OT: Tigers ALCS bound.
October 6th, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^
Still cannot believe that Verlander isnt in the 'pen.. its the season. No reason to hold back.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
You have to trust your relievers. Verlander has been great, but it's not like he threw a perfect game vs. the Yankees last time as well. If you throw Verlander tonight, you likely lose the ALCS anyway without Verlander for Game 1. When the end goal is the World Series, losing in the ALDS = losing in the ALCS.
I say you save him so he can throw games 1, 4, and 7 in the ALCS to win the series and go to the World Series.
EDIT: Not saying this is the "right" answer, but I'm sure this is the train of thought that Leyland is thinking. I trust a guy like Leyland in this situation.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
I would take a 90% JV over anyone in the pen. And who cares who starts Game 1 of the next series. JV would max out at 2 starts regardless.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
You want your ace to throw Game 1 because of the off days in the series. Whoever starts Game 1 can throw Game 4 and Game 7 on three days rest each. That and the Rangers will be throwing their ace Game 1 due to the time off. Rangers' #1 pitching three times gives them the advantage over throwing JV twice in games 2 and 5.
Moreover, if Detroit is down in the game, throwing Verlander won't help as you need offensive production for pitcher support. Plus if you have a big lead (3+runs in innings 8 or 9), I wouldn't waste Verlander in the next series to close. Additionally, JV hasn't ever pitched from the pen and that's different than starting the game.
You and I must have different theologies I suppose, but I think saving Verlander is the better long term decision.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
normally, i agree with your 1st paragraph. unfortuneately, leyland doesn't believe in that philosophy.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
Nova has a W-L record of 16-4. That scares me.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:01 PM ^
I care more about ERA and WHIP than how many wins/losses a SP has.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:20 PM ^
Let's not have this thread turn into a sabremetrics debate.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:06 PM ^
Fister would have 20+ wins combining his era and the yankees' offense
October 6th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
Anyone know of a link to the stream? I'm closing up in Ugo's in Pierpont and want to be able to watch it on my computer in the kitchen.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:08 PM ^
Nova was in aaa for half the season. We'll see if he crumbled under the pressure.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
Back to back hrs is a good sign
October 6th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
DON KELLY!!
EDIT: DELMON YOUNG!!
October 6th, 2011 at 8:09 PM ^
Yeah!!!, bombs away
October 6th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
Delmon
Back to Back
October 6th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
October 6th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
Yeah! bombs away!!!! *not double post!!
ps, I could do this all night
October 6th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
BACK 2 BACK!
October 6th, 2011 at 8:11 PM ^
Cabrera was swinging for the HR there too
October 6th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
what a great start.
I predict if Fister throws a shutout......Tigers will win.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:14 PM ^
Tigs are free swinging tonight. I saw a lot of swings in those at bats. Lets go Fister!
October 6th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
Come Fister! Throw like you did in September.
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October 6th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
Nice Sucker Punch
October 6th, 2011 at 8:21 PM ^
Beautiful, quick 1-2-3 inning for Fister. Let's work Nova now and make him throw some pitches.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:22 PM ^
both ways.
Would be nice to win this big and lose these butterfly's in my stomach.
Either way...the play-offs in any sport are exciting, but so much more when its our teams involved.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
Lets get in Nova's head
October 6th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
I'm feeling an Avila hr here.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:31 PM ^
to leave runs like that out there.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:32 PM ^
It's clear to see why Nova has had a ton of success. That slider is pretty nasty. First time through the ABs we struggled were b/c of that slider. When we've attacked the fastball good things have happened. Gotta look for that the next couple innings and knock Nova out of the game.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
if we can get 5 runs tonight, we win. We have 40% of that.
I think Fister and the pen can hold them to less than 5.
Obviously i really have no friggin idea......
October 6th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
3rd base with less than 2, the Tigers love to leave guys on in that situation. At least we're still getting hits, but we will need more than 2 runs to win this one (or will we?).
October 6th, 2011 at 8:33 PM ^
swung and missed a lot already. But when they have made contact they have pounded the ball.
If they keep that up...we will be golden tonight.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
Who else is done with the "million miles away yeeeeeeeheeeeheeee" song?
October 6th, 2011 at 8:34 PM ^
im starting a count on how many times written in the stars is played
October 6th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
dislike Posada.
I have no idea why.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:41 PM ^
Nice to join you all for another Tigers Game 5.
Didn't catch the top of the first - what the hell happened?
October 6th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
Kelly and Young.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
he's painting those corners. even tex's double was a solid change-up low and away.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:43 PM ^
Is it just me or is there an awful lot of crying from the Yankees over called strikes that appear to be actual strikes?
October 6th, 2011 at 8:45 PM ^
Don't know what they are crying about... It's been a tight strike zone, especially to lefties on the inside.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:46 PM ^
Not just you. It doesn't compute for whiny bastards in New York that some team from the other side of the Hudson somewhere (it's all the same to them) could have a chance at beating their mighty empire, so it is always blue's fault.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
Holy shit - they're already done with Nova?!
October 6th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
new pitcher already for the Yanks.
Fascinating move.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
Bye bye nova... weird
October 6th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
AJ has killed us this series.
Lead-off men simply have to make more contact than he does. He is an almost automatic out right now.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^
when we get to the next series (and we will), hopefully leyland bats him last against righties (maybe lead off kelly).
October 6th, 2011 at 8:52 PM ^
Relax. He's been on 5 times in the series. Not great, but he's not "killing us." On the other hand, Avila, who has had ABs with RISP many times, is now 0-13.
I'm not in the mood to get all "ef this guy" while we're leading an elimination game about guys who have worked their ass off and done a great job all year, but if you're going to pick someone to be pissed at, I don't know if Jackson is the guy.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
seems to be attacking the zone. what happened to swinging at the first pitch?
October 6th, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^
Damn....Delmon hit that one too hard for his own good.