Game 83: Tigers (42-40) at Twins (45-38)
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 6:15 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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PrintDetroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins, Jul 1, 2008 8:10 PM EDT
Nate Robertson (6-6, 5.23) vs. 
Scott Baker (4-2, 3.57)
First things first, Miguel Cabrera is out of the lineup tonight, which was probably expected. But no news seems to be good news, as far as a long-term injury. Maybe the Tigers are waiting to see how Miggy responds in warm-ups and workouts before making a final decision. Marcus Thames gets the start at first base tonight, with Clete Thomas in left and Matt Joyce in right.
Somehow in his last start, Nate Robertson escaped without allowing an earned run, despite giving up 11 hits to the Cardinals in 6 1/3 innings. It was one of the most Houdini-like performances you'll ever see. In two of Robertson's last three starts, in fact, he hasn't allowed an earned run. (In between, he gave up five, which is the Nate we're more familiar with, but give the man his due.) And he has pitched very well against these Minnesota Twins, winning three of his last five starts with a 2.67 ERA. In his last two appearances in the Metrodome, Robertson has just two earned runs in 14 innings.
With Robertson starting, our old friend Craig Monroe should be in the Twins' lineup. Especially since Nate owns Jason Kubel (0-for-11, five strikeouts), as La Velle E. Neal III points out in his Star Tribune blog. (Hat tip to Mack Avenue Tigers) Monroe has actually been terrible against lefties this season, however, batting .103/.175/.155 in 63 plate appearances.
Scott Baker is on a two-game winning streak, giving up four runs in 12 innings. And in his 11 starts this season, he's given up more than three runs only once. One problem he's been running into, however, is high pitch counts that have taken him out of games early. (And given what we've seen from the Minnesota bullpen in recent match-ups, the Twins would probably prefer to keep their starters in there through seven innings.) Baker is winless in his last five appearances against the Tigers, which includes two starts this season. The last time he faced Detroit, Baker had to leave after three innings with a groin injury.
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Starting Lineups
DETROIT
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Carlos Guillen, 3B
4. Marcus Thames, 1B
5. Matt Joyce, RF
6. Gary Sheffield, DH
7. Clete Thomas, LF
8. Edgar Renteria, SS
9. Ivan Rodriguez, C
MINNESOTA
1. Carlos Gomez, CF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Mike Redmond, C
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Craig Monroe, DH
6. Delmon Young, LF
7. Brendan Harris, SS
8. Nick Punto, 3B
9. Denard Span, RF
what a strange looking line up, BUT I LIKE IT!! 1-9 has been producing as of late, so looking forward to seeing how they do tonight..
Cabrera
Sure he hasn’t been great this season but I think he’s only missed one game up until this point. A day or two off could do him some good in a lot of ways.
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Ya, I laugh when
people talk about him as a disappointment. He is batting .280, with 11 dingers and 48 ribbies. That ain’t too shabby, especially for switching leagues, and what not.
bal hasn't left the infield...
and they have guys on 2nd and 3rd.
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That's what Gomez gets for being so damn weird.
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Where’s X-Mo when you need him? (Or her.)
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Um...
Gomez is having himself quite a start to this game. Jumping for a ball he came in too far on in center? Weirdo.
Top of the 2nd
did he just completely breeze thru are 4,5,6 hitters?
Quick Question...
A friend of mine told me about a rumor he heard about Pudge and Craig Monroe. It doesn’t bare repeating but has anyone else heard anything?
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let me clear it up:
they’re not twins separated at birth.
by Kurt Mensching on Jul 1, 2008 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions
you know we are going to get totally bombed one of these nights..Nate cannot allow another 11 hits and think he is going to pitch out of all these jams..I smell something
I was just thinking the same thing.
Just turned the double play. I still agree.
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NO-HITTER
I’ll jinx the hell out of this guy if I have to.
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I'm all over it.
Need to save them though. Can’t go hog-wild.
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Robertson is the Todd Jones of the rotation
There HAS to be a baserunner or 3 every inning, or it just doesn’t feel right…
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
I thought that...
in his last game when he gave up all of those hits and no runs. Very Jonesian.
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holy cow
that was part luck and part skill by polanco. very nice.
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If he's the consensus winner of the "most underrated" poll...
