OT: Wednesday MLB Open Thread
A bunch of matinee games going on, or about to get under way.
The White Sox have gotten out to a quick start, putting 4 runs up in the first inning on Justin Masterson. How are ChiSox fans feeling about this year's team? Is Adam Dunn capable of hitting a baseball?
Tigers and Rays are set to go at it at 1:05. Good pitching matchup with Verlander vs. Shields. I know some people think that Shields is set to regress a lot this year, and he struggled against the Yanks in his first start, so we'll see how that goes. Here's to hoping Verlander picks up right where he left off last week.
April 11th, 2012 at 12:35 PM ^
And I thought this was going to be a thread about the Modern Languages Building.
April 11th, 2012 at 12:53 PM ^
I am currently in the MLB now, and sadly there is nothing thread worthy going on here.
April 11th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
April 11th, 2012 at 12:36 PM ^
The only way Dunn gets near a baseball is if it's covered in steak sauce.
April 11th, 2012 at 12:40 PM ^
I wake up excited every time I know Verlander is pitching that day. Also, obviously not baseball, but AHHHH NHL PLAYOFFS START TONIGHT!
April 11th, 2012 at 12:45 PM ^
Does someone have an online feed for the game? Any help would be very much appreciated stuck at work...
April 11th, 2012 at 12:49 PM ^
I'd guess it's on firstrowsports.
April 11th, 2012 at 12:51 PM ^
Thanks!
Found a somewhat reliable, in-browser stream here:
http://www8.livetv.ru/webplayer2.php?t=alieztv&c=1425&lang=en&eid=11378…
April 11th, 2012 at 12:46 PM ^
In other good news, Victor Martinez did not need a second surgery and could possibly return by the end of the season.
April 11th, 2012 at 12:54 PM ^
This current line up, plus V-Mart in October, would be absolutely brutal. World Series quality for sure.
April 11th, 2012 at 12:57 PM ^
These 1pm games are killing me. I really want to watch Verlander pitch!
Jeremy Hellickson was hit in the head by a ball during batting practice prior to today's game. Supposedly he was responsive and alert, but still went to the hospital of course. Hope he's okay.
ED: Supposedly he was hit by a homerun ball while he was throwing in the bullpen, so at least it wasn't a line drive. That's good news.
Oh, and Go Tigers.
Dang, that sucks. What are the odds of something like that happening? Hope he's ok.
crap
Did Jim just say that Verlander has worked 6+ innings in 40+ something consecutive starts?
5 pitches 2 outs!!
6 pitches, 3 outs
JV's off to a good start again.
Great first inning. That's why it's so important for AJax to consistently get on base. 1-0 Tigers after 1.
JV working extremely efficiently. 17 pitches, 2 Ks through 2 innings.
1-3 Giants @ 1-3 Rockies. Will Timmah rebound from his first inning debacle on opening day? Who wins this game?
Unconventional double play!! I like it!
Blast. Ben Zobrist just broke up JV's no hitter in the 5th. Still, Tigers up 1-0 heading into their half of the 5th.
Note to self: don't ever start anyone in fantasy baseball when they're playing Verlander. They will do poorly.
Headed to the 9th in Motown. Verlander has thrown 81 pitches through 8 innings, just unreal. Assuming he comes in to finish off the complete game shutout, he'll face Tampa's 9, 1, and 2 hitters.
JV stays in there. 1 down, runners at 1st and 3rd, Carlos Pena is up...
...and walks on a wild pitch
Verlander's worked himself into a jam here in the 9th. Bases loaded, 1 out, Longoria up.
Edit: Check that; Jeff Keppinger scored from third on a wild pitch ball 4 to Pena. And Longoria just singled, so now the bases are loaded, with one out. And Leyland's bringing in... Schlereth? Are you kidding me?
0.55: About what the banks are paying these days in interest.
Hey, everyone remember the people that ripped on Leyland last week for taking Verlander out instead of letting him pitch the 9th in the opener?
Gosh, why is Schlereth even in Detroit?
I understand Leyland putting Verlander in for the 9th, but why do you put one of our worst relief pitchers in with the game on the line.
"I'm gonna leave Verlander in in the 9th instead of putting in my closer"
"I'm gonna put in a LHP against a RHB, then yank him as soon as he gives up a 5-pitch walk and put in my closer then instead of immediately"
Thank God I'm not a Tiger fan or I'd be pissed as hell at this game.
Game 1: Leyland pulls Verlander after 8 innings, 105 pitches, 2 run lead. Valverde gives up two runs, everyone calls Leyland a dumbass.
Game 5: Leyland leaves Verlander in after 8 innings, 90ish pitches, 2 run lead. Verlander gives up four runs, everyone calls Leyland a dumbass.
Love all the amateur managers in the crowd!
Like I said, I'm not a Tigers fan, but I'm of the belief that you pay your closers for that reason, to CLOSE. Valverde blew the save on day one, big whoop. He's still one of the best in the business. There's absolutely no reason to not put him in at that point.
No way. I supported Leyland's decision last Thursday to bring in Valverde, even though it didn't work out. I also support his decision to leave Verlander in today for the 9th. Why would you pull your starting pitcher who has thrown 81 pitches through 8 innings, has struck out 6, and has allowed 2 base runners all game up to that point? You'd be a moron to pull him. Not to mention the fact that he was facing the bottom of the Rays' lineup. For whatever reason Verlander didn't come through, but if there's ever a good opportunity to leave a starter in for a complete game, this was it.
I disagree with Leyland's decision to bring in Schlereth in the first place, but to be fair, he brought him in to face Matt Joyce (a lefty), then Joe Maddon pinch-hit for him with a righty. But yeah, wouldn't have been an issue in the first place if he would have just not even thought about putting Schlereth in at all.
So you're going to take your horse out after only 81 pitches and 1 hit given up? Give me a freaking break, people watch a few games once the Tigers start playing well and think they know the game better than someone who has managed for over 25 years.
Schlereth was put in the face the lefty Joyce and Maddon pinch hit for him after he saw the alaskan coming in, so what are you going to do just do another pitching change? Leyland again made the right calls, I don't like Schlereth and probably never will but he's supposed to be a lefty-lefty specialist and putting him in with a lefty on deck was the right choice. The loss goes on JV who couldn't finish what he started, not on Leyland.
Don't worry guys, Clete Thomas is leading off the 9th. He'll score two runs by himself.
/s
EDIT: mlb.com gamecast made me look like an idiot by saying Thomas was up next. Disregard comment.
Well, I guess if there's any good news in all of this, it's that we're facing Fernando Rodney now.
You put Verlander in, but you don't put Schlereth in when you have Dotel sitting on the bench.
I'd rather not put in a pitcher who just had a rough outing last Sunday who is supposedly a "lefty-lefty specialist" when you have about 5-6 other guys who can get the job done.
I really would have preferred a thread about the Modern Language Building.