Game 83: Tigers (42-40) at Twins (45-38)
by Ian Casselberry
on Jul 1, 2008 6:15 PM EDT
in News
Detroit @ Minnesota
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
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 6:18 PM EDT 0 recs
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..
by PBURGTIGER on Jul 1, 2008 7:37 PM EDT 0 recs
can't say I like any lineup without Miggy and Maggs
but this one will hopefully do alright.
by ThaWalrus9 on
Jul 1, 2008 7:58 PM EDT
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on the bright side
Twins aren’t marching out a fantastic lineup either.
by MackAveKurt on Jul 1, 2008 8:02 PM EDT 0 recs
Cabrera IS in uniform
And could be available to pinch-hit, according to MLB.com.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 8:05 PM EDT 0 recs
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.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:07 PM EDT 0 recs
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.
by Zappatista on
Jul 1, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
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carlos gomez...
is crazy.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:19 PM EDT 0 recs
I don't trust guys who sprint to first when walked
My semi-random observation for the evening.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 8:20 PM EDT 0 recs
i'm right there with ya
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by spotstarters on
Jul 1, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
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awful start for nate
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:21 PM EDT 0 recs
bal hasn't left the infield...
and they have guys on 2nd and 3rd.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:21 PM EDT 0 recs
C'mon, man
Gomez on third without a base hit? Shake it off, Nate.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 8:21 PM EDT 0 recs
That's what Gomez gets for being so damn weird.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:22 PM EDT 0 recs
A good throw would've nailed Gomez, anyway
But still, not the brightest play by the young man.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs
Whoa.
I just went to get something to drink. What the hell happened?
by Grant E. on Jul 1, 2008 8:25 PM EDT 0 recs
did you see how much gomez messed up the chalk? what a jerk. :D
by wepri31 on Jul 1, 2008 8:26 PM EDT 0 recs
Um...
Gomez is having himself quite a start to this game. Jumping for a ball he came in too far on in center? Weirdo.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 8:31 PM EDT 0 recs
Top of the 2nd
did he just completely breeze thru are 4,5,6 hitters?
by PBURGTIGER on Jul 1, 2008 8:32 PM EDT 0 recs
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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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:33 PM EDT 0 recs
let me clear it up:
they’re not twins separated at birth.
by MackAveKurt on
Jul 1, 2008 8:35 PM EDT
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right you are.
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by spotstarters on
Jul 1, 2008 8:36 PM EDT
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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
by PBURGTIGER on Jul 1, 2008 8:36 PM EDT 0 recs
I was just thinking the same thing.
Just turned the double play. I still agree.
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by spotstarters on
Jul 1, 2008 8:36 PM EDT
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Miner
Is going to be in for some real “middle” relief, like 5 innings worth, at this rate.
by Zappatista on Jul 1, 2008 8:37 PM EDT 0 recs
It's like a Molly Hatchet song
Cause Nate’s been “Flirtin’ with Disaster’
by ReichardZ on Jul 1, 2008 8:37 PM EDT 0 recs
NO-HITTER
I’ll jinx the hell out of this guy if I have to.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:43 PM EDT 0 recs
hahahaha
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by spotstarters on
Jul 1, 2008 8:44 PM EDT
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Feel free to continue jinxing!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on
Jul 1, 2008 8:45 PM EDT
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I'm all over it.
Need to save them though. Can’t go hog-wild.
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by spotstarters on
Jul 1, 2008 8:46 PM EDT
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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
by BigAl on Jul 1, 2008 8:51 PM EDT 0 recs
I thought that...
in his last game when he gave up all of those hits and no runs. Very Jonesian.
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by spotstarters on
Jul 1, 2008 8:53 PM EDT
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holy cow
that was part luck and part skill by polanco. very nice.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 8:53 PM EDT 0 recs
this is
10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will
5% pleasure, 50% pain and a 100% reason to remember the name
by wepri31 on
Jul 1, 2008 8:56 PM EDT
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it’s strange to me that he is still seen as underrated even after being in the all star game last year
by wepri31 on
Jul 1, 2008 8:54 PM EDT
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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
by BigAl on
Jul 1, 2008 8:55 PM EDT
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That was one bad ass play by the Placidome!
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on Jul 1, 2008 8:53 PM EDT 0 recs
Marucs has gone...
five ABs without a HR, I’d say he’s due.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 9:00 PM EDT 0 recs
freebie.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 9:01 PM EDT 0 recs
Thames HR Rate...
1 every 9.86 AB
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 9:02 PM EDT 0 recs
as much I'm sorry to see the inning end
the in-box guest on the Minnesota network was excruciating.
by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 1, 2008 9:08 PM EDT 0 recs
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.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 1, 2008 9:08 PM EDT 0 recs
Is that what they call what the Lions do? Football?
by Zappatista on
Jul 1, 2008 9:09 PM EDT
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is there some rule
the Twins have to get two runners on with no outs every inning or does it just feel like it?
by MackAveKurt on Jul 1, 2008 9:12 PM EDT 0 recs
easy out here.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 9:13 PM EDT 0 recs
that's on me.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 9:14 PM EDT 0 recs
HOLY COW
ESPN just let us know that the Tigers scored a run.
by pfuhrmeister on Jul 1, 2008 9:14 PM EDT 0 recs
Figures, Craig Monroe would be the one to go deep.
I HATE the Hefty/Baggie/Homerdome.
waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com
by BigAl on Jul 1, 2008 9:15 PM EDT 0 recs
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
by BigAl on
Jul 1, 2008 9:24 PM EDT
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No matter how you slice it...
Nate has not had a very good season so far.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 9:28 PM EDT 0 recs
not going so well
but man, that Polanco is underrated
by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 1, 2008 9:30 PM EDT 0 recs
This is getting out of control.
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by spotstarters on Jul 1, 2008 9:30 PM EDT 0 recs