Detroit drops Game 1 of the ALCS to the Texas Rangers
by David Tokarz on Oct 9, 2011 1:09 AM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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KEY STAT
Fourteen strikeouts by Tigers batters. Ouch.
KEY PLAY
Alex Avila swings at the second pitch in the top of the 5th with bases loaded. He grounds out to Ian Kinsler. Oops.
KEY THOUGHTS
Yeesh. This game was a mess all around. Justin Verlander wasn't at his sharpest today. He went four innings and threw 82 pitches, giving up three runs on a David Murphy triple and a Nelson Cruz homer (Murphy later came around to score). And that was all it took for Texas.
The Tigers had problems getting to CJ Wilson. He loaded the bases in the first inning, but got out of a jam by inducing a Magglio Ordonez double play. He struck out Brandon Inge and Austin Jackson to squelch a one out rally in the second. And while he loaded the bases in the fifth, the Tigers just couldn't score. Four and a third scoreless innings by the Ranger bullpen after the 8th inning certainly didn't help things. Alexi Ogando in particular dominated Detroit with three strikeouts in two hitless innings.
The general lack of execution by big bats Victor Martinez (0-3, K BB), Alex Avila (0-4, 2K) and Jhonny Peralta (1-4, 2K) is really hurting the Tigers in this series. But on the plus side, Ryan Perry (1.2 IP, 1 K) and Rick Porcello (2 IP, K) did a fantastic job keeping the game so close. Still, when the best thing you can say is that the middle relief was good, you know it was a bad night.
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Lineup's gotta step up
You can only go so long without breaking out with a ton of runs.
In a Tiger fan's world, the Tigers go 162-0 and the White Sox go 0-162.
WHY PINCH HIT BETEMIT?
Inge could A-Jax could bunt but no lets pinch hit a guy who strikes out 32. 5 percent of the time in front of a guy who strikes out 30% of the time in front of a guy who could easily K against Feliz and not bunt, and leave Cabby on deck! What you thinkin Jimmy?! PS We can still win this in 6, we should win tommorow
Why use call caps?
Honestly, I expected Betemit since it is a L-R match up. Either way, a strike out was the most likely outcome.
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
exactly
stick with inge..L-R isnt always the right way to, sometimes its wrong sometimes its right
Ranger fan here...
but Feliz has reverse splits. You’re better off going with the RHB because Feliz generally struggles to hit the outside corner to right-handers.
"It’s all the years you spend waiting for [that one] night that makes baseball great." - Joe P.
This is the whole story, unfortunately.
Pitching hasn’t been the real problem. Miguel and V-Mart need to get it going or they’re going to be the dogs of the post-season for us.
What's this war in the heart of nature? Why does nature vie with itself? The land contend with the sea? Is there an avenging power in nature? Not one power, but two?
by Kwisatz Haderach on Oct 9, 2011 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions
At done point in situations like this we gotta do something different. Bases loaded 2 outs, let’s bring up the guy hitting .050 to hit, good thinking leyland. Than bringing in betimitt who is hitting .000 the next inning, has leyland lost his mind?
by booblinker on Oct 9, 2011 1:17 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Dropping game 1 isn't the end of the world.
Tonight wasn’t pretty, obviously, but considering the fact that game 1 of the last series saw us getting smacked 9-3, things could be a lot worse.
Now dropping game 2 puts us in a pickle.
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
3 of the 4 teams to advance did not win game 1.
Game 1 isn’t meaningless, but its also not the end-all, be-all.
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 9, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions
We didn't win game one against the Yanks, either
and that was in a five game series. If the pitching stays solid and the hitters start to hit, we’ll win the series.
Verlander got squeezed, actually hosed, big time on several calls, forcing him to throw it right down the middle to Murphy and others, and that was the damage done.
Meanwhile, the Tigers hit Wilson but didn’t get the key hits, playing station to station baseball and not getting guys home. All the big bats took part in the squandering. Magglio bouncing into a DP with one out and the bases loaded in the first. Victor bouncing back to the pitcher with one out and runners on second and third. Avila grounding out to second with the bases loaded after the rain delay to end the threat. They look fatigued, tired, beat. Better wake up, lads.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
getting hosed big time
Often when JV isn’t that sharp with his fastball he goes to his curve, but that gets strike calls low in the zone and if the umpire isn’t calling those (and he wasn’t) the batters don’t swing and then he has to pitch right down the middle of the zone where he can get hit.
