Maybin homers, Tigers still lose
posted in 2007 season, New York Yankees |Yanks 5, Tigers 2
It’s not that I want to obsess over every first that Cameron Maybin has. That seems like the sort of thing you do when your team is out of it. And these Tigers are not out of it. It’s just that, well, he’s Cameron Maybin. Maybe he won’t become the superstar (or star) that everyone predicts. But looking at the TV at work as often as possible when he was at bat or on base, it’s almost impossible not to get so excited you enjoy the start of the career as much as you hope to enjoy the rest of it.
And frankly, Maybin was a big reason the Tigers were even winning. Not that he was the lone reason. But in the second inning, he had his first hit (on a hit and run) off Roger Clemens. On first and with a batter in a full count, Maybin kept tearing toward second base. His timing and his speed were pretty awe-worthy. He finally did steal second, but the scorekeeper credited it as uncontested when Clemens caught a hard toss and ran down Brandon Inge between second and third.
Later in a 1-1 game, Maybin had his first home run, a decent shot to center field. And later still, he got beaned. All by Clemens. So, the kid will have plenty of stories to tell about the start of his career! Just remind him to avoid going to center field at Comerica Park.
I’m afraid I didn’t see much of his defense, but reading comments and blogs, it sounds like his defense is not yet up to advertisement. I’m not worried. I’ve heard so much good, but maybe it’s just being in Yankee Stadium. In any case, today’s game isn’t televised, so I will have to wait another day to observe for myself.
The rest of the game went like this: Chad Durbin pitched valiently. He gave as good an effort as you could expect when he throws soft and the Yanks hit hard. Eventually, they got to him. He was followed up by Tim Byrdak, who didn’t seem to do much, and Jason Grilli, who I actually saw strike someone out with runners on base. And then Bobby Seay pitched in the eighth. Those names and that opponent would be all I needed to guess the result.
It’s frustrating because this felt like a game the Tigers could pull out. They kept getting runners on against Clemens. He gave up 10 hits! And they only scored two runs on those hits. And one of those was a homer. It was playing with fire to keep Durbin in the sixth inning, I thought. I don’t know if it was a managing snafu, per se, but the team and the manager didn’t take advantage of the situation presented, and the end result is an L and a 1.5 game deficit in the Central Division.
But I still have faith. Placido Polanco missed another game. (And like last year, I’m pretty sure the Tigers struggle without him) with illness, and that can’t go on forever. Joel Zumaya should be back soon and the Tigers send Jeremy Bonderman to the mound today. The Tigers can get this ship turned around.
Bunt Singles:
- Craig Monroe may not have been a favorite at The Mickey Tettleton Memorial Overpass, but Andrew is sad to see C-Mo go.
- Sam didn’t like Maybin getting hit by a pitch. I wasn’t particularly happy about it myself, because of the location, and wish for the same to happen to Clemens. But I’m a little suspicious that he would purposely try to hit Cam in the wrist.
