Good Thing It Didn’t Matter
By Blake VandeBunte • Sep 10th, 2008 • Category: 2008 season, Curtis Granderson, Dusty Ryan, Fernando Rodney, Nate RobertsonLast night’s loss to Oakland was pretty bad. While my dad and I were walking to our car after the game we just were shaking our heads; how in the world did the Tigers lose last night? It felt like they should have won and they just didn’t.
Nate Robertson made his return to starting and the best way to describe his performance is dominant. He was ahead in the count all night and was getting ground balls and easy outs all night long. However, after the seventh he was pulled having thrown only 79 pitches (60 strikes). I haven’t read/seen/heard anything about the game yet so here’s my guess as to what happened. He was pulled because he was either hurt or not used to throwing so many pitches after coming out of the pen. If Leyland pulled him for any other reason he should have his head examined. Seriously.
At any rate, Robertson left the game with a 2-1 lead and things were looking good. Enter the Detroit Tigers bullpen. Bobby Seay started the 8th inning and quickly gave up a walk and a hit. He was yanked. Fernando Rodney then got smacked around pretty good and took his fifth loss of the season. Rodney’s record this year is 0-5. He gave up two hits, an intentional walk, and the game winning run. Boo.
The offense looked like it would knock the A’s starter, Dana Eveland out of the game early. However, the Tigers hit into three double plays and left nine men on base and the A’s were able to get out of most of the jams they found themselves in.
Placido Polanco, Brandon Inge, and Dusty Ryan each had two hits and Edgar Renteria had two RBI to lead the offensive charge. However, the big guns were nowhere to be seen. Curtis Granderson went hitless for the second consecutive game (0-11) and left six men on the bases last night. Can’t stay mad at Curtis, but still.
The crowd was pretty sparse to start but the stadium was pretty much full by the third inning. There was this young woman behind my dad and me that made for some pretty decent entertainment. First, she was probably in her 20’s and was sitting by herself, that was a bit strange but it didn’t send up any red flags. My dad started talking to her a bit and it became clear that there were at least a few screws loose. She told my dad about how Curtis Granderson would often send her text messages. She also said that if Curtis didn’t get at least one hit that “he would come home angry”. Hmmm, okay. She spent the good part of the middle innings filing her nails and looking at pictures on her digital camera. She only paid attention to the game when Granderson was up to bat. Every time he made a routine catch she went ballistic and every pitch that was thrown to him was a life or death situation. A truly crazy lady.
My dad summed it up best on our walk to the car: “She kind of gives new meaning to fantasy baseball.”
Indeed. Watch your back, Curtis.
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[...] Tue, September 9, 2008: The Tigers get two runs in the second inning on the Oakland A’s, but that’s all they’ll get in the game as they lose 3-2. The temperature has cooled to 73 but the Tigers are falling faster than the thermometer. They are 10.5 games out of first and the Royals, of all teams, are gaining on them in the standings. This season has been bad, but the Tigers cannot finish in last place can they? [...]