WPTY Finals underway: Tigers at Twins
Posted by: Sam Borden - Posted in Misc on Oct 06, 2009 
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The Tigers have a 3-1 lead in the third inning of the Who-Plays-The-Yankees play-in game, after getting a two-run homer from ever-friendly Miguel Cabrera. If you want to follow the game, check out this live blog from our friends at the Detroit Free-Press.
If the Yanks face the Tigers game 1 is extremely important. CC against Jackson who has been absolutely terrible. Then Verlander, and Porcello who has great stuff.
Ugh, who am I rooting for again?
Porcello is going to blow out his arm if the Tigers move on, he is being abused at 20.
Reposting:
Randy, Pat M, MG – do you guys believe Joe when he said he made the decision to start AJ/Molina by himself, basically without any input from AJ? If so, what do you think that says about Joe? It seems to me that if that is the case, there is a problem here. I say that because it would imply that Joe thinks AJ needs a security blanket, his own personal catcher. It also would say to me that Joe can’t read stats or he was MIA in June and July…AND when AJ had a terrible start with Molina in Baltimore. Thoughts?
**GB, would love your thoughts as well
See what a cgood night sleep will get you Miguel.
Porcello is lucky he got out of that with only allowing 1 run. You could see the nerves on the kid, which I totally understand.
Honestly, I wish Posada had acted a bit more professionally and said: “Of course I’d prefer to start, but I will do whatever the team and manager want me to do.” Or something like that.
If it is a close game, Po pinch hits for Molina. If the Yanks fall behind, Po pinch hits for Molina. The only way Molina stays in the game long is if the Yanks are ahead. Probably much ado about nothing over an early at bat or two.
Also, maybe Po’s neck/back/finger is bothering him more than he lets on to the media. Randy, I agree.
Let’s all root for a 20 inning game where both teams use their whole roster and have to pitch their starters…how’s that?
The Twins are better offensively in every statistical category than the Tigers, except HRs. Tigers lead that by only 11 for the season. Granted, that is with Morneau, but the Twins are still the better offense. The Tigers have a lot of former really good hitters(Ordonez, Guillen) who are past their prime years.
I don’t think injuries are a problem right now for Jorge. After all, he’s catching game 1 tomorrow.
Can someone give me a hint on how the Twins and Tigers starters would line up? Thanks.
Girardi has nothing to gain by calling out Burnett and saying it was his call. It makes Giardi look weak and Burnett look like a Primadonna. Unfortunately, we all know that is exactly what happened.
congrats and welcome chad – you are our jeter, mariano, andy, jorge, hughes, joba, melky, cano, etc….you have come up through the system, you’re a yankee and we are rooting for you.
now…this postseason may be the yankee redemption song…
redemption vs. the tigers
redemption vs. the angels
and redemption vs. torre…
now…this postseason may be the yankee redemption song…
redemption vs. the tigers
redemption vs. the angels
and redemption vs. torre…
—————–
Los Dodgers aren’t looking too intimidating these days. The ‘Torre” bullpen is as it ever was.
Gerald Laird of the Tigers is like Molina. Good for Defense but sucks with the bat.
betsy October 6th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Reposting:
Randy, Pat M, MG – do you guys believe Joe when he said he made the decision to start AJ/Molina by himself, basically without any input from AJ? If so, what do you think that says about Joe? It seems to me that if that is the case, there is a problem here. I say that because it would imply that Joe thinks AJ needs a security blanket, his own personal catcher. It also would say to me that Joe can’t read stats or he was MIA in June and July…AND when AJ had a terrible start with Molina in Baltimore. Thoughts?
———
what girardi says to the media may not necessarily be what he actually did. there’s in no way in heck would he admit to conferring with AJ to make the decision. that would put AJ on the spot and the spin would be he threw posada under the bus. giradi is taking one for aj here…
we also benched tino + boggs in 96 on the way to the championship…sitting posada is not as big a deal is it’s being made out to be…
“I really think much of the circumstances with AJ/Molina pairings were partly to do with Posada being injured at times. And partly just trying to get AJ right after he fell off the cliff earlier in the season and all of a sudden was ineffective.”
doreen-
i think that’s a big part of it.
there is also the randomness of day games after night games too.
whatever it was, i just think the yankees painted themselves into a corner by not having jorge catch burnett more in september.
