Baltimore Orioles @ Detroit Tigers GameThread, Aug 16, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Game 123: Orioles (59-62) at Tigers (59-63)

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 16, 2008 5:00 PM EDT in News Comment 22 comments

Baltimore Orioles at Detroit Tigers, Aug 16, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Dennis Sarfate (4-2, 5.16) vs. Justin Verlander (8-13, 4.77)

The countdown continues toward the end of the 2008 season - which Tiger Town seem to be eagerly anticipating nowadays - as 40 games remain on the schedule. Hopefully, not too many of them resemble the traveshamockery that we were exposed to last night.

I'd love to write something snarky about not even knowing who Dennis Sarfate is, but when your team loses 11-2 the night before, there's not much air left in that balloon of bravado. That balloon actually turned deflated and flaccid some time ago. I will point out, however, that this is only Sarfate's fourth start of the season, and as a starter, his ERA is 11.45.

But recently, Justin Verlander hasn't been anything to brag about, either. He's lost his last previous four starts, during which his ERA has been 7.20. Verlander only pitched 4 1/3 innings in his last appearance, which Jim Leyland largely blamed on him throwing 130 pitches in the game before that. Will he be rested up for tonight's start against the Orioles (Leyland considered pushing his start back a day), or will that arm still be tired out?

Verlander was outstanding the last time he faced the Orioles, allowing just one run and three hits over 8 2/3 innings in front of family and friends at Baltimore. But with another bad outing tonight, you might have to wonder if the Tigers might consider shutting Verlander down for a while.

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Guillen back in...

so it is the big 6 leading off, then Joyce, Edgar and Inge.

If this lineup cannot get 6-7 runs off of the Orioles’ staff, things are dire indeed.

by rook34 on Aug 16, 2008 5:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

things have been dire for a long long time………. with some help from my friends at the miller brewing company i could make it through this game!

by HavocRox on Aug 16, 2008 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah!

And if the staff can’t hold the Orioles to less than 6 runs, things are…pretty much what we’ve come to expect, actually.

by cherub_daemon on Aug 16, 2008 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Starting Lineups

As alluded to by rook34, Carlos Guillen returns. Not sure I like him batting 6th, though.

BALTIMORE

1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Nick Markakis, RF
3. Melvin Mora, 3B
4. Aubrey Huff, DH
5. Kevin Millar, 1B
6. Luke Scott, LF
7. Jay Payton, CF
8. Guillermo Quiroz, C
9. Juan Castro, SS

DETROIT

1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Magglio Ordonez, RF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Gary Sheffield, DH
6. Carlos Guillen, 3B
7. Matt Joyce, LF
8. Edgar Renteria, SS
9. Brandon Inge, C

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Aug 16, 2008 6:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs