With chance to advance, Tigers get blown out by Yankees
by Kurt Mensching on Oct 5, 2011 12:13 AM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
Email
Print
KEY STAT
1-for-13: The top four in the Tigers' batting order struggled. They did walk three times, but no one could drive them in.
KEY PLAY
With the bases loaded in the 1st inning, Don Kelly hits a fly ball to center field. Curtis Granderson first appears to take a few steps in before rallying to make the catch. If the ball lands, two or three runs score and AJ Burnett is quite possibly pulled from the game. Granderson catches it, the Tigers fail to score, AJ locks in, and that's that.
KEY THOUGHTS
Other than that? What a stinker. I don't know what else can really be said. Detroit missed its chance early, thanks to a key defensive play. Detroit missed a chance later, due to a key defensive play by Curtis Granderson again. And then the bullpen members who show up when the Tigers are trailing exploded. Ugh-ly.
Also I didn't like a bunt in the first inning. AJ Burnett struggled with the leadoff batter, and one of last night's heroes is asked to sacrifice himself. The free out ultimately may or may not have mattered. You never know. But giving a struggling pitcher free outs in the FIRST inning just doesn't seem like a good move to me. I suppose Jim Leyland must have really wanted a first-inning run. He must have felt Rick Porcello would be able to pitch better with a lead.
But let's admit it. The Yankees are really, really good at the plate. You don't need to score a run to beat them, you need to score many, and sacrificing in the first inning isn't going to help you do that.
OK, so that's my complaint. I'm sure everyone has their own.
I imagine it's going to be an ugly 36 hours around the Detroit sports media and anywhere that people talk Tigers. Don't feed into the Schadenfreude.
By the way, I'm taking the day off tomorrow -- planned ahead of time -- and Big Al will be your blog host for the day. Enjoy!
81 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
If you made it through game 163 in the TerrorDome
You can make it through this, regardless of what happens in game 5. (For the record, I think Tigers take game 5)
I never lost faith in the Tigers
but the 8th inning was just a huge deflater. I could feel the sense that this was going back to New York, and be that as it may, I really wanted the fans to see them celebrate on the field tonight.
In a Tiger fan's world, the Tigers go 162-0 and the White Sox go 0-162.
Obviously a disappointing night, but I have confidence in the Tigers on Thursday. Fister is a very good pitcher, and the Tigers have now faced Nova. Its clearly two very good division champs battling it out, I can see either taking this game. Each team has 1 road win and 1 road loss, Im not a huge fan that we dont have the home crowd, but really it can be a non-factor. ESPECIALLY if the Tigers can quiet the crowd early. Game 3 of this series at Comerica Park clearly was the loudest crowd of the series to date, the Yankees quickly quieted the crowd for game 4. We can do this. GOOO TIGERS!!!
I had the same question
“What are those blue things supposed to be?”
by Ian Casselberry on Oct 5, 2011 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, might as well just flat out say it
We’re all adults here.
by Ian Casselberry on Oct 5, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
"We're all adults here"
I wonder sometimes, Ian…
HA! Rob said, “Balls.”
I'm owner/editor of The Wayne Fontes Experience a deputy editor at Bless You Boys, host the Bless You Boys Podcast and co-host The Knee Jerks podcast.
You damn kids and your testicle references
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
Contributor, Bless You Boys
Kind of felt this might happen
As I posted early on, I was afraid of Burnette giving the critics a giant middle finger, and showing up well.
And in that same post, I said I thought we’d take game 5. Still think that’s going to happen.
But, man, tomorrow and all day Thursday is going to drag. And I might not have any nails left, prior to the first pitch being thrown.
Eat 'em up, Tigers!
Avila is sore
Avila has a sore knee and catching doesn’t help it any. Think he hurt himself in game 3 going to first whe he stepped on Tex’s foot. But he looks awful at the plate!
Avila
Avila looks tired. He looked tired trying to score in game 1. He looks tired at bat, he looks tired behind the plate. He looks tired in the dugout. Leyland wore him out. He could have rested him more after they clinched. His slump is really ill timed for the Tigers chances.
Avila is clearly gassed...
I really wish Leyland would have given him more rest once it was clear that the Tigers were going to win the Central.
Or is he just having a bad series?
You know, that could happen!
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
Yup
Cause he looked ‘gassed’ after the All-Star break for a while. And then….
