7th
August
2008
Well, at least the Tigers had a strategy
posted in 2007-08 offseason, 2008 season, All-Star Game, Chicago White Sox |… And that strategy is to abuse Justin Verlander’s arm for no reason whatsoever as the team loses a sixth straight game and falls 8.5 games out of first place, effectively ending that fraud they pretended was a chance at winning the division.
White Sox 5
Tigers 1
- Just for the record, Verlander threw 130 pitches. … Why? I guess because the bullpen needed a rest after Tuesday night. But why would you do that to your star pitcher’s arm needlessly? It’s not like you’re in a pennant race or playoff game here. Use a reliever or two, call someone up. THIS SEASON DOESN’T MATTER ANY MORE.
- Verlander mostly did fine, of course. He gave up a 3-run home run in the first inning, which sealed the deal on the game. But soonafter he recorded 12 straight outs. He finished the night with eight strikeouts. Two of his runs scored with two outs in the eighth off Aquilino Lopez.
- The Tigers ran into a fine pitcher in John Danks, of course, but they also ran out a lineup featuring Ryan Raburn at leadoff, Dane Sardinha at catcher, and black holes Edgar Renteria and Gary Sheffield.
- Raburn was coming off a career night, but that doesn’t mean I want him leading off.
- And thanks for making those speeches about holding guys accountable, Leyland. We fans appreciate watching this crap continue to do nothing in games.
- OK, to be fair, Sheffield drove in the Tigers’ only run and had one of the team’s five hits. He also got caught in a double play on a popup hit to the shortstop.
- It’s sad when the team’s goals go from world series to playoffs to not finishing under .500. Well, they’re 3 games under .500 now.
- Hopefully they’ll avoid the sweep. … yeah.
- This team is incredibly hard to watch and when you get right down to it, not giving anyone a lot of reason to bother.
Update:
- Verlander leads baseball in the Baseball Prospectus’ statistic Pitcher Abuse Points, Bilfer pointed out. As you can imagine, this is not a good thing.
It’s kind of funny that you and I had different takes on how Verlander was used in this game, though I confess I didn’t watch the game all that closely. I didn’t realize he threw 130 pitches. Yeah, there doesn’t seem to be a point to that.
But the Leyland thing definitely concerns me. It was already questionable what sort of job he’s done this year, but threatening to make changes and hold players accountable and then doing nothing affects his credibility. And if he doesn’t have that, what is he really left with?
It does appear you’re in the minority on that one. I’m incredulous. You go to 130 pitches for a no hitter or a playoff game or because your bullpen members all decided to take a bathroom break at the same time. Otherwise, it’s a needless risk.
Leyland has no credibility with me anymore, not that I matter that much on the issue.
That’s all I could think last night: Why in the world do you have your young ace pitcher throw 130 pitches in early August when your club is below .500? I don’t understand that reasoning at all. So Verlander’s arm was abused so that Casey Fossum could rest his? That makes no sense.
I too keep wondering why, if the bullpen is so tired, why they don’t call someone up from Toledo? Season’s over. No sense blowing out someone’s arm.
Leyland sucks.