Tigers drop ALDS opener to Yankees 9-3 after suspended game
by Kurt Mensching on Oct 1, 2011 11:40 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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KEY STAT
6 ER: Doug Fister pitched well, but got battered. (Three of those runs came when his reliever gave up a two-out grand slam, we should note.)
8: The Yankees scored seven of their runs with two outs. Didn't matter if Fister made his pitch or not. Take the pitch Robinson Cano doubled off the wall. Fister kept it low and inside and Cano just hit it off the wall anyway to drive in a run
KEY PLAY
Robinson Cano's grand slam on the second pitch Al Alburquerque put this one out of reach. Al-Al put a slider low and inside -- pretty much the same location Fister did -- and Cano sent it packing. (Note to Tigers pitchers: apparently he likes that spot.) That became just the second extra-base hit and first home run allowed by Alburquerque this season.
KEY THOUGHTS
---------------------------------------------------9o0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000N tyyyyyytyyyyyyyyyyyy=-----
--DBerg
And what better way to sum up the game than that, really? Whether it was a "butt text" or poor Mr Berg just collapsed in a fit of despair or exhaustion on his keyboard, we may never know. But I don't think anyone's going to put it all together any better, so I lead off with that.
It was just a weird game altogether. What can you say? First off, the Tigers can't even get batting practice in because every time they do, they get rained on. Then the suspended game in a playoffs thing comes up because of rain, resulting in a change of starting pitchers when the game is picked up a day later. Then you knew there was problem when Alex Avila got thrown out at the plate. Neither Justin Verlander nor Doug Fister pitched remotely like what we've come to expect. Magglio Ordonez hit into a double play on a hit and run where the ball went directly up the middle to second base. And even when Fister put the ball in the right place, the Yankees put the ball in the wrong place. And of course, Alburquerque gives up his first home run of the year and Austin Jackson' doesn't catch balls he normally catches. Strange times, I tell you.
Fister actually got 10 batters out in a row between the second and fifth innings. He struck out five of them. Which isn't to absolve him. If you look at the pitch results chart at Brooks Baseball he did leave a few balls up or in the middle of the strike zone, and the Yankees can certainly make you pay for that. And they idd.
Jim Leyland worried -- well maybe not worried, but noted in the press conference -- that Ivan Nova could be an issue because the Tigers hadn't seen him much outside of video. As it turns out, he was right. Detroit struggled to get much going early. And when they did, Avila getting thrown out at home plate erased it and helped bail the kid out. It took until the ninth inning until Detroit finally messed up his postseason ERA. Too little, too late.
I know some people are going to groan and moan and fear the worst because that's what we've come to expect even when the Tigers drop the second game of a random series in May. They're going to point out that they don't like Max Scherzer pitching in Yankee Stadium. I'm going to be optimistic and point out he strikes out a lot of batters, so hopefully Good Max shows up and not Wrong-Eye. If things are still going bad at about 5:30 or so tomorrow, groan and moan all you want. Otherwise it's just one game. The Tigers dropped the opener in 2006, too. It's not the end of the world, OK?
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IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH
You know I had to.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
Contributor, Bless You Boys
heh
Just so we all get that out of our systems. First game jitters for the fans, too. :)
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
I saw this in an overflow.
Need some Trout Jefferson rally material!
It’s all my fault, guys!
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 1, 2011 11:43 PM EDT reply actions
The guys need to hit the batting cage, I'll pay.
Nova seemed to be good, but didn’t seem to have completely un-hittable stuff.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
Leyland's postgame was brilliant
He knows the splits. He’s got them all memorized.
The positives
We seemed to remember that we could hit sometime during the 9th. Hopefully, that carries over tomorrow against Raggy Garcia.
I said to myself when we were down 8-1 and not even sniffing a hit, “Self, I hope the Tigers get their bats going a little to have some confidence tomorrow and I hope Leyland gets some exposure for Perry and Schlereth so that they don’t make those first post-season pitches when it matters more.” Well, Self, check and check.
I was also happy to at least dip into their bullpen. Mo coming in may make Girardi think twice about bringing him in if game 4 sees a need for him.
Anyway, it’s one game. The Tigers have dropped plenty of game #1’s during this season and still won a lot of best-of-three series. Move on. As Kurt said, I’m really hoping that Max brings his ‘A’ game tomorrow. Blue eye, Max. Blue eye. We all know that nothing good comes from the brown eye.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Texas lost at home 9-0 and evened the series.