Well
He is probably a lot more affected by small injuries, like the foot from a couple of games ago. He could easily heat up, but I don’t think he’s really healthy (same with A-Rod for the Yanks).
Cliche warning:
Everybody is banged up this time of year.
That’s part of what makes baseball great, bc it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
If it was that easy, everybody would do it.
Can of corn.
Lets make the bastards pay
Frankly, it’ll hurt them more if they want to take their final loss back to New York. Yankee Stadium can watch Valverde dance and their team full of mercenaries, classless drunkards and fading legends can go play golf with the rest of the washed up old people* down in Florida.
*no offense to any washed up old people who may be reading this. Unless you root for the Yankees.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
Contributor, Bless You Boys
Um...
Mercenary (VMart), Drunk (Mig), Fading Legend (Maggs)…oh, you meant THEM! I agree!
I kid. Thursday, we all do The Dougie.
OK, that was awesome
Thanks. It made my day.
110%
That we win the World Series this year and next year
Chances?
Nova is a rookie and he’s pitching the biggest game of his life in front of 50000+. He has to be amped so the Tigers need to be ready to attack him hard. Tiges chances should be excellent.
The same can be said of Fister.
Minus the rookie part. This is only his second playoff start, the biggest game of his life in front of a home Yankee Stadium crowd. You just have to hope he doesn’t let it get to him.
The R-O-D is behind the Tigers.
Really, we are using them as a shield.
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
We really had them on the ropes in the 1st inning
AJax got on. Then we got him to 3rd base, setting up the Cabrera walk, and then VMart walked too. Don Kelly almost busted the game open when he crushed the ball, but it was straight away in CF, just barely in Granderson’s reach. Had that been a gapper it would of completely changed momentum of the game and we’d be making plans for Game 1 of the ALCS.
agreed, absolutely
That game helped me understand how the gods of baseball work. Momentum was everything last night.
Granderson misplayed that ball badly.
The tenor of the Kelly at bat would be quite different if Granderson takes two step back instead of two steps forward and makes a routine play on a line drive. You had to know Kelly was going to get the most important PA of the game….would’ve like to see what Magglio or Raburn does there. You can say Kelly hit the ball hard, but unfortunately baseball is pass/fail and Kelly failed in the game’s key moment.
Once again, strategically a horrible game IMO. I was ready to pin the game on Leyland in about the 5th inning, but at the end of the day the guys in white just didn’t show up and the bounces were certainly going their way. The bats need to come alive on Thursday, especially the big boys…you can’t count on keeping that lineup under 4 runs.
this is true
although i disagree that kelly ‘failed’ in that situation i agree that the difficulty of granderson’s play in the first was due to his own poor read off the bat which makes it still a big play, but it is questionable whether it was a great play. That play he made on Jhonny though….
Whether someone fails or not isn't completely in their control.
Batted balls sometimes fall in and sometimes they don’t. But an out is an out. I personally think the odds would’ve been better if Magglio were hitting, but you certainly can’t rag on Kelly too bad. He put a good swing on the ball.
The play on Peralta was superb. The first play was bigger because I think Burnett is out of the game right then and there and the Tigers roll.
Who the hell knows what the lineup will look like tomorrow..
but I like someone’s suggestion that Kelly start at third. He has been swinging pretty well lately and Betemit completely lost my trust last night. He’s a terd.
I want Magglio in the lineup for moments like this, and his defense doesn’t scare me that as much since his ankle has come around.
Kinda concerned about the offense
just hasn’t shown up so much. Fister will be okay, but even 8 innings of Verlander needed 5 runs of support.
Fister
Verlanders game wasn’t great by any means. Fister had a game earlier where he gave up 7 runs then came back as nasty as ever. He’ll have to put that loss behind him and stay aggressive. The only problem I see is how the umps call the game because he pitches on the cornes in and away. Hope they don’t make him come right down the middle because the Yankees will just wait him out for the perfect pitch to hit
Eh...
I should have known we were gonna lose last night after all that talk about how bad AJ Burnett is. There is no team on Earth so incapable of beating up on bad pitchers as the Detroit Tigers. If Jason Grilli were a Yankee making a spot start in a playoff series, they’d make him look like Cy Young on uppers.
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
Not sure if this was sarcastic..
but it looked like to me they were in on the corners expecting a horrible decision by Leyland.
