18th
June
2008
Game 71: Super Marcus!
posted in 2008 season |Tigers 5
Giants 1
Recap:
- Yes. Just 1. Despite the fact Todd Jones loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning, the Giants did not score.
- No, I’m not making that up. Todd Jones loaded the bases. With No Outs.
- And the Giants did not score.
- YES, Todd Jones.
- OK, got that out of the way, I should point out that Marcus Thames remains superman. He needs an S on his chest, or at least a 5. Because he homered AGAIN. Five straight games. He tied the franchise record.
- And that makes 8 straight hits that were the long ball. How amazing is that?
- Not to be forgotten, Edgar Renteria had his 2000th career hit.
- Ryan Raburn also hit a homer. I mention this because it went about 3/4 of the way up the stands in left field.
- Kenny Rogers pitched for another Tigers quality start, going seven strong.
- Zach Miner allowed just a hit in the eighth.
- Detroit is tied for third!
Anaylsis:
- The Tigers are playing like you’d expect if you watched the past 10 days or so of baseball. Monday felt like a fluke, not the end of something good. Sometimes, it happens. So it was good to have the team rally back by winning Tuesday.
- Of course, the Tigers are winning now because they’re hitting the long ball. But they’re just plain hitting. After being no-hit into the sixth inning, they still finished with nine hits.
- Pitching has been good. Defense has been good. Marcus Thames probably saved a run with a diving catch. I think it’s fair to say Brent Clevlen saved at least a run with a sliding catch as well.
Other stuff:
- Joel Zumaya will join the team in San Diego, Friday.
- Jeremy Bonderman will have a follow-up surgery June 30. That should officially end his season.
I really like their chances of taking this series. They’re facing Zito tomorrow, and he’s a diminished lefty who Alyssa Milano sapped of his ace stuff. I should think they’d knock the Q-Berts out of him. We’ll see. Then a short hop down to San Diego for some sun and great fish tacos. You gotta think they can take 2 of 3 there too. Hopefully they’re flirting with 500 by the end of next week.
I think you have to credit a bunch of the turn around to Leyland. He thought he was holding aces with these Tigers and found out he was holding a 2-9. But what does he do? He tries just about everything. And some of it eventually works. The catching swapping? Seems genius now and pudge seems way more fired up. Thames in left finally? ’nuff said. And they dude has a juggled a no-name bullpen and a couple of mine fields in the rotation pretty darn well. He was given Q-bert crud and he made Q-bert salad. Give the man his due — he’s one of the best in the game.
I do worry that the return of Sheff might honk up things a bit. I think his departure really cued some of this turn around. And chemistry or not — I think Sheff is a presence in the clubhouse. I GOTTA think it’s a less tense place without him. We’ll see…..
Ok the shellacking of Zito totally deserves a gratuitous Alyssa Milano shot in the update…..
I believe Todd Jones is the most frightening closer in the history of baseball.