OT: Good night Detroit, and Good Grief
I don't know what to say. I'm drained and felt the excitment over the last two months slowly burn away. All those threads started with the hope that the Tigers would bring home the Central was just...
I keep seeing Polanco missing the what would have been game winning double play... I close my eyes and see the ball hitting Inge's jersey... I don't know anymore. It's so damn draining and so damn frustrating. Everyone deserves blame, but none more than the players themselves. They let us down. Going to bed...
October 6th, 2009 at 10:17 PM ^
Congratulations to tub of lard Gerald Laird, AKA the Notorious LOB and his astounding TEN left on base tonight. He'd like to thank all the little people that made it possible, and he definitely couldn't have done it without Jim Leyland.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:37 PM ^
Laird's final line...
0-6 (0-4 w/RISP)
2 K
1 GIDP
10 LOB
17 total pitches faced
I don't care how great of a game he calls or how many people he guns down. That was an epic fail of a performance and it made me sick.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:53 PM ^
laird sucks at the plate, especially tonite. but it's easy to forget the wild pitch he saved in the 9th to save the game, and the great play he made on raburns double-play throw. avila might not make either of those plays.
but ya, knowing what i know now, i would pinch hit for laird.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:16 PM ^
Yes, agreed.....but don't use the term "epic fail"....ugh
October 6th, 2009 at 11:25 PM ^
Laird's clearly worked hard as hell this year, played great defense and swung a mediocre stick for a catcher. And he had a bad day at the plate, and you trash him?
Do you think he wasn't trying hard enough or something? I saw a player who was over matched and had a rough day, and I'm sure he feels a thousand times worse than you do for it. I'm sure he's going to think about it all offseason.
Honestly you sound like you've never been an athlete. I'm sorry I made this personal but I can't believe people go after a player like that for having a bad game.
Fucking negbang me, but you, sir, make me sick.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
i like you
October 7th, 2009 at 8:28 AM ^
I agree completely. He did his best, but it wasn't enough. Can't fault him for that.
That being said why, oh why Jim Leyland didn't you pinch hit Avila in for Laird with the bases loaded in the 12th? Maybe it works, maybe not, but Avila is a much better hitter (and for power too!) and it would have been a good gamble.
That being said why, oh why Jim Leyland didn't you pinch hit Avila in for Laird with the bases loaded in the 12th? Maybe it works, maybe not, but Avila is a much better hitter (and for power too!) and it would have been a good gamble.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:15 AM ^
the Twins don't have a decent catcher with an expiring contract after next year. If they did, he'd make a great free agent signing.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:59 AM ^
They desperately need a catcher soon, and will literally write him a blank check. If he gets off to the same start next year, I wouldn't be surprised if he got 8 years, 20 million a pop. Hell the yanks might get him midseason if they sell the farm. Tigers have their future catcher in Avila, and although they will be players in free agency that year, catcher will not be a top priority.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:22 PM ^
But that one backdoor slider that he called polanco out on in the 9th really hurt us, polanco is so good at getting the ball in play, but was screwed out of the chance by getting caught looking on a ball that was way inside.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:24 PM ^
players definitely choked though, and definitely sucks with the news regarding Ernie
October 6th, 2009 at 10:34 PM ^
oh jeez i totally forgot about that. you'd have thought that the players would really try hard to win the division for him? ugh. this sucks.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:11 PM ^
I don't know if it's fair to say they weren't trying hard. I think most of the players gave it their all. They just didn't execute and choked under pressure. The only player who I would question their effort is Miguel Cabrera. The recent reports of him going out and getting wasted in between games during the playoff race is really disappointing.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:22 PM ^
Well, I guess if you want to boil it down to one game, then you'd have to look at Curtis and Raburn moreso than Laird. I don't know. Pretty bummed to give up a 7 game lead. 7 games. Magic 2 for, what was it, 4 games? And Cabrera -- gheez, you just gotta wonder what in the hell he was doing. A homerun or double in one of those White Sox games could have avoided the play-in altogether. To me that's just unacceptable.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
We can all find one game somewhere in the 70+ losses that should have been a win.
