04-11-12--DETROIT VS TAMPA BAY--1:05 PM

**alwaysthrowheat** · 04-11-2012, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by MC24

Sure, they are major league hitter but not very good ones. You expect your ace to get these kind of guys out without a problem.

Jennings will be an .800 OPS guy sooner rather than later, and Pena already is .800+. They're both effective, especially compared to an average hitter in the big leagues.

**Vonlenska** · 04-11-2012, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Bigglesworth

Whatever it is, I assume I won't be emotionally invested in it enough regardless.

**MC24** · 04-11-2012, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by alwaysthrowheat

All of those guys are major league hitters. Pena and Jennings are both effective major league hitters. Jennings ripped a 100 MPH fastball on the outer half of the plate to RF for a single. Pena is a career .840 OPS hitter.

Also strikes out over 1/4 of his PA

A guy with the stuff that Verlander has should be able to get him out no problem in that situation.

**Vonlenska** · 04-11-2012, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by MC24

Also strikes out over 1/4 of his PA

A guy with the stuff that Verlander has should be able to get him out no problem in that situation.

Plenty of good/elite hitters strike out a ton.

**alwaysthrowheat** · 04-11-2012, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by MC24

Also strikes out over 1/4 of his PA

A guy with the stuff that Verlander has should be able to get him out no problem in that situation.

Kemp, Granderson, Avila, Stanton just to name a few also strike out in 1/4 of their PA. That doesn't make them ineffective hitters.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 04-11-2012, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by MC24

Sure, they are major league hitter but not very good ones. You expect your ace to get these kind of guys out without a problem.

First of all, I think Jennings and Pena are solid MLB hitters at least.

Second, I *expect* pitchers to win the battle most of the time, because they do.

But no matter how much I expect a pitcher to win that one on one battle, there is a very real possibility the batter comes out on top. That is why perfect games and no-hitters are so rare.

**alwaysthrowheat** · 04-11-2012, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Bigglesworth

First of all, I think Jennings and Pena are solid MLB hitters at least.

Second, I *expect* pitchers to win the battle most of the time, because they do.

But no matter how much I expect a pitcher to win that one on one battle, there is a very real possibility the batter comes up on top. That is why perfect games and no-hitters are so rare.

Even Miguel isn't going to reach base 55% of the time.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 04-11-2012, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by CapitalTigers

Clete Thomas just DFA'd.

It was all Clete's fault!

**robgrave** · 04-11-2012, 04:20 PM

Who was that guy who tied the game up with a pinch hit HR in the ninth , against the Bosox in the last game of the season last year (a .167 hitter, if I recall correctly). Unlikely heroes of the game (think Don Kelly) make it fascinating.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 04-11-2012, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by alwaysthrowheat

Even Miguel isn't going to reach base 55% of the time.

Exactly. Throughout his career, Miguel Cabrera fails more than he succeeds at the plate. He is only sucessful in comparison to the group of more ineffective hitters, also known as the entire human race minus possibly Albert Pujols.

My attitude is anyone in the major leagues is good enough to be the star of a given game. The only difference is the frequency with which it happens. And expecting Verlander to come out on top every single time against a guy like Pena or Jennings is a lofty standard. Every pitcher will give up hits to those guys given enough chances.

**T&P_Fan** · 04-11-2012, 04:25 PM

I am glad I have a date tonight, takes the sting out of today.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 04-11-2012, 04:28 PM

Originally Posted by T&P_Fan

I am glad I have a date tonight, takes the sting out of today.

Unless she unceremoniously ends it in the top of the 9th.

I should add I often got pulled after the 3rd inning when I was single / dating...

**T&P_Fan** · 04-11-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Bigglesworth

Unless she unceremoniously ends in the top of the 9th.

I should add I often got pulled after the 3rd inning when I was single / dating...

Haha. I usually don't make it too far. Never really had a serious g/f. A lot of call-ups from AAA, never made an opening day roster. DFAd a few times, this is fun.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 04-11-2012, 04:33 PM

Originally Posted by T&P_Fan

Haha. I usually don't make it too far. Never really had a serious g/f. A lot of call-ups from AAA, never made an opening day roster. DFAd a few times, this is fun.

I was more of a bench player myself. Somebody that might get a look if a couple of better options got snapped up earlier. After a seeing me for a couple of innings, she would realize why I was a fringy AAAA player and take me out of the rotation.

**Antrat** · 04-11-2012, 04:47 PM

Obviously, Maddon outgeniused, Leyland this game.
I blame Leyland for not having 6 infielders in the 9th.

**robgrave** · 04-11-2012, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by robgrave

Who was that guy who tied the game up with a pinch hit HR in the ninth , against the Bosox in the last game of the season last year (a .167 hitter, if I recall correctly). Unlikely heroes of the game (think Don Kelly) make it fascinating.

To answer my own question, it was Dan Johnson, a .119 hitter, and it was the Yanks, not the Bosox. He hit a two-out, two-strike HR to tie it; Longoria won it with his second HR of the game.

**IdahoBert** · 04-11-2012, 06:00 PM

Nothing is certain. That doesn't make me feel much better. There are no assurances of mechanical-like perfection you can depend on. No better. I guess losing a game you know you have won in the 9th, that is impossible to lose, makes the good luck and performances you witness sweeter in comparison. Still I feel no better. Our best pitcher got beat and we didn't score many runs. Didn't deserve to win. That makes this tolerable. Hope it's no trend though. I have had enough character-building experiences with this team in the past that I can do without anymore now.

**IdahoBert** · 04-11-2012, 06:03 PM

**IdahoBert** · 04-11-2012, 07:26 PM

tiger337 ‏ @tiger337 Reply Retweet Favorite · Open
Today, was the only the second time since 2009 that the Tigers lost a game where led after 8 innings. They are 229-2 Team Scoring and Leads Summary Team Scoring and Leads Summary - Baseball-Reference.com

**IdahoBert** · 04-11-2012, 07:42 PM

The real pain in the rear about this game is that Fernando Rodney got the save.

**jaymo** · 04-11-2012, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by IdahoBert

The real pain in the rear about this game is that Fernando Rodney got the save.

Yep. It was a clean save, too- just like I remember from 2008 and 2009.

**Auburndale Ray** · 04-12-2012, 12:11 AM

This was a frustrating loss for the Tigers...
But, they did lose to a pretty good team...
The Rays are no longer the bums they used to be...
I think Smyly will have a good game on Thursday...
And the balls will be flying with Niemann on the mound for the Rays...
GO TIGERS!!!