JV + Tigers/White Sox, Friday night
Big game and series for the Tigers tonight, as Detroit plays Chicago with Justin Verlander on the mound.
Yesterday, the Tigers were the only AL Central team to win, gaining a game on everyone. Detroit is just 1.5 games back of Chicago, and could end the weekend as division leaders with a sweep.
Figured that this would probably be the biggest local sports discussion topic of the day, so here's a thread, and a column that I wrote for another site on the weekend.
http://motorcitymuckraker.com/2012/07/20/tigers-showdown-weekend-preview/
Go Tigers!
Is it on MLB or ESPN tonight? Living in the South makes it difficult to watch Tigers game, and I can't justify going to the local sports bar everytime I want to watch my Tigers.
They've won 10 of 12 and really seem to be hitting their stride. I will be coming home to Michigan over Labor Day and will be seeing them in action against the Tribe on September 5th. Hoping to see JV in action that night.
Friday and Sunday aren't on national TV at all, and Saturday's game is on FOX, but not in the South (for the most part).
http://www.the506.com/temp11.html
It is completely justified tonight to go out to a local bar for this game though. Huge night.
I too live in the South and root for a Northern team. Just thought I'd let you know that IMO MLB.tv is well worth the price. Don't know if you looked into it or not. I can watch it on our Roku player or hook the computer up to the TV for better HD. This is the first year I've bought the subscription and I plan on keeping it going in the future.
Agreed. I know it's not easy to shell out 120 bucks for the year, but I've easily received my money's worth. I can watch/listen to day games at work, watch on my phone, through my computer or XBox... If you are out of market and can afford it, it's worth your money.
Well, considering I had 8 dollars in my checking account last night, and today' paycheck will go to rent and student loan bills, I don't forsee purchasing MLB.tv anytime soon.
To the sports bar it is!
youre in a screwy area where it is still blacked out. My buddy lives in Ft Wayne and it is blacked out.
Game 1: Verlander/Peavy
Game 2: Porcello/Sale
Game 3: Turner/Humber
Game 2 will be tough to pull out a win, as Sale might be the leading candidate for the CY Young right now. Game 3 is probably a toss up.
As a Sox fan, I don't have a good feeling about this series. A.) It's in Detroit and B.) the Sox have been playing very shaky ball as of late, especially in middle relief. If Peavy, Sale or Humber get scored on early, I am not liking our odds. The Sox need to address middle relief and starting pitching at the deadline (as do many) to have any chance at closing out the division.
Everytime where Porcello has consecutive bad starts and the fans are calling for his head, he seems to go out and pitch a solid game. Could this be the case again tomorrow?
Of course everytime it looks like Porcello is in a groove and we're happy with his improvement, he goes out and lays an egg.
We have to sweep the series to take over 1st place. If we win 2 out of 3, we're still a half game back.
So with the Tigers finally making ground, a game and half back, and some key bats heating up (Most notably Boesch's) how does everyone feel?
I know we have been rumored with this and that player, but who does everyone actually want to land? On the twittershpere people seemed excited about a possible Infante return, Darwin Barney, Stephen Drew/Ryan Roberts, or you name one of the pitchers out there. So I ask you, as we try to take the division lead back, do you want any certain player/pitcher or are you hoping the bats stay lively to finish the year? Not sure if this is thread jacking but with a huge series in the Division race about to start, it seems to go with this topic. Plus I have 3 points, so you know n00bs be n00bs.
The Tigers will be fine, especially since some injuries and traditionally slow starts are behind them.
If they stay hot this week, Detroit can be in first place over the next six games.
I feel good about our chances to win the division, just as I did at the beginning of the season (and even in May and June when we were struggling). Our team is deeper than Chicago, and we've already reached our lowpoint, I believe, while Chicago and Cleveland already reached their high points. It will be interesting to see what they do at the deadline to try to push themselves back up.