I'm looking at you, Fernando Rodney, and your one blown save...
*shake fist at sky*
October 6th, 2009 at 10:36 PM ^
Isn't it 2 blown saves after tonight?
October 6th, 2009 at 10:39 PM ^
Fact.
Just blocking it out...
So...Tigers at Yankees!
Eat em up Tigers, eat em up!
/Damnit...
October 6th, 2009 at 10:39 PM ^
Yes it is, but I think what he meant to say was his one blown save resulting in a LOSS since the 1st save he blew was a game won by the Tigers in extras.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
He pitched the inning before, so he was in standing to get the win, thus no save.
He pitched his heart out, he can be on my team any time. Just left in too long because we had nothing reliable in the bullpen left.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:10 PM ^
Agree with you completly, I thought Rodney pitched great. And if people are gonna bitch about one blown save over an entire year, you're never gonna be happy with ANY closer.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:48 PM ^
Um, yeah, pretty sure that comment was made sarcastically.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:27 AM ^
No part of that statement was meant to reflect negatively on Rodney. He's a hell of a pitcher. Obviously.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:32 PM ^
Nobody can blame Rodney for this loss. He gave the team 3 quality innings and that is more than any team would expect from a closer. He even put the Tigers in a position to win with that potential game-winning double play that Polanco almost got to. I was really impressed with Rodney tonight.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:19 AM ^
I just question him going out there for one more inning. We still had several pitchers in the bullpen like robertson and bonderman. Not great options, but I've never seen Rodney throw that many pitches.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:40 PM ^
yes, but this one wasn't really his fault after Raburn's boneheaded play.
Before this game, the Tigers were 72-0 this year when leading after the 7th inning.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:44 PM ^
i think he came in tonite with the score tied. so no blown save.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:02 AM ^
I think we won the game rodney blew...
October 6th, 2009 at 10:38 PM ^
but for me it was the offense in general. Runners at the corners with NO OUTS should never result in no runs scored. PERIOD! All you need is a sac fly to score. Oh, and let's not forget bases loaded with one out. This team has let this city down once again. What a boost for Detroit a win would have been, but alas. I reiterate from Saturday:
WORST. SPORTS. WEEK. EVER.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:49 PM ^
its amazing how many guys on the roster can't get the ball out of the infield in those situations. i think cabrera and guillen are the only 2 guys i have any confidence in.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:54 PM ^
Don't forget about him. One of the best strike-out to at-bat ratios in the bigs, and his clutch hitting this season has been phenomenal, not to mention his fielding (botched potential double-play that could have ended the game tonight notwithstanding).
October 6th, 2009 at 10:42 PM ^
Bases loaded, 1 out, can't get it done. We stranded enough runners to win 4 times.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:45 PM ^
ultimately i don't give a shit about winning pennants or world series trophies or divisions or fucking games. i just like watching them play and now it's over till april. that blows.
you spend 162 games and 6 months watching these dudes and you create this bizarre, fake completely irrational little family and every time the season ends it's like that family dies in a house fire because it'll never be the same again.
take your "fire leylands" and "laird is garbage" and "they should have tried harder" shit and go fuck yourself.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:00 PM ^
that there were 163 this year. i was speaking in the universal sense, since some of us go through this feeling every year.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:08 PM ^
Oh I understand too. I've been following the Tigers since my dad took me to my first game at Tigers Stadium some 16 years ago. I think my post may have come off a bit harsh since I'm in quite a foul mood right now. Oh well, only 180 days until April...
October 6th, 2009 at 11:12 PM ^
Well said. Those guys were working their asses off tonight and the entire season. I'm sure they feel way way worse than any fan.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:52 AM ^
And I hate the "win one for Ernie" or they should have been trying harder for him stuff tossed in there for added effect.
It goes to show how hard sports really is. They sat atop the Central for most of the season and when it started to slip away they probably began and kept pressuring themselves and yes--tried very fucking hard--to keep it from happening.
