Game 11: Jackson spins a gem
posted in 2009 season, Seattle Mariners |Tigers 2, Mariners 0 (box)
Record: 6-5 (second place)
Edwin Jackson — Is he afraid of falling behind in the race to become the new Tigers’ ace, a role unofficially vacated by a stumbling Justin Verlander. Jackson had incredible velocity (the gun said 98 in the 8th inning), a nice slider, and six strikeouts to show for it. For awhile, I thought he would go the complete game, to be honest, but his pitch count got up near 100 in the eighth inning and Jim Leyland made a move to get Bobby Seay the lefty-lefty match-up against Ichiro. So in 7-2/3 innings, he struck out six while allowing five hits and a walk. Fully 71 of 98 pitches were for strikes! It was quite a performance. Still, that only brought his ERA down to 2.14 for the season, so Armando Galarraga still has that lead in his “ace” column. (update: Tom Gage writes Jackson was “sick as a dog” while spinning this gem.)
Tigers pitching — Don’t look now, but that’s the second shutout in three days! Oh, and by my count the Tigers have gone 28 out of the past 30 innings without allowing a run. (Thanks, Justin, for messing up that one! Just messin’! or am I?) For now, I am starting to feel positive about the pitching. Even Verlander, if he just lets his stuff work for him and doesn’t put a crooked number on the board surrounded by 0’s.
Brandon Inge — Gotta keep giving him props. Eventually, the top of the lineup is going to have to step up and do something. (Except birthday boy Miguel Cabrera, who does something exciting every game.) He drove in the only two runs the Tigers scored with a soft opposite-field shot to right.
Tigers offense — I guess the good news is, Magglio Ordonez did have two hits in three at-bats. Curtis Granderson walked twice and had a hit. So maybe the top of the lineup is starting to get it going, just not all at the same time. At least Carlos Guillen didn’t ground into a double play. He did, however, go 0-for-5 and strand five runners. Other than Cabrera (who stranded six today), the Tigers who played in the World Baseball Classic have started a bit slow at the plate. Hmm. I don’t know if they’re a bit behind because of the WBC or it’s a coincidence. I do expect they’ll come around. Even Guillen. But take nothing away from Seattle’s starter, Erik Bedard. He really baffled the Tigers at the plate, with his sweeping curveball. In at least six of his strikeouts, the Tigers just watched the ball go by.
Tigers defense — Turned a pair of double plays, including a nice one by Granderson to help keep the shutout going. Granderson caught the fly ball in center field and threw out Jose Lopez at home.
Gerald Laird — He nearly threw Endy Chavez out at third. Inge dropped the throw but I think the runner would have been safe anyway. He did throw a runner out at second base. I have quite enjoyed Laird’s defense already. And he keeps hitting, 2-for-4 today.
Sphere It
Great job by Edwin so far, nice to see him pitching up to his potential right now. He and Galarraga have been a very solid backbone thus far.
I don’t worry about Verlander. His last two bad innings (last night and against Texas) were chiefly aided by shaky play by the left side of the infield. Inge has to tighten up his defense. The web gems are nice but he needs to make the routine plays too. If he gets the out at home or even takes the safe out at first base that inning might end with three runs in instead of five and you’re looking at a totally different ballgame. His stuff was way too good Friday night for me to believe that he is going to continue to struggle forever.
So far the pitching has been the strength of this team and when the top of the order starts producing like they should this is going to be a playoff contending team.
Let’s see how that seance goes for Verlander. But I’m apt to agree, his stuff is too good for him not to get comfortable and really catch fire.
I like the vibe of this team. It’s weird and sorta funky. The defense is better, the hitting is more interesting, and the pitching is far better than last year. I think Verlander is all in his head about now though. But I like that he’s doing seances and praying to the pagan baseball gods.
I think they’re going to be a .500 type team all season. But there might be enough magic in the moonlight to conjure the ghosts of Jim Walewander and Scott Lusader come the late summer. And isn’t that why we all watch baseball anyway? Just for a glimmer of hope and a promise to hang on to long summer days when the calendar turns to the awfulness of winter?
Kurt, Are you interested in becoming a writer for an MLB website? I sent you an email with more info! Please respond to the email to let me know either way!
Thanks,
Cubbiefan07
I agree Flying J, there is a different attitude this year, much more reminiscent of 2006.
One thing the Tigers have going for them is the fact that a .500 ball club has a much better chance of winning the AL Central than any other division in baseball, save for maybe the NL West. So if the Tigers can put up 86-88 wins they could very well find themselves in the playoffs come October.
I never knew you were so poetic, FJ.