I hate that kind of crappy umpiring. We can all see the strike zone on the computer and can tell exactly how much it sucks and if it sucks more for one pitcher than the other. BARF.
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 not usually a blame the ump guy
Tonight isn’t any different. If our lineup would have taken advantage of the chance they were given by Wilson, we may have won this game 8-3. Instead, we lost 3-2.
However, Verlander got squeezed and Wilson got some favorable calls. I don’t remember a single pitch that they showed on the FoxTracks (or whatever it is) where Wilson was cheated, but Verlander had about 5 that should have been called strikes.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
The world isn't going to end.
Goodness, folks sure do get bothered!
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
THE WORLD IS OVER
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
THE MAYANS TOLD ME I HAD UNTIL 2012!!!! THOSE LYING BASTARDS!!!!!
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)
Good point
If the Mayans are right this is the Tigers last chance. You can’t let opportunities like this get away.
You know I'm right about this.
You do realize that winning game 2 gives us a split, on the road, in the ALCS, right?
And means we go back to the big “D” with 3/5 games at home? Sheesh, winning game one in Texas isn’t as important as just winning one game in Texas.
"What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?" the Waco Kid
by 77bestrookieclassever on Oct 9, 2011 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions
And to keep everyone calm.
Here’s some gifs of Papa Grande dancing.
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 9, 2011 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I believe we saw all the best of the Texas pitchers in this game.
It was also a game that could of went either way. I think we contained Texas’ bats pretty good. One big hit and we win games like this. I already miss Delmon Young.
Yeah, Delmon being out does hurt.
I’d rather have another arm in the bullpen instead of Penny.
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
No kidding
What a waste of the roster spot he is since he’s not coming in with these rain situations. If he was ever going to be used, it would have been Game 1 of the ALDS. Freaking waste.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
He'll be in there at some time
I’d bet that a few of these games turn into laughers.
I see what you're saying
But at least he was put into a game. I see no situation where Penny would ever see the light of day. Not 100% of the exact roster, but couldn’t we have added another speed/utility guy in Rhymes?
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
If you only play one position are you a utility guy?
If you hustle are you necessarily fast?
You know I'm right about this.
Us failing to score with bases loaded twice
cost us
Fan of the Tigers ~ Red Wings ~ Lions - No Better Town to be a sports fan of!
Fantasy Teams: Pride of Detroit Bench League (PackMules (1-3) & Winging It In Motown Mursak League - (Wingedmule)
When the Tigers left bases loaded in the first
I knew it wasn’t going to be our night. Props the bullpen for keeping it close, though. I thought that was great for them to step up.
In a Tiger fan's world, the Tigers go 162-0 and the White Sox go 0-162.
Bases loaded, one out
You forgot the “one out” part.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Sorry...was supposed to be a reply to Mule
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Besides the rain delays
Tonight was a great game between the two best teams in baseball right now. You guys get Holland later today, who has been nails through the second half of the season. Good luck guys.
lol.. man... dont get too drunk... but dont get not drunk enough that its rape
by I am Neftali Feliz on Jul 29, 2011 6:44 PM CDT
Hey your guys throw smoke
Ogando, Adams, and Feliz all in upper 90’s. Wow, that’s some tough cheese!
In a Tiger fan's world, the Tigers go 162-0 and the White Sox go 0-162.
Feliz was really impressive
kinda like a guy we used to have (Zumaya)
Fan of the Tigers ~ Red Wings ~ Lions - No Better Town to be a sports fan of!
Fantasy Teams: Pride of Detroit Bench League (PackMules (1-3) & Winging It In Motown Mursak League - (Wingedmule)
Ogando makes me want to vomit
Is somebody willing to send me a text message when Ogando exits the game? If so, I will happily turn off the television every time he enters the game. The Tigers can’t touch him…he’s filthy. We don’t have a good approach (there may not be one). He’s like Alburquerque with command. Not really even fair.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
I also think some guys still might of been a little hungover
from the celebration on Thursday night which probably lasted until Friday morning. I bet the plane ride to Texas was festive also.
Could be
Either way, I couldn’t be happier for the Tigers just to be here. Only four teams ever get this far, guys. Texas is tough company, but I think this team can hang.
In a Tiger fan's world, the Tigers go 162-0 and the White Sox go 0-162.
They sprayed/drank non-alcoholic beverages, if that counts for anything
Not sure I buy the ‘hungover’ excuse
That probably squashes that thought then
I didn’t know it was all non-alcohol party. I just thought the kids had non-alcohol beverages.
Here's what is troubling to me:
3
5
5
1
3
3
Runs scored in six games through the playoffs. 3.33 runs per game. This can’t continue if we want to go anywhere, no matter what our pitching staff is doing. And neither of these teams has a team of Cy Youngs pitching for them. We struggled to tag guys like Ivan Nova and AJ Burnett for runs.
Tomorrow, we really need to get some runs no matter what happens. The struggles up and down the lineup is the biggest concern. Max Scherzer should pitch well enough to keep us in the game, but the offense needs to pick these guys up.
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
FFFFFFFFFFFFFff
Just as I hit the post button i noticed i put 3 instead of 2
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 9, 2011 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Career vs Feliz
Inge: 2 for 2, 1 homer
Betemit: 0 for 6, 3 K’s.
Well, make that 0 for 7 with 4 K’s. Someone please buy Leyland a computer.
/ignores small sample size
Leyland: You mean one of them there electical boxes?
"trout jefferson is using multiple numbers and no swears. I barely recognize you man." - Kurt Mensching
by Trout Jefferson on Oct 9, 2011 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
SMALL SAMPLE SIZE
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
What happened to Andy Dirks? Whats the love of Don Kelly suddenly .Dirks is superior in hitting fielding and speed and power but Don Kelly who might get you an A player in a trade is getting all the playing time.
by tigers are allright on Oct 9, 2011 1:39 AM EDT reply actions
Still
Using Dirks might be useful… especially when Leyland is matchup obsessed most of the time anyways.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
I would not be shocked to see Andy in place of Raburn against Colby Lewis
but he could just as easily replace Magglio, and so could Kelly.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Zing
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
Don Kelly
Nobodys afraid of Don Kelly the guy cant touch a good pitcher Dirks is the better all around player maybe we can trade for John Mcdonald another versatile player.
by tigers are allright on Oct 9, 2011 1:44 AM EDT reply actions
DK is the Wizard of EVERYTHING!
"What's a dazzling urbanite like you doing in a rustic setting like this?" the Waco Kid
by 77bestrookieclassever on Oct 9, 2011 1:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Don Kelly is the wizard of mediorce!!!
by tigers are allright on Oct 9, 2011 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions
He's the 25th man on the team.
A fine, versatile backup. But in a starting role, he leaves much to be desired. Still, with Inge and Betemit as the alternatives, he should start at 3B against at least some RHP’s. In the outfield, not.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
extra pitches for JV
That ump welke was horrible in his calling balls and strikes to JV, and gave wilson plenty off the corners. disgusting strikes and balls discrepancy. Tigers don’t help themselves leaving bases loaded early and later.
JV was clearly upset and understandably, Tigers will get F’ed in gamne 3 too with jim wolf the second base ump tonight.
When 3 different strike zones show strikes as balls to JV about 10 or 11 times, and several off the corners called strikes for wilson makes me wonder…
by KalineCountry on Oct 9, 2011 1:46 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Wilson wasn't getting a great strike zone either.
No use in complaining about balls and strikes – the big problem is a lack of production from the Tigers.
I have a grand idea: let's win a game.
Two different strike zones. Wilson clearly got calls that JV did not get. Several of them.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
by Tigerdog1 on Oct 9, 2011 2:24 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Were back to what we were early in the season struggling to score runs. .
by tigers are allright on Oct 9, 2011 1:49 AM EDT reply actions
Avila?
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
#sobs
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 don’t think any TV announcer has mentioned him once this postseason.
by SpartanBoiler on Oct 9, 2011 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel like he would have teed off against those pitchers last night.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
Haha
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Oct 9, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Would it be Kurt dancing?
That kind of horrible might get us Alfonso Soriano.
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Oct 9, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
don't get peralta not hitting 5th but at least miggy was 3rd
better by leyland , I think he actually wants to win. A-jax isn’t horrible leading off against lefties, he is versus rightis but I doubt that will change. I don’t get burying Peralta though, he has been swinging well. He needs to hit behind V-mart so they can’t keep walking Cabera.
It wont happen but I would actually put Mags 2nd against lefties , dirks against righties. Mags is a single’s hitter now and can get on but will hit into a ton of DP’s and won’t get a lot of extra base hits. Move Rayburn to 7th after Avila. No bemeit against 95+ pitchers but he needs to start against Colby Lewis.
The DP with bases loaded was terrible sign , knew it would be long night after that. There are a lot of black holes in this lineup with Avila struggling, we need to score early to not reduce pressure on Miggy and V-Mart or somebody else going deep. hate to say it but the O has been pretty bad, if we would have gotten bunts down versus CC we lose that series , we are pretty much relying on walks and bunts to score. Would be nice to get a blowout so some people can relax,. The rangers starters aren’t great but don’t really want to see Ogando and Feliz late behind.
Why'd they give Ogando the win and not Wilson?
And JV still took the loss.
Man, the whole concept of pitcher wins and losses are really stupid.
"I believe in a good kick in the ass. This— I believe. " -- Walker Percy
I tweet about stuff sometimes @jackhitts.
Wilson went 4 2/3 innings.
One out short of the requirement to be able to receive the win.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
BARF
Some days I hate baseball.
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)
by Baroque on Oct 9, 2011 7:09 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Its only one game
I am sticking with my previous thought: Detroit in 6
Your 2k11 Detroit Tigers "World Series Contenders" So get over it.
Post season Verlander vs regular season verlander
During reg season verlander was at his best in big spots. Sure, he barely had base runners (sub-1 WHIP) but it seemed that when he needed a big out (w RISP) he got it. So far in playoffs he hasn’t been able to get those big outs. He’s still verlanderian with high strikeouts and relatively low WHIP, but a very high percentage of his runners are scoring.
Consider his game three win: 11 K’s, nasty all game, yet 4 runs given up on only 9 baserunners and zero home runs. Last night: 7 baserunners and three score (of course one home run). Game one first inning was similar yet that whole ordeal was so uncool I’m not recognizing it happened.
Small sampling, etc – I’m not saying there’s anything wrong I’m just pointing out how different the results have been from what we’ve seen and what we expect.
Of course verlander is hugely disadvantaged by not being able to face Tiger lineup. Pretty sure he’d know how to handle murderer’s row of Avila through Jackson.
by TigerFaninDC on Oct 9, 2011 9:07 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
I think the Yankees are a bit of a unique case
Verlander – and most excellent pitchers – will sometimes lose focus for a batter or two, and in most cases they will get through it without damage. A guy gets on, they give up a single to move him to third, and then they bear down and get the next two guys on popups or strikeouts or get a double play. That works with the vast majority of teams.
A team as deep offensively as the Yankees has an exceptional ability to recognize mistakes and jump on them. Against most teams, if JV loses focus for a few batters he gives up a hit or two and it ends there. The Yankees will make a pitcher pay for mistakes like few other teams can, and thus he gave up the tying runs – but stabilized himself afterwards.
I think that game showed pretty vividly just how good Verlander is and also how good the Yankees are at jumping on the slightest mistake. Lesser lineups would not have been able to do so.
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)
in statistics I would call that comparing Einstein to Brad Pitt.
as a scientist by profession this does not make any sense. Sampling 35 games versus 2 games and 2 innings is ridiculous.
by spartynation on Oct 9, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions
It's valid when those two games come after those 35
I’m wondering if Verlander is starting to fatigue at all. We talk all day about how ridiculous his arm is, but even he is human. He threw a career high 251 innings in the regular season. Maybe he hasn’t been as sharp because his arm is tired? He’s still got the velocity, but he’s missed his spots in the playoffs more often than we saw in the regular season.
Everything is going to be a small sample size in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t speculate on why he isn’t pitching as well.
maybe more mental than physical fatigue
When Lackey pitched in the playoffs as a rookie, he was taken out of a game after just 80 pitches. He mentioned that it felt like he had pitched more because each pitch was so high-stress and he was concentrating so much harder since when playing a really good team with high playoff stakes you can’t afford even a small slip or the batter will jump on it.
Verlander might be feeling the mental strain of pitching so long at such a high level, and that is why he is a bit more prone to let a bad strike zone get to him and frustrate him than he did in the regular season.
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)
Because Verlander doesn't hit
That’s why we’re not talking about the offense. We’re talking about Justin Verlander.
#heavysigh
First game of a series on the road is always a tough slog, and the rain and tight strike zone didn’t make it easier. They’ll come back strong tonight. All the Tigers need is a split in Texas.
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)
exactly what I was about to say
just need the split in Texas and we’re fine
No longer the Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club
If we are going to win this series we need Scherzer and Fister to come up big.
With Delmon out the pitching is going to have to carry us to the World Series.But anything is possible with Cabby and V Mart in the line up.We just need to win one of the next two games to get going.It’s a seven game series it take 4 wins to get to the promise land.
our offense needs to score some runs.We have the pitching, but where are the bats?
I miss Boesch and Young.What a difference they could have been?We cannot beat every team 3-2 and expect to win every game.
need blue-eyed Max to show up tonight
why yes, I'm slightly drunk at the moment
by Mark in Chicago on Oct 9, 2011 11:25 AM EDT reply actions
I think he will.
He did an excellent job against the Yankees in New York. He can draw on that for tonight.
The question is will he get enough run support for it to matter.
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 not worried about ol blue eye
i’m wondering if any of the Tigers who carried the team during the regular season are going to start to do more in the playoffs.
by Kurt Mensching on Oct 9, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions
going from memory
Victor has not had a good postseason with the exception of the RBI single in game 5 (and he’s had a quite a few opportunities).
why yes, I'm slightly drunk at the moment
by Mark in Chicago on Oct 9, 2011 11:45 AM EDT up reply actions
This
Any member of the Venezuelan Mafia can stop hitting into DP’s with the bases loaded, starting today.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Really?
You’re not worried about the guy with the incredibly high HR/FB in the bandbox?
I hope he starts regressing today…
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
by David Tokarz on Oct 9, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
Part of my charm
*flashes winning albeit pessimistic smile
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
Still think too many ABs are dedicated to trying to hit home runs
Wish the guys would put the idea of 6 runs in their head, get there by any means possible then let the pitching do their thing.
Fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings.
K's
The number of strikeouts by the Tigs is telling.
Whilst at the game last night,
the Ranger fans around us were continually going, “nooooo” when the bases got jammed. I comforted many a fan by letting them know a K or DP was coming shortly. Yes, I’m a prophet of doom. That’s just how I roll.
I don’t like it, but that’s why I come here. To learn the ways of positivity.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
After the way they blew the first inning
Even with Justin on the mound, I knew we were going to lose. It was a horrible feeling seeing it again in the 5th.
He wasn't sharp
Factors that many have mentioned above.
The Squeezing. They probably showed this on TV, but as soon as Cruz hit his HR, Verlander walked right the the HP ump getting a ball and then ‘talking’ about the zone, especially the first two pitches to Cruz.
I don’t know what the K zone showed on those, but that AB stands out like a big fat butt to me. Also, the 0-2 pitch to Cabrera that Wilson got a backwards K on that looked six inches off the plate.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
the K zone showed that JV wasn't getting strikes low in the zone
His curve, when it’s on, has such a break that if he doesn’t get that low strike call his only option is to elevate it into the zone and then it is hittable. If the batters notice that the low strike isn’t being called they won’t swing at is, so what in other games would have been a called strike, a swinging strike, or a weak contact was a ball. It was very frustrating.
And he wasn’t getting anything off the corners called, either. If a strike zone kind of moves around so there is some location that is a strike that isn’t right down the middle of the plate, most pitchers will adjust. This zone was so small there wasn’t any place to throw a ball that wasn’t hittable.
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)
That Cabrera backwards K stands out
Because it was a pitch outside and down that Verlander had consistently NOT gotten. Essentially, there was no outside corner with that strike zone, it was either on the outside half or a ball.
the ump sucked
he really did.
he screwed wilson a few times too. he was all over the place with his “zone”
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 9, 2011 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
it was awful
I think the strike zone was tighter for Verlander, or at least it affected him more severely and more often, but there it wasn’t the best for Wilson either. Just bad all around.
BRING ME MY ROBOT UMPIRES, DAMMIT.
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)
What would be so terrible about a little notification
on borderlines? The notification would go off on any strike; could be a vibration or the clicker in the umps hand. I understand the K zone may not be entirely accurate, but it’s much more accurate than any number of umps and their zone. The ump would have, at the very least, some backup on pitches that players though were down.
Plenty of strikes on the lower half look like balls b/c of where the glove of the catcher is when the ball is caught. As we all know, that part doesn’t matter.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
it is part of the game. Our offense was AWOL last night.
