Bless You Boys - Game 16: New York Yankees 2, Detroit Tigers 1A detailed list of nope about the Detroit Tigershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47585/default.png2015-04-23T19:31:14-04:00http://www.blessyouboys.com/rss/stream/82415982015-04-23T19:31:14-04:002015-04-23T19:31:14-04:00Poll: Game 16 Player of the Game
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Who was the Tigers' player of the game in today's 2-1 loss to the Yankees?</p> <p>After racing out to an 11-2 start, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> have lost three consecutive games. Their third straight loss came this afternoon, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a>. The Tigers' pitching staff combined to allow just three hits, but issued six walks while the offense only mustered three hits of their own.</p>
<p><span>Anibal Sanchez</span> was much better today than in his past two starts. He gave up just one run in 6 1/3 innings, allowing one hit while striking out eight. He allowed four walks and needed help from his bullpen to escape a jam in the seventh inning.</p>
<p><span>Joba Chamberlain</span> gave the Tigers a chance to win the game in the ninth inning by tossing a scoreless frame in relief. Joba allowed a hit, but was able to work around it while throwing just 12 pitches. He kept the game within a run, but the Tigers' offense was unable to score against Yankees closer <span>Andrew Miller</span>.</p>
<p><span>J.D. Martinez</span> had two of the Tigers' three hits today. He doubled off the left field wall in the fourth inning, but was stranded at second base. Martinez also doubled in the seventh, but the Yankees were able to escape a jam with the score then tied at 1.</p>
<p><span>Anthony Gose</span> got the Tigers off to a nice start, hitting a double off Yankees starter <span>Masahiro Tanaka</span> to lead off the bottom of the first. He eventually scored on a <span>Victor Martinez</span> sacrifice fly, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead.</p>
<h5><a href="http://www.blessyouboys.com/2015/4/23/8477541/detroit-tigers-new-york-yankees-game-15-poll" target="_blank">Game 15 Player of the Game</a></h5>
<p><span>Ian Krol</span> got the dubious honor of Player of the Game for what will probably be the worst game of the entire 2015 season. Not only did Krol have to pitch for two innings in freezing conditions, but he was also optioned to Triple-A Toledo today.</p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2015/4/23/8486251/detroit-tigers-new-york-yankees-game-16-pollRob Rogacki2015-04-23T16:27:21-04:002015-04-23T16:27:21-04:00Yankees 2, Tigers 1: Still frozen
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<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers just can't get the offense going and dropped their first series decision of the season to the Yankees, 3-1. </p> <p>DETROIT -- The <a href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tigers</a>' bats were about as cold as the Detroit weather Thursday afternoon. The end result: Another low-scoring affair for the Tigers on a 33-degree afternoon, and a 2-1 loss to the <a href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Yankees</a>. That gave Detroit its first series defeat of the year, as the Tigers dropped three-of-four games at Comerica Park this week.</p>
<p>The lone bright point: Tigers starter <span>Anibal Sanchez</span> fixed the mechanical issue that plagued him in earlier starts. He finished the day with eight strikeouts recorded and one hit allowed in 6 1/3 innings. However, he did walk four, the walk to <span>Jacoby Ellsbury</span> proving to be costly.</p>
<p>Ellsbury came around to score on a balk that was called rather late, only after the Yankees' dugout began vocally expressing its disapproval. It was clear that Sanchez had balked -- he stepped off during his delivery to the batter -- but Tigers manager <span>Brad Ausmus</span> came out to take argue -- likely about how the matter was handled. Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi ejected Ausmus sooner after, and Ausmus gave Cuzzi an earful before handing off managerial duties to Gene Lamont for the rest of the game.</p>
<p>The game stood at 1-1 at that point, the Tigers' run coming when <span>Victor Martinez</span> drove in <span>Anthony Gose</span> with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. That about did it for the fireworks out of the Tigers' dugout for the rest of the game. Detroit went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth, again in the eighth and finally in the ninth. The Tigers recorded just three hits for the game, a pair of doubles by <span>J.D. Martinez</span> coupled with Gose's leadoff double.</p>
<p>Tigers reliever <span>Tom Gorzelanny</span> took the loss after allowing a run in the eighth inning after allowing Ellsbury a leadoff double. After walking <span>Carlos Beltran</span>, Gorzelanny forced a ground ball to <span>Miguel Cabrera</span> to set up an inning-ending double play, but Cabrera was unable to come up with it cleanly, recording only one out and allowing the run to score.</p>