The Twins are only down by two runs so they can still win this game.
Oh yeah ! I thought that Porcello reached his innings limit. Does he have an innings limit ?
betsy
October 6th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Reposting:
Randy, Pat M, MG – do you guys believe Joe when he said he made the decision to start AJ/Molina by himself, basically without any input from AJ? If so, what do you think that says about Joe? It seems to me that if that is the case, there is a problem here. I say that because it would imply that Joe thinks AJ needs a security blanket, his own personal catcher. It also would say to me that Joe can’t read stats or he was MIA in June and July…AND when AJ had a terrible start with Molina in Baltimore. Thoughts?
**GB, would love your thoughts as well
————————————————————
Not trying to crawfish out of this, but, without knowing who said what and when, I’ll go with what Giardi said for now. I’m not happy about it, but, then, I don’t have my neck on the block, either. I would prefer Posada because his bat means more than any negligable increase in defense that Molina might offer. Burnett will learn that when Molina’s bat disappears when they need a hit. Even with a low average, if he just offered the slightest amount of power or bat control, it would help, but, he doesn’t.
Why has no one brought up the plain fact that Posada is reluctant to call pitches in the dirt with men on base because he’s a little worried about passed balls? Burnett’s best out pitch is his diving curve ball and he needs it most when there are men on base. He needs a catcher who is quick enough to get his body in front of the ball. The irony is that Jorge is probably quicker than Molina but he has a very bad habit of reaching instead of blocking. I think that has more to do with the switch than anything.
Porcello gets a better strike zone
All in all, I would almost consider this a panic move on Girardi’s part….about like Torre’s move with Rodriguez. You just can’t allow another team to smell blood in the water.
I swear this ump has money on the Tigers. He has two different strike zones.
GreenBeret7 October 6th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
All in all, I would almost consider this a panic move on Girardi’s part….about like Torre’s move with Rodriguez. You just can’t allow another team to smell blood in the water.
———–
how does this change the tigers/twins gameplan against us?
Here’s something to think about – tomorrow’s weather.
Isn’t it supposed to be awful? If they decide to postpone until Thursday & the Tigers win today, that conceivably puts Verlander into Game 1 on 3 days rest.
The Ghost, were did you get your facts that Posada is reluctant to call pitches in the dirt?
Oh…the top of your head. Great source.
The Twins are helping Porcello out by chasing high pitches.
randy l -
Forgot about the day game after night game scenario.
Just too much randomness, I guess, this year. I would hope they make it through this, and I do think they can (they have won games with Molina behind the plate, after all, and with Posada missing from the lineup), and next year will be next year and they’ll start with a clean slate.
What I think is unfortunate on all of this is that anyone would think this is a referendum on Posada. He’s a victim of collateral damage, so to speak.
I was just about to post that I really don’t even believe Joe’s comments myself. He’s trying to take the heat off his player………which is the right thing to do, but we all know the truth.
Jeremy -
It’s the playoffs. Innings limit is out the window. Just like Joba.
djsunyc October 6th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
GreenBeret7 October 6th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
All in all, I would almost consider this a panic move on Girardi’s part….about like Torre’s move with Rodriguez. You just can’t allow another team to smell blood in the water.
———–
how does this change the tigers/twins gameplan against us?
It doesn’t change their gameplan…just their confidence level. The playoffs are all about confidence. GB is exactly right. 06 ended the way it did because of a rainout and Detroit recharging their batteries. Cashman even admitted to it. That what these short series hinge upon.
DB, I’ve watched every game this year and Posada tends to call outside pitches with guys on base while Molina and Cervelli get a lot of strikeouts with balls in the dirt. It’s not a coincidence and it has been mentioned on this discussion board on more than one occasion.
GB, I agree……but it tells you that Joe has zero faith in AJ and that he thinks his $15 million pitcher needs his hand held. I said before that AJ should have taken it upon himself to almost insist that he work with Jorge……Like Pat M, I do think this will cause issues in the clubhouse – if not this year (the year is practically over), then next year. It’s not hard for Posada to see why Joe made the decision he did………….and who he can blame for that.
No the weather will clear up by 2:00 in the afternoon. So game 1 will go on.
So…. Molina is catching A.J., huh???
I think there is a certain loud mouth on this board who owes me $100!
I am STUNNED that so many are so shocked by this announcement.
People, people, people… Have we learned NOTHING from the last 3 or 4 years???
Pitching and defense is more important than stacking the lineup with as many bats as you can find.
IMO, Jorge acted very professionally. He should be starting…..period. He bit his lip and didn’t say a thing – I admire him for that and I feel badly for him.
Can someone give me a hint on how the Twins and Tigers starters would line up?
——————————–
Tigers=Jackson, Verlander, Porcello
Twins=Duensing, Manship or Blackburn(3 days rest) for game 1, Pavano, Baker.
What about Washburn?
Tigers BP is nothing to write home about.
If MIN keeps it close they’ll pull it out late.
I’m hoping about 19 innings late….
And by the way, anybody who has been paying even casual attention to this team surely knows Posada’s days as a fulltime catcher are coming to an end.
If Matsui were not on this team (and he’ll be gone next season), Posada would almost certainly be a part-time DH already.
“I’m hoping about 19 innings late…”
Last week I was thinking that a playoff game would be too much to ask for… Then, we not only get it, it gets pushed to Tuesday…
Now, like you, I find myself getting even more greedy… EXTRA INNINGS, BABY!!!
DB October 6th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
It doesn’t change their gameplan…just their confidence level. The playoffs are all about confidence. GB is exactly right. 06 ended the way it did because of a rainout and Detroit recharging their batteries. Cashman even admitted to it. That what these short series hinge upon.
———-
if it’s about confidence then we win that battle b/c a confident aj = top flight pitcher…
I wouldn’t be so sure about discarding Matsui just yet – he has been one of the most clutch players on the team this year & you just can’t replace that kind of production.
You can use Abreu as an example, but he had a $15-16m option that was never being exercised. You could probably retain Matsui for half that for one more year. Give the kids a little longer to develop w/o having to rush (Ajax).
AJ seems to pitch better when his rhythm is not disrupted by calling off pitches or frequent trips to the mound.
Bobby Cox won only one WS,because in the postseason he was too loyal to his players and was unflexible with his lineup.
anyone else find this tiebreaker incredibly boring?
So I guess he forgot how to do it since I specifically remember Boomer commenting that Posada was even calling for pitches in the dirt during his Perfect Game.
What you think you see is merely the coincidence here. I too have watched every game and I don’t remember one analyst making a comment on how Posada is afraid of calling for a pitch in the dirt.
“inflexible”
Washburn is injured. Too bad ! Because the guy sucks.
Wow, Porcello’s having a nice game so far.
The Twins love swinging at the high pitches.
Not about Posada CALLING it… About Burnett have the confidnce to THROW it…
Go back and watch Burnett’s start against the Angels before the All STar Break again.
He struck out TWO guys only to have Posada watch the ball roll to the screen… Both “strikeouts” started game-changing rallies for the Angels.
It would be funny to see Rodney come in and blow this game.
Yankee Trader
October 6th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
AJ seems to pitch better when his rhythm is not disrupted by calling off pitches or frequent trips to the mound.
Bobby Cox won only one WS,because in the postseason he was too loyal to his players and was unflexible with his lineup.
————————————————————
It didn’t help him that he faced the Yankee lineups for two of those years with a rotation that could go toe-to-toe with his and then turn it over to a bullpen full of sharks.
Pat M -
This is the way you take the Dome out of the equation – score runs quickly.
(But if this goes on, it won’t matter for the Yankees)
I miss SJ44 and CB’s posts. Without them, things are a little…different.
Now espn has gone from “miffed” to “peeved”.
Yeah the Twins keep on chasing that high fastball. And many of them are hittable.
DB, are you saying that a 38 year old Posada moves just as adeptly as a 27 year old Posada?
Betsy,
Posada is a 38 year old man. He’ll get over it. His “best friend” Jeter will comfort him.