At least Girardi made an even worse decision to bunt later in the game.
That's just how baseball is played
A bunt is a great ice breaker for scoring that 1st run and winning the game. But mostly, it also helps avoid the double play and strike out.
Puppies and ice cream....puppies and ice cream...
I am walking myself back from the ledge this morning. Let’s face it, the Tigers have a history of making good pitchers look bad and bad pitchers look like good. I have faith in Fister, and I have faith in our ability to learn from seeing Nova. I gotta believe.
"Some guy told me I should walk with the Lord. I'd rather walk with the bases loaded" Ken Singleton
The Tigers will win Thursday Night.....
1. Because Doug Fister is pitching – Last Saturday was a goofy game because he had to essentially start the game on the road. Also “His” lineup wasn’t playing
2. Because of Jim Leyland. I can’t believe I’m saying this but he is a better manager than Joe Girardi and I think he will come up with a couple of his wrinkles that sometimes make us throw bricks at the television, but when they work …well they work.
3. Because Miguel Cabrera – in my opinion the best hitter in baseball will have a monster game..
4. Because the bench and the role players that did it all year will do it again – Some unsung hero (Brandon Inge?) will make a pivotal play that helps decide the series.
5. Because Austin Jackson will make an Austin Jackson catch in Yankee Stadium.
6. Because of Jose Valverde. There is only one reliever that didn’t blow a save in the American League…and his name ain’t Mariano Rivera
Tigers 8
Yankees 2
It’s gonna be a long day and a half waiting for the boys to celebrate in New York City
Forget it, he's rolling.
Bluto: Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
Otter: Germans?
Boon: Forget it, he’s rolling.
"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"
Great reference.
Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Fight!
by Brand New Hero on Oct 5, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Imagine the outcome last night
if our shortstop had any range at all.
I seem to remember
Peralta making a really nice play ranging far into the middle of the field last night
I agree with the criticism of the bunting...
In the first inning!!!! Why would you do that? That play makes no sense. Whatever. Thats just one play. Lets go Tigers. Lets bring out the soft balls in New York.
DETROIT RED WINGS – "war were declared"
Twitter - @TheIngles22
Kurt, I totally agree with you
When I saw Leyland having Santiago sacrifice bunt (nice popup bunt btw, Ramon) in the 1st inning I turned to my wife and said, this is going to blow up in Leyland’s face. You can’t play small ball with the Yankees. You’ve got to swing those bats.
I also told my wife that if they get to Burnett early, they’ve got this. If they let him off the hook – he cruises and the Tigers lose. I hate being right.
The Yankees are who we thought they were. And we let ’em off the hook!
"I am a part of all that I have met." - Alfred Lord Tennyson via Ernie Harwell
Not bunting also blew up in his face
Remember Ramon hitting into a double play in the exact same situation in the 5th inning?
Ok so I'm a homer
I watched the whole game. I don’t get to watch the Tigers much…and now that they’re in the playoffs, I’m going to get as much of them as I can.
It was painful and I’m not out of beer…but dammit I pulled through.
Don't Panic!
agreed
The bunt was a terrible idea. In the first inning, following a leadoff walk, in a Porcello vs Burnett matchup (someone’s gonna score some runs), facing the Yankees’ lineup, it boggles the mind to happily give up an out so you can chase the possibility of one run.
This series has been very even.
Tigers away record? 1-1
Tigers home record? 1-1
Record of pitchers assumed to win at the start of the series? 1-1 (Verlander and Fister)
Record of pitchers assumed to lose at the start of the series? 1-1 (Scherzer and Porcello)
Each team is within a game of advancing or elimination, and even in the blowout it wasn’t fully out of reach until pretty late. This team won’t quit. The Yankees will have to knock them out.
And that won’t be easy.
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 thought we lost the game because we sucked
The bunt was a bad idea, but we just didn’t seem to have much energy tonight, and our offense was terrible – we looked completely flat. Maybe Burnette’s stuff was that good last night but we weren’t going to win this game 1-0, and 1 run was all we got until the Yankees put it out of reach. Other than the first inning and the solo homer, we didn’t even threaten to score until the game was pretty much out of reach.
It’s not over and I have faith we can win on Thursday, but we’ll need a better performance from the lineup than we got last night.
