Colorado faces stiff road test in Detroit with first interleague series
by Andrew T. Fisher on May 22, 2009 1:16 PM MDT
in Know Your Foe
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PrintThis is what happens when you fail to take advantage of a weak May schedule. Eventually, the schedule isn't so kind anymore, and by that time, your manager is already on the hot seat.
After getting swept last week at the Metrodome, Detroit has reeled off six consecutive victories - the latter half without Magglio Ordonez - on their way to a 3 game lead in the AL Central over Kansas City. By adding Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis last season, the Tigers were the chic World Series pick but fell to a last place finish in the division. They have definitely rebounded so far this season.
At 23-16, Detroit sports the 3rd best record in the AL, 5th best in the majors. They are also 14-5 at home, better than every team except the Dodgers, Blue Jays and Red Sox.
Despite playing their interleague series in Michigan last year, the Rockies will head to Comerica Park again for this series. Detroit swept the 3-game set from June 27-29.
Maybe Anthony Kiedis can empathize with Clint Hurdle:
"Cry me a future
Where the revelations run amok
Ladies and gentlemen
Lions and tigers come running
Just to steal your luck...
I find it when I'm slipping in
...into Michigan"- RHCP, "Especially in Michigan"
Detroit Tigers (23-16, W6, 1st)
Friday-Sunday: 3-game series at Comerica Park
Jim Leyland has a stout lineup at his disposal that has yet to truly reach its potential. The Tigers are ranked 10th in runs and 12th in wOBA. 2nd year OF Clete Thomas has been racking up ABs in the 3-hole lately, which I frankly do not understand, though he has responded well, and even had last night's #2 web-gem.
| LINEUP | Avg | HR | RBI |
| Curtis Granderson | .258 | 11 | 26 |
| Placido Polanco | .265 | 0 | 16 |
| Clete Thomas | .302 | 1 | 6 |
| Miguel Cabrera | .381 | 8 | 32 |
| Magglio Ordonez | .256 | 2 | 17 |
| Brandon Inge | .280 | 11 | 29 |
| Josh Anderson | .288 | 0 | 9 |
| Gerald Laird | .214 | 1 | 10 |
| Adam Everett | .311 | 1 | 16 |
Ryan Raburn could also see some starts in place of Josh Anderson.
Detroit is very balanced in strength, being 10th in runs scored and 10th in ERA. They are also 7th in FIP.
Probable Pitchers:
Tonight, 6:05 MDT
Saturday, May 23, 6:05 MDT
Sunday, May 24, 12:05 MDT
Ryan Raburn, Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera all have posted an OPS over 1.000 in the past week. Raburn has three homers in that time despite appearing in only three games.
Josh Anderson (.200/.250/.333) and Placido Polanco (.286/.318/.286) have scuffled during the Tigers' win streak, and Armando Gallaraga is coming off a horrendous start against the light hitting Athletics.
Magglio Ordonez missed the last three games to be with his wife during surgery but should be in the lineup tonight. Carlos Guillen (shoulder), Marcus Thames (ribs), and Jeremy Bonderman (shoulder) are on the 15-day DL. Nate Robertson (back) returned from the 15-day DL last night.
More info to come later in the day.
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What's the word on Porcello?
He came up very fast, he’s 20, in his 2nd pro season (A ball last year). Supposedly able to throw in the mid 90’s, with good breaking stuff, supposedly has worked a hard sinker into the repertoire. I guess it must be working as his gb/fb go/ao rates are pretty high (4th in the AL). Fangraphs has his fastballs around the 91-92 mph range.
Is doing pretty well this year
Not spectacular, and I’d be concerned about his K/IP, though it’s respectable. He didn’t blow hitters away in A-ball like most expected, and most people think the Tigers rushed him to the majors, but he’s holding his own so far.
On the other hand, his BABIP is a ridiculous .252, so he’ll probably come down a bit from where he is now, but in time he should be a good pitcher.
Maybe they hate to lose
and he’s the best they’ve got available. And the Tigers aren’t so cheap as to try to keep him in the minors into mid-June to delay his future arbitration & free agency eligibility.
Maybe some other teams (to wit, the Rays, with 2 minor league starters in David Price & Wade Davis who are better than 2 of their big league starters) could learn a lesson.
No records in the last 10 years should count.
by Maris6161 on May 22, 2009 4:17 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I'm still smarting
over losing one of those games last year when Cabrera doubled home the winning run in the 9th (I think). I could check, but the memory is more than enough.
"Don't tell me about the world. Not today. It's springtime and they're knocking baseballs around fields where the grass is damp and green in the morning and the kids are trying to hit the curve ball." -Pete Hamill
hi from a tiger fan
I just wanna pop in and say hi to you Rockies fans. The Rockies are my favorite NL team and I wish them the best (when they’re not in Detroit of course!).
In response to FooMan’s question about why they called up Porcello so early: Right now the Tigs are pretty rich in pitching, (hopefully Galarraga’s problems are fixed soon), but during spring training the pitching situation didn’t look so good. One of our best starters, Bonderman, was (and still is) on the DL, and another starter, Willis, was also on the DL. We had 3 starters and needed 2 more. The situation was bad enough that we used Miner, who doesn’t really have “starter stuff” as a starter, and we still needed one more. Porcello was the best option. Leyland gets criticism for taking him out too early, but he made a deal that he would take it easy on the kids pitch count, so as not to ruin a young, still-immature arm. So, if Porcello is throwing a great game and he gets pulled in the 4th or 5th with only 96 pitches, you’ll know why. Jim had to make that deal or he didn’t get Porcello at all.
I’m looking forward to a great series, let’s hope the games are exciting regardless of who wins!
And good luck to the Tigers
when not playing the Rockies.
There are really some likeable players on that team. Dontrelle, for one. And as someone who saw Josh Anderson play in AA and AAA ball in the Astros system (only to be traded after hitting .340 or something like that in a Sept. callup), I’ve admired the way he’s worked so hard to get to the Majors despite never being rated a top prospect.
Plus, I was at a college visit weekend at Old Dominion Univ. a couple of years ago with my daughter, who’s a huge baseball fan. The introductory speaker went through a list of famous graduates — an important research scientist, a space shuttle astronaut, some famous women’s basketball players & coaches … and then they said, “and one of our former baseball players, Justin Verlander, was Rookie of the Year in the American League.” I saw the look on my daughter’s face & figured I knew where she wanted to go. She got a dorm room overlooking centerfield of the baseball diamond.
Hope the Tigers do well this year after this next series.
No records in the last 10 years should count.
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