Regarding the deadline, I think Barney is extremely unlikely at this point. Epstein is asking the moon for him. I've heard Garza's and Dempster's names a lot too, but I don't know how much of that is legitimate interest, or just speculation since they're the top 2 pitchers on a team that is likely to be a seller at the deadline. Personally, I'd prefer to get Garza or Dempster. If that includes Barney, that's great, but I'd rather see us fill in the 5th spot in the rotation before we look to fill 2nd. And at this point, I really don't care which prospects we trade, as long as we keep Castellanos. I've been a fan of Turner in the past, but I'm beginning to feel like we're seeing another Andrew Miller or Andy Oliver.
may carry a game.
http://www.wgntv.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/schedule/
Pretty impressive Tigers were able to take 3/4 from the Angels without throwing Verlander out there. Save him for the division leaders...
I was pleasantly surprised, myself. They did a good job putting Tuesday's shellacking behind them. Though, while they didn't face Verlander, we didn't have to face Haren (DL) or Weaver (he pitched the game before our series started). Even so, we're now 5-2 in the second half against teams over .500. And the schedule doesn't get any easier over the next month.
This will be the first time that he's seen Verlander pitch live. Should be fun. And the weather looks great.
The Tigers now have the exact same record (49-44) as last year at this same point.
Just don't get swept. I'm "fine" with any other result from the series.
Tigers creaked along at a .500 pace with Fister hurt and only 3 players, (Jackson, Cabrera, and Fielder) hitting the ball with authority, now with Boesch, Peralta, Young, Avila et al starting to hit well, the future looks good.
had to schedule the 10pm showing of Batman tonight so I can see some JV ACTION!!!
Justin White and Eric Karros on the same screen. The Battle of the Foreheads is underway. The creators of Pinky and the Brain are salivating.
For some reason I had it in my head that Dunn was hitting much higher than .208.
Eww... Peavy strikes out the side to start.
Also, I find it hilarious when Cabrera checks his swing and points to the first base umpire before the catcher even can.
Boesch got the ball in play! Nice!
Okay, I guess Peavy isn't going to strike out EVERYONE tonight. Just most of them.
First two runners on against Peavy in the third. Jackson with a pretty sad bunt attempt to start the at bat makes Leyland take off the bunt.
AJax needs to find a way to put the ball in play here and not GIDP.
EDIT: FML, a double play.
WOOO!!! Berry got hit by a pitch! Huge - I'll much rather count on Miggy to get a 2-out RBI.
One of these times Cabrera is going to appeal his own check-swing and it's going to bite him in the 'cheeks for strike 3.
EDIT: But not this time! 1-1 on a single from the big boy.
EDIT II: One of these days I'm going to learn how to read a scoreboard. Cabby's single made it 2-1.
Another 2-out RBI. Tigers have been collecting by the boat load lately. I'd love one more from Prince to tie the game.
Fielder ties it up! Could have been a huge inning if Jackson didn't hit into a double play, but let's see if Delmon keep it going.
I'll be shocked if Delmon gets a fastball or anything near the plate to start this AB.
EDIT: RBI double! Three straight 2-out RBI hits!
Delmon's double died once it got to the outfield.
3-2 Tigers, end 3, for those of you unable to watch for follow elsewhere.
Due to time constraints, we've moved ahead to the bottom of the 7th.
Austin Jackson's RBI single pushes the lead to 4-2.
Cabrera doesn't look right. Hopefully it's just a cramp, but all the same, I would not send him out there defensively in the 9th. Better safe than sorry.
Still 4-2, bottom 8, 1 out. Pitching change.
Ryan Raburn pinch-hitting for Don Kelly. This is like a steakhouse substituting spoiled chicken for rotten hamburger.
Valverde & Co. close the show against Harrelson's Heroes, 4-2.
Great, but dangerous, diving catch by Berry to end it. I wonder if Kenny Harrelson said anything on his PBP. What an unprofessional fuck.
1/2 behind CWS.
Couldn't agree more about the Hawk, he's just awful. That said....
Woo! Six games over for the first time since they were 9-3!