Game 89: Indians (37-51) at Tigers (44-44)
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 6:01 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
Email
PrintCleveland Indians at Detroit Tigers, Jul 8, 2008 7:05 PM EDT
Jeremy Sowers (0-4, 7.53) vs. 
Justin Verlander (5-9, 4.34)
So much for pre-season predictions. This series isn't quite what we thought it would be, eh? Cleveland vs. Detroit, with the AL Central lead on the line, right? Heck, tonight's game isn't what you thought it would be on Saturday. A couple of days ago, it was a pitching heavyweight title fight. (And that is not meant as a whack against C.C. Sabathia.) Now, it's Justin Verlander against a different guy that throws left-handed.
Jeremy Sowers was pounded in his last start for eight runs and six hits by the White Sox. Two of those Chicago hits were a three-run homer by Jim Thome and a grand slam from Nick Swisher. The long ball's been something of a problem for Sowers, as he's given up eight of them in seven games. Each of Sowers' last two starts against Detroit have been almost identical, with him giving up five runs on seven hits in four innings of work. And yes, both of those were losses.
Verlander has allowed two runs or less in his last five starts. Pitch counts have been a problem for him, however, as he's exceeded 100 pitches within six innings in his last three appearances. The Indians haven't been so easy on Verlander lately, as he's lost his last four starts against him, including two this year. Two Tribe hitters who have given Verlander some trouble are Franklin Gutierrez (.455/.455/.909 in 11 at-bats) and Casey Blake (.348/.464/.478 in 28 plate appearances).
No Carlos Guillen in the lineup tonight, as his wife gave birth to their daughter yesterday. Ryan Raburn will be subbing for him at third base.
And if you haven't heard, Dontrelle Willis was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis in his aching right knee and received a cortisone shot earlier today. He was also outfitted with a brace, which he'll wear as he resumes his rehabilitation in Lakeland. (Thanks to explosivo2k2 for posting the news in the comments of the last entry.)
Let's Go Tribe has your SB Nation opposing view for this quickie two-game series.
164 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Starting Lineups
CLEVELAND
1. Grady Sizemore, CF
2. Jamie Carroll, 2B
3. Casey Blake, 3B
4. Jhonny Peralta, SS
5. Shin-Soo Choo, RF
6. Kelly Shoppach, C
7. David Dellucci, DH
8. Ryan Garko, 1B
9. Frankin Gutierrez, LF
DETROIT
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Marcus Thames, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Gary Sheffield, DH
6. Pudge Rodriguez, C
7. Edgar Renteria, SS
8. Clete Thomas, RF
9. Ryan Raburn, 3B
It'd be great...
if Renteria could get at least one hit tonight. Just so we know he’s alive.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
Something I forgot to mention in the original post
Renteria against Cleveland this year:
.364 /.440/.636 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 25 plate appearances.
verlander
looks like he isn’t going to help himself tonight 26 pitches come on
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
26 pitches
Lose Blake after 0-2 and put a change up on a tee? Glad to see Bondo is back.
OMG
1 2 3 for the most pathetic team in baseball
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
The A's always give away their aces Harden, Harren, and one more I cant remember
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
I don't think...
it’s fair to say they “give away” their aces. They usually get quite a haul in return. I think Zito is the only one they let walk. However, when you let a guy like that walk you get two first round picks as compensation. I like the way the A’s do business.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
You haven’t changed that dog’s name to Porcello yet? ;-)
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Good thing you didn't have to endure the
“Tracker” The Seattle folks threw that up at least 3 times every at bat….
I think we got some of that
Was that the blue line that followed the path of each pitch?
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 7:43 PM EDT up reply actions
That was an important part of it!
They didn’t use that portion of it everytime. But, anytime there was a close call one way or the other, it was up there.
renteria
Is starting to make me sick
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
He couldn't hot the ocean
if he fell out of a boat
So...
if I’m understanding Rod/Mario/Leyland correctly….
since Renteria has 2,000 hits he should always be a good hitter?
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
what is this disrespect?
Ramon “the savior” Santiago cures all ills. He is Chuck Norris in baseball pants.
Have a little faith!
He also
commits an error, almost every game
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
haha
Neifi, got busted juicing, correct?
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
thank god carrol
Is the size of my little brother, that thing was hanging
Check out Tony K and (tigs) jimdale's blog at baseballbrew.blogspot.com
work blows
gonna be one o’ them late nights, but at least I’ll have the tigers to keep me awake, and either happy or foaming at the computer screen…
Outside of the Ks
Verlander is on another planet right now
Definitely sarcastic
He never looked at Seizmore once when he stole
to be fair
they are missing Guillen and Ordonez in the lineup, those guys were hitting #3 and #4 a week ago…
Man..
