Tigers Can’t Come Through
May 12th, 2009 Posted in 2009 Season, Armando Galarraga, Clete Thomas, Jeff Larish, Minnesota Twins, Ramon Santiago, Ryan PerryGAME SUMMARY:
- Final Score: Minnesota 6 Detroit 2
- WP: Kevin Slowey (5-1): 6 innings, 8 hits, 2 BB, 1 ER, 2 K
- LP: Armando Galarraga (3-3): 5.2 innings, 6 H, 4 BB, 5 ER, 4 K
- HR: Joe Crede (4), Joe Mauer (4), Ramon Santiago (2), Jeff Larish (3)
You know what? I’m not going to get all bent out of shape over this one. The Tigers had all kinds of chances to score runs in this game and they just repeatedly failed to get the runners in. That’s just a bad night, and it certainly has not been a trend. If this continues for a week or so, that would be cause of concern. The Twins didn’t dominate the Tigers tonight, they just won.
Armando Galarraga was bad, again. He served up a pair of two run homers and got himself into plenty of trouble due to all of the walks. It’s starting to look like maybe the league has Galarraga figured out a little bit. He has never been a hard thrower and has gotten by on control and movement. When he’s pounding the strike zone AND has movement on his pitches he’s very good. If he’s missing one of those aspects of his game, he’s in a lot of trouble. When his control is off, players don’t swing at his stuff that moves away from the zone. Hopefully he gets his mojo back here pretty soon.
The Tigers got the Twins lead down to three a couple of times, but it just kept getting pushed right back to four. They never really seemed to be in this game.
- Good: Ryan Perry was throwing gas tonight. He fanned four batters in two innings, but he did walk two and allowed a run in the 8th inning. He still looked pretty good to me.
- Bad: Galarraga, but I already touched on that, didn’t I?
- Bad: Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge couldn’t get on base tonight. They both went hitless and the Tigers really could have used something from them as they stranded a ton of guys on base.
- Bad: Gerald Laird continues to really struggle. His average is getting dangerously close to the dreaded Mendoza Line.
- Bad: Holding men on base. The Twins racked up a few steals late in the game, including two in the 8th innings. Do the Tigers not realize that Twins like to steal bases? I mean, we all know that, they must know. When you combine walks and steals, it’s just bad news bears and there is no way you’ll be the Twins with all of that mess going on. No way.
- Good: Clete Thomas picked up a couple of hits and robbed Joe Mauer of a homer early in the game with a great leaping catch at the left field wall. Nice work by Clete.
- Good: Jeff Larish. Someone is getting sent down when Dontrelle Willis gets called up tonight. Larish is trying to make his case. He slugged a homer tonight, his third of the season and also singled. He looks a lot better in the middle of the order than Magglio Ordonez.
One Response to “Tigers Can’t Come Through”
By JAYRC on May 13, 2009
Well Blake let me chime in with my two cents:
Don’t be confused because I am BIG on Armando. However, even in your Game31 preview I noted the obvious… Galarraga must avoid the long ball to be successful. Before he had actualy even surrendered a homerun…ummm he basicaly gave up two. One that Clete had to climb the left field wall for and one that Grandy caught at the track. (All in the first inning!) I am very confident that Armando will mature into a great pitcher. However it’s becoming crystal clear to me how Texas could just let him walk for such little in return! I can only imagine how many home runs he gave up in the hitters paradise in Texas! Not sure if he’s tired, it’s his lack of movement or El Ninyo winds but he has got to become more of a ground ball pitcher. Enter Rick Knapp….Teach the kid the art of the Sinker!
As for Cringe…Come on you knew reality was a matter of moments away. Need a nickname? Call him Chris Shelton. Doctor it up however you want to Inge=Cringe=Chicken Little=Chris Shelton. You didn’t really expect the power, walks, average and lack of strikeouts to continue did you?
As for Jeff Larish it’s hard for me to give a bias opinion as my family and I had the pleasure of getting to know him during his Lakeland days. (something they incourage players to do) He is a great kid who has been patiently waiting and destroying MILB at all stops. His glove at both corners, positive attitude, left handed bat, plate discipline and the fact that he’s not Cringe are all a plus. Factor in the Maggs starter kit and I’m suprised more fans aren’t launching a Larish campaign yet!
Learning curve ahead… No doubt but Larish is for real!