It is going to be okay

With Rick Porcello on the mound, the concern is whether ground balls will sneak through the infield.  With Jose Iglesias at shortstop, Porcello should be safe from another inning like the nine run first inning in Anaheim earlier this year.  But baseball likes to remind us that it cannot be predicted, so with Porcello starting last night the Tigers allowed eight home runs.  Of course.

The best course of action after a blowout is to forget it and move on.  For some peace of mind, here are some recent World Series champions and their forgetful performances.

April 11, 2012:  Rockies 17, Giants 8.  Tim Lincecum started for the Giants.  He pitched well out of the bullpen in the postseason.

August 13, 2012:  Nationals 14, Giants 2.  Brad Penny allowed six runs in two innings.

May 28, 2011:  Rockies 15, Cardinals 4.  Jaime Garcia did what he was supposed to do in Coors Field, inducing twelve ground balls to only five fly balls and striking out six.  But somehow he allowed 12 runs in three and a third innings, with only one home run.

May 19, 2010:  Diamondbacks 13, Giants 1.  The game was tied 1 to 1 in the fourth inning, and the D'Backs blew it open against the relief pitching.

April 18, 2009:  Indians 22, Yankees 4.  Ground ball machine Chien-Ming Wang allowed nine fly balls versus two ground balls in an inning and a third, leading to eight runs.  His replacement coughed up eight more by the end of the third inning.  Jose Veras mopped up for the Yankees and allowed only one run.  Victor Martinez was two for four with a home run.

Doesn't that feel better?  Now forget about it.