Squandered: Twins 6, Tigers 2

by Ian Casselberry on May 12, 2009 11:55 PM EDT in News Comment 20 comments

The third time was definitely not a charm for Armando Galarraga. With his third poor start in a row, he's officially strugg-a-ling. Once again, The Little Cat hacked up a five-run hairball, while failing to locate his fastball and depending far too much on his slider. Galarraga also hung a couple of those sliders, which Joe Crede (Tigers Killer) and Joe Mauer put into the seats. (Okay, Mauer's homer actually came on a fastball, according to MLB Gameday, but that just didn't flow as well in a sentence.)

As bad as Galarraga was, however, a hint of run support would've helped him out. And the Tigers blew several chances to put runs on the board, grounding into double plays in the first and fifth innings, and failing to drive in runners from scoring position in the second and fourth.

And with Dontrelle Willis scheduled to start tomorrow for Detroit, I think a lot of Tigers fans feel like the team had to get a win tonight to give themselves a shot at a series win. Hopefully, the D-Train has a surprise for all of us, but tonight had a prevailing theme of squandered opportunities.

Roar:

Someone doing well in his third straight game is Jeff Larish, who went 2-for-3 with a home run. (That's also his second consecutive game with a homer.) Larish has batted 4-for-9 in the past three games, with two homers and three RBIs. Maybe Jim Leyland should stick him in the lineup's #3 spot. (Although with lefty Glen Perkins pitching tomorrow for the Twins, he might sit down. Hopefully, Leyland chooses to play the hot hand.)

Whimper:

Someone else who's really struggling is Gerald Laird, whose 0-for-3 night pushed his batting average down to .207. Even worse, Laird apparently feels the best way to try and break out of his slump is to jump on the first pitch he sees. Laird only saw five pitches tonight in his three at-bats. And during the at-bat in which he didn't put the first pitch in play, he struck out on three pitches.

Comment of the Night:

Armando Galarraga Bandwagon

Last stop. Everybody off.
by ReichardZ

With Willis set to be activated tomorrow, the question for tomorrow becomes who gets pushed off the roster to make room for him. I have to agree with Billfer, who noted that Ryan Perry pitching in three innings (1.2 innings of work altogether) had the feel of someone getting a last hoorah before being sent down to the minors.

UPDATE: So much for that notion. According to Jason Beck via Twitter, Juan Rincon draws the short straw. He's been designated for assignment and has three days to decide whether or not to report to Toledo.

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Comments

Galarrage is killing my fantasy team

and my real life team. CUT IT OUT.

In other news, I’m okay with this loss and REALLY looking forward to Willis’ start tomorrow

Detroit4lyfe

by Detroit4lyfe on May 13, 2009 1:09 AM EDT reply actions

The Little Cat hacked up a five-run hairball

I’m almost glad that happened just because they way you wrote it is hilarious. You crack me up.

by wepri31 on May 13, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions

I CALLED IT!!!

It was Juan Rincon. Now I’m gonna go dance because to celebrate my newly discovered psychic powers.

by madpoopz on May 13, 2009 9:17 AM EDT reply actions

Galaraga didnt struggle that bad....

……The Tigers should have had runs in the 1st 4 innings……Ya see when a pitcher sees his team cant get him runs he starts to press…..Thats what he did tomnight….If the tigers had gotten runs in the 1st this ball game would have been different……Willis will get the win tonight…….Theres no reason to think they had to win lkast night to win the sereis……That means your saying that Willis doesnt have much of a chance to win tonight Ian……I dont agree with that……GO WILLIS GO TIGS!!!!

by BennieBladesFan on May 13, 2009 9:35 AM EDT reply actions

1) “when a pitcher sees his team cant get him runs he starts to press”

I agree with this; it was a big problem with Verlander last year. But Galarraga walked four in 5.2 innings last night. Only 57 of his 99 pitches were for strikes. He didn’t have those kind of control issues last year. I don’t know if his high strikeout totals in his first two starts had him thinking he was that kind of pitcher, but he seems to think he can batters to swing and miss at his slider, and it’s clearly not working.

2) “That means your saying that Willis doesnt have much of a chance to win tonight Ian”

I don’t think I’m in the minority here. Willis hasn’t exactly inspired confidence while he’s been in a Tigers uniform. Obviously, I hope I’m wrong and that these scouts who think he’s regained his control in the minors are right. And even if a pitcher’s throwing well in the Metrodome, we’ve seen the artificial turf comes into play plenty of times before (high choppers, groundings scooting through, etc.) and rattle a guy. It’s hardly the easiest place for Willis to have his first major league start of the season.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on May 13, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions

I agree.....

…….with your points…..I do know that Galaraga has been struggling with throwing strikes but its way to early to give up on him….his stuff is electric and has movement…..As for Willis…..Maybe its just wishful thinking on my part……Ive been a fan of his since his minor league days in the Cubs system….I guess im just hoping he turns it around……Hes fun and is great for the game of baseball.

by BennieBladesFan on May 13, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Gonna be late to the game tonight

so let me just go on the record now. I am very, very nervous.

by NCDee on May 13, 2009 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

Nervous About......

…..What?

by BennieBladesFan on May 13, 2009 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Transference

Maybe we’ve all taken on some of his anxiety an he’ll do fine.

"It's designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything is new again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops, and leaves you to face the fall alone". A. Bartlett Giamatti

by densogirl on May 13, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I like your optimism

but the rest of us live in a world where Dontrelle did not overwhelm in the minors. Sure, we’d take those same numbers in the majors. But they did not exactly point to “ace in the making.” More like “fifth starter who benefits the Tigers because he’s left handed.” And it’s not a slight on D-Train. He’s a good guy and we all want a happy ending here. But realistically, the Dome is not an easy place to make a living and who knows if he’ll find the strike zone accurately again when he gets back to facing major leaguers.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 13, 2009 11:51 AM EDT reply actions

Numbers In Minors.....

….Overated…..bad Lighting and Horrible Fields……Nobody is expecting him to be the ace…….Just hard to believe that people just dont want him to succed after all hes been through…..Very Sad.

by BennieBladesFan on May 13, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

if you're going to use that excuse

“bad lighting” shouldn’t his numbers be better than in the majors, where the lighting is better? Bad lightning is the excuse batters use for having poor numbers, after all. Horrible fields? That’s why Willis walked people?

Do you even read what people post? Every single Tigers fan WANTS to see Willis succeed. We’re just tempering our expectations by looking at it honestly.

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on May 13, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh I read the posts.....

…..and I read a lot about people bad mouthing Willis…….Im not saying you in particular but a lot of people do……This man has a wealth of talent…..Wouldnt be suprised at all if he wins tonight…..I actually like are chances with him on the mound more so then miner……Bad lighting doesnt just effect hitters…..If its hard to see the plate becasue of bad lighting its also hard for the pitcher to get the ball over the plate……I actully dont think he walked very many in his rehab starts……However I will be and im sure a lot of people will be rooting for Dontrelle tonight.

by BennieBladesFan on May 13, 2009 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

I think part of "our" problem

is that too many are expecting his to be that “ace in the making”. “fifth starter who benefits the tigers because he is left handed” is all he needs to be to be a success at this point. The Tigers are going to pay him no matter what, so any return on investment should be looked at as a positive. He doesn’t need to dominate the AL, he just needs to contribute to a winning team. He won’t be perfect, but he doesn’t need to be.

alwaysatiger.blogspot.com

by BigJP on May 13, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Are you kidding?

We’re lighting candles and saying novenas that he’ll succeed. But last year’s disappoinment was hard to swallow. If he comes back strong I’ll do my happy dance from now through post-season. But "anxiety disorder’ isn’t a pulled hamstring — mental health problems are so much harder to deal with. But I guess if Jimmy Piersall can make it back, who knows?

by NCDee on May 13, 2009 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Do You Remember......

…..that he was hurt last year……His knee was bent the wrong direction in Chicago and he also had a blood disordser……Both seem to be treated and he should do just fine.

by BennieBladesFan on May 13, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Do you...

still believe in the Easter Bunny? Grow up Peter Pan, Count Chocula. Everyone here is rooting for Dontrelle, but everyone is also being rational and logical. He hasn’t been great since 2005 and he hasn’t had an ERA under 4 since 2006 (3.87). He’s lost something and we all hope he can find it, it’s just very unlikely and we don’t want to get our hopes up again, like last year.

ABC baby, always be closing.

by ALWAYSBCLOSING on May 13, 2009 3:28 PM EDT reply actions

Dude Chill Out.....

…..maybe im being a little optomistic but im just a huge fan….Sorry.

by BennieBladesFan on May 13, 2009 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Reserving judgment...

i want to see Dontrelle do very well with our team and regain his confidence to get on top of his game again, it all starts with tonights game, this outing will have a snowball effect on him, good or bad, considering his issues he is dealing with, i dont think anyone in tigertown wishes anything but the best for this great young man, but we are cautiously reserving judgment, GO DONTRELLE, AND GO TIGERS!!!

by johnnymars40 on May 13, 2009 4:27 PM EDT reply actions