All Detroit needs is a split. Win tomorrow and then go from there.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
Another positive
We got Freddie Garcia Tomorrow
I'm scared of Freddy Garcia
It’s as rational as being scared of the monster behind the closet, but I’m scared nonetheless.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
at least it isn't Bruce Chen
So there’s that.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
How many things did we see in this game that we haven't seen in months?
That’s the frustrating part of this for me…not playing up to our potential and making really uncharacteristic miscues. Lots of small mistakes added up to a big egg-laying.
Now we’re in the unenviable position of absolutely needing Scherzer to come through…it’s a total crap shoot. He could be lights out, but more likely he gives up 5-ish runs in 6 ish innings.
as long as Garcia gives up one more than Max
The Tigers will be fine.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
#327: a motivated, healthy, MLB caliber team in the other dugout
Tigers and Fister have been getting fat on weak AL Central pitchers and hitters playing for unmotivated mangers (Ozzie had his post-season vacation to Spain booked b4 the Sox were eliminated) for weeks now.
it could be worse
we could have spent Verlander and lost. Then how would all of us feel?
Scherzer has the potential to be our second best pitcher. Tomorrow he just needs to be better than Sweaty Freddy.
why yes, I'm slightly drunk at the moment
by Mark in Chicago on Oct 1, 2011 11:59 PM EDT reply actions
Yes and no...
He’s definitely needs to be better, but he needs to be enough better to compensate for the fact that the Yankee offense is better. Does that make sense?
We basically spent one of Verlander's starts and lost
although they spent one of CC’s starts, and I still like the match up if it goes to a game 5.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
One thing I'd like to do tomorrow
TAKE BALLS AND SWING AT STRIKES!
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
scoring more than three runs would be nice too
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
I want better announcers
Someone please give me new announcers.
OH PLEASE YES
They were so, so very bad.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
yeah
especially the play by play guy. never heard him do a game before.. but he seemed like a complete tool.
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 2, 2011 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Unfortunately we're locked in with these douchers for the duration of the series
"What I said was: Give me all of the bacon and eggs that you have.." - Ron Swanson
by explosivo2k2 on Oct 2, 2011 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I wouldn't wish those guys on my worst enemies
Unless those enemies were Yankees fans.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
Contributor, Bless You Boys
TBS will be muted in my house for the remainder of the series
with Dan and Jim playing in the background. That Cano homer did it for me – they lost their chance.
Okay, Tiger fan friends
I’m about 10 minutes from falling asleep, so good night. The Tigers will come back tomorrow and go to work to even the series. #goTigers
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
It was a stinker, yes.
And we lost game 1 in ’06, yes.
We split in New York and we have home field advantage back, yes?
Yes yes.
It’s ok.
I've brought my blood pressure down.
I stay with my feelings that l the rain and wrecked schedules and lack of batting practics really hirt the Tigers more than the Yanks. It’s a whole lot easier to deal with ridiculousness at home than away.
That said, if we can just have a regular and uninterupted day tomorrow we’ll get back on track.
by playoffbeard on Oct 2, 2011 12:13 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Also...all of the pressure is on the Yanks now.
Everybody expects us to lose.
by playoffbeard on Oct 2, 2011 12:26 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Really? I don't agree.
Tomorrow is pretty close to a must win for Detroit. I think they’ll be feeling the pressure.
That's just it. Everything at this point points to us losing tomorrow.
by playoffbeard on Oct 2, 2011 12:48 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
We find a way to win and they'll be the ones having to answer the tough questions...
…including the ones they have to ask themselves.
by playoffbeard on Oct 2, 2011 12:49 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I was out today and managed to luck into the Yankees 7 run blitz between the 5th and the 7th
I’m not trying to jump on the paranoid schizophrenic bandwagon (yet) but I think the ump’s strike zone was pretty bullshit. Granderson should’ve stuck out instead of being walked which would have prevented the GS. Here’s to having better luck tomorrow.
My friends call me Lenny... only I ain't got no friends.
Right before the run explosion
On that 1-2 count or whatever, there’s no fucking way Jeter didn’t go there. No. Fucking. Way.
Umpires being total douchebags, just like Jeter.
We’re trying to avoid extra outs, and they give it to them. What a fooking joke, ya wankers!
In a Tiger fan's world, the Tigers go 162-0 and the White Sox go 0-162.
Not much to say when you only get four hits off Nova, but some moves have to be questioned
sending Avila- what was Lamont thinking? I usually give coaches a lot of leeway to be aggressive and send runners, but that was not close, and it was a huge play.
