Been away for a bit, but the Tiger lead is down to only 3 in the loss column over the Twins. These two teams hook up for a critical four game series in Minnesota starting Thursday; the Tiger Collapse Watch braintrust is predicting the Twinkies to take three of four, though a sweep is not out of the range of possibility.
Originally posted by no1marauderIt's not looking good is it? Having both Polanco and Guillen out of the lineup is killing us. The pitching continues to be very good, but the offense is just pathetic.
Been away for a bit, but the Tiger lead is down to only 3 in the loss column over the Twins. These two teams hook up for a critical four game series in Minnesota starting Thursday; the Tiger Collapse Watch braintrust is predicting the Twinkies to take three of four, though a sweep is not out of the range of possibility.
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Both the Teegers and the Twins lost last night, so they start their critical 4 game series with the lead at 3 in the loss column and 4 games overall. On a bizarre note, the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]" cut Dmitri Young, one of their few decent left handed bats, after yesterdays' game. Most baseball executives would consider this an odd way to prepare for the biggest series of the year, but people in Michigan aren't really known for their smarts.
And Rob, thanks for the package containing 2 crisp $5 bills and some fancy toilet paper! I'll be sure to put both to good use!
Originally posted by no1marauderDmitri Young was worthless. Good riddance to him. It looked like he might be back on track when he first returned from his injury, but now he's mired in yet another slump.
Both the Teegers and the Twins lost last night, so they start their critical 4 game series with the lead at 3 in the loss column and 4 games overall. On a bizarre note, the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]" cut Dmitri Young, one of their few decent left handed bats, after yesterdays' game. Most baseball executives would consider this an odd way to prepare f ...[text shortened]... taining 2 crisp $5 bills and some fancy toilet paper! I'll be sure to put both to good use!
I'm sure it has not escaped your attention that none of the top three in the AL central is doing very good. Both Detroit and Minnesota are 4-6 in their last ten, and Chicago is 5-5. And Minnesota's four starting pitchers for the series have ERAs of 6.55, 5.88, 4.83, and 2.84. If we can't take at least two of those games, then we deserve to lose.
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Originally posted by rwingettYou're lucky; Liriano's expected back next week and hopefully this time he'll be healthy. You were singing Young's praises barely a month ago; you sure are fickle. He had 7 HR's in 159 LH AB's; who else do you have with that kind of lefty power?
Dmitri Young was worthless. Good riddance to him. It looked like he might be back on track when he first returned from his injury, but now he's mired in yet another slump.
I'm sure it has not escaped your attention that none of the top three in the AL central is doing very good. Both Detroit and Minnesota are 4-6 in their last ten, and Chicago is 5-5. A 5.88, 4.83, and 2.84. If we can't take at least two of those games, then we deserve to lose.
Originally posted by no1marauderIf the Twins make the playoffs they may the tough to beat. Their pitching staff is too weak to fill out a five man rotation. But if Liriano and Radke come back they could essentially compress that to a three man rotation for the postseason to mask that weakness. Is Radke expected back or is he done? I don't know the extent of his injury.
You're lucky; Liriano's expected back next week and hopefully this time he'll be healthy. You were singing Young's praises barely a month ago; you sure are fickle. He had 7 HR's in 159 LH AB's; who else do you have with that kind of lefty power?
As for lefthanded power, what does it matter? We're lucky to score any runs at all these days, regardless of which side of the plate it comes from. It would appear that we've been reduced to Casey and Granderson from the left side, with Guillen switchhitting. When he returns, of course. Our record against righthanded pitching is 54-38.
Originally posted by rwingettDamn! I hadn't even realized Radke had gotten hurt, but I'm reading that he won't even throw until at least September 15th. That doesn't sound good plus he was planning to retire after this year. It's no wonder the Twins have been struggling; there's no team with sufficient pitching depth to lose 2 of their top 3 starters and Radke had pitched great in August.
If the Twins make the playoffs they may the tough to beat. Their pitching staff is too weak to fill out a five man rotation. But if Liriano and Radke come back they could essentially compress that to a three man rotation for the postseason to mask that weakness. Is Radke expected back or is he done? I don't know the extent of his injury.
As for lefthand ...[text shortened]... switchhitting. When he returns, of course. Our record against righthanded pitching is 54-38.
Originally posted by no1marauderGame one for the Tigers. Verlander gets win number 16. That will probably be the easiest of the four, however. The White Sox lose again. The lead is back up to 5.
Damn! I hadn't even realized Radke had gotten hurt, but I'm reading that he won't even throw until at least September 15th. That doesn't sound good plus he was planning to retire after this year. It's no wonder the Twins have been struggling; there's no team with sufficient pitching depth to lose 2 of their top 3 starters and Radke had pitched great in August.
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Originally posted by rwingettThe lead is back down to 4 and 3 in the loss column; the Twins shelled the Motor City Pussycats 9-5. Tomorrow's a critical game as there's little chance the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]" will beat Johan Santana Sunday. Nate Robertson's a good looking young pitcher, but the Tigers are only 4-7 in his starts since the All Star break. Look for Biff Bonser, who's had three good starts in a row (granted against three of the worst teams in the league) to go about 6 innings and give up 2 or 3, while the Twinkies rout Robertson.
Game one for the Tigers. Verlander gets win number 16. That will probably be the easiest of the four, however. The White Sox lose again. The lead is back up to 5.
EDIT: Damn, Robertson's not that young (29); but he only has 3 years in the league with an overall lame 32-40 record. This is your great starting staff???
Originally posted by no1marauderThe lead goes up, the lead goes down. But it never quite seems to go away entirely. We've got a 4 game lead with 20 games to go.
The lead is back down to 4 and 3 in the loss column; the Twins shelled the Motor City Pussycats 9-5. Tomorrow's a critical game as there's little chance the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]" will beat Johan Santana Sunday. Nate Robertson's a good looking young pitcher, but the Tigers are only 4-7 in his starts since the All Star break. Look for Biff Bonser, ...[text shortened]... rs in the league with an overall lame 32-40 record. This is your great starting staff???
All our pitchers who have been with the club for a few years have terrible lifetime records. We've had a lousy team up until now. Maroth lost 21 games in 2003. Bonderman lost 19. But they're all in their prime now and doing much better. Robertson has had terrible run support. He could have easily won a few more of those starts if our offense wasn't so tepid of late.
Beating Santana won't be easy, but we have done it this year. I still predict 2 out of 4.
The lead goes down AGAIN; Biff Bonser overacheives from what the braintrust at TCW expected and gives up only one run in 7 innings as the Twins prevail 2-1 over the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]". With the White Sox winning also, the once immense Tiger lead is down to only two in the loss column to both the Twins and ChiSox. And this afternoon, they face Johan Santana; the Twins have won his last 11 starts and 20 of his last 21! The race continues to accord with TCW predictions; expect the Twins to pass the Teegers by the end of next week.
Originally posted by no1marauderUgh, we're down 8-0 against Santana. Looks like the lead is about to dwindle to a mere two games. Still 18 games to go after this one. But even if Minnesota does pass us, we've still got a good shot at the wildcard.
The lead goes down AGAIN; Biff Bonser overacheives from what the braintrust at TCW expected and gives up only one run in 7 innings as the Twins prevail 2-1 over the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]". With the White Sox winning also, the once immense Tiger lead is down to only two in the loss column to both the Twins and ChiSox. And this afternoon, they face ...[text shortened]... to accord with TCW predictions; expect the Twins to pass the Teegers by the end of next week.
The expectations at the beginning of the year were just to finish over .500. But after being in 1st for so long, the expectations were ratcheted up a few notches along the way. If we finish out the season 6-12, we'd get 92 wins. In April that would have seemed like a dream come true. But I don't think it would make too many people around here happy now.
Originally posted by rwingettIt's sad when kids find out that Santa isn't real.
Ugh, we're down 8-0 against Santana. Looks like the lead is about to dwindle to a mere two games. Still 18 games to go after this one. But even if Minnesota does pass us, we've still got a good shot at the wildcard.
The expectations at the beginning of the year were just to finish over .500. But after being in 1st for so long, the expectations were ratc ...[text shortened]... ke a dream come true. But I don't think it would make too many people around here happy now.
The Twins nipped the Tigers 12-1 behind Santana, so the series wound up in accord with the predictions of the TCW braintrust. The Tiger lead is down to 1 game in the loss and 2 overall. The only question remains is whether the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]" can rally and beat up on the weaker teams left on its schedule - Royals and Orioles in particular - or whether they will completely fold due to the shock of losing their big lead in such an embarrassing fashion. The smart money is on the latter; they still have a critical three game series in Chicago coming up. And why any "Tiger fan" would want them to limp in with 92 wins as a wild card and face the mighty Yankees, is beyond the understanding of us at TCW.
Originally posted by no1marauderIf the Tigers could afford to have a $194,663,079 payroll I'm sure we could have won a few more of those games.
It's sad when kids find out that Santa isn't real.
The Twins nipped the Tigers 12-1 behind Santana, so the series wound up in accord with the predictions of the TCW braintrust. The Tiger lead is down to 1 game in the loss and 2 overall. The only question remains is whether the "Best Team in Baseball[PFFT!]" can rally and beat up on the weaker ...[text shortened]... wins as a wild card and face the mighty Yankees, is beyond the understanding of us at TCW.