Justincredible! Tigers 2, White Sox 1

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 11, 2009 12:35 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

As we said in tonight's GameThread, the White Sox had their chances in the first three games of this series with Armando Galarraga, Jeremy Bonderman, and Dontrelle Willis. After those guys, the Detroit Tigers bring out the big artillery. And tonight, Justin Verlander was like one of those giant robot machine gun suits from The Matrix Revolutions, mowing down almost every White Sox hitter that came to the plate.

Actually, Verlander wasn't quite Mr. Strikeout PItcher tonight. He had nine strikeouts for the night, averaging one per inning. But whether it was because Verlander was being more efficient with his pitches or the White Sox were helping him out by taking weak swings, he got several ground ball outs. As a result, he wasn't gassed out by the fifth or sixth inning and was able to go deep into the ballgame. (And with a bullpen that used five pitchers last night, not to mention three games in two days, the pitching staff needed the rest.)

Much like Edwin Jackson did last Saturday night against the Angels, Verlander finished off a complete game with authority. Of the 13 pitches he threw in the ninth inning, only one was below 96 m.p.h. (Only two were below 97!) And that was an 83 m.p.h curveball. No, he didn't strike out the side. But Verlander did strike out Jim Thome - who homered off him in the seventh inning (and taken him deep six times in his career) - so maybe that should count double. His final pitch of the game was a 100 m.p.h fastball that blew away Josh Fields.

At least this time, the Tigers lineup gave Verlander enough runs to make sure that effort wasn't wasted. It was only two runs (one of which came on a bases-loaded walk by John Danks, who probably would've won on any other night), but they were just enough.

Roar:

We know painfully well that Thome and Jermaine Dye are Tigers Killers. But could the Tigers have a White Sox Killer in Adam Everett? He's batted 4-for-8 in this series with four RBIs. And the run he drove in tonight came on a solo home run. That was only his second homer of the season. Guess what? The Tigers are undefeated when Everett hits the long ball. Of course, that's only been in two games...

Is this significant, just mildly interesting, or nearly irrelevant? When Everett drives in a run, Detroit has an 8-3 record.

Comment of the Night:

We have to pick the one that basically established the theme of the night, right?

Oh JV

Do me.

by Kmann

Click on the link to get the full effect of the thread, though. It got even better from there.

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Thanks JV

for going the distance.

and in case you were wondering… Bondo is joining his ex starter Nate teammate in the pen.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090610&content_id=5260396&vkey=news_det&fext=.jsp&c_id=det

by peazgrl on Jun 11, 2009 1:01 AM EDT reply actions

Inge is totally fine with you stealing his [insert name here]credible line

What a game and great Adam Everett stat. Maybe we should hit him in a spot in the order where he can bring in runs more often hahaha

BTW- I hate to nitpick, but FSN Det had JV’s last pitch at 98 MPH. Usually those are juiced, too. I’m guessing MLB Gameday had it at 100? I got the picture of the last pitch radar on my write up…98….100, potatoes….po-ta-toes

Detroit4lyfe

by Detroit4lyfe on Jun 11, 2009 3:27 AM EDT reply actions

MLB Gameday

Yeah, Gameday had that last pitch at 100. Interesting that their reading was higher than FSD’s, since the opposite is almost always true.

Maybe it is splitting hairs, but it does seem like a notable difference.

Bless You Boys

by Ian Casselberry on Jun 11, 2009 6:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Everett

Of course it’s significant when everett drives in runs. He’s, by all measurable means, one of the weakest links in the lineup, stashed away in the 8 or 9 hole. When you get run production from the bottom of the lineup it doesn’t give the opposing pitchers any wiggle room. Not to mention it takes a significant amount of strain off of the middle of the order which has been struggling lately.

by Z-Money on Jun 11, 2009 5:33 AM EDT reply actions

Noted Slugger Adam Everett

It feels good when he hits a home run. Makes the other Noted Sluggers that hit home runs against us hurt that much less.

by explosivo2k2 on Jun 11, 2009 7:41 AM EDT reply actions

Everett

I liked him since day 1. He was never expected to hit in the first place, just known for his good glove. He’s settled in now and seems comfortable with the team. Even if he goes back to his non-hitting ways, he’s still a great SS.

"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 Jun 11, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

he's a nice "glue" guy

Exactly the kind of player the Tigers were missing last year, just does all the little things and holds the team together. Plus he seems like a nice guy, easy to root for

Mack Avenue Tigers

by Kurt Mensching on Jun 11, 2009 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions

This series

is getting me excited for facing the Twins in Minnesota 4th of July weekend.

That is another demon we must exercise, just like we exercised the Cellular demon this week.

by SkylineSeats on Jun 11, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions

I am just thankful they are leaving the Chicago market......

so I can actually USE the MLB.TV that I PAY for! Let’s get through today…..

"Remember there's a big difference between kneeling down and bending over."

by Zappatista on Jun 11, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

I hear you.

When I’m at school in Central Indiana, I somehow can’t watch Chicago games. I get Indy networks, no Chicago networks. The MLB is terribly stupid with their blackouts. I’m not paying for that stuff anymore.

by rcpratt on Jun 11, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions