Game 36 Recap

Yes, Joe Strummer, it does appear this season is going "Straight to Hell"

You need more than just a scorecard to follow this year's Tigers, you need the DSM-IV. The Tigers offense has switched from Manic to Depressing so many times this year, the concession stand should sell lithium. And here we are again, less than 24 hours after an uplifting come from behind victory...a dull thud of a game. But, is the offense really to blame? Just once I would like to tune into a game in the third inning and not see the Tigers at a multi-run deficit. A good game for the starter is reaching 100 pitches by the 6th inning. If thier's going to be one coach fired for the Tigers struggles, it has to be Chuck Hernandez. 3 Tiger starters have ERAs over 6. Those are bad numbers in slow-pitch softball, let alone the Major fricking Leagues. Still, amazingly, there is hope. It seems no one in the AL Central wants to win. The Tigers are only a half game ahead of Seattle for the worst record in teh AL, yet there are only a 4 game win streak away from going to the top of the Central. It's just that whole "winning games" thing that's proving to be troublesome.

Tigers 1 Red Sox 5
W: Beckett (4-2)
L: Verlander (1-6)

Tigers Record:
W - L
15 - 21

Game 35 Recap: A Photo Essay

This game drained the crap out of me. They say a picture worth a thousand words, so here's tonight's game in the best pictures Google Image Search can find:

After the 4 run 3rd

After the Red Sox made it a 5-4 game

After Mike Lowell's hit gave the Red Sox the lead

After the Strikeout-throwout to end the 8th

During the 9th

After Placido Polanco's game winning hit

Wow, break out all the cliches for this one. "They needed this." "This could start something." You know after these last five games, I'll take it. It sure beats the hell out of what was coming out of everyone's mouths after those games. Now here comes the big But, it needs to be followed with a good performance tomorrow. This game means nothing if the Tigers get shutout tomorrow. Here's hoping tomorrow's the game Verlander returns to form.

Tigers 10 Red Sox 9
W: Jones (2-0)
L: Papelbon (2-1)

Tigers Record:
W - L
15 - 20

Game 34 Recap

Here's all you need to know about the Tigers struggles. A 42 year old knuckleballer 2 hit the Tigers through 8 innings, needing only 98 pitches. Another in a long line of terriblly frustrating games that have gone on way too long this season. This could get ugly.

Tigers 0 Red Sox 5
W: Wakefield (3-1)
L: Robertson (1-4)

Tigers Record:
W - L
14 - 20

Game 33 Recap

8 walks in 5 innings. The Tigers should have had Daisuke Matsuzaka on the ropes, yet they could only manage 2 hits with all those men on base and only got one run out of it. 8 free base runners, only one run. It doesn't matter what order you put them in if they can't hit. Now with Jacque Jones getting DFA'ed, where does the blame shift to next? This could be a long series against a good Boston team.

Tigers 3 Red Sox 6
W: Matsuzaka (5-0)
L: Bonderman (2-3)
S: Papelbon (10)

Tigers Record:
W - L
14 - 19

Game 32 Recap

I thought the Tigers had turned the corner, that these let-down games would be few and far between. I guess I was wrong. Kenny Rogers pitched well, the Tigers out hit the Twins, yet they still lost. Jason Grilli's gone so we can't kick him around, but Zach Miner and Jacque Jones are still around, so let's fire away.
Jacque Jones has one hit in his last 26 at bats. He has only 13 hits on the season, tying his with Curtis Granderson who has roughly half the at-bats. His .244 OBP is dead last on the Tigers by nearly 40 points. It would be one thing if he was providing stellar defense, but as witnessed today, it would be better if he just ran the ball in or rolled it underhand to the infield. I don't think I'm alone in wanted to see Clete Thomas, Ryan Raburn, or even Brandon Inge penciled into left field soon.
As for Zach Miner, I thought he would be the key to the Tigers Bullpen. I thought he would be the 7th inning guy to pass the lead along to Todd Jones. I'm glad I was wrong, Miner's been the one low point in what has been a surprisingly decent bullpen. He's averaged a run allowed in every inning he's pitched (17.1) and walked way too many people. I don't really know much about Freddy Dolsi, but could he do much worse than Miner right now? Don't answer that. And if dropping a game after a 6 run first to get swept wasn't bad enough, the Red Sox and Yankees roll into Comerica for 7 games. Blurgh.

Tigers 6 Twins 7
W: Guerrier (2-1)
L: Miner (1-2)
S: Nathan (11)

Tigers Record:
W - L
14 - 18

Game 30 Recap

After sweeping the Yankees and winning 8 of 10, the Tigers were flying high heading into Minnesota. Tonight's performance burst that bubble. Now this isn't necessarily a setback for Armando Galarraga. He pitched as well as you could ask a #5 pitcher to pitch. It didn't help that Aquilino Lopez completely blew up tonight as well. Lopez gave up 4 runs on 6 hits, while only managing to get one out in the 7th. He had only given up 1 run on 13 hits in 17 inning pitched so far this season. So I'll chalk up tonight as just one of those games that happen when you play 162 in a year. And to be honest after the 4 run 7th I switched over to Game 6 of the Hawks-Celtics. Say what you will about the Pistons, but at least the switch stayed on and they beat the Sixers. While the Pistons are opening their 2nd round series tomorrow, the Celtics will be playing a 7th game on Sunday to try and get past an 8th seed.

Tigers 1 Twins 11
W: Hernandez (4-1)
L: Galarraga (2-1)

Tigers Record:
W - L
14 - 16

Game 29 Recap

With the Pistons and Red Wings potential closing out their playoff series (Pistons won 100-77, Red Wings up big in the 2nd as I type), it's hard to believe that a series sweep of the Yankees might get third billing on the night. In thier last trip to Yankee Stadium the Tigers got their first sweep since 1966. Then again this is a Yankee team featuring the likes of Chad Moeller, Alberto Gonzales, Ross Ohlendorf, Chirs Britton, and Jonathan Albaladejo. Hey a sweep's a sweep, so there will be no complaining here.
The Yankees jumped on Nate Robertson early, but The Venezuelan Power Station of Maggs and Miggy decided to go nuts and combine for 5 RBI on 5 hits. Cabrera had a triple and a HR, while Maggs had a double to go with 2 singles. Oh yeah Ramon Santiago is on fire. He chipped in a triple and 2 RBI as well. Tonight also marked the debut of Francisco Cruceta, who looked a little shaky and had trouble finding the strike zone working the 9th. But he followed in the footsteps of Zach Miner by getting out of the mess he created with no runs allowed. With tonight's win the Tigers move to a game of .500 and are just 1.5 games back of the White Sox for first place in the Central. So after that disaster of a start, the Tigers start May right back in the thick of things. Just like we knew they would all along, right?

Tigers 8 Yankees 4
W: Robertson (1-3)
L: Albaladejo (0-1)

Tigers Record:
W - L
14 - 15