chance to jump on him early tonight.
Meanwhile, Justin Verlander looks to be throwing as well as he has all season. Against the Padres, Verlander notched 10 strikeouts while allowing only two runs in 5 1/3 innings. He also walked five batters, so his control wasn't great. But the velocity was most certainly there.
Marcus Thames is back in the lineup after a two-game layoff. His absence raised enough questions for Jim Leyland to address before last night's game. Thames wasn't being benched, Leyland said, but he had "been out of character a little bit." Apparently, that home run streak made The Hammer a bit impulsive at the plate and perhaps threw his swing out of whack. Clete Thomas filled in quite well, but he obviously can't bring the thunder of The Mighty Thames.
Short Hops:
▪▪ Ramon Santiago says his shoulder is feeling better, and hopes to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week.
▪▪ Placido Polanco was voted the most underrated player in baseball in a Sports Illustrated poll of major league players. This means he's no longer underrated, right?
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tough break
Too bad for Polanco. He’s now the Tayshaun Prince of MLB.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
by spotstarters on Jun 28, 2008 4:33 PM EDT 0 recs
Accomplishment? What are you talking about? There’s nothing remarkable about this game in any possible way.
by tplants on Jun 28, 2008 6:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Who was the pitcher who bucked tradition
by telling everyone in the dugout that he was pitching a perfect game in progress? I think we should channel him today.
by Juskimo on Jun 28, 2008 7:13 PM EDT 0 recs
And
Taveras – CF
Helton – 1b
Holliday – LF
Hawpe – RF
Atkins – 3b
Spilborghs – DH
Baker – 2b
Iannetta – C
Tulowitzki – SS
Renteria – SS
Polanco – 2b
Guillen – 3b
Ordonez – RF
Cabrera – 1b
Sheffield – DH
Pudge – c
Grandy – CF
by Juskimo on Jun 28, 2008 7:17 PM EDT 0 recs
Ugg
Thames is hitting 6th (bet Miggy and Shef) and playing right for Los Tigres
by Juskimo on
Jun 28, 2008 7:18 PM EDT
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Ha! Rod and Mario were talking about Francis’ first inning troubles. Luckily, they refrained from calling it Jeremy Bonderman disease.
Speaking of, did he have his surgery yet? Did it go well?
by tplants on Jun 28, 2008 7:19 PM EDT 0 recs
I recommend that
Maggs not allow his children in the bed, or in the alternative, sleep in the guest room.
by Juskimo on Jun 28, 2008 7:46 PM EDT 0 recs
Maggs
didn’t look too serious, but it’s never good to see one of the biggest producers in pain.
by LosTigres on Jun 28, 2008 7:47 PM EDT 0 recs
Wow.
Nice little mini-victory for JV to get out of that jam.
by LosTigres on Jun 28, 2008 7:57 PM EDT 0 recs
The Alaskan League plays across the street from me
I can see the outfield and second and third base from my balcony.
by Juskimo on Jun 28, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs
RABURN!!!!
SALAMI!!!!!!!!!
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 8:28 PM EDT 0 recs
85 Pitches for Francis so far
Where’s Grilli?
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 8:31 PM EDT 0 recs
oh i hope they bring him out. what do you guys think will they cheer him or boo him?
by HavocRox on
Jun 28, 2008 8:33 PM EDT
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it's what have you done for me lately
mostly boo and I’ll never forget his implosion in the 2006 WS
by MSU4LIF on
Jun 28, 2008 8:37 PM EDT
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isn't Raburn a scrub?
I mean… that’s what you would think if you lived in San Francisco
by Boney on Jun 28, 2008 8:35 PM EDT 0 recs
whew
big whiff there for JV
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 8:47 PM EDT 0 recs
lat/oblique spasm
radio guys seem to think a few days rest will cure it
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on
Jun 28, 2008 9:04 PM EDT
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i'm with Juskimo
Maggs is not allow to move any pillows for the next few days
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on
Jun 28, 2008 9:07 PM EDT
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it's ok
wish it would stop raining in my area… it seems like every day it rains now
by Boney on
Jun 28, 2008 9:18 PM EDT
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Easy
some of us are in the lawn mowing industry and we’re loving this rain haha
by rossjohnson87 on
Jun 28, 2008 9:19 PM EDT
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yeah well...
if you’re in the DC area you know what happens when it rains. all the idiot drivers get extremely friendly with the brake pedal
by Boney on
Jun 28, 2008 9:21 PM EDT
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Miner
Did the Tigers really trade Bautista when they could’ve sent down Miner? Just checking.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 28, 2008 9:16 PM EDT 0 recs
maybe we can get Bautista back...
with or without that arm bruise he has
by Boney on Jun 28, 2008 9:19 PM EDT 0 recs
Escape!
