Tigers (17-13) Vs. Twins (15-17)

[m23uza1hem36]

@ Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome


Probable Pitchers:
Game 1: Armando Galarraga, RHP (3-2, 4.08) Vs. Kevin Slowey, RHP (4-1, 5.50)
Game 2: Dontrelle Willis, LHP (0-0, -.--) Vs. Glen Perkins, LHP (1-2, 3.73)
Game 3" Justin Verlander, RHP (3-2, 4.50) Vs. Scott Baker, RHP (1-4, 6.83)

Tigers Lineup:
C. Granderson, CF
P. Polanco, 2B
C. Thomas, RF
M. Cabrera, 1B
J. Larish, DH
M. Ordonez, RF
B. Inge, 3B
G. Laird, C
A. Everett, SS

Twins Lineup:
D. Span, LF
M. Tolbert, 2B
J. Mauer, DH
J. Morneau, 1B
M. Cuddyer, RF
B. Harris, 3B
M. Redmond, C
C. Gomez, CF
N. Punto, SS

Note: Lineups vary from game-to-game, I will edit as soon as possible.

[Snakebites]

Need Mando to get back on track for this one.

These division series early in the season are extremely important.

And is Dontrelle REALLY pitching?

[RustInPeace]

Now that I think about it more, Willis pitching isn't as bad as it seems.

He sucks:

DFA his ass

He impresses:

About damn time

[Liqourish]

If Willis doesn't pitch well, he's basically unmovable. No team will touch him and the Tigers will have to keep him in the minors on a big contract.

Zach Minor is being moved to the bullpen, means one of the bullpen guys will be sent down. My guess would be Juan Rincon.

[Snakebites]

^See, here's the thing.

Every time I've seen the guy pitch, he hasn't just looked like a guy who needed to find his "groove" and get back into it.

He's looked like a guy who is completely done, whose capacity to pitch at this level has been completely and irreversibly shot.

I guess given their investment they need to try, but it feels like a waste of game.

[Liqourish]

I agree, but what are you gonna do? He doesn't look like his confidence is shook, he looks like he doesn't know how to pitch at this level. I don't think he's going to get that back. All you can do is give him another chance and then hide him away.

Leyland sounded like he was ready for a decision. Either Willis performs at a high level with the team or he's done.

For Willis and the Tigers, I would love for him to get his stuff back and look like the solid pitcher the Marlins had a few years ago, but I'm not going to hold my breathe waiting for that day to come.

I'm actually more confident in rotation we have now. At least the problems we are seeing with Galarraga and Porcello are minor and can be worked out. And they can still help the team win games while they work out the kinks. When Dontrelle is off, the team has no chance to win.

[Snakebites]

^Your right of course.

They kind of have to keep trying. I'd frankly seek a buyout if he looks as bad as he always has in this outing. Who knows, they might even be able to save a little money.

Much more interesting is seeing how Verlander (started down now looking up) and Galarraga (started up now looking down) fair against the Twinsies. Thats what I'll be most interested in seeing.

[Liqourish]

To be honest, I didn't watch much of the first game. I did see Clete's catch at the wall to prevent the Mauer homerun, but I was busy doing other things.

[Liqourish]

per wiretap:

The Tigers removed reliever Juan Rincon from the active roster in order to make room for Dontrelle Willis.

Rincon is 1-0 with a 5.23 ERA in 10 1/3 innings this season.

He was designated for assignment, which means the Tigers have 10 days to move him. If he doesn’t go to another big-league club, the Tigers would like to send him to Triple-A Toledo. If he refuses that assignment, he would become a free agent and would forfeit the remainder of his contract.

Saw that coming a mile away.

SP: Justin Verlander
SP: Edwin Jackson
SP: Rick Porcello
SP: Armando Galarraga
SP: Dontrelle Willis

RP: Bobby Seay
RP: Zach Miner
RP: Nate Robertson
RP: Brandon Lyon
RP: Ryan Perry
RP: Joel Zumaya

CP: Fernando Rodney

[Snakebites]

D-Train won't be a stable member of the rotation.

2-3 starts, tops.

Who replaces?

[Snakebites]

Entering inning 12....

[RustInPeace]

Granderson scores on a balk O_O

[Snakebites]

And now our fate rests in the hands of Brandon Lyons.

How do we feel about his ability to hold a 1 run lead?

[Snakebites]

ANNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNND





































There it goes.......

[RustInPeace]

why is Lyon on a major league team again?

[Snakebites]

Jesus....

Goodnight, folks.

Lyons, suck my ****.

[Liqourish]

YMMSP for the YEAR..... Brandon Lyon!!

I can't believe I stayed up to watch him blow it.

I wonder what's going to happen with Leyland and the umpire who put his hands on Magglio.

[Snakebites]

In other news, D-Train didn't even last 5 innings.

Tough outing, really.

We'll see if Justin can help us salvage one win out of this series. Disappointing so far, to say the least.

[Liqourish]

Justin continues to dominate. 6IP 4H 0R 12SO... if he can last another inning without giving up a run, he should bring his ERA under 4 today.

I really like our "little" guys. Larish, Clete, Ramon, Everett.... they continue to produce for us. With them, along with Inge (the new Inge), Laird, and Josh Anderson... we really have a new look to the team.

5-0 thorugh 6 so far. Let's hope we can keep the lead and finish up the road trip on a high note.

[Liqourish]

Well Bobby Seay and Zach Miner lost the game for us, giving up 6 runs in the 7th inning. 2 were credited to Verlander after he left the mound.

In other great news, Nate Robertson has been placed on the 15-day DL and LHP Luke French was called up from Toledo.