7/8/09 -- Kansas City Royals (Greinke) vs. Detroit Tigers (French) -- 7:05 PM

JayVee7777 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 02:48 PM

Coming to you LIVE from Comerica Park, in beautiful Downtown Detroit, Michigan...

It’s Your FIRST PLACE
DETROIT TIGERS

versus the

Kansas City Royals

PITCHING MATCHUP:

Kansas City – RHP Zack Greinke (10-4, 2.00 ERA)

Greinke never looked comfortable in his previous start against the White Sox. He allowed a homer in the second, and allowed four runs -- two earned -- over six innings. Greinke admitted to feeling a little fatigued after the game. He's been impressive all season -- as his numbers show -- and he's pitched a lot of innings during the first half of the season. But Greinke said he always feels like this midseason, and he'll find a boost of energy as the season heads into the second half. Greinke has faced the Tigers twice this season and the numbers look good. He's allowed just one earned run in two complete games against Detroit.

Detroit – LHP Lucas French (0-0, 2.35 ERA)

French will get another turn in the Tigers' rotation after tossing 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball on six hits during his first Major League start last Friday at Minnesota. It wasn't a bad outing by any definition, and French showed poise in working in and out of trouble, but Leyland said there was some rust simply from the fact that he hadn't pitched in more than a week. Expect some crispness now that he'll get a regular dose of work between starts. One oddity from his outing was a huge total of 15 fly balls, compared with just two grounders.

NOTES:
To make room for Thomas on the Tigers' roster, Detroit designated for assignment the contract of outfielder Don Kelly, who batted .250 (12-for-48) with three doubles and three RBIs in 19 games with the Tigers. Major League teams have 48 hours to claim Kelly on waivers, or the Tigers can outright him to Toledo. ... The Tigers are pulling out all the enticements they can to try to push the All-Star Final Vote on Brandon Inge. Fans who vote for Inge at least 100 times will be entered into a contest to win a "Deliver the Game Ball to the Mound" fantasy package for the August 4 game. Voting continues at MLB.com and tigers.com through 4 p.m. ET Thursday. ... Placido Polanco (3-for-8) and Gerald Laird (3-for-6) have six of the Tigers' nine hits against Greinke this year.

Current MLB Records and Standings

BROADCAST:

XM Channel 177
Extra Innings Schedule

***
GO TIGERS!

TigersFan81371 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 02:52 PM

C'mon Tigers! After that lousy road trip, I'd like to see them take this series. It's going to be a big challenge, however. Hope French can turn in a decent performance.

Sports_Freak · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 03:02 PM

The Tigers can beat Greinke. His ERA is all the way up to 2.00.

Seriously, his ERA WAS under 1.00, so that tells you he's given up some runs recently.
If the Tigers do beat him, it will have to be a low scoring game. I wouldn't mind seeing him throw about 60 pitches in the 1st few innings and then have a long rain delay. : )

French isn't the ideal match-up in this game but you never know. He may pitch the game of his life or he may get knocked out in the early innings.

But don't worry too much about this game. After this game, we play the Indians 3 games while the Twins and Sox are playing each other. A sweep of the Indians would enable the Tigers to build on the division lead as I don't see the Twins or Sox sweeping each other.

EatEmUpTigers711 · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 03:11 PM

Just got an email on my phone saying that Inge is now in 1st place for the AL Last Spot.

jackson_cannery · #5 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 03:18 PM

Zach Greinke: the Lucas French of the West.

DennisDubay · #6 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 03:23 PM

The moon and sun will align and cause a shift in the zach greinke continuum creating a vortex of 2-run HR's by Miguel Cabrera, Brandon Inge and Miguel Cabrera (yes, he will hit two two run HR's).

Tigers 11, Kansas City 5

Big Frame · #7 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatEmUpTigers711

Just got an email on my phone saying that Inge is now in 1st place for the AL Last Spot.

Really? thats good news

ToledoTigerFan · #8 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 05:26 PM

This game scares me. I love watching a master like Zack Greinke pitch, but I hate him for doing it too often against the Tigers. I'm hoping for the rare time where Greinke has a truly bad game and the Tigers take advantage. Final score.......

Tigers 7
Royals 4

kdog · #9 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 05:47 PM

White Chocolate gets another shot:

CF Curtis Granderson
2B Placido Polanco
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Marcus Thames
RF Clete Thomas
3B Brandon Inge
LF Josh Anderson
C Gerald Laird
SS Ramon Santiago

EatEmUpTigers711 · #10 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kdog

White Chocolate gets another shot:

CF Curtis Granderson
2B Placido Polanco
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Marcus Thames
RF Clete Thomas
3B Brandon Inge
LF Josh Anderson
C Gerald Laird
SS Ramon Santiago

No Maggs is an instant plus.

kdog · #11 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatEmUpTigers711

No Maggs is an instant plus.

I might regret saying this but I would rather see Maggs in this lineup than White Chocolate.

ToledoTigerFan · #12 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 06:00 PM

PLAY BALL!!! AND WIN!!!!

Shelton · #13 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 06:03 PM

Josh Anderson runs above replacement according to fangraphs = 1.0
Maggs runs above replacement = -1.4

KleShreen · #14 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 06:04 PM

Goooooooooo Josh Anderson.

KleShreen · #15 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 06:07 PM

Nice play by Placidome.

Sports_Freak · #16 (**permalink**) 07-08-2009, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatEmUpTigers711

No Maggs is an instant plus.

Mario said it was announced by Leyland that Maggs will be platooning with Clete for a while. Maybe until Maggs is released?

Nice play by Polly to start the game!