“I don’t think injuries are a problem right now for Jorge. After all, he’s catching game 1 tomorrow.”
m -
the main reason posada is catching cc is that cc is kind of sensitive and he feels comfortable with jorge . he feels much better throwing balls in the dirt and knowing posada will block them .
and jorge doesn’t screw him up with all those signs he doesn’t like.
plus he has that nasty breaking ball that only jorge can pluck out of the air.
but really it’s how cc feels. he just feels better. kind of like a big cozy relaxed bear out there.
sometimes when jorge goes to the mound he tells him winnie the pooh stories. that’s what really won cc over in choosing jorge.
not many people know it , but aj doesn’t like the way jorge tells winnie the pooh stories . he prefers the way jose tells them without all the swear words posada uses.
it’s so refreshing that the yankee pitchers are getting in touch with their feelings.
Twins rotation is up in the air
Do they start the rookie Dunsing? Not good for us, we all know how we do against guys we haven’t seen before.
Do they go Blackburn on 3 days rest?
Do they use Manship at all?
Tigers rotation basically just flip-flops Verlander and Jackson.
If the Twins stopped chasing those bad pitches they would be leading right now. Porcello is good but he isn’t great.
randy l,
Are you mocking me?
Burnett can always go to Girardi and say he wanted Jorge to catch him.
What is Joe going to say? “No, I am going to start the inferior hitter to catch you, even if you want the superior hitter”….?
And do you really think Cashman would let Girardi start Molina on his own without some kind of input from Burnett?
If memory serves the Yankees did knock Porcello around pretty good earlier this year correct?
The Twins hitters are making Porcello look like Cy young. They are hitting really bad right now.
1 run game
kubel + cuddyer have been on a TEAR the past month…
See ya…
This is a team of destiny
One more, and let’s settle in for another 10-12 innings…..:)
I’m so torn on who I want to face
Do we really want to face young power pitching in Verlander/Jackson/Porcello?
Similarly, do we want to face a team that has won 18 of their last 21 games and has a hot offense (with a lot of lefties at the stadium with the short porch) and a great closer?
I can’t help but have nightmares of the Tigers power arms shutting us down.
Destined to go 3 and out in the ALDS
Yeah the Yankees beat Porcello pretty good.
Twins are a MUCH better hitting team than DET
m, ”Are You Mocking Me ” ???? My Cousin Vinny & The two Utes…..Man Kubel just launced that pitch….I don’t know how many here have visited this place, but let me tell you that was a blast…..
Twins have the sinker/slider pitchers that we usually tee off of. They are going to work quick, but won’t overpower us.
The Tigers have 3 power arms… 2 of them can blow the ball by us and Porcello has that power sinker.
Porcello unraveled pretty quickly
That was a pretty impressive start for a 20 year old
I would much rather face the Twins. Verlander, Jackson, and Porcello ALL have a chance of shutting an offense down, especially in Comerica Park.
Maybe one of the Twins pitchers will have a good game, but what are the chances of Duensing, Blackburn, Pavano, and Baker ALL pitching well? The odds are much less since they just don’t have the talent.
Pat M., would you take that kind of start from Joba in the ALCS? I would.
That was sort of a sudden fall for Porcello and a quick hook. Now let’s see the Tiger bullpen.
The Ghost October 6th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
If memory serves the Yankees did knock Porcello around pretty good earlier this year correct?
Molina hit a grand slam that game lol
They are going to the Tiger bullpen. LOL ! That doesn’t sound good for Tiger fans.
Here comes the Tigers soft underbelly – the bullpen
Pat M.
October 6th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
m, ”Are You Mocking Me ” ???? My Cousin Vinny & The two Utes…..Man Kubel just launced that pitch….I don’t know how many here have visited this place, but let me tell you that was a blast…..
————————————————————
That’s a 3-4-5 order you don’t want to see any time soon. Those three can stay hot for 3 weeks at a time.
Isn’t it interesting that the Yankees, the first to clinch, will play the last to clinch? And it really, really, really stinks that htey don’t know who they’re playing yet.
At least they have HFA, so they are comfortable ensconced in the location of the game!
God he was playing deep
Uh oh…here we go.
big dog October 6th, 2009 at 6:57 pm
God he was playing deep
——–
for a second, i thought a fan jumped the fence to go after that ball – lol…
Minor will walk in a run
Tigers are a mistake hitting team… 2 over the hill stars in Ordonez and Guillen. Inge can be fooled. Laird can’t hit Granderson can’t hit lefties.
