Oakland Athletics @ Detroit Tigers GameThread, Sep 8, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Game 144: Athletics (65-77) at Tigers (69-74)

by Ian Casselberry on Sep 8, 2008 6:00 PM EDT in News Comment 19 comments

Oakland Athletics at Detroit Tigers, Sep 8, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

Gio Gonzalez (1-3, 7.18) vs. Zach Miner (8-4, 3.72)

The quest for .500 continues, as the Tigers return home somewhat triumphantly following an unexpected series win at the Metrodome. Weren't the A's just in Detroit? Yes, they were. And that was one of the few series the Tigers won in August, taking two out of three at Comerica Park by a combined score of 20-5.

Something that might have prevented that scoring margin from being even wider was Gio Gonzalez not pitching in the series. Since getting called up from Triple-A, Gonzalez (who was part of the Nick Swisher trade) hasn't been very good. A big reason for that has been his control (or lack thereof). Gonzalez is averaging almost four walks a game, which is effectively neutralizing his rather impressive strikeout totals (27 in 26 1/3 innings). In his last three starts, each of which has been on the road, Gonzalez has allowed 12 runs.

Can Zach Miner finish the season with double-digit win totals? He certainly has a decent chance. Maybe not if he pitches the way he did in his last start, giving up five runs and eight hits in six innings. But that was against the Los Angeles Angels, probably the best team in baseball. Miner faced the A's earlier this season as a reliever, allowing one hit and two walks in 1 2/3 innings, which tagged him with a blown save.

Athletics Nation has your SB Nation opposing view for this three-game series.

Lineup

Oakland Athletics @ Detroit Tigers

09/08/08 7:05 PM EDT

Oakland Athletics	Detroit Tigers
Rajai Davis - CF	Curtis Granderson - CF
Daric Barton - 1B	Placido Polanco - 2B
Ryan Sweeney - RF	Magglio Ordonez - RF
Jack Cust - DH	Miguel Cabrera - 1B
Kurt Suzuki - C	Gary Sheffield - DH
Jack Hannahan - 3B	Marcus Thames - LF
Aaron Cunningham - LF	Edgar Renteria - SS
Eric Patterson - 2B	Mike Hessman - 3B
Cliff Pennington - SS	Brandon Inge - C

0 recs | Comment 19 comments

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Comments

people still followu the Tigers? people still go to the games? I been following them still but have not been on BYB in a few weeks..had to do the whole get married/honeymoon thing..how have the Tiger-loyalist been? no line up tonight?

by PBURGTIGER on Sep 8, 2008 7:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations on getting married!

Attendance at the CoPa usually suffers after Labor Day with kids going back to school and what-not, never mind how badly the Tigers have been playing.

And if I did it right, the lineups should be at the bottom of the post once you enter the comments section. Just playing with a new toy.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Sep 8, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nice

Yeah peeked at a few game-threads when I got back from Mexico and seen 12 comments for a whole game…I was man people really have fallen off…I am sure the Tiger faithfull will be back strong in the spring of ’09 tho..

by PBURGTIGER on Sep 8, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs