High Five: Tigers 5, Rangers 3

by Ian Casselberry on May 21, 2009 12:40 AM EDT in News Comment 9 comments

Five in a row. That's the Detroit Tigers' current winning streak. 10 in a row. That's how many games the Texas Rangers have lost at Comerica Park.

The Rangers tried hard to avoid that 10th straight loss in Detroit, but they ultimately couldn't overcome the four runs scored by the Tigers in a decisive sixth inning. That's when the home team brought out the boomsticks.

Wilkin Ramirez introduced himself to Detroit in the best way possible, blasting his first major league hit for a home run deep, deep, deep to center field. Into the shrubs! "Big boy territory," as Rod Allen calls it. We can mark off that territory approximately 433 feet from home plate, because that was the measurement on Ramirez's home run.

Two batters later, Brandon Inge followed up with a two-run homer, and that was more than enough for Justin Verlander to get his fourth win in his last five starts. (Of course, it should be five straight wins.)

He didn't reach double-digit strikeouts again (and tie any sort of record that isn't really a record, but still impressive nonetheless), but did strike out eight Texas batters. And though a high pitch count once again took him out of the game an inning or so earlier than Jim Leyland probably would've preferred (especially when Brandon Lyon and Joel Zumaya each gave up a run), he kept the Rangers' bats quiet for the second straight night.

Roar:

See, if I were Ramirez, I'd just retire right now. Do it like George Costanza, and walk off on a high note. Can it get much better than one hit, one home run? Of course, Ramirez is probably smarter than me and will stick with this baseball thing. Become the Tigers' next great outfielder, and get a chance at the glory and the big money.

The other guy who smacked a long ball tonight? Ryan Raburn, who's now homered in his last three games. He's probably going to be in the lineup the next time the Tigers face a left-handed pitcher. Unfortunately for him, that won't be for at least the next four games.

Whimper:

There was quite an argument in the GameThread about Lyon, and whether or not he's pitching that well for the Tigers. I think I agree that he's been better than his numbers might indicate (and also think it's kind of mean for the home fans to boo him). But when you come in and immediately do this...

... it does not help your cause, Brandon Lyon.

Comment of the Night:

if we win

6 game streak overall, 10 game in comerica park, right?

my ex boyfriend is a rangers fan so i want to talk smack accurately

by okie for michigan

I've always said the GameThreads are part sports bar, part support group. We do whatever we can to help.

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Brandon Lyon...

… meet Jason Grilli. They’ll have so much to talk about this weekend.

by trross1200 on May 21, 2009 12:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A Great Game

There was so much more excitement at the ballpark tonight, much more than last night.Rayburn starting out the evening just right Brandon’s 2 run homer Ramirez hit his 1st MLB home run ever. . Fountains going off. Free Arbys all around tomorrow. Justin doin’ it. Lyon couldn’t EVEN screw it up; although he tried… I love these guys. Sweep tomorrow, with the Kid Porcello on the mound? I’ll buy into that.

Patty J >> the Detroitchik

by Detroitchik on May 21, 2009 1:26 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sheesh front page exposure....

I’ll reiterate a lot of things I said to Ian on GChat tonight… I didn’t want that argument to be a negative one or one where “daddy” would come home and see his kids with black eyes and have to clean the mess up

Also what I told Ian… I wasn’t arguing so much for the case that Lyon is doing well… I think this argument actually started when someone asked if Lyon was better than Miner (someone said Lyon and then someone else went off on him without anything other than “he sucks!” At this point Lyon hadn’t even entered the game).

I’d like to polish my argument a little since I have time… I’m not saying this guy’s Marmol, Zumaya, or a some other big time set up guy who deserves to be pitching in close games. I guess I was just saying for people to take it easy on the guy.

The same fans who booed Lyon on Opening freaking Day and tonight after a meaningless solo shot are the same fans who are in game threads saying “he’s the worst!!!!!” or “he’s Grilli!!!!!” (essentially the same thing, right?). I was mostly perturbed with the people who were grumbling while he was warming up. Give the guy a break. He’s been with us for just under 2 months (of the regular season) and deserves our support first not boo birds and face palms the minute he starts moving around in the bully.

I just looked back over his stats, because I have been relatively confident in him when he’s gone in recently (almost as confident as I am when I see Perry or Seay go in) and sure enough dating back to April 28th (not counting the 5 run game which is completely unfair to count—if anything I’d count only the first 2 innings since we’ll never EVER see Lyon pitch into a 3rd inning again under normal circumstances), he hasn’t given up a run until tonight. If you count his first two innings in Minnesota (where he would have been pulled afterwards in normal circumstances) his ERA would be a 4.15 (counting tonight’s run). Miner has a 4.6 ERA with a 1.83 WHIP with no games that stick out as him pitching in circumstances we would probably never see him in again.

My main point is though give Lyon some time. For those of you who didn’t follow him in the past (as Ian pointed out to me) it might be hard for you to see that he’s more than just another Grilli. He was a legitimate set up guy in 07 and was a closer for one of the best teams in the majors last year for the first half of the season (before both plummeted). Seeing as he’s like our 5th option out of the pen, (behind Rodney, Zumaya, Perry, and Seay) I’d say that’s a pretty damn good 5th option…just saying is all.

Detroit4lyfe

by Detroit4lyfe on May 21, 2009 2:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Out of curiosity

I didn’t know he Lyon was booed. I cannot get behind that. Senseless.

If are we assessing Lyon as a pticher, regardless of role (5th pitcher out of the pen), I think he has opened up himself up for slight criticism. You’re right, last night was excessive and he needs more innings. Assessing him as our 5th option out of the pen? Yeah, he definitely is a solid option. That said, was Grilli critiqued appropriately, given his role? Wasn’t he our last option out of the pen and if so, his stats weren’t Juan Rincon/Jose Mesa atrocious, were they?

Regardless, I am hoping Lyon can be a key cog to this Tigers bullpen.

by TMadison25 on May 21, 2009 8:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I Ain't Lyon

I don’t condone the booing, but here are the facts.

Since June 17th 2008 over his last 48 appearances his ERA is “7.30”.

Last night should be Lyon’s last appearance in the 7th inning or later in a close gain (actually in my opinion it should be his last appearance in a Tiger uniform). The Tigers can’t risk loosing any more games with him in there.

Despite his lack of control Perry is a much better option, and if not him one of the other young arms in the minors. They couldn’t be any worse.

by 63 Tiger on May 21, 2009 9:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Now that's a solid stat to back up an argument

Touche, man.

However, I’m all for giving a guy a fresh look. He’s been in Detroit for less than 2 months and we’ve been dogging him because he tanked halfway through last year? I don’t condone the booing and I don’t condone the “he sucks” while he’s warming up. That being said, I don’t like him coming in in close games either, but as an optimist I won’t dog him until he does suck it up because I believe in Leyland and I’ll believe in anyone wearing that Old English D until they prove otherwise.

Detroit4lyfe

by Detroit4lyfe on May 21, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How long will it take?

For you to admit he’s horrible? Another month? Two months? Another couple losses? I want to know so I can be there to say I told you so. Or maybe by the All-Star break the same people will be saying, “oh, it’s only been half a season, just give him so more time to even out”. It’s okay to admit that Dombrowski makes some mistakes sometimes. That doesn’t make you betrayer of your team. Do you still think Dumars drafting Darko was a good move too?

by Tagne13 on May 21, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll be the first to admit he sucks when he sucks

However, if you’ll take great joy out of saying, “I told you so,” then I’ll come looking for you and allow you to reply to me with all the “I told you so’s” you want. I’ll wear it and let you bask in it.

My whole argument is based on, in my opinion, him being better than Miner, who I’m more comfortable with coming into games, and giving Lyon a fair chance.

I was the first to poke fun at him when he gave up 4 HR in a row during spring training. I was watching the game when it happened but I didn’t start cussing or saying “he sucks” on game threads when he warmed up the next game he went out. That would just be unintelligent banter and unproductive of me as a fan. Shitty outings happen to everyone. It’s funny because fans always bitch about wanting pitchers to have a short memory when they go out there and not do bad in consecutive outings, yet we tend to have the longest lasting memories out of anyone; we never seem to let go of bad outings and completely forget all the good outings in between.

Personally, I’d rather not see “omg he’s warming up, why is he moving? why is he even breathing out there in the bullpen! he sucks!” even though before last night his last legitimate run allowed was April 28th…

Everyone’s entitled to their opinion and can say whatever they want on here (assuming it doesn’t violate any of Ian’s guidelines), but I’d like to think Tigers fans are above dogging one of their own players on a nightly basis when he’s only been with the team for 2 months…

Give him until the all-star break and hopefully you won’t have to say “I told you so” for the good of the team and for Lyon, who I almost feel bad for because he’s never been given a shot since he’s been in Detroit.

I’ll disregard your Dombrowski and Dumars comments because that’s not what this is about. If Lyon winds up not being worth what we signed him for or is not of any service to this team then the signing sucked (and since he signed him that directly reflects on Dombrowski’s decision making), but what Dombrowski and Dumars have done as a whole doesn’t get negated by one bad signing or a bad draft pick, respectively. Mistakes happen to every single GM in all of sports. This isn’t about admitting whether or not they made mistakes. This is about Lyon and our respected opinions of him.

Detroit4lyfe

by Detroit4lyfe on May 21, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Booing Your Hometeam Pitchers is Bushleague

Be hesitant if you want, but true fans never trash anyone on their fave team.

For me, the frustrating issue with Brandon Lyon is knowing that we could have had Juan Cruz and his 1.42 ERA for around 2.2 million-and watching him rock it out for our closest competitor in Kansas City.

Fans have selective memories. And for Brandon Lyon, fans are remembering him as the guy that has given up to slams in two months, as opposed to someone who has pitched decent relief.

by peazgrl on May 21, 2009 5:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs