Tigers at Twins preview
posted in 2007 season, Minnesota Twins |
To my esteemed colleague at Stick and Ball Guy, I offer this image as a rebuttal. (You really should click that or you’ll be like, “Huh?”) This isn’t the first time someone from Minnesota has mentioned winning the Central. I heard it not too long ago and I asked how the playoffs went for them. Oh yeah.
Usually I try to do previews for each game but I end up missing one here or there so I thought I’d just do the series on this one.
Two of the three games are nationally televised*. It sounded like a good idea before the season started. Then the pitching rotations came out. This is not really going to be any bit of a measuring stick for either team, as the pitching match-ups are absolutely horrible, about as bad as the Tigers vs. Seattle matchups. The Twins will be facing the Nos. 4 and 5 guys in the Tigers rotation Friday and Saturday. Even if those guys are a combined 10-2, I’m still not sure how and pretty sure that can’t continue. Sunday, Virgil Vasquez makes his major league debut for Detroit.
Friday, 8 p.m. FSN: Mike Maroth (2-0, 5.35) vs. Johan Santana (4-2, 3.40 ERA) — Santana is beatable thus far this year, even at home for a change. But he’s still Santana. So Maroth is going to have to deal against a Joe Mauer-less Twins lineup.
Saturday, 3:45, FOX: Chad Durbin (2-1, 5.45) vs. Sidney Ponson (2-4, 6.42): This is actually the best matchup, as Sidney Ponson is obviously a weak point in the Twins’ rotation. Not that Durbin is any better, but at least once and awhile he puts together a good game.
Sunday, 8 p.m, ESPN: Virgil Vasquez (–, -.–) vs. Boof Bonser (0-1, 3.96): This is interesting for Tigers fans in the know. For others, it’s going to be a complete mystery who this Vasquez is making his MLB debut on national TV. He’s a soft tossing, pin-point locating curveball tossing righty with 50 strikeous in 40-2/3 innings. He may be replacing Chad Durbin soon if Durbin stumbles and Vasquez proves he’s ready for the MLB. The Boof? He’s kind of a slightly-better Daniel Cabrera sort. Lotta strikeouts, lot of walks, pretty good but you can get to him.
Should be an interesting series anyway. If Detroit can surprise and take two, it would be great. I just hope for one.
* FOX national TV seldom means more than local markets.
Sphere It
You mean that there was baseball after the season ended? I don’t recall that….
The Tigs look good this year. My favorite club is going to be hard pressed to capture lightning in a bottle again.
The Twins aren’t out of it until they’re out of it. Doesn’t take lightning, just takes a slightly better may/june to make up for a worse august/september.
Anyway, I would be a lot more relieved if, in fact, the Twins were out of it.