Doesn’t that mean he’s NOT underrated by his peers? My head hurts thinking about such conundrums.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
Marucs has gone...
five ABs without a HR, I’d say he’s due.
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Thames HR Rate...
1 every 9.86 AB
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Oh, good lord...
Did you see that “Do you believe in now?” commercial for Detroit Lions season tickets?
I believe in leaving me alone until I have to think about football – NOW.
is there some rule
the Twins have to get two runners on with no outs every inning or does it just feel like it?
Figures, Craig Monroe would be the one to go deep.
I HATE the Hefty/Baggie/Homerdome.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
They don't play "baseball" in Minny
Thanks to their Mickey Mouse stadium, it’s an arcade version of the game.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
just gonna third that
the place is awful.
by Kurt Mensching on Jul 1, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions
No matter how you slice it...
Nate has not had a very good season so far.
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To El Duderino
I disagree about Nate not having a good season. He struggled out of the gate, as did all of our starters, sans AG, but he gave us two great starts that started this little winning streak and his last outing wasn’t horrible. A little disappointed, sure. But he has always been up and down.
Nate
Has made 17 starts (including tonight) and has given up at least four runs 12 times.
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Good work from Zach Miner
as I continue to be the biggest Miner fan on this board. Coming in with runners on first and second with no one out and not allowing a run is big (huge assist from Clete, of course).
Interesting to see how that compares to all-time, single-season records:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/ABpHR_season.shtml
Positively Sosa-ian.
Links from there to career and active leaders as well.
Interesting list...
Damn, Kevin Mitchell is on that list. I’d forgotten he had one monster MVP season.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
If that number held up...
Look at the two seasons that are right below where Marcus would be (14th all-time). Mantle had 54 HR in ‘61 and Greenberg had 58 HR in ‘38. Also, I knew this before but it is astounding to me every time I think of it; Greenberg had 183 RBI one year. Say what you will about that being a situational statistic but that is incredible. He is NEVER mentioned among the greatest hitters of all time, but he put up just rediculous numbers.
how hard is it to throw strikes?
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Zach Miner
makes me want to puke in rage.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Houdini-like
Miner seems to have picked up something from Robertson.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 10:12 PM EDT reply actions
somebody tell the tigers
that baseball is not a soap opera. they need to stop toying with my emotions….i’d rather not have a stress-induced stroke this young
The 1-2-3 double play!
You rarely ever see it, yet the Tigers manage to turn it twice within a few games.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
Me, on the other hand
I have an early flight tomorrow, so I’ll be giving up. Hell, they came back after I left last night, maybe it’ll work twice in a row!
by pfuhrmeister on Jul 1, 2008 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Have a good night, Pete
Hopefully, there’s some good news for you in the morning.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up reply actions
luck
Hey, we’ve got four double plays, maybe some hitting luck is coming up too.
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get em now!
or at least get close and touch up nathan.
Jeff
Good news
Casey Blake just homered for the Indians in the top of the 10th, so the White Sox may be on their way to a loss.
great news...
lets see if it lasts.. indians have more holes then swiss cheese.
Jeff
not to jinx....
but, if the Tigers win this game, I will be beyond words. They shouldn’t even be in this game.
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The dreaded words...
“Team of Destiny” might have to be utilized.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 10:42 PM EDT up reply actions
indeed...
this could say a lot about Cabrera as well.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Ah, well
Took their shot, it didn’t work.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions
Keeping the Twins off the board here would be nice, though.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 10:45 PM EDT reply actions
predicition...
if the Tigers can tie the game off of Joe Nathan I guarantee a playoff performance. It would be a matter of destiny.
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Punto is MEAT
Got a little greedy there, Nicky.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 10:50 PM EDT reply actions
I'm happy I stayed up to watch this whole game
just to see all the wacky ways the Twins have made outs tonight.
The weird crap that happens in the Baggiedome
never ceases to amaze me. Never.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
Hey if we have 9 games left against the White Sox, and we’re 6 games back, how many to we have to win to take the lead?
8
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions
Bah. Just one of those games.
Still, the Tigers made the Twinkies nervous. Wouldn’t have happened a couple of months ago.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
The formula is pretty clear
Just push the Twins starter to leave in the 5th or 6th and attack the bullpen before Nathan.
Unfortunately, Nate gave up too many runs for that to work tonight.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 11:00 PM EDT reply actions
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