<p><strong>ROARS:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><b>Anibal Sanchez: </b>Sanchez allowed a grand total of one hit in 6 1/3 innings and he struck out eight batters. Ultimately, the only reason he gave up a run was due to a walk -- one of four for his day -- that came around to score on a balk. Sanchez finished with 113 pitches, 67 for strikes while pitching in 33-degree weather.</p>
<p><b>J.D. Martinez: </b>In addition to running down a fly ball that nearly didn't die in the outfield, Martinez had another multi-hit game. Both knocks were of the extra-base variety in the form of smoked doubles.</p>
<p><strong>HISSES:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><b>Tigers offense: </b>Runs were at a premium with <span>Masahiro Tanaka</span> on the mound, and other than the one run scored in the first inning, nothing happened. The Tigers had just three hits in all, Martinez accounting for two of them. Gose was the other.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>STREAKS AND STATS:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span>J.D. Martinez recorded his fourth multi-hit game of the season, both of which were doubles.</span></li>
<li><span><span>Ian Kinsler</span> is 0-for-11 with two strikeouts in his last three games. </span></li>
</ul>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>WIN PROBABILITY GRAPH:</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><iframe src="http://www.fangraphs.com/graphframe.aspx?config=0&static=0&type=livewins&num=0&h=450&w=450&date=2015-04-23&team=Tigers&dh=0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" height="450" width="450" style="border:1px solid black;"></iframe><br><span>Source: <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2015-04-23&team=Tigers&dh=0&season=2015">FanGraphs</a></span></p>
https://www.blessyouboys.com/2015/4/23/8484493/detroit-tigers-new-york-yankees-recap-anibal-sanchezCatherine Slonksnis2015-04-23T09:00:13-04:002015-04-23T09:00:13-04:00Game 16 Preview: Yankees at Tigers
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<figcaption>Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Tigers face off against Masahiro Tanaka in their series finale against the Yankees. Can Anibal Sanchez get back on track?</p> <h4>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.pinstripealley.com/">New York Yankees</a> (8-7) at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blessyouboys.com/">Detroit Tigers</a> (11-4)</h4>
<p><b>Time/Place:</b> 1:08 p.m., Comerica Park</p>
<p><b>SB Nation blog:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.pinstripealley.com/">Pinstripe Alley</a></p>
<p><b>Media:</b> Fox Sports Detroit, MLB Network, <a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?c_id=mlb&affiliateId=mlbMENU#date=4/23/2015">MLB.TV</a>, <a target="_blank" href="http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/schedule/radioaffiliates.jsp">Tigers Radio Network</a></p>
<p><b>Pitching Matchup:</b> RHP <span>Masahiro Tanaka</span> (2-1, 3.94 ERA) vs. RHP <span>Anibal Sanchez</span> (1-2, 7.71 ERA)</p>
<table border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Pitcher</td>
<td>GS</td>
<td>IP</td>
<td>K/9</td>
<td>BB/9</td>
<td>HR/9</td>
<td>WHIP</td>
<td>FIP</td>
<td>SIERA</td>
<td>fWAR</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Tanaka</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>16.0</td>
<td>10.13</td>
<td>2.81</td>
<td>1.13</td>
<td>1.00</td>
<td>3.39</td>
<td>3.13</td>
<td>0.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Sanchez</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>16.1</td>
<td>9.37</td>
<td>2.20</td>
<td>2.76</td>
<td>1.47</td>
<td>5.71</td>
<td>3.56</td>
<td>0.0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Masahiro Tanaka took the American League by storm in 2014, holding opponents to a 2.51 ERA in 18 first half starts. The Yankees, who had downplayed Tanaka's role with the team prior to the season, appeared to have found their next ace. Tanaka's seven-year, $155 million contract quickly transformed from a burden to a bargain, and he was a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award.</p>
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix sidebar">
<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">NEW YORK YANKEES</th>
<th align="left">DETROIT TIGERS</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Jacoby Ellsbury - CF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Anthony Gose - CF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Brett Gardner - LF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Ian Kinsler - 2B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Carlos Beltran - DH</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Miguel Cabrera - 1B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Brian McCann - C</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Victor Martinez - DH</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Chase Headley - 3B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">J.D. Martinez - RF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Chris Young - RF</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Yoenis Cespedes - LF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Garrett Jones - 1B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Alex Avila - C</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Stephen Drew - 2B</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Nick Castellanos - 3B</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Didi Gregorius - SS</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Hernan Perez - SS</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name"></td>
