Playoff Prowl: Sad Paws, vintage Porcello and Chet Lemon

by Kurt Mensching on Oct 13, 2011 10:26 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers Links

Extra bad things happening in extra innings. | Roar of the Tigers
Sad Paws.

Instant Reaction: Insult to Injury
Extra innings are bad, mmmkay?

Tigers' crushing loss is tale of two bullpens | The Detroit News
The Rangers have one. The Tigers have a couple of guys who you trust who are running low on gas, and a boat load of players no fan wants to see take the mound.

Decisions loom large in approach to Cabrera -- Beck's Blog
Miguel Cabrera finally starts to play at his regular level and the Tigers find themselves behind 3-1 in the series anyway.

Five moves that backfired on the Tigers in Game 4 - Big League Stew - MLB Blog - Yahoo! Sports
There were certainly decisions that backfired. I wasn't happy about Jackson stealing, for instance. I didn't like walking Beltre either. But in an 11-inning game as random as baseball, anything can make you look like a genius or idiot.

Vintage Porcello | FanGraphs Baseball
Lost in the fact the Tigers lost was Rick Porcello's start. Right from the start, he was incredible. The Tigers and the fans want to know: How can we get this version of Porcello on the mound every 5 days?

Tigers not about to quit | The Detroit News
Current Tigers have been on both sides of a team coming back from a 3-1 deficit in the championship series portion of the playoffs. So it's not impossible and the Tigers know it. It's just ... not easy either.

Out of Left Field: Chet Lemon honored to throw out first pitch
A break from teeth-gnashing to remember happier times.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

I have nothing to say.

I am exhausted,emotionally drained and speechless after seeing Nelson Cruz score all the Texas HR’s in ALCS.
I am so damn proud of this team and the coaching staff. If anyone starts blaming coaching etc. they are sadly mistaken about the beauty of baseball. October is a cruel month for baseball fans and it would have been a thing of beauty if couple of things went our way last night.
Let us go all out today and leave it on the mound!
GO TIGERS!
JV, DF, MS, RP, Benoit, Valverde-were awesome and for the first time in a long time..we have 4 good starting pitchers!

by spartynation on Oct 13, 2011 10:37 AM EDT reply actions

Texas strategy question, 'cos I'm tired of questioning the Tigers

I was at the game last night, so wasn’t following the game with you all. (Should have stayed home, but I digress.)

Did anyone else find it odd that the Rangers were holding Cabrera at first base with Martinez up? The second time, Victor bounced his single through the opening.

Does anyone hold Cabrera?

"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it was the other way around..." Jim Bouton

by JimWalewander on Oct 13, 2011 10:43 AM EDT reply actions

You are a real trouper

That was one long rain delay before the game. Where you at the ballpark the entire time?

by Keith-Allen on Oct 13, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Got there at 3pm, because the Verlander Yankee game was a mob scene outside of people cutting in line at 7:30

However, I like to make my last trip to the ballpark a long one. Just have to sort of make my peace with the place before the offseason.

Hot dog, couple beers, took in the sights, unfortunately no BP.

Still, that was an AWFULLY long night. Upside, it was a good game, but Jackson’s caught stealing did let the air out of the place. You could feel the doom creep in.

I did at least catch Chet Lemon’s eye – he was seated near me. Tipped my cap, he waved back, it was cool. He was sitting with Lou Whitaker and Mike Henneman, but I couldn’t draw their attention.

"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it was the other way around..." Jim Bouton

by JimWalewander on Oct 13, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

My Namesake!

by SweetLouDoubleU on Oct 13, 2011 2:46 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

IIRC

Adams was pitching. He is pretty long to the plate and Miguel has taken off before; he’s not a terrible baserunner. So, they were probably trying to negate the slow move to the plate and keep Miguel close enough to deter any thoughts of going.

Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.

by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 13, 2011 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes and no

I noticed that at the time, and our brilliant Fox commentators pointed it out after the fact, but didn’t really question it. If they gave him a bigger lead, Miggy would take advantage. He went from first to third as it was anyway. Did they hold Victor with runners on first and third? Might as well, cuz Delmon wasn’t going to put one through the right side of the infield.

I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!

by Tigerdog1 on Oct 13, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

Also, re: Adams

Haven’t looked up his numbers vs. righthanders, but from behind home plate it sure looked like his set position, which has him holding the ball away from him in a very exaggerated fashion, sets up the right handed hitter to make the pitch look like it would be coming right at his ear. Neat tactic.

"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball, and in the end it was the other way around..." Jim Bouton

by JimWalewander on Oct 13, 2011 11:17 AM EDT reply actions

The starting pitching

has done it’s job. You can’t ask anything more from them.

The Rangers have been just a little bit better in this series.

by HawkeyeEdward on Oct 13, 2011 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

No Valverde and Benoit.

Understandable decision by skip. Up to Verlander and Coke. Hope we get another performer like Benoit in the bullpen. That is what made the difference for Rangers this post season. Mike Adams..mid-season trade

by spartynation on Oct 13, 2011 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Adams = Big Difference

Benoit has earned his money this season as well, IMO, after much debate surrounding the 5.5M/yr for a RP.

I wouldn’t mind seeing another RP signed next season at 4M / yr. It’s pretty obvious that Leyland doesn’t truly trust anyone other than Benoit and Valverde. It would be nice to have a 3rd reliable arm back there. Perry and Alburquerque have looked like they may be able to one-day be good RP, but they’re not there yet. Ideally, Alburquerque is more of a wild card when you need K’s than your 7th inning guy.

The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981

by momotigers on Oct 13, 2011 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions