Brad Penny good, Phil Coke better as Tigers win nail-biter over Rays, 2-1
by BigAl on Aug 23, 2011 11:50 PM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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PrintKEY STAT
2 IP, 5 K, 51 pitches
Those are the numbers for Phil Coke's save tonight. I hate using the word clutch, but Coke was clutch...and Jim Leyland was hoping to not have to use him.
With Brad Penny starting, and Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde unavailable, the Tigers desperately needed someone to step up in the pen tonight. Phil Coke was the man to do so. The game ending at bat with Ben Zobrist was as tense as they come. But Coke came through in a big, big way. Coke has now made 11 straight appearances without giving up a run.
This would also be a good time to encourage you to follow the hugely entertaining Twitter account, Phil Coke's Brain. Here's what we got after the win...
If Brandon gets player of the game, I'm going to slap his soul patch off his chin.
KEY PLAY
With the bases loaded and two out, Ryan Perry got Evan Longoria on an easy fly ball to center to end the 7th inning.
The Tigers had just taken a 2-1 lead in the top of the 7th, thanks to an Alex Avila RBI single and a Jhonny Peralta sac fly. Penny had pitched very well, but was pulled with one on and one out in the 7th. Daniel Schlereth did get the 2nd out of the inning, but also loaded the bases on a single and...of course...a base on balls.
Perry took over for Schlereth. While the entire Tigers fanbase had their heart in their throats, Perry gave a fist pump as soon as the ball left Longoria's bat. Perry immediately knew he had just gotten what could be considered the biggest out of his career.
KEY THOUGHTS
The game started 20 minutes late due to an earthquake hurricane zombie apocalypse a power outage.
Austin Jackson's K in the 1st inning was historic.
That was Austin Jackson's 300th career strikeout. He's just the fourth major-leaguer to reach that total in his first two seasons.
The other 3 - Incaviglia, Reynolds and Burrell - had at least 45 homers in those two seasons. A-Jax has 10.
Let's move on...
Kudos to the often maligned Penny. He faced the Rays' ace, David Price, and won a start many thought would be a sure loss for the Tigers. With the bullpen in some disarray, the Tigers needed a good performance from their 5th starter, and got a quality start out of him.
Victor Martinez was back in the lineup, despite his back and knee issues, and played a big part in the game winning rally. The Tigers need Martinez's bat in the lineup, though I have to admit it hurts just watching him run the bases.
Alex Avila, good at baseball. He had two more hits, a huge late game RBI and threw out the only Ray who dared try to run on him, Desmond Jennings in the 1st inning. You don't mess with the Avila.
Longoria made an excellent play to keep the Tigers off the board in the 7th, making a diving stop, then throwing out Delmon Young at the plate...from his knees.
What Brandon Inge giveth on defense, he taketh away on offense. Inge was fine defensively. But he struck out with two RISP to end the Tigers' 7th, and popped up with the bases loaded to end the Tigers' 9th. Seems like the welcome back to Detoroit home run was a long, long time ago. But is it Inge's fault Leyland insists on playing him?
The reported attendance in Tampa was 11,475. Sure it was. The Rays would also have you believe Kyle Farnsworth is a trustworthy reliever.
Common wisdom said a split of the four game series was the best case scenario. The Tigers have won the first two games of the series, meaning they are playing with house money from here on out. With Max Scherzer and Doug Fister up in the rotation, a series win is not out of the question.
As for the competition, the Indians split a doubleheader with the Mariners to fall six games back of the 1st place Tigers. The White Sox are also six back. As I post, the are on the West coast, down 4-3 to the Angels in the 7th...though Hawk Harrelson would have you believe the Sox are winning if you are watching WGN.
Regardless, the Tigers may be the verge of taking control of Central. They now hold the biggest lead of any AL division leader.
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Historical Context
Phil Coke became first Tigers pitcher to earn save in 2+ IP w/ 5+ K since Nate Robertson did it on April 6th, 2004 in Toronto, striking out 7 over 4 strong innings.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR200404060.shtml#DetroitTigerspitching::none
Well there's this (also from Dave Hogg)
“Just to reiterate, that’s the first time a Tiger has gotten five strikeouts in a 2-inning save since Willie Hernandez in 1984.”
:D?
by ivantopumpyouup on Aug 24, 2011 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Funny thing is.....
Coke has been awesome overall since coming back to the bullpen.
He ran off six straight appearances without allowing an earned run.
Then, at the end of July, Leyland used him three times in a row for at least 2 innings, and he imploded in the last two of those appearances.
Since then, he’s gone on an 11 game run without allowing an earned run.
He should be our primary seventh inning set up guy, and the first replacement for Benoit when he’s not available.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
If we can get AL Al back the back end of the bullpen should be lights out.
Things seem to go better with Coke in the pen.
Now, yes, but not until Fister arrived, IMO
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
If the playoffs started today my top 3 starters would be.
1 Verlander 2 Scherzer 3 Fister.Adding Fister was a key move agreed.
I'd have to agree
At this point, Penny and Rick are too inconsistent.
But then, I’d have a three man rotation in the playoffs.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
I think he's being used about right at the moment
Betemit’s defense is worse than I thought it would be. I’m still skeptical of Inge making any kind of resurgence, because I think he fundamentally lacks the pitch recognition skills to pick up many breaking balls. He will always be a K machine, just as he has been his whole career.
In fact, I think Leyland is using just about everyone as well as he can right now. I’d never use Raburn in the infield, I’d leave starters in a bit more here and there, I’d have started Verlander on Sunday, not used Valverde on Monday, and used Benoit on Tuesday, but hey, they won all three games.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
I like Inge as a person but he dosen't show me anything on the field.
