Game 89: Hey Tigers, this time it counts
Sporting KC a lead seems to be the MO for the Tigers in the past few meetings. Don’t know why. Don’t like it. Wasn’t worried by it either. A Pudge Rodriguez homer in the fourth and 5-run fifth inning gave Detroit a 6-4 lead it held on to for the rest of the night.
Jeremy Bonderman had eight strikeouts but didn’t seem entirely on his game from what I could tell. I didn’t get the TV broadcast and only partially on the radio. He dished out two home run balls and five walks. I did notice, however, that Fernando Rodney worked th seventh inning and Joel Zumaya the eighth. Is Zooomer working his way towards being the club closer by the end of the year? I had thought I’d noticed Rodney working in the seventh before, such in the 2-1 game in Seattle. But I don’t recall if Zumaya came in after him at all before today.
More later.
It’s later.
Pretty good company the Tigers are keeping as the 46th team in baseball history to win 60 games in their first 89. I lost track of how many World Series champions are on that list. But to answer his question, I think all Tigers fans know just how special this is getting to be. (hat-tip Striketwo.net)
Thanks to Bilfer for posting his report on how a Thursday night baseball game had Downtown Detroit hopping.
And there’s something about a Soriano trade in the Free Press. I think there’s so much smoke around a Soriano trade there can’t possibly be fire.
For all you people looking to replace Chris Shelton, Baseball Prospectus free stat of the day was the worst AL first baseman by VORP. Shelton placed 17th of 23. Which means he’s 7th best. Or sixth. I got some fuzzy math going on. Not a bad place to be. On the other hand, what’s his VORP since May 1, that’s my question…
And the White Sox are still No. 1 in ESPN’s hearts.
But the Tigers are still #1 in the heart of the Fox Sports sabermetrician.
Detroit enters the second half with the best record and best run differential in all of baseball. As a result, Baseball Prospectus gives the Tigers a whopping 93.6 percent chance of making the playoffs. What’s remarkable about the Tigers’ success this season is the consistency of the pitching staff: in April the team ERA was 3.22; in May it was 3.85; in June it was 3.32, and thus far in July, it’s 3.36.
And a bit more: Royals blogger not convinced.
The Tigers kept winning, have suffered no key injuries, and Jim Leyland has gone against his reputation for overworking pitchers. I look like a fool for predicting they’d only win 83 games, but honestly, I still wouldn’t be shocked if it happened. Of course, for whatever reason, losing to the Tigers has brought out the most embittered in me.
Royals batter is. (my bold)
Told that Detroit’s usual lineup includes only one lefty hitter and one switch-hitter, Stairs replied, “Who cares? They can all rake. Trust me. … Everybody talks about Detroit needing a left-handed hitter. Why? That team’s stacked. They’re scarier to face than the Red Sox.”