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That One Hurt: Royals 4, Tigers 3

Until the Detroit Tigers stop shooting themselves in the foot, it's hard to believe they can win the AL Central division.

Until the Detroit Tigers stop shooting themselves in the foot, it's hard to believe they can win the AL Central division.

"No squandering!" is a popular mantra in the BYB GameThreads.  Unfortunately, one of the reasons it's become so popular is because the Detroit Tigers do the exact opposite.   They squander.  They trifle.  They fritter.  They waste.

Oh, did the Tigers waste one tonight.

Armando Galarraga pitched the game we've been waiting to see from him since April, allowing just one run and five hits over seven innings.  He also struck out seven Royals batters, tying his second-highest total of the season.  If Galarraga begins to pitch like that consistently again, that's a huge boost to the Tigers' playoff chances.

But the lineup also needs to score runs consistently.  Until it does, efforts like Galarraga's are going to be wasted.  We've already seen this far too much already.  Marcus Thames and Ryan Raburn brought their big bats tonight, combining for two homers and three RBIs, and that was almost enough to push Detroit to a win.  But without a timely hit from anyone else in the batting order, the Tigers couldn't capitalize on Gil Meche, who issued five walks in his 5.2 innings, yet escaped with only two runs allowed.

There's plenty of other blame to go around, however.  It also doesn't help when your bullpen gives up three runs in the late innings.  Joel Zumaya had pitched well in his last two outings, but relapsed back into a reliever who just can't be trusted with the game on the line.  And if you didn't know already, Fernando Rodney reminded everyone that he's anything but reliable when pitching in a non-save situation.

With this loss (the first in their last nine home games), both the Twins and White Sox cut a half-game off the Tigers' AL Central lead, instead of Detroit adding a bit to their first-place margin.

Whimper:

We already laid blame at Zumaya and Rodney's feet, but it bears mentioning again.  Because a lock-down bullpen takes care of a game like this, even if the offense can't come up with an insurance run to pad the lead.  And tonight was yet another reminder that while the bullpen has been pretty good on several nights, it's not consistent enough to be dependable. 

Both Zumaya and Rodney pitched well on Friday night in Minnesota, giving the Tigers a chance to win an extra-inning marathon.  That shouldn't be discounted.  But it also shouldn't let them off the hook for blowing this game.  No team's going to win when their late-inning relief gives up three runs and four hits in two innings.

Comment of the Night:

TOO MUCH SQUANDERING ACTION.

That is the theme for tonight.

by Baroque

0 recs  |  Comment 17 comments |

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Carlos Silva, Carlos Silva

My kingdom for a Carlos Silva

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com

by rock n rye on Jul 6, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

can he hit a home run?

or like, not hit into a double play?

my kingdom for a batter!

by MackAveKurt on Jul 6, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

with Silva pitching

Everyone on the Tigers hits like an all-star.

http://www.fromthecopa.blogspot.com

by rock n rye on Jul 7, 2009 11:07 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

hey, he's still perfect

in ‘save’ situations

Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!

by ahtrap on Jul 7, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

My initial reaction, too.

We need a dependable closer. Rodney scares me, but has been able to get the job done when it comes to a save. But, when it comes to non save opportunities , he can’t get it done. I missed yesterdays game, but why wasn’t Miner, Lyon, or Seay available or brought in? Leyland has to know that Rodney can’t keep a lead when its not a save chance.

by jryno on Jul 7, 2009 2:33 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Leyland must just love the drama.

That’s the only thing I can come up with.

by wepri31 on Jul 7, 2009 2:35 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm so upset about this game that I can't sleep....

or maybe I just can’t sleep. But I’m going to blame it on the Tigers.

by wepri31 on Jul 7, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Our 8th inning thrower

Zumaya has blown 5 saves now. He has 6 holds and 1 save so that is 7/12 in holding leads in close games. Those are Farnsworth like numbers. It´s time to give the job to a pitcher.

by EuroTiger on Jul 7, 2009 6:35 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

lol

“thrower” you hit the nail on the head with that one. Our bulpen, with the exception of one or two is looking more like a pigpen lately. Sickening loss.

Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Jul 7, 2009 9:42 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Hey Ni looks great

Miner is still solid more often than not. Lyon continues to improve from the frist couple months of the season. Seay has been doing wonderful. Rodney is perfect….in save situations. Dolsi has been pretty good so far. It could be A LOT worse.

by Tagne13 on Jul 7, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I said

wih the exception of one or two. Those would be Seay and Ni.

Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Jul 7, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

below average

Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Jul 7, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think you're getting things confused with Magglio

Unless of course you want the bullpen to play RF and starting batting too.

by Tagne13 on Jul 7, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

no

he’s way below average this year…Lyon, meh. Dolsi, he’s ok and I reiterate ok. And Miner is looking real bad out there lately, his ERA has almost doubled.

Welcome to Detroit>>Where the weak are killed and eaten.

by Detroitchik on Jul 8, 2009 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

We all can pick on Zumaya, Rodney any bullpen guy out there

But the bottom line is, you just CAN’T GIDP with the bases loaded.

by VegasTigers on Jul 7, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

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