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Tough times for the Tigers

Peter Abraham
August
24

The headline in the Detroit Free Press sports section today was:

LOSING GROUND

Nate Robertson pitched 8.2 scoreless innings against Cleveland yesterday. Joel Zumaya (you remember him, Joba 1.0) then gave up three runs in the 10th.

The Tigers are not the same with Gary Sheffield in the middle of the lineup. They also lack the pitching depth they had last season.

Now the dreaded Yankees come to town. This is a huge, huge series for the Tigers. With Cleveland at Kansas City, this could be a lost weekend for them. They trail the Indians by 2.5 in the AL Central.

This is one of those series where the Yankees need to be relentless with the OPB and grind down a desperate team.

This entry was posted on Friday, August 24th, 2007 at 12:48 pm by Peter Abraham.
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62 Responses to “Tough times for the Tigers”

  1. Ben

    We really need to take advantage of them this series.

    I fully expect to see the Yankees sweep.

  2. peterfan

    we’ll definitely win with JOBA THE HEAT on our side!

    go yanks!

  3. EY

    With Sheff gone for the series and their pitching struggling, plus we have improved pitching now, it’s time for that sweet revenge of 2007 ALDS. Yankees should easily take the series…as for Moose vs. Verlander round 3, I’m not so sure about that. I hope he can finally bounce back.

  4. .

    A bleeding tiger is the toughest thing to teem. Yanks will take 1 out 4, with the only win by Mussina. In the meatime, Seattle sweeps Texas.

  5. jennifer

    Sheff didn’t scare me. He did nothing against the Yankees last series. Now they can replace him with someone who is productive. :(

  6. Rich Myers

    RedSucks may get washed out both day & night in Chicago. What’s the Detroit weather forecast Pete?

  7. CountryClub

    Are they going to get the game in tonight?

  8. crawdaddy

    The game will start, but after 2 hours it gets 50/50.

  9. RSM

    The Yanks really need to win the first three. The game four matchup looks extremely promising for Detroit.

  10. yanks fan in motown

    just discovered this site, think its great! got tix 4 tonite but the weather looks bad

  11. jennifer

    Rich where do you see that todays game was rained out (the soxs one)

  12. mel

    .,

    Go to school. You had 3 spelling/syntax errors.

  13. jennifer

    I just looked at weather.com it said scattered strong storms. So hopefully it will miss the stadium.

  14. yanks fan in motown

    local news says 60% chance 4 strong thunderstorms

  15. jennifer

    * RICHMOND, Va. — Michael Vick has filed a plea agreement in federal court admitting to a dogfighting charge.
    In the agreement, Vick agreed to plead guilty to the first count of the indictment against him — that he was part of a conspiracy to operate a dogfighting ring across state lines. The charge carries a potential sentence of up yo ears in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three years’ probation.
    In the plea agreement, Vick agreed to enter the plea “because the defendant is in fact guilty of the charged offense,” the agreement says.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/.....id=2989824

    Think they were in a rush to get the news up?? They could have at least proof read what they wrote!

  16. mel

    LOL, Jennifer! I’ve heard “up yo ***”, but never “up yo ears”.

  17. John L

    Jennifer, Rich only said the games “may” get rained out. Right now it looks like they’ll get at least one in.

  18. Kill Schill-(ing)

    I still expect the Tigers to overtake the Indians in the division. I expect from Cleveland, with two and half effective starters (Sabbathia, Carmona, and 50% Westbrook), a lackluster offense, and middling closer, Borowski, a September swoon.

    I watched Seattle again last night however. Apart from realizing how bad Texas is, the Mariners are beginning to unsettle me. Weaver pitched well again, as he did late last year for the Cardinals. He must lay off that hooka pipe late in the season.

    Please, someone assure me the Mariners will fade.

  19. ND Yank

    The weather looks fine for the sox-sox game this afternoon according to the radar.

    http://www.weather.com/weather.....ayer=radar

  20. Carmine

    I love that it calls the Yankees “dreaded”.

    Also, has anyone seen this:

    http://mlb.mlb.com/tb/dotg/index.jsp

  21. rbizzler

    I agree Pete, the Yanks need to grind out some tough at-bats, get into the Tiger’s ‘pen early and often and then drop the hammer.

    But, what else is new.

  22. Vegomatic

    I love that the Red Sox pitching rotation is going to be thrown all out of whack for the upcoming series in the Bronx. Wonder if the Sox are feeling so good about sending down Lester to bring up a lefty for the bullpen now…

  23. kasey

    they haven’t ever seen miller or jurrens, both of whom are pretty good. that doesn’t usually mean great results for the yanks.

    plus, they get verlander.

  24. Lanny

    The Tigers summer swoon is really surprising.

    They were the best team in baseball in June.

  25. Alias

    Bringing my raingear…maybe that’ll keep the rain away.

    Here is the forecast as of now…not good.

    Today
    Partly sunny. A slight chance of thunderstorms and isolated showers through about 3 PM…then numerous showers and thunderstorms. Highs 85 to 89. South winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.
    Tonight
    Low: 71
    Mostly cloudy. Numerous showers and thunderstorms until around midnight…then showers and scattered thunderstorms. Lows 69 to 73. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90 percent.

  26. kasey

    “Please, someone assure me the Mariners will fade.”

    i really think they will but, like you, i’ve seen no signs of it yet. somehow, that rotation of felix, washburn, batista, weaver and ramirez does just enough to keep them in games, the bullpen rarely, if ever, implodes, and the offense seems to get a charge out of a different guy every two weeks. it’s absurd. somebody remind them that they’re the seattle mariners, please.

  27. Denver Jim

    The Mariners are not a good team. There SP is suspect. They get a ton of easy outs in the lineup and there schedule is not good the rest of the way. A ton of road games.

    They’ll fade.

    I’d like Anaheim to fade more though.

  28. Global Warming

    Anyone else feeling a little bit of deja vu?

    All the negative media coverage about the Tigers, how they have been playing so bad going into the Yankee Series. “Poor Tigers playing the mighty Yankees”.

    I don’t like it. I don’t like it at all.

  29. Blutarsky

    jennifer
    August 24th, 2007 at 1:02 pm
    Sheff didn’t scare me. He did nothing against the Yankees last series. Now they can replace him with someone who is productive.

    Yeah. Sheff in a big spot or anyone else on the Tigers

    Are you kidding? Hurt or not you have to respect Sheff.

  30. Brian F

    Global I thought the same thing but then I checked and realized the Tigers don’t have Rogers, Bonderman has been awful for a month and two rookies starting. One who was just hurt and has been really hittable and one who can’t strike anyone out.

  31. Carmine

    Has Shelley seen either of them? I don’t think Miller spent much time in Triple A, but what about Jurjjens?

  32. Chuck Carey

    Please tell me Shelley’s in the lineup tonight. We need a lift going into this thing.

  33. John in Ohio

    I live in Toledo, which is 60 miles south of Detroit. I’ll be at a party tonight watching the game, and I’ll be outnumbered by Tigers fans by at least 40 to one. Wish me luck.

  34. I have fleas (Itch Me)

    SportsCenter today said that the Yankees will not make the playoffs because of their pitching. They said that with the way Moose it pitching and Wang struggling there is no chance.

    They also said that Mo is losing his edge at the wrong time and they think that he is losing his dominance. You can debate this of course, but even if it is just “Mo is human, can’t win them all” he sure picked a great time to show his humaness.

    I personally think that Mo is entering a new era and his age is showing. In the last two years I have not been comfortable with Mo like I once was. I do think he can still be dominant but far from how he once was. In fact his last 4 outings were horrible. I know what the stats say, but how many close games this year did Mo show his stuff? I personally think there is a big difference between a 10 – 7 save and a 5 – 3. Someone show the stats.

    I’ll tell you what.. if the Yankees are down by 1 or 2 runs in the ninth, I am going to go to Joba until he proves otherwise. I’d ride his hunger/passion as long as it takes and quite honestly folks, Joba has been making Mo look like the rookie since he came up. Let’s see what Joba can do in a big game.

    How can a team have scored a 100 more runs then the team in front of them and not be ahead of them in standings? Pitching.. that’s how.

    If my vote counts for anything, Ian Kennedy deserves a shot and Moose can go to the BP or anywhere else.

    George in his prime would not tolerate this years roller coaster.

  35. saucy

    Carmine, that link is ridiculous!

    Rocco as Stretch? Has he played at all the past 2 seasons?

    funny stuff…

  36. Sara

    does anyone know what the boston rotaion is going to be? the have monday off don’t they? or did the rain out last night screw them??????

  37. WeMissPaulie

    Fleas….you actualy listen to what Sportscenter says? Wake up man.

  38. fleas (new name)

    we need to be no more than 2 games out of first when we play boston. Then we need to sweep them. If we win 2 out of three, we are still 1 game out if we go in 2 games out.

    It’s an exciting time to be a yankee fan, but I would be lying if I said I was not nervous and somewhat in denial about a let down year.

    Maybe I have low self-esteem, but I sleep so much better at night when the Yankee’s win. Pathetic I know! Is it possible to be addicted to Yankee Baseball? *grins*

    I have been pretty negative a lot here, but I assure you, rarely do I miss a game. I base my opinions on that. I know a lot of you here base your opinions on watching aprox 2 games a week. It’s pretty hard to have an accurate idea of what you see is going on with the team by just reading the paper. Unless of course, you believe everything you read.

  39. WeMissPaulie

    I think we all sleep better when they win and are in terrible moods when they dont. A letdown is certainly possible, but have faith, my man. I have a good feeling about September.

