Dontrelle Willis and bullpen stand tall: Tigers 3, Twins 0
by Kurt Mensching on Apr 29, 2010 5:55 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
Email
Print
The No. 1 thing of importance to me: The Tigers shut out the Twins and took two of three during the first series between the teams.
Things that may be important to you: Dontrelle Willis had his best start since last May by going six strong innings before Joel Zumaya and Jose Valverde closed the book on the game for him.
Magglio Ordonez connected for the 2000th hit of his career and got a lengthy ovation from the fans. ESPN.com has some video.
The Tigers won. I just wanted to reiterate that because it just doesn't seem to happen often enough against the Twins.
Like most people who work during the day, I didn't see the game so there's not much I can add to the stats. But here's a few:
- Willis has gotten his ERA down to a rotation-leading 3.75. He walked just two and struck out six.
- I will continue being nervous for his every start.
- Austin Jackson saw just seven pitches in four plate appearances. Which seemed to work fine for him, as he had two hits and leads the AL with 31 currently.
- He even stole a base and went to third on the catcher's throwing error before scoring on Johnny Damon's sacrifice. That's a nice way to manufacture a run.
- He's on three consecutive games without a strikeout, too.
- He and Scott Sizemore combined efforts on the Tigers' second run of the game.
- Donnie Kelly hit the third run in.
- The Tigers have now hit 64 doubles in April and have scored 109 runs -- third in the American League as of this writing though their runs per game isn't quite as high.
-
Joel Zumaya struck out Joe Mauer on three pitches in the eighth; the bullpen is pretty fun to watch when the Tigers have a lead.
Comment of the Night
Apparently SB Nation was slow today due to outside forces ... this was not lost in the gamethreaders. Playoffbeard had the comment that made me laugh. Turns out he was wrong, though.
You all can just assume I made the comment of the night at some point and it was somehow lost in cyberspace.
63 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I really like how our bullpen is doing so far.
And Dontrelle.
I love me some Dontrelle.
Dontrelle Willis apologist.
If you'd have told me in March that D-Train would have the lowest ERA in the rotation
…I’d have thought you were nuttier than an Almond Joy bar.
by frisbeepilot on Apr 30, 2010 5:10 PM EDT up reply actions
I too continue to be nervous for each Dontrelle start
But as he continues to post decent results (hideius relief effort aside), I get a little less D-Train DT’s.
by ChrisDTX on Apr 29, 2010 6:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
We're not too far . . .
. . . from Dontrelle being the pitcher we don’t worry about.
Put it this way
I think it’s more likely that Willis falls apart than it is Porcello not figuring it out. Wow, that was an awkward sentence.
by ChrisDTX on Apr 29, 2010 6:52 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
There's a difference
between Porcello “not figuring it out” and him struggling this year. I don’t think he’ll be sent down (if that’s what you mean by “figuring it out”), but I wouldn’t expect a repeat of last season’s numbers. I think the jump in innings is what’s affecting him.
I just don't see the evidence . . .
. . . that whatever’s wrong with him at this point is the result of the jump in innings last year. If he turns up hurt, or doesn’t have the stamina to make it through August, I might believe it.
Look at his 2-seamer
it isn’t as effective this year for some reason. Could be fatigue (a likely factor), could be something else. We don’t really know yet, but I’m still a bit worried.
Also luck
Don’t forget luck.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Apr 29, 2010 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Willis has had 2 straight strong starts....
….Vs Angels 6 innings and 2 runs and Vs Miny 6 innings and no runs….Its great to see…..Also how about Ajax leading the league for hits by a rookie with 31 and that 31 also leads all hitters in the AL!!!!…..Great Great Game today…..GO TIGS!!!!
by BennieBladesFan on Apr 29, 2010 7:02 PM EDT reply actions
Still nervous about Dontrelle
But that seems like a hell of a start for him today. Love it and I hope I continue to be flat out wrong about him and Austin Jackson.
My old blog is Tigers By The Numbers.
Now I write at Bless You Boys.
Like music? See what I'm listening to at my Last.fm account.
that was actually broken last September
Tigers beat him up pretty good.
by Kurt Mensching on Apr 29, 2010 7:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I know, I'll never get a job at ESPN if I don't learn how to make stuff up on the fly
by Kurt Mensching on Apr 29, 2010 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions
So tell me, Kurt...
What package of prospects do you expect it would take in trade for the Red Sox to get Cabrera, Verlander and Jackson? Sources close to the Red Sox say there have been discussions! ;)
With those who don't give a damn about baseball, I can only sympathize. I do not resent them. I am even willing to concede that many of them are physically clean, good to their mothers and in favor of world peace. But while the game is on, I can't think of anything to say to them. ~ Art Hill
Yes
I’m taking credit for breaking the ESPN curse. I’ll make sure to get tickets for the next game they broadcast.
Huge series win.
Could only follow this on my phone, but it felt rather good to give the Twins their first series loss on the year. I know it’s only April, but every game against them will be critical this year.
Had fun surreptitiously (sp?) watching the scoreboard this afternoon
Seeing the zeroes piling up on the other side of the ledger this time was a nice balm for a long long day.
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
Did The Tigers Over Pay Verlander and Is It Time To dump Bondo?
I ask and you answer.