<td class="td-first td-name"></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-last td-name">Masahiro Tanaka - RHP</td>
<td class="td-first td-name">Anibal Sanchez - RHP</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
<p>Then, disaster struck. After allowing five runs on 10 hits against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Cleveland Indians</a> on July 8, Tanaka <a href="http://www.pinstripealley.com/yankees-news/2014/7/9/5885019/masahiro-tanaka-mri-yankees" target="_blank">flew back to New York</a> the next day for an MRI on his right elbow. He was <a href="http://www.pinstripealley.com/2014/7/9/5885317/yankees-place-masahiro-tanaka-on-the-disabled-list-with-an-inflamed" target="_blank">placed on the disabled list</a>, and <a href="http://www.pinstripealley.com/2014/7/10/5889275/yankees-injury-masahiro-tanaka-elbow-ligament-tommy-john-surgery" target="_blank">was eventually diagnosed</a>with a partially torn UCL. Tanaka and the Yankees opted to rehab the injury without surgery, and Tanaka returned for two outings in late September. Since he was on the disabled list throughout all of August, the Tigers never had a chance to face him in 2014.</p>
<p>Tanaka's elbow was a point of contention throughout the offseason and spring training, but early returns indicate that he can be just as effective in 2015. He has <a href="http://www.pinstripealley.com/yankees-analysis-sabermetrics/2015/4/5/8345829/yankees-tanaka-velocity-elbow" target="_blank">lost a little velocity</a> on his fastball and isn't throwing his devastating splitter as often so far this year -- he's using his grounder-inducing cutter a bit more often instead -- but he is coming off seven sharp shutout innings against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.draysbay.com/">Tampa Bay Rays</a> five days ago.</p>
<p>Anibal Sanchez has had recent issues of his own, but the trajectory of his 2015 season is the exact opposite of Tanaka's. After a scoreless outing to start the year, Sanchez has given up 14 runs on 17 hits in his last two starts. This includes five home runs, one more than his entire 2014 total.</p>
<p>Sanchez was adamant that he is not injured, nor does he feel any pain stemming from last season's shoulder issue that sidelined him in the second half. Instead, it seems to be a mechanical issue. "I talked to Jonesy about it," Brad Ausmus said about his starter. "I don't want to get into the specifics. He did a couple bullpen sessions. The best way to describe it was working everything toward home plate, as opposed to maybe a little bit laterally."</p>
<p><b>Hitter to fear:</b> <span>Carlos Beltran</span> (.333/.333/.476 in 24 plate appearances)<br><b>Hitter to fail:</b> <span>Alex Rodriguez</span> (.000/.000/.000 in 6 plate appearances)</p>
<p>Sanchez has not seen much of the Yankees since putting on a Tigers uniform. He too was sidelined when these two teams faced off last August, and he only made one start against them in 2013, holding them to two runs in seven innings. His outing against them in the 2012 regular season wasn't pretty -- he gave up seven runs in three innings -- but he bounced back to throw seven shutout innings in the 2012 ALCS. The current Yankees roster has struggled against him, hitting just .227/.276/.348 in 145 plate appearances. Only Carlos Beltran and <span>Brian McCann</span> are hitting above .250 in five or more plate appearances against Sanchez.</p>
<h5>Outlook</h5>
<p>This game could go any number of ways, and after how weird the first three games in this series have been, not much would surprise me. Both Tanaka and Sanchez have the ability to shut down an opposing lineup, even ones as formidable as the respective batting orders they will be facing today. However, it could also turn into a slugfest. Tanaka looked hittable in his first two starts of the year, while Sanchez has struggled to get hitters out in his last two outings. Both teams need their frontline starters to act as such, and a strong start from Sanchez would go a long way in allaying the concerns developing about the Tigers over the past few days.</p>
<h5>Prediction</h5>
<p>Sanchez improves, but Tanaka shines and the Yankees take three of four.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span>★★★</span></p>
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https://www.blessyouboys.com/2015/4/23/8466907/detroit-tigers-new-york-yankees-game-16-preview-2015Rob Rogacki