Chicago @ Detroit GameThread, Jul 25, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Game 102: White Sox (57-43) at Tigers (52-49)

by Ian Casselberry on Jul 25, 2008 5:00 PM EDT in News

Chicago @ Detroit

Gavin Floyd (10-6, 3.52) vs. Nate Robertson (6-8, 5.69)

Given that the Detroit Tigers "had" to win three out of four from the Minnesota Twins before the All-Star break and three out of four from the Baltimore Orioles after the mid-season recess, and only won four of those eight games, I hesitate to suggest what needs to be done this weekend against the Chicago White Sox. But winning this series would certainly make the AL Central race extremely interesting.

Gavin Floyd began this season looking like an AL Cy Young Award candidate, but maybe beating the Tigers in his first two starts of the year had something to do with that. In those two games, Floyd allowed just three runs in 13 1/3 innings. And in that second start, he had a no-hitter going through 7 1/3 innings.

But as we know now, that was a different Tigers team. And it was against these same White Sox that Detroit finally started to play like a team interested in competing for a post-season spot, sweeping a three-game series from Chicago in early June. Since then, the Tigers are 23-12, a .657 winning percentage. Add those three games, and it's .684.

And who knows what that record could be if Nate Robertson wasn't going through one of his worst stretches of the season?

Robertson is winless in his previous five starts, and last Saturday against Baltimore was the sour, rotten cherry on top. He not only couldn't hold the 6-0 lead he was given in the first inning, he couldn't even pitch through three innings. It was an absolutely terrible performance, and despite being a fan favorite, I think people are as down on Nate as they've ever been. Pitching well tonight would go a long, long way to restoring some confidence for all involved.

South Side Sox has your SB Nation opposing view for this weekend's series.

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Comments

Tonight

Hopefully, Nasty Nate can bring it back to the good side…but I will be missing the festivities as the IMA (Indianapolis Musuem of Art) has Friday night movies outside in their ampitheater. Tonight you ask? The Big Lebowski under the stars, and you know the dude has to abide. I’ve got the caucasians on ice, and a few oat soda’s.

Go Tigers.

by Zappatista on Jul 25, 2008 5:19 PM EDT 0 recs

Is WGN showing the game tonight? I’ve gotten accustomed to watching the games on tv again after having four games on local cable for me against Baltimore and getting to watch the KC series due to the Extra Innings free preview.

Back to the laptop screen and mlb.tv for me…

by Jerkwheat on Jul 25, 2008 5:23 PM EDT 0 recs

WGN isn't showing the game

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up 0 recs

Box score

Where is it? Not on here….not on Yahoo…..20 minutes to game time…..I need to set up my fantasy line up?

by MSU4LIF on Jul 25, 2008 6:46 PM EDT 0 recs

I was just saying WTF to the same thing.

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 6:48 PM EDT up 0 recs

Yahoo just got hit

Wow….no Thames for a third game in a row….guess I’m starting Joyce tonight.

by MSU4LIF on Jul 25, 2008 6:51 PM EDT 0 recs

Lineups

Sox

O Cabrera, SS
AJ Pierzynski, C
C Quentin, LF
J Dye, RF
J Thome, DH
P Konerko, 1B
N Swisher, CF
J Fields, 3B
A Ramirez, 2B

Tigres

C Granderson, CF
P Polanco, 2B
C Guillen, 3B
M Ordonez, RF
M Cabrera 1B
M Joyce, LF
G Sheffield, DH
I Rodriguez, C
E Renteria, SS

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 6:53 PM EDT 0 recs

Role Call

Pale Hose

SS Cabrera, Orlando
C Pierzynski, AJ
LF Quentin, Carlos
RF Dye, Jermaine
DH Thome, Jim
1B Konerko, Paul
CF Swisher, Nick
3B Fields, Josh
2B Ramirez, Alexei

Kitties

CF Granderson, Curtis
2B Polanco, Placido
3B Guillen, Carlos
RF Ordonez, Magglio
1B Cabrera, Miguel
LF Joyce, Matt
DH Sheffield, Gary
C Rodriguez, Ivan
SS Renteria, Edgar

by pfuhrmeister on Jul 25, 2008 6:54 PM EDT 0 recs

Ah

The Walrus beat me to it!

by pfuhrmeister on Jul 25, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

gotcha!