Good question
at 5 starts into a 5 year contract, you really have to take a step back and evaluate things.
by ChrisDTX on Apr 29, 2010 11:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I took a peek over at Twinkie Town to gauge the Twins fans' feelings
It seems that Paul Emmel has become their Randy Marsh.
Doña of the VZ Mafia
Shame he didn't screw them over in #163...
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Apr 29, 2010 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
I absolutely do not want . . .
. . . to hear from Twins fans on the failings of umpires.
It'll take at least 10 blown calls...
during the regular season for the Twins to pay them back for the game changing blown call we got in game 163.
sac flies
lost in the shuffle is our third sacrifice fly on the season (by my count, i couldn’t find a backup quickly enough)
i am very happy when we get a run in from third with less than two outs
It's painfully low
RISP with less than two outs is our kryptonite.
by redwingxviii on Apr 30, 2010 9:41 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Bullpen
I’m new here, and have a question: When have we ever had a bullpen this good? I can’t remember any year in the past 2 decades!
'06 was pretty stout.
Walker-Rodney-Zumaya-Jones et al.
by ChrisDTX on Apr 29, 2010 11:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
To each his own
He absolutely slayed me when he would take his handwritten scouting reports out of his pocket while he was on the mound, though.
Why is there a pink, perfumed note from Rick Sutcliffe on the back of this scouting report?
Dontrelle Willis apologist.
I am SO glad I missed that
Thank goodness for living in-market and getting Mario and Rod.
Doña of the VZ Mafia
by SabreRoseTiger on Apr 30, 2010 2:16 PM EDT up reply actions
The bullpen has been getting good results, but there are indicators it should regress.
I say “should” because bullpens are the most volatile “position” in baseball because of how few innings they pitch on an individual level.
My old blog is Tigers By The Numbers.
Now I write at Bless You Boys.
Like music? See what I'm listening to at my Last.fm account.
by Mike Rogers on Apr 29, 2010 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions
True on all counts
I do expect Valverde to continue to be good, since his track record is one of success, though. If Zumaya doesn’t walk a batter all season, he will be ridonkulous. I don’t have the same faith in Perry and to a lesser extent Coke. Ni and Thomas are junk. Bonine…I don’t want to say anything bad about a guy who tries to throw a knuckleball.
by ChrisDTX on Apr 29, 2010 11:45 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ni is a very good LOOGY
But that’s all he his. He gets lefties and that’s it.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Apr 30, 2010 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions
That's all he needs to be to have a job.
He’s still cooler than Wanker T.
Dontrelle Willis apologist.
Depth
That’s crucial. Not only do we have 5 good relievers in Valverde/Zumaya/Coke/Ni/Perry, but Toledo has several guys that could step in and fill their jobs if needed (particularly Jay Sborz, Robbie Weinhardt and Dan Scherleth (though he still has major command issues)). Plus we have a few good arms at AA- my favorites are Luis Marte and Zach Simons.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Apr 30, 2010 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with both you and Chris.
I view Perry/Schlereth as mirror images of one-another. Big arms, should rack up lots of K’s and have to battle the BB"s.
My old blog is Tigers By The Numbers.
Now I write at Bless You Boys.
Like music? See what I'm listening to at my Last.fm account.
by Mike Rogers on Apr 30, 2010 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Perry has better control right now.
President, Vice President and Secretary of the Casey Crosby Fanclub.
Assist. Editor, Minor League Division, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Apr 30, 2010 1:23 AM EDT up reply actions
Gotta be honest
Of those three, Weinhardt is the only one I would trust in the bigs at this point. Hopefully Schlereth will get locked in and live up to his potential.
A lifelong Tigers fan
I forgot to add
CONGRATS MAGGS! You are the king of arbitrary round numbers.
by ChrisDTX on Apr 29, 2010 11:47 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
A solid team win
Nice to see Dtrain getting back on track, but he still should have a short leash. Our bullpen has been outstanding. Wonder what we’re going to do when Miner comes back. Poor Bobby Seay is not even sure he will pitch again, hope the best for him. If Im not mistaken Brad Thomas would have to clear waivers to come back. He is in a all or nothing situation. And, its really fun to watch AJAX, he doesnt act like a rookie full time. He seems very focused on every aspect of his game, and brings excitement to the top of the lineup. So far so good.
I like our team.
Geez
I’d forgotten about Seay. Our bullpen would be even better if we had him in town instead of Thomas.
A lifelong Tigers fan
I Seay how you could forget
since he hasn’t pitched all year.
by ChrisDTX on Apr 30, 2010 2:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Oh, all those puns just going to waste
Will no one think of the puns?
Doña of the VZ Mafia
by SabreRoseTiger on Apr 30, 2010 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions
With Seay out of the 'pen for now
…we Ni’d to find a new source of puns OHWAITIJUSTDID.
by frisbeepilot on Apr 30, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bless You Boys
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- Heather Nabozny of Tigers, Nicole Sherry of Orioles: Women groundskeepers in MLB
- 10 notable team reps for MLB’s upcoming draft
- Rays’ gladiator helmets: Fernando Rodney, Joel Peralta do as Romans do (VIDEO)
- Rickie Weeks forgets number of outs, passes up chance for inning-ending double play (VIDEO)
- David Ortiz is angry that more people don’t see him as a leader of the Red Sox