Raburn was playing way in on Gardner’s single, and didn’t get to a ball that a second baseman should routinely get to as a result. On the next play, we have the 2B covering instead of the shortstop on Gardner’s steal and another ball goes through the 2B position. The TBS crew questioned the same thing. Then Jeter steals and they didn’t try to cover at all. Fister hung the first one to Gardner, but he still got two grounders and that was the damage that they did to him. He was still pitching well and had a lot left in the tank.
And why bring in Al Al to pitch to Cano? Why bring in anyone? Fister was doing just fine. But a slider pitcher? To Cano? I didn’t get that move at all.
Wasn’t our night. Verlander wasn’t sharp early before the rain. Miggy and Inge bobbled grounders. Avila didn’t block the ball on a strikeout and didn’t make a strong throw. We got out of that with just one run. But then our hitters were chasing Nova’s slider all night, Al Al hadn’t given up a homer all year, AJax missed a ball that he always catches…. just not our night.
Still, we’re right where we were in 2006. Max has to be on his game, which is somehow appropriate because he’s been the key for us all season long. If he’s on, we should beat Freddy Garcia. If not, we never had the pitching to pull this thing off to begin with. I’ve got my tickets for Monday and Tuesday, and I expect those to be the clinching games. Let’s do this.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Abandon SHIP!
Also: kill the windmill. Also: no more Raburn at second. Also: no more words. No more apologies. Also: BERLIN RULEZ!
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
The Tigers and Cards games were eerily similar
I went to watch both games with some friends (both Cardinals fans) and we were both taken aback at how weird it was that the games both started with so much promise for the visitors then were ruined by basically two or three bad pitches. Then the teams started to score some in the ninth and give us hope until their closers came in and put out the fire.
At any rate…. a depressing day for everyone in Central Illinois.
Let’s hope Max’s good eye shows up tomorrow!
"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy
I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.
This loss was so horrific it motivated me to update the ROD.
And make a new crappy drawing!
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
Status: still hating the Yankees.
Everything I said on twitter? Still all true – but I would type it in less caps-locky fashion if I were making the comments right now. The sentiment is still 100% true.
The Yankees are moving right up alongside the Twins on my trivial sports hatred list. >:(
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
If the Tigers pitch to Cano I will scream until I am hoarse.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
ARod doesn't scare me as much.
He’s been injured and the steroids have taken their toll. Cano is the major threat on that team at the moment.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
besides
Pitch around him and he’s on first. Pitch to him and he’s on second or third – at least. Pick the poison, minimize the damage. Unless the plan is to bean him and take him out of the game.
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
"It is a mistake to try to look too far ahead. The chain of destiny can only be grasped one link at a time." --Sir Winston Churchill (1874 – 1965)
I'm all for beaning everyone on the Yankees roster (that's not Granderson obviously) at least once in the series
My friends call me Lenny... only I ain't got no friends.
Kurt's right. Just one game, bad as it feels.
Let’s go Max.
Announcers were so bad, I’ll be watching the game with tunes instead of the announcers. Completely one-sided, not to mentioned incompetent, performance. Had no familiarity with any Tiger other than Cabrera and Ordonez (5 seasons ago vintage).
TBS should be embarrassed.
I'm afraid I can't take ALL the credit for that "Key Thought" post.
My new kitten tipped over my drink, and while I was cleaning it up, she decided to walk across my keyboard. Clearly the drink spill was just a diversion so she could get online and express her baseball outrage.
Avilla
Since nobody else said it I will. I thought the beginning of the end was Lamont sending Avilla home when he had no chance of scoring. Avilla stopped before he started running and Lamont sent him anyway. Lets face it Avilla isn’t Austin Jackson when it comes to running. If he would have stopped Avilla at 3rd, he would have scored on the fly ball by Betimet and would have still had 2 runners on base with 2 outs. I’m sorry but Lamont has done some bonehead moves.
yeah when it happened, and I think I commented here or in an IM
my thought was “who didn’t see that coming?”
by Kurt Mensching on Oct 2, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm still confident
Nova is the only Yankee starter that I was afraid of before this series, and last night showed why. I have faith that Scherzer will be solid tonight and give us a W.
I never expected to sweep NY at Yankee Stadium so...
regroup and score some runs this afternoon. I was impressed that despite being down 9-1 the boys kept after them. 27 at bats (or 21) thats the way this team has played all season.. I still think the Tigers will win because good pitching beats good hitting most of the time. And we have better pitchers.
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