caulfield12

Vasquez entered the game with a .444 BAA lefties. Strikes out the side. Not exactly an auspicious start, so far. It would also seemingly be a miracle for a team with D-Wise hitting third and a reeling Konerko 4th to beat a team with Cabrera and Fielder in those same spots. Lucky baseball isn't the NBA or we'd be toast with a couple of superstars capable of carrying a team.

Verlander AVERAGING 114.1 pitches per game. 8 starts of 120+ pitches. Gotta be happy anytime you see a Twins' line-up without Mauer in it. Of course, he's not really a big fan of facing Chris Sale. Kind of the ultimate compliment, there.

QUOTE (fathom @ Sep 14, 2012 -> 06:44 PM) With Liriano going tomorrow, this is the type of game that the Sox have to find a way to win. And Masterson has to win tomorrow against Sanchez, somehow. Porcello vs. Jimenez, who knows what will happen there.

2-0 Tigers into the 2nd. Two consecutive 2-out singles by Young and Boesch. 4-0. Jackson, and, who else, Cabrera strike again. Cabrera is close to passing Trout for the batting title, 2/2 tonight.

The Twins and Indians both rallied late for wins last night. We'll test that theory about momentum in baseball. It was definitely the case, and fits the billing from 2003 when the Twins almost came back against Paniagua in a blow out game that became a nail biter which became Sherman's March to the Sea right through the Sox for the remainder of the 2003 season.

It would be amusing if Quintana could beat the Tigers twice in a row, after Sale and Peavy failed to it once during the season. The way this season has gone, why not? Of course, there's also the strong possibility they just pound the crap out of him and everyone second guesses Ventura and Cooper for not having Sale or Peavy go. I'm thinking back to 2000 and trying to decide which team had the more battered pitching staff going into post-season? Back then, it was Sirotka, Parque and Baldwin all within a year or two of their Sox careers ending.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseb...0,5892923.story Danks' response.

So the Tigers have to rely on watching the scoreboard and hoping somebody else helps them, which might be a huge chore given the Sox are 38-24 against their remaining opponents. That includes 11-4 against the Twins, whom they play this weekend, and 8-4 against the Indians, whom they play six more times. "We've played (the White Sox) tough," Leyland said. "The thing we haven't done is when they've slipped a little bit we haven't taken advantage of it. We'll have to do that, if they lose." Yes, while the White Sox were losing two of three to the Royals before this series, the Tigers were losing three straight to the Angels. The Tigers just haven't been able to stomp on the Sox when they are down. Example One: After the Tigers swept the Sox at Comerica Park July 20-22 to take a 11/2-game lead, they lost six of eight to fall 21/2 behind. Example Two: After the Tigers swept the Sox Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Comerica Park to tie for the lead, they lost six of seven to fall two games behind. Interestingly, the Tigers started their slumps against the Indians, losing two of three the first time and three of four the second. Now, after taking two of three from the Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, the Tigers play … the Indians. But what will really make the difference in the final two-plus weeks? "Starting pitching," Leyland said. "It gets tough his time of year sometimes to score runs. You have so many extra pitchers in the bullpen and you're seeing different pitchers all the time, some you've never seen before." That would seem to favor the Tigers, especially with their big three of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Doug Fister seemingly getting stronger as the season gets longer. Verlander's marquee matchup against the Sox's Chris Sale on Thursday was washed away, which certainly can't make the Tigers happy. They were counting on riding him to another divisional tie, but now will have to settle Monday for Fister vs. Gavin Floyd. The Tigers' starters had registered 15 quality starts in the 21 games before Thursday with a 2.80 ERA. The Sox's recent troubles have been well-chronicled. Another key down the stretch, as Leyland puts it, is "timely hits." His team led the lead the AL with runners in scoring position Thursday with a .283 average while the Sox were tied for second at .281. If health is an issue, the Sox could be in trouble, having played the entire series without RBI leader Adam Dunn, who is also questionable for this weekend against the Twins. If experience, at least that in the dugout is an issue, then the Sox are in trouble. Leyland has managed 3,318 games, Robin Ventura 142. But Leyland is a huge fan of the rookie Sox manager. "I told him, I'm jealous, he's making it look too easy," Leyland said with a laugh. "No, I think he's doing a helluva job." Ventura's strength may not yet be x's and o's but he has been through September pennant races before as a player. His forte has been an ability to make players believe in his no-nonsense, one-game-at–a-time approach. Even though it can't be found in any statistical analysis, that could be a huge factor during final sprint, when pressure can mount. "There's nothing I can do (about pressure)," Ventura said. "That's just part of playing, (but) we realize these are important games and fun games. "Just the freedom to enjoy (playing) the game is more (important) than anything. I think most the coaches are jealous." chicagotribune.com (mark gonzales)

I see all these people who have NO CLUE what it's actually like to teach in an "inner city" dysfunctional school...it's typical. My blood pressure went up 10 points the first year I was in this environment. The stressors are pretty incredible and nearly constant.