Betemit, Avila are becoming liabilities in AB’s. Avila is doing a phenomenal job as a catcher but the lack of young and boesch in the lineup is tough. Maggs at AB, bases loaded, one out and they get a DP. story of the nite.
As you noted previously or somewhere here
The offense has been AWOL for the post season.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
The Rangers fans
are doing alright by baseball fan standards. They were into the game, pitch by pitch and very loud. It didn’t take a baseball moment for them to stand. They were on their feet constantly.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 12:09 PM EDT reply actions
Well, some were going to the bathroom a lot, so that may account for some of the standing
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions
and I'm pretty sure they avoided doing the wave, right?
by Kurt Mensching on Oct 9, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
What was impressive is....
NO. One young fellow in the CF section was imploring folks around him after the 2nd delay. Much to our delight, nobody joined in.
Of course, the incessant towel waving leaves lint everywhere, but that was OK.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
rotation for the rest of the series?
game 2: scherzer
game 3: fister
game 4: verlander
game 5: porcello
game 6: fister
game 7: verlander, scherzer, porcello, and everybody else except penny
this is going to be a tough series that has a very good chance of going 7. i want verlander on the mound for 2 of the next 6.
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 9, 2011 12:32 PM EDT reply actions
it would also put scherzer in the pen for the back end of the series
where he looked freakin’ lights out against the yankees.
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 9, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
It will probably be
2: Scherzer
3: Fister
4: Porcello (dude only threw 22 pitches last night)
5: Verlander
6: Scherzer
7: Fister
No reason to skip Scherzer in Game 6 to run Fister out there on short rest.
i agree
that’ll probably be what happens. but i just have a hunch if we’re down 2-1 (or heaven forbid 3-0 — which is NOT going to happen, eric karros), we’ll see verlander in game 4.
and IF the series goes 7, verlander will put leyland in a full nelson to let him pitch.
by situationalbuntingapologist on Oct 9, 2011 12:47 PM EDT up reply actions
If the series goes 7
You still start Fister, with the possibility of bringing Verlander out of the pen if needed. We saw it backfire with CC Sabathia in NY and there’s no good reason to skip Fister right now. Verlander hasn’t been as dominant as he was in the regular season.
they haven't quit all year
They won’t quit now. I just hope that’s enough to get them past Texas.
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)
Overcompensating for Delmon's absence?
That’s what I think, anyways. Seems like the lineup is anxious and swinging at pitcher’s pitches, instead of taking what they’re being given.
Hoping the Tigers’ hitters can relax a bit, get on base, and string together some hits.
What's the excuse for the games
with Delmon in the lineup?
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
right
Avila is batting .050. Sometimes batting average doesn’t tell the story well, but, sometimes it tells you enough.
by Kurt Mensching on Oct 9, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I was referring to last night only, but point taken
Very telling numbers posted by Trout Jefferson – Tigers are averaging approx. 3 runs a game in the postseason.
Lots O' Rain
here in DFW, fellas. A good friend who works in the Ranger Grounds Crew says all day and the game is probably going to move to tomorrow. Not official, obviously, since I am just a peon.
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions
it makes sense
The rain is supposed to continue the whole day – anyone who can see a weather forecast knows that – and no one wants to have another stop-start game that lasts forever and screws up the rotations for both teams.
This is supposed to be the two best teams in the AL in a best-of-seven games series. Not a weather-f***ed farce.
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 HATE MLB WEATHER STUPIDITY
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)
Det News w/ Verlander
And the Rangers, as they’ve been known to do with this disciplined, heavy-hitting lineup of theirs, took advantage. Verlander was kicking himself when he gave up two runs on three hits in the second. And especially after serving up a leadoff home run to Nelson Cruz in the bottom of the fourth that turned out to be the decisive run in the end Saturday. Or Sunday, as it was.
“That’s a great ‘for instance’ and one of the things you could point to and say that’s not me,” Verlander said. “That’s not what I normally do. Ball one, ball two, cookie. It’s 2-0 and I miss my spot. I’m trying to go down and away, and I go middle up. That’s just not right.”
From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20111009/OPINION03/110090320/‘Quite-frustrating’—Rain-dumps-on-Justin-Verlander—Tigers-again#ixzz1aJ6Da5hu
Baseball: It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart.
by House by the Side of the Road on Oct 9, 2011 1:35 PM EDT reply actions
This may be the first time I've written a post where commenters have written more than I have
"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz
"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching
Contributor, Bless You Boys
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