And now people want to trash players because their meager self-worth depends on GAMES other people play and they feel "let down".
I don't get it, and never have. The city of Detroit should never rely on a sports team--yeah, it's all fun when they win and it feels great--but the crumbling pillars of the empire around the players is not in any way something they should be burdened with holding up.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:48 PM ^
because it's over. I love my Tigers so much. This is one of the worst feelings a fan can experience. And shame on you people for feeling a need to trash on the players. It's like some of you think they weren't trying. They were fighting their asses off out there. Did you see how upset they looked in the dugout? You think this doesn't hurt them more than us? I'm still very proud of them for even making it that far with the amount of flaws the team had. Can't wait till April!!
October 6th, 2009 at 10:51 PM ^
co signed to the millionth power. i'd love to see one of these internet all-stars tell laird he didn't try hard enough.
October 6th, 2009 at 10:56 PM ^
I have no doubt that Laird tries his hardest. I don't fault him. I fault the manager who kept allowing him to bat in crucial situations.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:19 AM ^
Right. He should have replaced him with Avila who hit .170 over the final month.
*headsmack*
October 7th, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^
First, the condescending "headsmack" reply is unnecessary.
Second, the Tigers didn't *have* to pinch-hit Avila. You could put someone else in and then sub Avila in the field for the bottom half of the inning.
But even if Avila were the only option, I'd still have used him. Avila's a better hitter than Laird overall. I don't think that's debatable. Yes, he slumped at the end, but Laird is always "slumping." Laird was 0-5 going into that at-bat in the 12th inning and had looked positively miserable in the process. At that point, go with the guy who has a better bat, even if it's been cold lately.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:09 PM ^
But let's be honest. Not all catchers can hit like Pudge or Joe Mauer. Laird's net effect on our team this year was positive.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:08 PM ^
I can't bear the thought of going six months without seeing Placido Polanco's big beautiful head
What a horrible week
I was happy to see Don Kelly playing like a cold-blooded badass
I can't even end my sentences properly
I am genuinely sad
we need alkaline's take on this
October 6th, 2009 at 11:07 PM ^
First time ever at the Metrodome. Just moved to Minneapolis. I've never been so emotionally drained after a sporting event. Felt like puking after the last Twin single to score the winning run. If you thought it sucked watching on TV, it was a fucking punch in the gut to be there and watch it live. Also, I think my wife and I were the only two people in the Metrodome wearing Tiger hats. Place was LOUD, with no Tiger fans in sight. Depressing, man, depressing. I'm headed down to Iowa City on Saturday. I need some redemption. Bad.
October 6th, 2009 at 11:52 PM ^
Are you a married, alternate universe version of me? Just moved to Minneapolis, going to Iowa, at the Metrodome tonight...
I was the only tiger fan within 4-5 sections, and that last inning was the ultimate letdown. Watching the Twins celebrate live, give out high fives, throw souvenirs into the crowd... it was awful.
98% Twins fans were at least nice and understanding.
Sigh...
We better win on Saturday.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:56 AM ^
Perhaps you two like long walks on the beach?
SARCASM ALERT WOOWOOWOOWOOWOO SIRENS Blaring RED LIGHTS FLASHING
October 6th, 2009 at 11:12 PM ^
i was pretty pissed after the game, but now, an hour later, i dont feel anything. the tigers had the division lead seemingly all season, they were 7 games up near mid september, and 2 games up with four to go. they just couldnt get it done. and today, bases loaded with one out.
they really choked it up, but its not like they werent trying. have to hand it to the twins though.....
October 6th, 2009 at 11:56 PM ^
I got worked up about Gerald Laird and Leyland and so forth, but this team choked away the division in September. Winning any one of the crap games they played in then would have sealed the division. Winning the series against the twins means the game is in Detroit instead of Minneapolis.
The Tigers lost the division over the entire season, not just through tonight's game.
But how this one hurts...
October 7th, 2009 at 12:00 AM ^
that still eats at me:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore;_ylt=At5Ag7ALJb1nEK_C.OumgEa4u7YF?…