Tigers split double header, lose ground
posted in 2007 season, Texas Rangers |Texas 13, Tigers 6
Tigers 4, Texas 1
Too little, too late? This seems to be the case for the Tigers both Tuesday, and in September. They rallied against the Rangers in the opening game of the day-night double header after trailing, 11-0. The Rangers brought their power bats for the game, hit seven(!) home runs, multiple triples and doubles, and blazed against Chad Durbin, Jose Capellan and Yorman Bazardo. Detroit scored five runs in the eighth inning, but Clay Rapada gave a pair back. To be honest, Detroit probably wasn’t going to rally back that late. Most starters were already resting for the night game.
Jair Jurrjens stopped Texas cold in the night game, got some help from his bullpen and won 4-1. Jurrjens is always a pleasure to watch. Hopefully our blogging friends enjoyed their game. He seemed to break a bat an inning, something the FSN guys latched on to and enjoyed.
Three runs came in the first inning, giving Jurrjens all the runs he’d need to earn his second win as a major leaguer. Curtis Granderson helped in this, as he put up two more stolen bases. Pudge had three hits.
But, as I said, it was a case of too little, too late. The Tigers rallied too late in the opener and lost. The Tigers won the second game, only to go .500 on the day and see both opponents ahead of them (Cleveland and New York) for playoff spots win. So the Tigers actually lost ground — 1/2 game. And Detroit has won 6 out of the last 8 (which also makes 6 of the last 9). But both New York and Cleveland has won 7 of 9. The Tigers really needed to pick up more wins in August so the stretch run in September isn’t so uphill. Unfortunately, a split just wasn’t good enough for the standings.
Detroit’s two wins from clinching .500 for the season. That used to be the goal. Now, it’s empty. So, that’s improvement in our baseball lives, for whatever it’s worth.
Sphere It
I agree, you could sort of feel the end coming a couple of weeks ago. The recent play has been better, but it looks like a case of too little, too late. Hopefully we can get healthy for next year, and put Jurrjens in the rotation, get Miller straightened out, and see what happens.
Also, if Rodney and Zumaya can stay healthy, that a bunch of additional wins right there. Sheffield, too.
Ralph, I sorta think of it like this. It’s 50 percent injury issues, 50 percent depth issues, 50 percent position issues.
That’s 150 percent, sure, but everything overlaps. If the depth was better — we thought it was ! — injuries, bad as they were, would have been overcome enough in a narrow race. If the Tigers would have had better hitting at left field and third base, then maybe they would have won an extra game or two.
Still, I think any team that suffered as many key injured players would have coughed up the playoffs, see Boston 06. I like the team is fighting back as best it can.