No one argues that Burnett has decent stuff
He’s just terribly inconsistent and really has been for most of his career. It’s very possible that once he got through that first (which was pretty lucky for him) he settled in and truly pitched well.
Don't worry
If anything, Doug Fister is well accustomed to pitching without run support.
Either way, no matter what happens… You can’t say it hasn’t been a helluva ride.
by AriTwice on Oct 5, 2011 10:02 AM EDT via iPhone app reply actions
I'm puttin' this one on Leyland
Reasons:
1) Maggs not in the lineup——I know Kelly had very good at-bats, though I would have still like to seen him take some pitches that first at-bat when Burnett couldn’t find the plate, but I want a guy who has been in the playoffs before, who has won a fucking batting title, who has been stroking the ball lately, to be in the lineup in a key game. Maybe he wou;d have popped in the first…we’ll never know. But I would have liked him to have a chance.
2) The Santiao bunt in the first—-Couldn’t agree more, Kurt! Why, why, why GIVE them a free out when they had a pitcher struggling with his control and an obvious head case. Did he thinmk this was gonna be a 2-1 ballgame? It wasnt’ CC and JV pitching! Going for one run in the first inning? Horrible decision.
3) Letting Coke pitch a second inning in relief——Had a rested bullpen and should have started the inning with someone else, preferably a right hander. A-Rod didn’t have a hit in the series up till then, has looked sad at the plate, and Leyland gives him a chance to see someone throwing from the other side. Promptly singles, then he turns around Texiera, who also gets a hit. What if this straightens these guys out for tommorrow? It sure might…sometimes one hit is all ya’ need to do that.. Not to mention, the game blew up from there on in.
I know, I know, heinsight is 20-20, but I really think JL screwed the pooch last night.
"i think it will be mostly feast the rest of the year,"
Totally agree about
the Kelly AB. I know he pounded the ball, but I’d rather have him look at pitches. Make the pitcher throw more than one strike. Once he got out of that inning, Burnett was able to relax and just pitch. May have been different outcome if Kelly waits a little.
Now we just have to get to Nova early. And if we do, we’ll see P. Hughes who is junk in his own right.
I'll give Kelly and Leyland the benefit of the doubt here
With Burnett on the ropes a bit, I’m betting that Kelly was thinking of a specific pitch in a specific spot. If he sees it, swing hard. And I’m guessing that happened and he did swing hard and he smoked the ball. I like that approach and it’s pretty lucky that Grandy caught it.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
even I thought ramon bunting in the 1st didn't make sense
and that’s rare…
two other points: first, if granderson dives and misses don kelly’s line drive that could have EASILY been an in-the-park HR. that was straight-away center with curtis hitting the ground. two outs. lloyd would’ve sent him all the way (granted, the wizard might’ve passed VMart on the way to home).
second, the final score wasn’t AT ALL indicative of the way that most of the game went. in the first six inninings, russell martin had 2 singles just out of reach of peralta… while we hit a number of balls right at them. (miggy ripped a ball right at jeter, kelly’s line drive could’ve been hit almost anywhere else and been a double, there were some shots right at ARod… among others). that’s baseball.
i guess what i’m saying is that yesterday just FELT like a game that we were going to lose… with the way that the ball was bouncing. sigh. on to the next one. but i still think the tiger lineup IS superior to the yankee one. it’s not their lineup, but their relief pitchers that scare me.
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 5, 2011 10:13 AM EDT reply actions
i mean lamont... not lloyd :)
brain freeze.
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 5, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
This is what I was saying most of the evening...
We were ripping the ball all over the place (for the most part). It was just bad luck that it happened to be hit right at someone each time. From Burnett stabbing one up the middle, to Miggy nearly taking Jeter’s glove off with a laser, to Don Kelly’s rip right at Granderson, we were just unlucky. A foot or two in either direction on half our hits and we would have had 6-8 runs last night. It just wasn’t in the cards. Here’s to hoping our luck turns around tomorrow night!!
Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Fight!
by Brand New Hero on Oct 5, 2011 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions
You could say that BABIP was a factor in every game
Games 1 and 4, BABIP certainly seemed to favor the Yankees. Games 2 and 3, it favored Detroit. The fact that games 2 and 3 were so close perhaps made it more of an issue. But then, I suppose you could argue the late inning runs last night would not have happened had Detroit been leading, and therefore used better bullpen arms.
