Will Tigers bats support Verlander’s arm?
posted in 2007 season, Toronto Blue Jays |Game 13: Kansas City at Detroit, 7 p.m.
TV: FSN
Pitchers: Zach Greinke (1-1, 1.38, stats vs. current Tigers) vs. Justin Verlander (0-0, 0.00, stats vs. current Royals)
Pregame thoughts — The Tigers finally return home after 10 days on the road and just two games at home in 2007. Right now, Justin Verlander is just asking for some run support. The Tigers have scored just one run during innings he’s pitched. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get any easier when he faces Zach Greinke. As far as the Royals bats go, the annoying David DeJesus has pummeled Justin Verlander in eight at-bats.
Young Greinke’s story may be familiar, but I’ll recite it. The 23-year-old had a great 2005 season at the young age of 21, but before the 2006 season some non-physical issues forced him to miss most of the major league season, though he eventually pitched for AAA-Wichita. But he’s back and he seems to have picked up where he left off. He’s hittable, having given up 14 hits in 13 innings. But he doesn’t walk many and he strikes out a lot (12 so far), so Detroit should be an interesting test for the youngster. Craig Monroe and Placido Polanco both have an OPS over 1.000 against him.
Postgame thoughts (Tigers, 12-5) – About time Verlander got some run support. Oh my did the Detroiters ever get on base and plate the runs for him. Three of the first four batters got on base, and Pudge Rodriguez cleared the bases with a grand slam shot to center-right. It really didn’t get any better from there for Greinke, who threw 49 pitches to just eight batters, retiring just two of them. This was a Tigers team that looked comfortable being patient on the plate, fouling off pitches and waiting for the pitcher to make a mistake. In all, they drew eight walks. Gary Sheffield got on base four times, three by walk, once with a hit. So it was nice to see that eye of his come through — though some “balls” may have been iffy. Four Tigers batters have multiple hits. In all, it was a fun day to be a Tigers fan.
Justin Verlander allowed three runs but stuck around for six innings for the quality start. Naturally, DeJesus took advantage, driving in a run. Verlander allowed five hits and no walks while striking out six. 63 of 98 pitches were thrown for strikes. Not a bad day at all. Jose Mesa, on the other hand, gave up two runs while getting just one out. Not the performance you want from a guy in the pen to eat some innings. Too bad, too. Joel Zumaya had to come in to close the door. Mesa will improve. He can’t get worse, can he? But he’ll draw the ire of a fan base that didn’t want him and doesn’t know why Jim Leyland wanted him. So I expect that to be a theme in the coming days.
In all, just a nice win. No other A.L. Central team played today, so the Tigers are tied for first with the Indians.
Sphere It
I was very impressed with some of the ab’s in the 1st inning of yesterday’s game. A few guys got behind in the count and fouled off many pitches really making Greinke work, and ultimately getting him out of the game. Also, how good was Casey defensively at first? He really stood out when you compare his work in the field with what KC was doing defensively. The pitchers have got to love having him over there. It was nice to finally have a game where you could sit back and relax (at least until Mesa gave up the hr). Hopefully he can get himself going, because he still seems to have a very strong arm and could help in the long run.