Game 59: Tigers (24-34) at Athletics (32-27)

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 4, 2008 2:31 PM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

Detroit Tigers at Oakland Athletics, Jun 4, 2008 3:35 PM EDT

Nate Robertson (3-5, 5.92) vs. Justin Duchscherer (4-4, 2.27)

The idea that the Tigers are reduced to trying to salvage a win in the final game of this series is tremendously vexing, considering that wins were there for the taking in each of the previous two games. But that's what we're forced to choke down this afternoon.

Jim Leyland put last night's loss on his offense (or lack thereof), and if the Tigers don't start scoring some more runs (which might not be so easy), this exercise in frustration will surely continue. Justin Duchscherer might not be the guy to kick off a run parade, either, as he's allowed more than two runs only once among his eight starts this season. And unlike last night, when Dana Eveland was handing out free passes to virtually everyone (rhough the Tigers didn't capitalize), Duchscherer doesn't walk many batters, so Detroit will have to swing the bats to get on base.

Can Nate Robertson keep his winning streak going? He's won his last two starts, benefiting from some uncustomarily generous run support (26 runs!) from his lineup. Any chance that continues today? If you're a believer in Robertson's good start-bad start pattern, he's due for a decent outing today after giving up four runs (and two homers to Adrian Beltre) in his previous start. Good luck, Nate. We're all counting on you.

It's a reserve middle infield today for the Tigers, as both Placido Polanco and Edgar Renteria get the day off. According to Jason Beck, Leyland would've rested two more guys, but injuries to Clete Thomas and Brandon Inge are keeping Magglio Ordonez and Pudge Rodriguez in the lineup.

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Starting Lineups

DETROIT

1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Carlos Guillen, 3B
3. Marcus Thames, LF
4. Magglio Ordonez, RF
5. Jeff Larish, DH
6. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
7. Pudge Rodriguez, C
8. Ramon Santiago, SS
9. Ryan Raburn, 2B

OAKLAND

1. Jack Hannahan, 3B
2. Mark Ellis, 2B
3. Jack Cust, DH
4. Bobby Crosby, SS
5. Emil Brown, LF
6. Daric Barton, 1B
7. Travis Buck, RF
8. Carlos Gonzalez, CF
9. Rob Bowen, C

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 4, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions

GAME 58

mize will watch the game, I am stuck at work for a few more hours….used to be enjoyable to follow the Tigers, mise well be 2003 again..

by PBURGTIGER on Jun 4, 2008 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Game 59

Oops – had that one wrong. Forgot to change the number. Although I’m sure most of us would like to forget that Game 59 actually took place, considering the disgusting result.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 4, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Offense?

do we have anyone who can hit the ball?

by HavocRox on Jun 4, 2008 4:30 PM EDT reply actions

well on thier way..

11 games under .500. this is tough to watch.

Jeff

by cannonad03 on Jun 4, 2008 4:45 PM EDT reply actions

bases loaded

can we avoid the dreaded double play?

by HavocRox on Jun 4, 2008 4:57 PM EDT reply actions

of course not we have no clutch hitting at all

by HavocRox on Jun 4, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Juidging from your comments

This site needs some Paxil, desperately.

by Birdrights on Jun 4, 2008 5:06 PM EDT reply actions

You must not have watched this team too often.

by Grant E. on Jun 4, 2008 5:09 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd say I've seen worse

But I’d be lying.

Still, I’m not going to abandon them. Well, except Cabrera: I am abandoning him.

by Birdrights on Jun 4, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

At least Willis is back

and doesn’t look too bad.

by Birdrights on Jun 4, 2008 5:07 PM EDT reply actions

i agree with that aside from the walks he looked good

by HavocRox on Jun 4, 2008 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I hope that's not sarcasm

Because I thought a lot of those balls looked good. The ump wasn’t giving him much room to move around in.

by Birdrights on Jun 4, 2008 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

silver lining

the only good thing about this game is that I don’t have to stay up til 2am to watch them lose again

by wepri31 on Jun 4, 2008 5:47 PM EDT reply actions

WTF

I leave work and it’s 2-3 and I come home to this?

by Zappatista on Jun 4, 2008 5:59 PM EDT reply actions

I was mentally unprepared for the seventh, too.

by Birdrights on Jun 4, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

i was mentally unprepared for the whole season

by wepri31 on Jun 4, 2008 6:05 PM EDT reply actions

once again i say

FIRE LEYLAND!!!!!!! time to clean house he can take fat cabrera and lazy sheff with him

by HavocRox on Jun 4, 2008 6:06 PM EDT reply actions

Cabrera

is not the reason this team sucks. Do you really think he will hit 276/359/457 over the entire length of the contract? He has hit 310/386/535 over more than 3000 PAs and you want to get rid of him over a mediocre 250? I realize there are frustrations, but let’s at least put some thought into who we are frustrated at and why.

by tbliggins on Jun 4, 2008 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions

can we have the 2006 team back? i hope all the boys who got traded away are laughing, cuz they are the lucky ones.

by wepri31 on Jun 4, 2008 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

I'm not one to second-guess...

But why not pinch-hit for Raburn for Polanco in the 7th?
Down 2 with two on, bring in a guy that’s been killing A’s pitching his entire career. I guess with the way the bottom of the 7th went down it doesn’t really matter

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com/

by rock n rye on Jun 4, 2008 8:06 PM EDT reply actions