I would rather go with Betemit early in games,he has a hot bat.And Kelly later in games with a spot start here and there.
JV is the reason you go with a 3 man rotation
There’s no way your #4 is better than JV on short rest.
by Rob Rogacki on Aug 24, 2011 12:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, but.....
you have to see how it’s setting up. JV will get two starts no matter how you play it, and if you can pull out a W in game 4 and clinch with your No. 4, then you have him for game 1. If you need two W’s, then you get JV and one other guy anyway. Just have to see how it goes, but I quickly reject the whole “short rest” stuff anyway, so that’s just me.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
3 man rotation is more critical in a 7 game series, IMO
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Wasn't just a week or two ago
that you were saying that Coke was completely un-trustworthy out of the pen and that there is no way you would ever use him in a high leverage situation until he has proven himself in low leverage situation? Glad that the manager didn’t listen to you, because as you say, he has been very good except for two games since he has moved to the pen. This is why you don’t make rash judgements on such small sample sizes.
by wilsonm24 on Aug 24, 2011 8:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yet another reason to like Coke
is because he can go a little longer than your average guy in the ’pen. Would I trust Ryan Perry to go two-or-more? Hell no. Would I trust Coke, who started the year in the rotation? Hell yes. He gives the Tigers some fantastic flexibility in the pen, which was a real weakness earlier this year.
Breathe easier, Tiger fans. Phil’s here.
by frisbeepilot on Aug 24, 2011 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I can't decide what is better.
This win or a BYB shout out.
twitter.com/philcokesbrain
by Phil Coke's Brain on Aug 23, 2011 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
Looks like this team has finally put it together.
They’ve managed to hold onto a lot of 1 run games lately and have been winning in a multitude of ways. I see many good signs with this team right now, Alex Avilla topping that list with his ability to become better the harder they work him…he is a baseball Super Sayan.
God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.
I feel like...
There should be some Avila for MVP discussion
by cloud computer on Aug 24, 2011 12:06 AM EDT reply actions
Alex should easily earn a silver slugger award.
As should Miggy, although they may give it to A Gon.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
He is getting the job done both ways.
Outstanding effort on his part.
Black Sox tie it up at 4- 4 with 2 outs in the 8th
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Listening to Hawk
You’d think they won the fucking pennant.
by (The)BallDontLie on Aug 24, 2011 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions
The Tigers are finally starting to look like a playoff team.
This is what i thought we would look like coming out of spring training.We have made some key moves that have helped since then Young and Fister.Now lets put the nail in the Indians and Black Soxs coffin.
Just .500 ball= 87 Wins
CHW or CLE would have to go 24- 12, or .667 to win 87
MIN would have to go 32- 2 to win 87 games.
The Twinkies are toast. Dead. Spent.
But Chicago or Cleveland could go on a run. Just beat em and take care of business, and the playoffs and a division title will become a reality.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Comerican Park needs to have a
Penny Coke Night. I’ve rather have a Nickle Beer Night, but this could work too.
This story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=beernight/080604&sportCat=mlb
One of my favorites.
Well, it wouldn't let me link to the whole thing apparently
But if you search ESPN Page 2 + Beer Night you should get it. It’s maybe the best account of the thing I’ve read.
I accidentally napped/slept through the entire game.
Except for the bottom of the 7th between the napping and sleeping. Really nice to get a bonus win with that pitching matchup.
Coincidence? Tigers Are 6 - 2 Since They Acquired Young
and inserted him in the #3 spot
He has at least one hit in 7 out of the 8 games.
Of course the Tigers pitching has been pretty good over that stretch.
Coincidence, good luck or just getting hot who cares as long as it continues.
It's another hole in the lineup, plugged
The Tigers can now run out a very solid offensive lineup that doesn’t have any glaring holes if they want to. That certainly couldn’t be said before Young and Betemit. It makes it tough on opposing pitchers when they can’t look forward to a slumping Inge or Maggs. I guess we still have the 2B de jour, but Santiago has been good lately and that’s actually a big part of filling out the lineup.
Right now, on this winning streak, DD looks like he did a stellar job addressing the needs of the team. A loss or two that highlights the mockery of 2B or the middle relief will remind us that this team isn’t perfect, but I really like where we are right now.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
August Swoon?
Records in August:
DET: 13-7
CLE: 10-11
CWS: 11-10
MIN: 5-15
So much for the 2nd half swoon. Minnesota’s record doesn’t really matter but it’s fun to look at anyway. Cleveland is probably playing to their level. Don’t know what to say about the White Sox.
Jackson's K's
Hogg’s data point is incredibly dumb. Curtis Granderson had more than 400 in 2006-7, but he’d gotten cups of coffee in prior years, so he doesn’t count.
Reggie Jackson, same story. He hadn’t even lost rookie status yet. Same with Jose Canseco, who actually won RoY in his “second” year.
Bobby Bonds also did it in his first two full seasons.
His point about HR is not totally off-the-mark, since it is a little weird for a low-power guy to K that much, the nearest comparison being Granderson. But the most important thing is that you be not quite good enough to get a cup of coffee one year, and then start the entire next season.
Incaviglia, of course, gamed this by forcing a trade to Texas after being drafted by Montreal so that he could start in the majors.
I don't want to hear any weak sh*t from Jason Grilli.
I love this from the DRB recap.
It’s nice to have John Jaso back and all, but where do I find an Avila? I want one of those.
Bwahaha. Ha. He’s ours.
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