Straw Grasping
By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 7th, 2008 • Category: 2008 seasonThe Tigers are going to be happy playing the role of the spoiler. Their playoffs hopes are clearly dead so the win yesterday in Minnesota was really only big because of how bad it was for the Twins.
The Twins began the day 1.5 games behind the first place Chicago White Sox and after the Tigers come-from-behind win yesterday the Twins fell 2.5 games back. The Tigers comeback win was fun to watch but it didn’t make me all that happy. Maybe I’m getting a bit to picky, but I would much rather see the Twins in the playoffs than the White Sox. So while it was nice to see the Tigers play a nice game yesterday (with the exception of Justin Verlander) I will pull for the Twins in every other game this season.
Verlander got hit hard again yesterday as he gave up 4 runs and 8 hits in only 5.2 innings. His ERA continues to soar and he just doesn’t look sharp. It’s quite puzzling. The bullpen came through for the Tigers wil 3.1 innings of shutout baseball. Clay Rapada got the win and Fernando Rodney picked up the save. Rodney loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth but struck out Joe Mauer and got Justin Morneau to line out to Placido Polanco.
Curtis Granderson stayed hot as he went 2-3 with a two run homer and a walk. Magglio Ordonez went 3-4 including the game winning two run homer in the 8th inning. Miguel Cabrera continues to get a lot of respect at the plate as he walked twice and picked up two more RBI. These three guys are all getting hot at the same time and it’s clear how dangerous this team can be when all of their primary pieces are clicking at the same time.
The bottom of the lineup was awful. Gary Sheffield, Marcus Thames, Jeff Larish, Brandon Inge and Ramon Santiago went a combined 0-17, but it didn’t matter since the top of the line up was so dominant. Good stuff.
The Tigers and Twins will go at it again this afternoon. Chris Lambert will be making his third start of the season against Glen Perkins of the Twins. Perkins has had an Armando Galarraga type of season. Perkins is an impressive 12-3 and has an ERA of 4.08. He’s made two starts against the Tigers this season and allowed two runs in six innings in both appearances.
Game time is 2:10pm.
Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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i don’t know man - i’ve enjoyed watching the past couple games just because i can’t stand the twins. i’d root for them to lose any time…and to watch mauer strike out any day. don’t get me wrong…i can’t stand the white sox either. it’s a tough contest between which team dislike the most, but i think the twins come on top.
It’s not close for me, the White Sox are the most annoying in the Central. I like Mauer, Morneau, Liriano, and Nathan. I don’t think I like anyone on the White Sox.