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Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

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Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

1. If you had told me that through the first two games, four out of the five biggest plays in this series would be two great defensive plays by a shortstop and two terrible plays by an outfielder, I would have guessed the Tigers would be down 0-2.

2. I don't know if anybody else caught the look Gene Lamont gave Leyland after Coke got Martin out in the 9th, but it was a pretty classic "I can't believe we're getting away with this." That ended up being way easier than it should have been.

3. As good as things look, there's still a long ways to go. The Tigers have caught just about every conceivable break so far in this series, and the Yankees are scoreless through 20 Valverde-less innings. I don't know how much longer either of those can last, and the Tigers will have to find a way to respond when something finally goes the Yankees way.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

3. As good as things look, there's still a long ways to go. The Tigers have caught just about every conceivable break so far in this series, and the Yankees are scoreless through 20 Valverde-less innings. I don't know how much longer either of those can last, and the Tigers will have to find a way to respond when something finally goes the Yankees way.

I think you're right. If the Yankee bats of Swisher, A-Rod, Granderson , and Cano fire up over the next two games it could be a different series. But, the pitching of Verlander and Scherzer will have a lot to do with whether we see the Yankees scoring many runs and they've both been spot on lately. So, how will the Tigers do against Hughes and Sabathia? That's the other question. I like the Tigers' chances over the next two games, but if it goes five the replay of Fister vs. Pettitte could be interesting.
 
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Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

It's simple: win 2 of 3 at home. Otherwise, going back to NY 3-2 still is in the Yanks favor.

I think they relax on the road and regroup against a team that has found some good fortune and great pitching. If you think about it, including the regular season and playoffs, there is only a five game gap between the teams. It's apparent that this is irrelevant unless you are the pinstripe sucking media.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

After the constant whining all day about that call, I expect Verlander to get squeezed on the strike zone tomorrow night.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Oh, we're well overdue to have the umpires make orange juice out of our starting pitchers.

EDIT: I believe Sam Holbrook, fresh from Infield Fly Rule Gate, is working the plate tomorrow night, as he worked 1B for Game 2. Chances for shenanigans tomorrow night: 55%.
 
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Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

They were squeezing Fister in game 1 so I would not be surprised for it to continue.

BTW a few years ago when Leyland was with Pittsburg, the sporting news ran a feature on who was the best manager in MLB. They had 6 or 7 different criteria. Things like on field management, working with media, club house etc. The number one guy, who won every category. Leyland.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Uh, Leyland left Pittsburgh ~20 years ago. He was in his mid-40's back then. He's about this close to being done.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Uh, Leyland left Pittsburgh ~20 years ago. He was in his mid-40's back then. He's about this close to being done.

He's a player's coach, that is for sure. He's crusty with the media, can't understand a word he says anyway, smokes like a chimney and throws out every cliche in the world when he is trying to justify why the heck he won't answer questions about the lineup or strategy. But, to his credit, he respects the game, the fans and our opponents and does things old school. So if that still makes him one of the best, then I expect a World Championship in a few weeks.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

I'm getting kinda tired of this Leyland's stubborn.... you dont know how much time I scream for him to put Al-Al in the game, He still REFUSED to put Al-Al in, only use Benoit and Valverde... they are not reliable for the Tigers... Please use Al-Al in, along with Dotel and with Coke's hot streak lately, we should be alright... but... I doubt Leyland will go that route :rolleyes:
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Hopefully Verlander goes 9 and Leyland doesn't have to go there.

The Yankees are due. I don't have the best feeling about tonight.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

In other news, Gregg Krupa is a jackass. See today's Detroit News for why.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Hopefully Verlander goes 9 and Leyland doesn't have to go there.

The Yankees are due. I don't have the best feeling about tonight.

yes, they are due and I think they will be relaxed. JV has been good lately, but he has to throw strikes and avoid going deep into counts. Yanks are good at that. Get out of the first three innings and we'll see how he is.

The bigger question is, can the offense get to Hughes? I don't think we have had good luck against this guy.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Hopefully Verlander goes 9 and Leyland doesn't have to go there.

The Yankees are due. I don't have the best feeling about tonight.
Your lips to the baseball god's ears.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to see Valverde come out unless we was sitting on a 7 run lead. Let him have a nice lead where he could give up a gopher ball or two and not have to worry about it so much, just get the 3 outs, even if it is a textbook case from the Todd Jones Save Manual.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Let him have a nice lead where he could give up a gopher ball or two and not have to worry about it so much, just get the 3 outs, even if it is a textbook case from the Todd Jones Save Manual.

NO. Please. no no no no no. I have enough stress in my life without giving Valverde any kind of an illusionary cushion to screw around with. As we should have learned by now, it's just more of a lead for him to blow. He'll find a way to do it too. :(
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Valverde would give ice cubes freezer burn if you let him.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

In other news, Gregg Krupa is a jackass. See today's Detroit News for why.

The worst was excluding Dotel because his fastball velocity has dropped to the mid-90s, when Valverde's fastball has dropped to the low 90's. I'll grant that there's a certain mentality you need to be an effective closer, but that's only half the equation. The other half is having the stuff to back it up, and a 90mph fastball that runs back over the plate is not it. If Valverde can't get back up to the 94-95 range, there's no way he should be out there. I'd love to see him get back on the field, part for sentimentality for all he's done as a Tiger and he deserves a better end, and part for practicality, because it's going to be tough going through the playoffs with only six relief pitchers.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

The worst was excluding Dotel because his fastball velocity has dropped to the mid-90s, when Valverde's fastball has dropped to the low 90's. I'll grant that there's a certain mentality you need to be an effective closer, but that's only half the equation. The other half is having the stuff to back it up, and a 90mph fastball that runs back over the plate is not it. If Valverde can't get back up to the 94-95 range, there's no way he should be out there. I'd love to see him get back on the field, part for sentimentality for all he's done as a Tiger and he deserves a better end, and part for practicality, because it's going to be tough going through the playoffs with only six relief pitchers.

Pitchers can get hitters out even with a low 90's fastball. The problem, as you alluded, is when hotdog's fastball comes back over the plate instead of on the edges. it's like battling practice to a MLB hitter. His location has been abysmal, especially since he has virtually abandoned his split finger due to wildness. He's not fooling anyone and no matter what kind of rest he gets, it's mental now, too.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Gardner LF, Ichiro RF, Teixeira 1B, Cano 2B, Ibanez DH, Martin C, Chavez 3B, Granderson CF, Nunez SS, Hughes P. Very different look for us, hopefully it works out.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Who knows how many pitches Avila's catch saved Verlander there.
 
Re: Detroit Tigers, Volume 4: The Rudy York edition

Why the hell do we sacrifice in front of Cabrera? With one out, no less?
 
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