Got Helton on a check swing!
I’d love to see a replay of that, but Helton doesn’t appear to be putting up much of a fight on the call.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 28, 2008 9:21 PM EDT 0 recs
How did JV look
Was it the walks or what…that pitch count is high for 5 innings
by dettigionswings'stons on Jun 28, 2008 9:22 PM EDT 0 recs
My how far Helton has fallen...
jesus… he used to be a legit triple crown threat, now he’s turned into JT Snow
by Boney on Jun 28, 2008 9:24 PM EDT 0 recs
Brad Hawpe
That young man has not had a good series.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 28, 2008 9:36 PM EDT 0 recs
i just looked at the yahoo game page (not gamecast), and they had grilli in his tigers hat, against Miggy….in his Tigers hat….and I got really confused, and had a mini-heart attack thinking that somehow we had reacquired him….
by ahtrap on
Jun 28, 2008 9:39 PM EDT
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what’s the deal with Magglio leaving?
come to think of it, what’s the deal with me dropping in for a second and leaving, too? I gotta get me to a bar to watch the coming of .500 baseball in Detroit :)
(or to celebrate a friend’s 25th birthday….both excuses oughta work…..)
by ahtrap on Jun 28, 2008 9:37 PM EDT 0 recs
I was waiting for this moment for quite some time.
Let’s go bats.
by LosTigres on Jun 28, 2008 9:37 PM EDT 0 recs
now
why couldn’t he do that when he was a Tiger?
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 9:41 PM EDT 0 recs
c'mon DP and we're done
Moustache power Todd!
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 10:03 PM EDT 0 recs
anytime i see Jonesy nearing the 25 pitch mark
i throw up in my mouth a little bit
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 10:09 PM EDT 0 recs
so much for good luck
maybe you needed to put it up before the top half started
by MSU4LIF on Jun 28, 2008 10:10 PM EDT 0 recs
there it is
1st blown save of the year….Bring in Dolsi STAT
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 10:10 PM EDT 0 recs
Okay
1) Booing Jonesy like that seems a bit harsh.
2) Cheering when Leyland comes to take him out? Also harsh.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 28, 2008 10:12 PM EDT 0 recs
Though that WAS brutal
Four runs and five hits? Awful effort by Jonesy.
by Ian Casselberry on
Jun 28, 2008 10:14 PM EDT
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Jones' new nickname?
taken from Earl Weaver’s name for Don Stanhouse:
“Full pack”
because Leyland smokes a full pack of cigarettes worrying about Jones’ ability to close out a game
by Boney on Jun 28, 2008 10:14 PM EDT 0 recs
The Rain
Should only last about 20 minutes or so. Now isn’t this something? My God, I don’t want to lose this.
by densogirl on Jun 28, 2008 10:14 PM EDT 0 recs
The sky is crying
Crying at this ninth inning.
by Ian Casselberry on Jun 28, 2008 10:15 PM EDT 0 recs
I haven't felt that uneasy about a Jones' appearance since
Game 2 of the ‘06 ALCS until the Big Skirt hit that towering popup to center with 2 out and the bases loaded
by Boney on
Jun 28, 2008 10:19 PM EDT
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No offense to any girls here but...
Fuentes throws like a girl
by Boney on Jun 28, 2008 10:20 PM EDT 0 recs
let Rayburn do it if Guillen reaches
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on
Jun 28, 2008 10:22 PM EDT
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usually I'm pulling for Fuentes but...
seeing the Tigers reach .500 after everyone has already written them off is what I want to see…
I’ll take Fuentes not getting a save for my fantasy team if the Tigers pull it out
by Boney on Jun 28, 2008 10:22 PM EDT 0 recs
Cabrera's due for a big hit
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on Jun 28, 2008 10:26 PM EDT 0 recs
holy balls
if you excuse I’m off to play the lottery
http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/
by rock n rye on
Jun 28, 2008 10:27 PM EDT
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