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 6:56 PM EDT up 0 recs

The real deal

Just so y’all know, the original ginger soda, Vernor’s, is in the house!

by densogirl on Jul 25, 2008 6:58 PM EDT 0 recs

wish I was from Michigan so I knew what this stuff is.

Being down here in ‘bama, I’m missing the official drink of my adopted home (Maine) which is the one and only Moxie.

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

feels a bit like a playoff game doesn't it?

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:03 PM EDT 0 recs

a bit, yeah

how’s everyone feeling? confident?

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 7:03 PM EDT up 0 recs

extremely

confident tonight

by wepri31 on Jul 25, 2008 7:04 PM EDT up 0 recs

meh...

trying to. nate needs to get them off on the right foot.

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

it really hinges on Nate

I’m not terribly impressed by Floyd.

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 7:05 PM EDT up 0 recs

man, you just jinxed that...

sorry, i’m a bit on edge.

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:06 PM EDT up 0 recs

atta boy nate...

great start.

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:08 PM EDT 0 recs

Wait a minute...

Mario might’ve just inadvertently given Matt Joyce a nickname…

Jump for Joyce?

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 7:09 PM EDT 0 recs

Hey MacRae

Inge played SS and was a relief pitcher in college…..

Check Wiki

(From a posting in the Trade Subject prior to the thread)

I had written to move Inge to SS. macRae said he never played there.

by MSU4LIF on Jul 25, 2008 7:10 PM EDT 0 recs

he's such a good third baseman

he’d have to be at least average defensively at short, right?

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 7:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

I had said a few days ago to....

move Guillen back to SS and Inge to 3B, but then I thought more about it…..on Inge’s days off or backing up Pudge that would be too much moving back and forth from 3B to SS for Guillen

by MSU4LIF on Jul 25, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

let's make floyd throw some pitches...

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:11 PM EDT 0 recs

anyone else noticed

the immortal Jason Johnson just resurfaced with the LA Dodgers?

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 7:13 PM EDT 0 recs

only in the national league west

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:15 PM EDT up 0 recs

i think that's a different jason johnson...

i could be wrong though.

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:13 PM EDT 0 recs

wow...

its the same one. wow.

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:14 PM EDT up 0 recs

Nice AB

for Carlos

by pfuhrmeister on Jul 25, 2008 7:18 PM EDT 0 recs

seems like every time he sees more than 4 pitches he ends up on base one way or another

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

by rock n rye on Jul 25, 2008 7:19 PM EDT up 0 recs

thank you

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:19 PM EDT 0 recs

any way they can give Guillen an RBI there?

by ThaWalrus9 on Jul 25, 2008 7:20 PM EDT 0 recs

HEADS UP!!!!

air mail from Orlando Cabrera

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

by rock n rye on Jul 25, 2008 7:20 PM EDT 0 recs

22 pitches for floyd

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:24 PM EDT 0 recs

Just like KC

get the starter to 100 by the 5th, and feast on the bullpen

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

by rock n rye on Jul 25, 2008 7:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

I'd have like to have seen more runs..

But it was nice to see Floyd have to work to get out of the inning. Hopefully the Tigers can keep it up. Nothing worse than one of those 6-7 pitch innings.

waynefontes.com sidelionreport.com

by BigAl on Jul 25, 2008 7:27 PM EDT up 0 recs

feeling good.

Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.

by spotstarters on Jul 25, 2008 7:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Who is that guy with the glasses?

And what has he done with Nate Robertson?

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

by rock n rye on Jul 25, 2008 7:28 PM EDT 0 recs

Resurrect the WGN question

ok, so apparently, they’re not showing it tonight, but is WGN carrying any of the series this weekend?

Just wondering if I might be able to watch a little Tigers baseball over the next couple of days….and not just listen to the sox broadcast on the radio….which, to be honest, is pretty good, a hell of a lot better than the Cubbies with the utterly worthless (except for laughing at how bad he is) Ron Santo for color commentary….

by ahtrap on Jul 25, 2008 7:30 PM EDT 0 recs