Thames should hit two homers off of this joker tonight. I’m banking on it.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
CRAP!!
I was close to calling that one.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
And WE'RE BACK!
WOW.
That didn’t even look like that hard a swing from Cabrera. Showed his power on that one.
Off topic....
but if Harden is healthy, the Cubs may be impossible to beat in the NL. Some kind of deal.
Agreed
Keeping the Tribe off the board this next inning is important.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Question for you all...
I have tickets tomorrow that are in the “On Deck” section right behind home plate. On Stub Hub it said the tickets include “club access”, anyone have a guess as to what that might mean?
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
Access to the Tigers Den?
Or whatever the restaurant down the right field line is called…
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions
if it's not too annoying...
what was the Q?
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
Verlander is on...
too bad he needs to throw so many pitches.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
Probably not going to happen
...but why not put Polanco at short next year? He’s appeared in 122 games at short in his career. Then you could start Raburn at second.
here comes the homer for thames.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
come on...
I called that. I need some love for that.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
lessee….6 runs in 5 innings…..versus 8 in 42 against the Mariners….
something about that Detroit water supply, I guess….
no kidding
plus, if the trade hadn’t gone down, the Tigers would be facing Sabathia tonight (2 IP, 0 hits, 2 BB, no runs so far)
Twins...
are up 4-1 in the 7th on the Red Sox.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
in a way, it's kind of sad
Sowers has had some serious struggles in his major league career and this might be his last shot at being a starter. Still, if someone was going to beat him up, it might as well be the Tigers.
meanwhile, in KC
looks like Jose Contreras is well on his way to imploding. Just gave up 3 runs in the second, and in the process threw 2 wild pitches, had a passed ball, and hit a batter.
Contreras...
has been a surprise this year with his relative effectiveness. Last year he was putting it up there on a tee.
Whew
Just lost power for a minute….hopefully it will hold off long enough to see the rest of this game.
!!!!
it looked like he got jammed there!
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
Jason Veritek...
is soooo much better than Pudge.
Check out www.spotstarters.com for more news on the Detroit Tigers.
No kidding
Doesn’t it always seem like they follow a game up like this with a one or two-runner the next night?
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Good Lord!
Pudge, too!! Feel like I’ve been kidnapped to another country with my computer dying on me last week. OMG, all the stuff I’ve missed! Please let Renteria start hitting.
Verlander's pitch count
Looks like he did a better job of keeping that down tonight. 99 in seven innings is what you’d like to see.
Hey gang...just wanted to check in.....
back from softball and beers…...wow what a night….....renteria is hitting and I-Rod has a homer…....what were the odds in Vegas for that?
Re: Hot Dog Eating Contest
I love how Rod teased Mario for knowing how the Nathan’s contest turned out, only to then give away that he must watch that stuff, too.
Hot Dog Eating Contest
Does anyone really care who wins that event, or is the natural reaction just to say, “how do you eat 64 hot dogs?”
Only when an American loses
It’s like the America’s Cup race. No one gave a you-know-what about it until America lost.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions
boston
just tied it up with the twins in the bottom of the 8th
I haven't heard or read anything
But I’m sure he’ll find work, unless he’s hurt. Teams are always looking for bullpen help.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions
If they still consider themselves in the race
Atlanta could use some bullpen help, I think.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Not sure if everyone already saw this...
but Polly will become a US citizen tomorrow in a pregame ceremony. Little weird that they are doing it pregame, but congrats to Polly.
They're doing this at the ballpark?
That’s pretty cool.
by Ian Casselberry on Jul 8, 2008 10:00 PM EDT up reply actions
As i write this Papelbon is in a 10 pich count in the top of the 10th with a 1 run lead and the white sox aredown 4-1 with no outs and a man on 3rd. wow what one night changes! i absolutly hope and pray that the second half of the season turns into a great year and we go into and come out of the all star break very strong! great game by the tigs tonight. what an absolute monster game by cabrera. 4-4 with 2 hrs. thames was stellar yet again almost knockling out two, but settling for one. and verly settled down nicely after the first inning. great great game all around for the boys in blue!
by DtownsMurdersRow on Jul 8, 2008 9:53 PM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Marlins agree to unretire No. 5 for Logan Morrison, who will honor his father’s favorite player
- Weatherman Derek Holland does Dallas TV
- Ask Alex: Will Julio Teheran or Matt Moore win rookie of the year?
- Ku Klux Klan, umpires and bowling: Why the minor leagues tossed out Jim Evans academy
- The Cardinals Hall of Fame can now be found at Bill Clinton’s library in Arkansas (Huh?)
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
