24th
April
2008
Game 22: Tigers score 19
posted in 2008 season, Texas Rangers |Tigers 19
Texas 6
Recap:
- CURTIS GRANDERSON IS BACK!!!!
- Well, I could list everyone who did good, but that’s the batting order 1 through 9, so I’ll make these notes.
- The Tigers’s 19 runs were helped by an 11 run sixth inning.
- The scoring output helped Detroit jump past the 5 runs per game mark for the season. They now have 111 in 22 games. Second most runs in the A.L. (behind Boston, another team that faced Texas … no coincidence? Plus Boston cheated, they got to face the Tigers’ pitching, too!)
- The outburst also helped the Tigers pitching staff no longer be the worst in the American League. That would, of course, be Texas now, by eight runs (134-126…eew).
- The A.L. Central is starting to tighten up as well. Having played two more games than Cleveland, the Tigers are tied in standings terms, 3 games behind the first-place White Sox, 1.5 behind the second-place Twins and 1 behind the third-place Royals.
- Detroit has won 7 of 10 games since the Leyland outburst.
- OK, so now some stats and stuff.
- The Tigers took 10 walks and were hit twice.
- They rapped out 14 hits.
- Grandy had three runs, two RBIs, two hits (including a double).
- Jacque Jones had his first homer as a Tiger; Miguel Cabrera his fifth.
- Carlos Guillen broke out of his slump to go 3-for-4.
- Pudge had a pair of hits too. So the top three of the lineup had 7 hits and 9 RBIs if you’re counting.
- Oh, and I forgot to mention, the Tigers rallied from a 5-0 deficit due to Kenny Rogers’ inability to keep the Rangers from hitting the ball. He gave up 9 hits and three walks in 21 batters faced.
- Plus a couple runs scored when defenders couldn’t curtail Rogers’ throws. Guillen missed a pickoff and Pudge a wild pitch in the first inning.
- The Tigers’ bullpen again slammed the door.
- Clay Rapada came in for Rogers, pitched out of Rogers’ jam and picked up the win for the assist. His second in the majors.
- Aquilino Lopez allowed two innocuous hits in three innings.
- Even Jason Grilli pitched a perfect ninth inning.
Analysis:
- HOLY MOLY that was awesome.
- GRANDY IS BACK! Hmm. Granderson makes his first appearance of the season and the Tigers score 19 the same day?
- I don’t believe in coincidence.
- Being on the wrong end of a couple drubbings already this season, I found myself feeling a bit sorry for Texas. But I really enjoyed seeing the Tigers play so well, so I didn’t feel tooo sorry for Texas.
- I like the Tigers’ bullpen. I think it’s settled in and has proven to be reliable against the good hitting clubs it has seen recently. The moves helped.
- Funny how after the bad start to the season, the Tigers are starting to balance things out. The runs are pretty close to what you’d expect to be scored. (And I might say, probably a bit higher than should be expected when you consider the strength of the pitching the Tigers have faced).
- The standings, well, you’d have expected the Tigers in first, not tied for fourth, I’m sure. But the important factor is, they’re positioned fine. The A.L. Central is a tight race, it’s April, there’s really nothing to worry about. Well, not nothing.
- The starting pitching still sucks, and yeah, that’s kind of something to worry about. But otherwise.
- Can we expect all 5 starters to continue to suck? Probably not. But am I worried about Rogers? Maybe a bit.
- I’m also worried about Jeremy Bonderman, who starts Wednesday as the Tigers hope to sweep the Rangers. Hopefully he can assuage those worries.
Wow, that was fun to watch, and man was it great to see Grandy out in center again. I loved the clutch hitting, especially Guillen coming back to drive in two runs with two outs after banging that ball off the inside of his knee. He has been awesome so far this season.
Rogers really struggled last night, but the defense didn’t help him that much either. He should have been out of the jam in the 2nd when the double play ball that would have ended the inning was bobbled. That cost them three runs. Both runs in the first were caused by dropped balls as well (one wild pitch, but Pudge still should have had it). The defense really needs to be stepped up a little bit. I am just glad all the miscues didn’t cost the Tigers the game.
Jason Grilli is the Tigers’ Human Victory Cigar
I’m not so worried about Bonderman, Verlander, Nate but Willis and Rogers really do worry me. Willis and Rogers haven’t been good at all and both of them look like they have no control of where their pitches go. Willis is more puzzling because he’s about 20 years younger than Rogers. When a 43 year old guy can’t locate his 84 mph fastball then you have real problem.
I offically declare last night the beginning of the P.G. (Post Granderson) era.
That might sound like it’s after granderson, Deaner. How about Pax Granda?