Porcello wins 12th, Tigers use 16 hits to pummel Twins into submission, 8-1
by BigAl on Aug 27, 2011 12:24 AM EDT
in Detroit Tigers News
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KEY STATS
The Tigers have won six of seven, and are 8-2 in their last ten games.
The pitching staff has allowed two runs or less in seven of those ten games. That's how you take control of a divisional race.
KEY PLAY
The Tigers turning a bases loaded double play in the bottom of the 2nd.
The Twins were looking to take a big early lead off a struggling Rick Porcello. loading the bases on a walk, single and HBP. But Matt Tolbert hit a two hopper back to Porcello, who started a pretty 1-2-3 double play. The Twins ultimately scored one run in the inning, but it could have been much, much worse. (thanks to help from the 1st base ump, Ben Revere beat out an RBI infield hit to short, but was rung up for the 3rd out)
KEY THOUGHTS
Remember when the Tigers would travel to Minnesota and really weird, very bad things happened in that God awful dome? I don't miss those days. Not one bit.
It was a workman-like win for the Tigers, taking complete control as the game went on. After playing tense, close series with the Indians and Rays, the Tigers pulling away in the late innings, winning a relative laugher against the Twins was a relief. It was nice not needing Maalox to get through a nine inning game.
Rick Porcello found himself in and out of trouble most of the evening, and was bailed out by a couple of big double plays early. Porcello settled down somewhat as the game went on, and pitched into the 7th. Regardless, 7 H and 3 BB in 6.1 innings is not exactly efficient pitching...but it was good enough for Porcello to earn his 12th win of the season, while dropping his ERA to a still disturbingly high 5.08.
Phil Coke continued his streak of fine relief performances, throwing 1.2 innings of no hit, no run, 3 K baseball. Ryan Perry continued his bullpen renaissance, tossing a 1-2-3 9th.
Brandon Inge reminded us he can still play a little defense, making a diving stop on Tevor Plouffe's hard shot down the 3rd base line, then throwing out Plouffe from his knees.
The Tigers held a hit-fest, belting Twins pitching around for 16 hits. Leading the hit parade was Victor Martinez with three hits and four RBI.
Miguel Cabrera celebrated the birth of his child by getting on base four times, chalking up two singles, a double and walk.
"Second half" Raburn went into tonight with a post All-Star Game slash line of .309/.347/.515. It's only gotten better after his 3-5 performance. I"m at a loss trying to figure it out.
The day off broke Alex Avila, striking out three times while going 1-5.
As for the big league principals in the recent Tigers/Twins trade? Delmon Young had three hits (even if one was of the swinging bunt variety) and three RBI. The PTBNL in deal, former Tigers reliever Lester Oliveros, was completely ineffective, to the tune of 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB. I'm going to call it. The Tigers win the trade.
John Wagner, Mud Hens beat writer for the Toledo Blade, tweeted the following after the game:
#Tigers fans: Just found out that Jon Matlack has been let go as Detroit's minor-league pitching coordinator. Class act who will be missed.
Make of it what you will.
The Indians beat the Royals in their usual come from behind fashion, while the White Sox are up on the Mariners out west. Thus, the Tigers remain 6.5 up on the Tribe, 7.5 on the Sox as I write.
At 72-59, the Tigers are 13 games over .500, the most they have been over the line of mediocrity since early September of 2009.
And in case you've forgotten, or live under a rock, Justin Verlander goes for win number 20 Saturday afternoon.
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Good time to put it all together
And an even better time to have some good luck. Every where i get to take one more off t magic number is a great day.
And since it’s past midnight, happy Verlander day everyone!
God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.
Happy Verlander Day to you, too! :)
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
Honest, I'm completely harmless. I make up in ALL CAPS and creative threats what I lack in actual violence.
"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)
Very nice win
We are starting to look like a very good ball club. I’m not sold on Porcello. Tonight’s 1-run outing could have easily looked like last weeks debacle with a bounce here or there. I know he’s young, but he still seems pretty hittable to me and it doesn’t seem to be getting much better over time.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Porcello didn't give up any extra base hits.
What’s nice is that when the game is tight and he needs to pitch well, he usually does. The best the Twins could muster up was a bunch of lazy looking singles. In the end, Porcello got his normal 8 runs of support and another win in the book.
Beautiful win.
Every starter in the game got at least one hit. Brandon Inge looked pretty good too. A line drive single, sacrifice bunt, and of course, the awesome play down at 3rd. Everybody ragged on him for the fielder’s choice in Tampa, but since coming back up, he’s gotten a hit in every game he’s started. I bet that by September 1st, his average will either be very close to, or even above .200 again.
Porcello looked real shaky in the early going, but pitched out of some jams and ended up with a quality start. If we can get 6 innings with a few runs out of him every time out, we’ll be in real good shape heading into October.