  40. fleas (new name)

    WeMissPaulie, I always watch SportsCenter, doesn’t mean I believe what I watch or read. I was simply posting what they claim, which I didn’t think was far from the truth.

    They claim:
    Moose is horrible – which lately this is true
    Wang is stuggling – true
    Mo is struggling – true

    so three true’s equal truth in my book, I also feel that if they don’t get it together they won’t make the playoffs. Have I given up hope yet? No way, the next two weeks is pivital and a lot could happen. If pitching step up and are bats stay hot I think we can go all the way. No doubt about it, but those are pretty strong *if’s*.

    later..

  41. Jeff NJ

    not off Monday, so it’s Pettitte, Clemens and Wang.

  42. rbizzler

    Miller is a kid that doesn’t have good command yet. I am not worried about him as he doesn’t throw that many strikes. He is also coming off of the DL, so DET will be lucky if he gives them five strong.

    Jurrjens has all of 13 innings pitched in the majors, so I don’t see him being a factor either. I know that Yanks struggle against kids that they haven’t faced before, but usually the pitchers who shut them down have a little more experience than two starts.

    As for the M’s, man their bats decided to get hot at the right time. Ibanez, Vidro and even the big bust strikeout king Sexson have been raking. Let’s hope they return back to form and drop a couple of games so that their questionable starting pitching gets exposed (read Weaver and Ramirez).

  43. Jim, PA

    The yanks need to do whatever it takes to win this weekend, because they need to make up ground NOW. September’s schedules for both NY and Boston are just about a push in difficulty level, with 21 of 27 games against the east, the Yanks having KC and Seattle thrown in, the Sox have Oakland and Minnesota. Plus the series against one another, of course. Keep grinding, boys. I’ll be biting my nails all the way to October. This is why baseball is so great!

  44. cj

    Beckett just walked in a run

  45. Don Vito Bellamo

    Beck@$$ loads the bases in the 1st against the Sox, then walks in a run….SWEET….1-0 ChiSox !

  46. Don Vito Bellamo

    Uribe takes strike 3 right down the middle…DANG !….Beckjerk takes 35 pitches to get throug the first….did he beat up another cooler ? LOL !

  47. Terry

    Too much to ask from the CWS to beat Becket with their lineup and their pitching staff, but after that first inning, things are looking up. My God, Becket has 36 pitches (20-16 ball/strike) after ONE inning!

  48. Sara

    Fleas…I know what you mean…i am the same way..i toss and turn at night when the yanks lose! it isn’t pathetic..it means we are true fans..i just wish the players cared as much as the fans!!!!

  49. Terry

    Need a shut-down inning from CWS Garland to get Becket back out there.

  50. Jim, PA

    P.S.
    17 of Boston’s September games are at Fenway. Yikes!

  51. saucy

    fleas, totally agree on how my sleeping is affected by the yankees outcome. especially on west coast road trip. i think i’m half asleep and my dreams are half started by the late innings. i had dreams about whether or not i should pull hughes on monday night/tuesday morning.

  52. Sara

    3 up 3 down!!!!! Garland..20 pitches in 2 innings..Becket 36 in one inning..maybe they will put Gag-me in!!!!!

  53. Terry

    11-pitch perfect inning for Garland. Wow, this feels good so far…Becket’s having a rough first frame.

  54. Don Vito Bellamo

    Terry…JD Drew Strikeout, just like you ordered….Time for Beck@$$ to show us more of his 1st inning GARBAGE….Come on, Joshy….oh, poor Joshy…did Joshy have a bad inning ? Maybe Joshy needs a hug ??? (idiot)

  55. Sara

    MAYBE HE HAS A BLISTER! POOR JOSHY!

  56. Carmine

    Saucy,

    I hope it’s based on fact and the Devil Rays are guardians of baseball. It would make me feel like all was right with the world.

  57. Terry

    Yes, Single for Owens, I’m just watching Becket’s pitch-count sky-rocket past 50

  58. Terry

    57 pitches through 2. If the Bosox have to dip into their bullpen early in this double header, it’s going to put alot of pressure on Schilling tonight.

  59. Doreen

    Jeff Weaver is supposed to be a sure loss every time, but the guy’s defying logic. I’m not so sure they’re going to fade, precisely because they don’t seem to beat themselves. But I think the Yankees will beat them when they play them.

  60. Carmine

    Jeff Weaver’s actually been pitching better lately. His 5+ era is somewhat deceiving as his ERA was I think around 18 through his first 25 innings or so. He’s been pitching much more earthly since we last saw him.

  61. Carmine

    Actually, he’s been a lot better since coming off the DL.

  62. Keith

    Jim, PA :

    Of those 17 games in the Sardine Can, 10 will be when the team is demoralized and hearing boos from the crowd.

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About the authors
Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
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Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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Sam BordenJosh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. E-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com
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