Luck is a fickle mistress (also, kind of a bitch).
Very true.
But I was referring to the “quality” of the balls put in play. We had more line drives, hard grounders, and deep flies than pop ups and dribblers. The hitters seemed to be making good contact (for the most part).
Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Drink, and Fight!
by Brand New Hero on Oct 5, 2011 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
absolutely agreed!
BABIP can only show so much. we WERE ripping the ball. that’s why it was a bit frustrating. but yeah, that’s the way baseball goes. but people looking at the scoreboard and saying, “holy balls, those yankees sure can hit,” misread the game on a whole. we can hit too. wish we’d made A.J. pitch from the stretch more often… coz he did seem less comfortable that way.
all those things said, betemit and avila looked awful. they are NOT tracking the ball.
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 5, 2011 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
well... that was not fun to be at.
No longer the Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club
It's time for Tigers fans to throw out their Granderson t-shirts.
He may be a nice guy, but he’s a $#@! Yankee.
A reference for all my Detroit (and metro-Detroit) peoples
After last night, it’s the kind of day where I deem it necessary to stop by Slows-To-Go just to get their Waffle Fries with cheese and enjoy them with a beer.
I have decided, in the event of a bad game
To call Doug Fister’s evil twin, “Pug Fister.” This is due to the fact that a pug can surely do things to make you upset, but you can never stay mad at it because it’s just so cute.
Also, in the event we win, I’m also calling him “Pug Fister.” BECAUSE PUGS ARE CUTE THAT’S WHY!
Just getting myself ready.
Santiago Sacricing - 1st Inning
Ramon was the second hitter so it was not obvious at the time that AJ was struggling. Leyland was just trying to set up his middle batters to maybe score some quick runs, set the tone of the game and take a little pressure off Porcello. In hindsite, Ramon might have done better taking some swings but he could have also hit into a DP. The problem with this game is that the Tigers couldn’t hit. Betemit and Avila are horrible! Where has Cabrera been the last 2 games. This will be the question many will ask if he doesn’t show up on Thursday night. Tiger hitters better handle Nova better than they did Saturday or it’s a long ride home.
lineup
I’m guessing Leyland rolls with Raburn, Santiago and Inge tomorrow. The theory is who’s most capable of making a big play: Raburn could always run into one, Inge may make a huge defensive play and Santiago has already been a productive hitter in the series. Jimmy will sit Maggs right next to him and tap him to pinch hit at some point and he’ll keep Kelly right next Maggs to run for him and then play defense. Betemit will sit on the toilet. Also, there are only three pitchers available tomorrow: Fister, Beniot, Valverde. I don’t see Leyland putting anyone else in the game for any reason. If he needs a big out earlier than the 7th, I think he lets lets Fister get it. I don’t see him putting Max in the game unless it’s to start an inning and even then it would be dangerous (of course verlander would be a different story, but I can’t see Jim using JV under any circumstances).
The key to the game will be big plays – Austin needs to catch a ball to save runs (he’s 0-3 so far this series), Inge needs to make a play to save runs (0-1 so far), and Raburn/Avila/Santiago/or Peralta need to drive a run in. Add in a Miggy RBI hit and a Vmart RBI hit and you’re home. It’s so easy!
we've GOT TO play magglio!
he’s done nothing but str8 up HIT. he needs to be in the game (preferably in the #2 spot). and kept in the game if it’s close! enough of defensive substitutions! how many plays will be made in RF anyway (it’s either in the park or out of the park at yankee stadium).
i’d also be interested to see raburn (at 2B), though i trust leyland’s judgment on this win (he and santiago have their pluses and minuses)
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 5, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I love Maggs
but i’m betting leyland wants guys who can hit HR/Doubles (which was why he mistakenly played Betemit last night). I honestly think he sits Maggs, but not for defense. I’d prefer your idea – Maggs in right and Raburn at 2nd, but not sure he’ll do it.
Granderson
Only made highlights because he misread both balls
http://ology.com/sports/watch-curtis-granderson-master-unnecessary-highlight
On twitter @BisonMessink
Curtis Granderson is like...
That ex-girlfriend who you split up with who was pretty and funny while you were with her then when you split up she turns into a fucking SUPERMODEL. While you remain on good terms with her and fondly remember the good times every now and then she does something that makes you want to kill yourself.
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