And of course, V-Mart and Delmon were stellar.
Please clarify
“Everybody ragged on him for the fielder’s choice in Tampa, but since coming back up, he’s gotten a hit in every game he’s started. I bet that by September 1st, his average will either be very close to, or even above .200 again.”
I’m sorry but I am missing something here. Why is that even remotely being good? Thats like saying the Houston Astros will win 55 games this year. Thats nice and all but means absolutley nothing because they are miles away from where they should, or at least want to be. Just like Inge.
President of the "Bring back Neifi Perez" fan club.
All I care about is what Inge does going forward,
and not what he did during the 1st half of the season. Right now, combined with platoon partner, Wilson Betemit, we might get some the better offensive numbers in the majors from the 3B position for the rest of the season.
Numbers are way down this year, there isn’t a 3B in the majors with a .900 OPS this season.
Inge is hitting .273 with a .909 OPS since he returned.
Betemit is hitting .324 with a .832 OPS since we got him.
I think this Inge and Betemit platoon is looking great so far.
Inge's average and OPS are due to that first game
Since then, he’s hitting .182 with a .364 OPS. These are all extremely small sample sizes, which explains why one home run and one double gives him David Wright-esque numbers.
by Rob Rogacki on Aug 27, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
More than Jon Matlack needs to be let go
Let’s call this what it is:
Dave Dombrowski has drafted very little talent for either the bullpen, the rotation, or the lineup in his ten year tenure with the Detroit Tigers. He can blame Rick Knapp. He can blame Glen Ezell, He can blame Jon Matlack, but the bottom line is that DD has failed to draft the talent that is needed to meet the needs of the major league club in Detroit. His 2008 “great relief draft” can now officially be deemed an utter failure. On the rare occasion that he breaks from his M.O. and actually signs a free agent to a multi year deal, he does well, but he does so as infrequently as possible. Instead, he gives out lavish extensions to washed up veterans and unproven prospects, almost all of which extensions have blown up in his face.
Don’t blame Jon Matlack, blame Dave Dombrowski for the lack of talent in the organization. If DD’s team makes the playoffs, he deserves another season. Four years is a stretch, beyond what he has earned, IMO.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
What lack of talent?
Verlander. Justin Verlander.
Verlander and Granderson, that's it
for players that DD has drafted that have become above average regulars in the major leagues.
Avila is on his way, that will be three, but he doesn’t even have a year of above average performance yet. Boesch might be, but he’s up to his old second half tricks again, and he has yet to put together one good full season.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Really?
Verlander, Porcello, Turner, Perry, Zumaya, Jurrjenns, and a few other minor leaguers who are still coming around would all really beg to differ with your last statement. By the end of next year, you may be able to add Andrew Miller now that he may have worked out his problems.
God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.
Cameron Maybin is finally developing as well
Jair Jurrjens is a quality pitcher from the Dombrowski era. A lot of people would love to have a home-grown top 3 of Verlander, Jurrjens, and Porcello (with Turner in the wings). Add in Miller or Furbush as a #5 and that’s a pretty good rotation.
In the outfield, you could assemble a cast of Granderson, Maybin, Joyce, Boesch, Wells, and Dirks. That’s a strong top 3 and a deep bench.
Infield has been the major area of weakness. Avila is great, but you’re hard pressed to look around the league for home-grown, big-league infielders. Had Sizemore or Iorg been able to realize their potential, this might be a different story.
And while there are some RP that have seen success, there aren’t many back-end guys that the team has developed during Dombrowski’s era.
In summary, I think we can see right now that SP and OF have been areas of strength for Dombrowski, while IF and BP are areas of weakness.
The other sports are just sports. Baseball is a love. ~Bryant Gumbel, 1981
Agreed.
I didn’t even get into the outfielders and otter position prospects. True, they weretraded before wencould see what many of them will become, but I’m ok with it when I see tue return on what we traded for. The minor league system now looks a little bleak, but it is because of gutting the farm and having anquality team that winning now. The front brass has done a fine job, as of today.
God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.
Not sure how strong that is....
There’s no argument with Verlander or Granderson. Joyce had a good half season before he faded. Boesch is still a work in progress, but has his OPS under .800 again for the season. They’re not a particularly strong group. I think they have a stronger rotation now than that. If that’s your outfield, you will need more pop in other positions, and the Tigers will next season, even with DY in the mix. Verlander is an ACE and Porcello is a maybe. Teams need more than that, or they have to go shopping, which DD has done. His signing of free agents, to the extent that he has done that, and his trades have been a much bigger strength and a source of talent than his drafts. Very few of DD’s free agents have been a bust. Only Percival comes to mind in terms of real money spent. Jurrjens was an international free agent, like Rodney and Villarreal. DD hasn’t been particularly successful with them, but he sure likes to trade for them once someone else develops them.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Eh... bad names to choose.