Twins have a plucky team… guys like Punto, Span, Cabrera to go along with the power middle of the order in Mauer, Kubel, Cuddayer.
Both offenses are about even when they are on… but the MIN offense is much more consistent and can score in more ways than one. They are fundamentally sound and have speed.
there’s ALOT of folks in that dome…wow…
Miner that is
Twins dugout somewhat subdued, no?
“Are you mocking me?”
m-
mocking?
who me?
what?
don’t tell me .
i’ll bet you don’t like jorge tellling winnie the pooh stories using cuss words either
pat m.
am i getting in trouble ?
At first I thoguht we wanted to plays the twins now Im thninking the Tigers
Missed the first 6 innings.
Have we decided who we’re rooting for based on anything that’s happened so far?
Ghost….I do think that Joba will have an outing very similar sometime this month……Tigers are a flawed team, Twins not very flawed….I do think the Yanks can sweep Detroit, or at the very least puch their ticket in 4……The Twins are a different type od club, they’ll fight to the very end…They’ll lose the series, but it’ll be a tough hard fought series…..I don’t want to play these guys……
pat -
Since Porcello is a “local” boy (from NJ), I was hoping he’d pitch a decent game, which he did. But otherwise, I’m not rooting for either one. Frankly, I want to play the Royals.
” Frankly, I want to play the Royals. ”
doreen-
after going back and forth depending on who is looking good or bad i’m pretty sure now that i want to play whoever loses this game.
I hate the Tigers. Their fans are very arrogant. If the Yankees face them then I hope that we sweep them.
I do think the Twins are the hotter team (if they win) and will be extra-psyched. Plus as Pat M has stated, they’re a good team. That the Yankees beat them all season doesn’t take into account the circumstances of each game. Much like those 8 the Yankees lost to Boston, many could have gone the other way.
But if the Tigers win, they might be more relieved than psyched and I think that’s better for the Yankees. They’re starters are potentially very tough, but it’s been a long month for them, so…
I just want the Yankees to play whoever wins, and play them well.
randy l -
Me too!!!! Really, lol!
Doreen…Porcello was taken three picks ahead of Andrew Brackman the Yankees number 1 pick in 2007.
There was talk that if Porcello was there at 30 the Yankees would have taken him.
Twins still scare me …. this is not the team we beat earlier.
Doreen
Well that doesn’t help me.
I turned it on with Tolbert up and was rooting for a walk to tie the game because a basehit could have scored 2.
At this pace, the winner could be in NY before midnight and I was hoping for a long night at least.
Vader -
I remember that. I actually listened to that draft on XM radio. My husband and brother-in-law were, well, impressed is not the word – they thought i was nuts! I had my fingers crossed that Detroit would pass on him, but I knew they wouldn’t.
CK in LA October 6th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Twins still scare me …. this is not the team we beat earlier.
We weren’t the great team we are now. Not to mention that Mauer and Morneau were raking that series we played at Yankee Stadium.
pat – let them think this is going to be a fast game. Twins tie in the bottom of the ninth. And then it will slow down.
Quick question: Do the Twins and Tigers still have expanded rosters or are they back to the 25-player format?
Mijares sucks. Granderson can’t hit lefty pitchers and you give up a hit.
what an awesome at bat…
Twins maine
wow – this is why the twins traded for orlando cabrera…
This Twin team never quits. I’d rated play Det.
and they’re doing it without morneau…HE’S A CANCER!!! lol
“People, people, people… Have we learned NOTHING from the last 3 or 4 years???
Pitching and defense is more important than stacking the lineup with as many bats as you can find.”
Perfect thinking. Why not replace Jeter with Pena and Damon with Gardner??
HAIRGGLIO!!!
Extra innings please!
yeah, about this game being boring – not so much anymore.
i love baseball!
they need to set a new record for this game in terms of innings played…i want to see verlander pitch today – lol…
What happened to SJ44 and CB?
nathan is their mariano…
“I hate the Tigers. Their fans are very arrogant. If the Yankees face them then I hope that we sweep them.”
I am not sure anyone in detroit is arrogant right now. that city has been destroyed by the economy
I am not rooting for a team, i am rooting for 26 innings! come one tucker yourselves out.