Right along with the idea at one point of making Contreras a closer. He takes 2-3 innings to find a rhythm and command in the strike zone. THEN he would become unhittable. But the game would already have been blown up.

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20620132,00.html Eastwood/Amy Adams/Timberlake movie centered on two baseball scouts, with Adams as Eastwood's daughter Clint plays a scout for the Braves, Keith Law might be happy...

QUOTE (kitekrazy @ Sep 13, 2012 -> 10:23 PM) Tell that to the AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2011 Tigers and...........I don't know maybe a s***load of baseball teams. or the 2006 TWINS or the 2005 WHITE SOX (or Stros), last week of season, into playoffs or the 2006/11 Cardinals, etc.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 13, 2012 -> 07:53 PM) I'm definitely penciling those in as 3 losses, that's for sure. I figure we have four guaranteed losses the rest of the way. We have to play red-hot baseball in the other games to be in the postseason. I actually think we'll take 2/3 from KC the next time we play them. Not sure about Monday's game, no idea, at this point.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 13, 2012 -> 08:39 PM) I can't believe you are concerned with individual matchups vs. Det. They don't matter. It's best we don't play Detroit for a few days at least. See if we can build the lead up again. We weren't going to suddenly beat Verlander tonight. Now if Sale can do what's expected of him, beat Minnie, and Cleveland takes care of Detroit, we could be cooking again. One can hardly wait to see your posts the next time we face KC. Will they be even more pessimistic than against DET, since MOST of America actually believes the Tigers are a better team than us, right?

Psychologically, we have the fear/phobia with Verlander now that existed against Sabathia and Johan Santana. You take your chances with Fister, and are happy that Sale can hopefully go out and beat the Twins, instead. Of course, the value of Sale beating Verlander and that confidence gain, wow. But losing three in a row, not so inspirational. But Sale has been SO GOOD at home this year, 9-2, ERA of around 1.70.

DET AT CLE Verlander vs. Kluber (that one doesn't look so good, but again, Verlander has struggled 2nd half on the road) A. Sanchez vs. Masterson (let's hope for 20 ground ball outs and a 2-1 victory for CLE) Porcello vs. TBA MONDAY Fister/Scherzer vs. TBA TUES-THUR OAKLAND A's come to town

Still not sure how to feel. Did we dodge a bullet, or we just missed a great chance to knock out Verlander, who's been REELING on the road since the middle of July? It's not like Fister or Scherzer are good match-ups for us either this year. Or Porcello, until this past Monday. And it breaks the trend of 3 series in a row (against DET) either having surrendered the lead (from 1 1/2 up to 1 1/2 down, 3 up to tied). Both times, the Tigers collapsed afterwards and gave us back 1st place. We can't count on that happening over and over again, can we?

Not sure how to feel about this. Is it going to be the final game of the season, if necessary..or schedule on an off-day? MLB and ESPN would obviously love if it was the deciding Game 162, or lead to Game 163. So I guess it's Monday, then... Gives us a chance to build up another game lead in the standings, both teams will have to travel back, but short flights. Maybe it gives the Sox a chance to get some positive momentum going again. It would be Fister's "normal" turn to go Monday, if they go Verlander/A. Sanchez/Porcello this weekend.

If they lost tonight, it would be ending on a 1-10 streak against DET, after starting ahead 4-3. 5-13, season-wise. 5-10 now against KC. I asked this before, but has any division winner in MLB history ever advanced having lost 10 of their last 11 to the 2nd place team and STILL made the playoffs?

Any updates? 800? 830? 900?

Then we're back to the salary issue and the Cy Young/2007 expectations argument. When things go bad, fans tend to turn on the highest paid players, especially if they seem to be loafing, dogging it or too "non-chalant." See Rios, 2011. Peavy tends to draw resentment partially because of his "bulldog" mentality and comeback from injury....which causes resentment again, because some will defend him no matter what he does in big games, essentially.

Iguchi, Tadahito. We needed to have imported a designated bunter from Korea or Japan who actually was schooled well in ALL the fundamentals of baseball.

Iguchi, Tadahito. We needed to have imported a designated bunter from Korea or Japan who actually was schooled well in ALL the fundamentals of baseball.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Sep 13, 2012 -> 04:36 PM) Sale K's 21 as Beckham goes yard in a Sox 1-0 victory. It's not going to be on a 98 MPH fastball. So it better be in the first couple of innings....most likely, the 2nd.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Sep 13, 2012 -> 06:12 PM) He's a good pitcher. But is he a Mark Buehrle? f*** no. Post of the Day. Extra bonus points available for Royals' shout out, but not included here.