Porcello has been awful this year, nearly as bad last year. Turner has 1 start, can’t add him yet. As for Perry, ask some of the regulars here how they have felt about him in pressure situations (and his 5.67 ERA is just about in line with his 5.47 xFIP). Zumaya’s career is essentially over after only 1 full season. Andrew Miller has pitched in 12 games this season with ugly numbers, not sure why you would think his problems may be worked out.
I wanted Dombrowski gone for his overall job last year. This year he has made great moves at the major league level to earn him some more time, but some of the names you chose I have to disagree with.
I hate Jonathon Ericsson.
Porcello has been awful as someone who is supposed to our number 3 starter.
but as a prospect he has turned out quite well. At least in my opinion. In terms of FIP he has gotten better in every season so far.
He’s no great shakes right now, but if he continues to improve he can still be a very good prospect.
Exactly...
And let’s not forget that he’s still so young! Guys like Halladay and Lee and others have gotten experience early and took several seasons to reach the ace status of today. And Rick’s ceiling may not be that high, but maybe he grades out as a Derrick Lowe in his prime type of guy…Good K rate, lots of ground balls, ERA in the mid-3 to 4 range. I think we’d take that, no?
by CoreyMichaelDC on Aug 27, 2011 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
GM's should be graded on their moves as a whole.
The draft is just a small part of being a GM and seeing as prospects are extremely hit and miss for any organization, I don’t make much judgement off of homegrown talents. What he does with those prospects is another thing. Holding onto prospects like Verlander and Avila were very smart moves. Turning prospective talents into the likes of Cabrera, Fister, Peralta, and probably others.
It seems like you’re getting mad at DD for not drafting all for sure commodities that will absolutely translate into major league talent. And while yes, not all of his drafted talent has made major league splashes…he has turned that major league talent into very good major league players.
ugh...
Turning prospective talents into the likes of Cabrera, Fister, Peralta, and probably others were other very smart moves.
instead of iphone apps, how about an edit feature?
+1
or how bout a drunk button? My half coherent statements due to my inability to work my iPhone properly while wasted bothers me. Im not as stupid as my lack of punctuation, poor spelling, and lack of proper grammar makes me look at times. I’m blaming it all on my iPhone and alcohol.
God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.
I'm not mad at DD
Just saying that the failure to develop pitching prospects isn’t on the guys that have gotten canned, it’s a lack of talent to begin with, and that is on the GM and his system of player procurement for the organization.
DD is ultimately measured by how the big league club performs on the field. I’m still picking them to win the division this year, and I’d extend DD if they do, that’s all.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
Drafts are a pretty weak metric for GM success
At the end of the day, baseball prospects are so hit-or-miss beyond a very few obvious prospects at the top of the draft (Verlander, Strasburg, Mauer, A-Rod, Josh Hamilton, Darryl Strawberry, etc.) that complaining that a GM isn’t hitting enough with the 22nd-round reliever1 pick is like complaining that a PGA golfer isn’t getting enough holes-in-one.
I think it makes more sense for a GM to be graded on what he does to generate actual MLB-quality players for his manager to use, whether it’s through the farm system, trades or free agency. At the end of the day, that’s the most important part of a GM’s job.
Dombrowski’s absolutely made some bad calls over the years, especially when it comes to over-valuing when re-signing his own players. We’re also still paying for his decision to let Polanco go2. But he’s assembled a playoff-bound top-five offensive team and legitimate pitching staff with a payroll that’s only in the top third of MLB teams.
At the end of the day, measure the GM by the talent put out on the field. While the Tigers definitely have some soft spots, Dombrowski’s done a very legimate job — especially with some of the in-season moves he’s made this year to get us guys like Fister and Young.
1 – Yes, that’s a John Smoltz reference. Do as I say, not as I do.
2 – Bitter? Me? Nahhh.
I love your use of footnotes. :)
Random nonsense at @Baroque97
Honest, I'm completely harmless. I make up in ALL CAPS and creative threats what I lack in actual violence.
"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)
Younf for Olivas
The Young for Olivas trade is looking like a winwin for the Tigers, Young is playing well and by having Olivas in the Central we get to hit him regularly!
who the hell is this "Olivas"
you are constantly referring to. I’m assuming you mean Oliveros
No longer the Founder, President and CEO of the Ryan Raburn Fan Club
#2
On SportCenter!
Living in the D, but It's All About The A.
by Avalanche318 on Aug 27, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Porcello Needs A Hypnotist To Convince Him That All Teams He Faces Are The Twins
2011 record vs Twins
Starts 5
Wins 4
Losses 1
IP 30 (6 per start)
ER 10
ERA 3.00
2011 Record vs Everyone Else
Starts 20
Wins 8
Losses 7
IP 112 (5.6 per start)
ER 69
ERA 5.54
ERA vs Twins 3.00 vs everyone else 5.54
Unfortunately for him and the Tigers the Tigers won’t be facing the Twins in the playoffs this season.
Screw The Math: Why Justin Verlander Has A Pitcher's Chance At 300 Career Wins
I know some might consider this OT but a good Verlander article is iMO never OT if you are a Tigers fan. LOL
=======
Friday, August 26, 2011 7:44 pm
Written by: Eric Adelson
Justin Verlander doesn’t much care for your math. He doesn’t care for the statistician’s math. And he doesn’t care for history’s math. He knows 20-game winners are rare these days and, therefore, winning 300 in a career is a milestone most people view as unlikely. (There’s even a book about it.) Verlander knows no current pitcher has even 200 wins, and that he only reached 100 a couple weeks ago, and that he’d need 10 seasons at a level he’s yet to reach even once – 20 wins — to hit the big 3-0-0. He knows hard throwers often lose at least one season to injury along the way. He knows he’ll have to pitch into his 40s to have a shot.
And still, to those who say it can’t be done, he says, pssshh.
“I disagree with that,” Verlander says, his eyes wide. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
Sure, it might make sense to those who actually do the math. A 28-year-old who can throw 100 mph, as Verlander does, can’t maintain that velocity for another 10 years. A guy who’s one win from his first 20-win season can’t spend another entire decade reaching that mark, not in a five-man rotation that limits him to 33 or so starts a year.
But Verlander’s got some numbers of his own:……….
Verlander’s not Nolan Ryan, but the combination of intensity, strength and velocity conjure memories of the Ryan Express. Ryan and Verlander both got their 100th wins at age 28. And we all remember how long Ryan pitched — until age 46, notching 71 wins after he turned 40.
comp article on link
One comment on this; None threw harder than Nolan Ryan and he pitched until he was 46 years old winning 71 games from age 40 until he retired. Yes it is a bit of stretch at this point to think that Verlander can pitch until he is 46 and win 70+ games from age 40 on but one never knows.
When Did Granderson Become a DH?
For those who don’t believe a starter working every five days can have the same impact as an everyday player, consider: Verlander has faced 803 batters this season. Yankees center fielder and MVP candidate Curtis Granderson has 569 plate appearances. That means Verlander has impacted 234 more at-bats in 2011.
ISTM that you have add in Granderson’s defensive plays since they impacts at-bat.
PA 569
PO 290
Asst 9
Errors 3
-——————————
Total Plays Impacted = 871
Verlander
Batters Faced 803
PA 4
PO 10
Asst 26
Errors 5
-———————————————-
Total Plays Impacted = 848
Granderson is a +23 in plays impacted
None of this analysis includes plays that Granderson should have made but did not thereby resulting in a base hit and no play impacted in this analysis.
How bout negative factors
for times granderson did nothing at the plate vs the amount if batters JV has let on? I love those numbers but to give granderson crest for balls hit his way, then you should detract the amount of times he did nothing at the plate and donthe same when verlander allows a runner.
I just can’t fathom anyone meaning more to their team than verlander this year—take away his WAR and we are in third/tied for first place and well out of a wildcard. Take away Grandy’s WAR and the evil pinstripes are still making the playoffs, as of right now.
God ain't got no use for a 180 lb bag of sugar.
How about the value that JV provides to the bullpen by resting them every fifth day.
We could go on and on with this.
1. A putout and an assist can occur on the same play, so a play would not be added in that case
2. An error can also occur on throw following a putout
3. Every play “added” for a pitcher is one AB that is already counted in the batters he faced
4. Many of the putouts from Granderson are plays that could be made by almost anyone, including many posters on here- just catching a pop fly, that’s pretty minimal “impact”. But every pitch requires great skill, as would any at bat, and many of the other plays made in the field.
5. The player that is most involved is the catcher, who calls every pitch, and receives all pitches not put in play, not fouled off, and not wild or passed balls, and also bats and makes plays at the plate
6. National League pitchers get AB’s as well during the season. Should that help to put them over the top in an MVP race?
I think the initial point is a fair one. While starting pitchers only play every fifth day, and rarely finish the games that they start, they’re also by far the most critical to their team’s success when they do pitch, and they are much more involved than any position player on the field. I think it all evens out.
One of the arguments that we’re hearing less about regarding SP’s for MVP is “they already have an award, the Cy Young, and the MVP is for position players”. Having another award just for pitchers doesn’t detract from their value.
I don't care what the Chinese say, 2011 is the Year of the Tiger!
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