September 24th, 2009 at 10:36 PM ^
Ask Sommy. It seems that Seay hasn't been too sharp these last few games. Hopefully that'll change in Chicago. The bottom of the lineup looked good tonight.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:37 PM ^
Rodney made it interesting again, but got the job done.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:38 PM ^
Wait what did Rodney do? I missed the game because I had homework
September 24th, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
Entered the game with a 6-3 score, gave up a 2-run HR, then put another man on before finally closing it out.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
Well he got the job done. Yes, it may have been ugly, but he's only blown one save(which they ended up winning). My theory on this(may be right or may be wrong, feel free to disagree) is that when he feels the pressure of only a one run lead he becomes aware all of a sudden and steps up and gets them out with the win. Hey if he's getting them the wins, who is there to complain?
September 24th, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^
Yeah, that's realistic. Rodney sees that he has a 3 run lead and thinks to himself "Ah fuck it, this is boring, I'll give up a 2 run homerun! What the hell, I'm Fernando freaking Rodney, I can just get people out when I feel like!"
September 24th, 2009 at 11:14 PM ^
It's common to most(all?) closers, not just Rodney. Many closers are not necessarily the best relievers, but react to the pressure really really well, and when the pressure is not there, they badly under perform. I have no stats, but the difference in performance in save situations vs. non-save situations is pretty stark for a lot of closers.
Todd Jones is a really good example, I think in his final season his ERA was under 2 in save situations, and over six in other situations.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:38 PM ^
5 and 16 are also magic numbers
September 24th, 2009 at 10:43 PM ^
I had a prof from India who said 20 times a day during class, in his Indian accent. "E is a very magical numbah"
September 24th, 2009 at 10:39 PM ^
I enjoyed reading the game thread over at twinkietown.com
The glimmer of hope after the 2-run HR in the 9th, followed by deep disappointment. Aaaah, feels good.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:39 PM ^
Carlos Guillen should be up for comeback player of late September
September 24th, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
Rodney got another save. That's what happened.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
at least hes not Lidge! OUCH
September 24th, 2009 at 10:47 PM ^
Outlook good
September 24th, 2009 at 10:49 PM ^
http://media.myspacepimper.com/content/image/funny/funny_602.jpg
Image is not necessarily appropriate enough to just embed in the thread so I'll link it.
September 24th, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
Too bad JV isn't available this weekend, he's been great against the Sox this year. It's time for Eddie and Nate to step up... at least enough for a chance to win.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:15 PM ^
Can some one explain how the number is 8? I don't follow baseball much, but this has been bugging me.
We have 4 games against the twins and 6 against the sox. If we win all 6 against the sox and 1 against the twins, that would still cement the deal for us with 7 wins.
Shouldn't the number be 7?
September 24th, 2009 at 11:20 PM ^
every Tiger win subtacts 1 from the magic number as well as every Twin loss. If we sweep the Twins the Magic number drops by 8
September 24th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
Thanks. This makes sense. I think I heard someone use the two interchangeably which is what confused me.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:22 PM ^
Tigers Games Remaining = 10
add 1 for magic number purposes +1 = 11
subtract loss differential with the Twins = 3
Magic Number = 8
September 24th, 2009 at 11:30 PM ^
Very good explanation. Simply stated: if twins win all their remaining 10 games Tigers have to win 8 to stay a game ahead in the final standings.
EDIT bad example by me because I raised an impossible scenario with the Tigers and Twins facing each other 4 times
September 25th, 2009 at 2:36 AM ^
As stated the Twins would reach 89 if they win all of their remaining games. 90 Tiger wins tops that, and so the magic number is 8.
Each time the Twinkies lose, their potential falls by a game.
Each time the Tigers win, they get one game closer to the Twins potential + 1.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^
If i'm not mistaken, they are up by 3 games with 10 games left. If they win 8 of 10, there's no way mathematically the Twins can tie.
In your scenario, (let's assume the twins also win 6 games against other opponents) and then win 3 of 4 from the tigers, they're tied for first place.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:25 PM ^
is a combination of Tiger wins and Twins losses, such as Tigers win 6 more games, Twins lose 2....Tigers clinch.
Tigers win 2, Twins lose 6....Tigers clinch.
If Detroit wins Friday and the Twins lose, the number drops to 6.
In reality the Twins can still catch the Tigers before the end of the season, then they would have their own magic number.
Another ex. The Cardinals magic number tonight was 1, they were off but if the Cubs lost, the Cardinals clinched. The Cubs have to win out, and the Cardinals have to lose out for the Cubs to win the division.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^
Michigan's magic number to win the Big 10 is currently 8. (give or take who the losses are to)
Booyah.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:37 PM ^
It's 9.
Booyah.
Yeah, I'm being kind of a prick. Ah well.
September 24th, 2009 at 11:43 PM ^
8 if we lose to Delaware State
September 25th, 2009 at 9:45 AM ^
Delaware State has nothing to do with winning the Big 10.
A combination of our wins and all other big 10 opponents' losses adding up to 8 would secure us at least a tie for first in the conference, though it is possible that we could lose on a tiebreaker.
September 27th, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
Magic Number = Number of (Conference) Games + 1 - Number of Michigan (Conference) Wins - Number of Second Place (Conference) Losses.
Magic Number is for clinching outright.
September 25th, 2009 at 1:42 AM ^
It's too bad Brandon Inge can't somehow be credited with the save. If Inge doesn't make a circus catch on Peralta's liner, that ball sails into left and the game goes on with a runner in scoring position.
Yet another Rodney heart attack. Credit where credit is due, the guy is 35 for 36. But his ERA is 3.97 (68 IP). The Twins' Joe Nathan, by comparison, has a 2.14 (63 IP). I just worry that if the Tigers get to the post season where the pressure is greater and the games often closer, Rodney's tendency to give up even one run in the 9th will be the Tigers' undoing.
September 25th, 2009 at 2:33 PM ^
I know it doesn't tell the whole story, but Rodney has been really good in save situations. Some closers can't get focused in situations where they have big leads, and Rodney seems to have had trouble with that this year.
Save situations: 0-0, 2.72 ERA, BAA .214, OB/SLG/OPS .307/.344/.650, SO/9 8.7
Non-save situations: 2-4, 5.40 ERA, BAA .254, OB/SLG/OPS .360/.373/.733, SO/9 6.8
Stats from Baseball Reference: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?n1=rodnefe01&year=&…
You're also comparing Rodney to Joe Nathan, who has consistently been a good (check that, great) closer for 6 years now. If the Tigers make the playoffs and Rodney can be the same as he was in save situations during the season, they should be okay in those ball games.
September 25th, 2009 at 7:58 AM ^
Rodney heart attacks are nothing like the full scale code red's that Jones used to throw out there.
Rodney and the rest of the bullpen has been the reason the Tigers are where they are now. Its not like the other team isn't out there trying to.
September 25th, 2009 at 8:11 AM ^
Speaking of the Tigers.... did anyone read the article on the city of Detroit and the Tigers in SI? Good read... gotta love how Illitch runs his sports teams.