06-21-12--DETROIT VS ST. LOUIS--1:05 PM

**tigermojo** · 06-21-2012, 02:07 PM

bout time.

**socaltiger** · 06-21-2012, 02:09 PM

Prince has 11 homers...how many are solo ???

**Turnbuckle** · 06-21-2012, 02:10 PM

I'd like to have more men on base and homeruns hit more often, but c'mon. That was a bomb and people are doing more complaining than cheering?

**HighHeat** · 06-21-2012, 02:11 PM

I love seeing Boesch going oppo. If he can do that steadily then they'll have to pitch him in more.

**shauntacular** · 06-21-2012, 02:27 PM

Why did Kelly catch that ball? I mean what was the benefit?

**BornOnThe4th** · 06-21-2012, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by Turnbuckle

I'd like to have more men on base and homeruns hit more often, but c'mon. That was a bomb and people are doing more complaining than cheering?

I said I would take that solo shot. But the Tigers offense is still stuck. Can't deny that. And I do think we will set a record for solo shots in a season.

**MIguy** · 06-21-2012, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by shauntacular

Why did Kelly catch that ball? I mean what was the benefit?

Really? For all that's known, the next pitch could have been a three run bomb. The only time a fielder should let a ball like that drop would be if it was a tie game in the bottom of the ninth.

**BornOnThe4th** · 06-21-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by shauntacular

Why did Kelly catch that ball? I mean what was the benefit?

Get outs while you can. You want to give up a three run shot if he drops it? One run wasn't going to win the game for us. Bats need to come alive. We are getting real good pitching lately.

Now if it were the winning run on third in the bottom of the ninth, I agree. But not in the fifth inning.

**Turnbuckle** · 06-21-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by BornOnThe4th

I said I would take that solo shot. But the Tigers offense is still stuck. Can't deny that. And I do think we will set a record for solo shots in a season.

I hope so. If we set a record for solo shots in a season it probably means we end up hitting a lot of homers in the season. ;)

**BoomGaspar** · 06-21-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by shauntacular

Why did Kelly catch that ball? I mean what was the benefit?

I thought precisely the same thing.

**robgrave** · 06-21-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by shauntacular

Why did Kelly catch that ball? I mean what was the benefit?

Get the out. With a hitter like Holliday, giving him another swing is not a good idea.

**hardysf** · 06-21-2012, 02:33 PM

A similar play was made in either last nights game, or the game before when Quentin Berry caught a ball that was well foul. I thought that it was dumb to catch it and let the runner tag.

However, I am not brushed up on the rule of thumb for what an outfielder should do in a similar situation. Is it worth it to take an out? Any mathematical rational (ie, what is the percentage of the run scoring and multiple runs scoring if the ball was not caught. Clearly, if the ball is caught, it reduces the probablilty of multiple more runs being scored, but is it worth it to give up a guaranteed run)? Any links would be interesting.

In this case, was it worth taking the out, because only one run scored; whereas if Holliday got a base hit because Kelly intentionally dropped the ball, the Cardinals would have scored two at least.

**shauntacular** · 06-21-2012, 02:34 PM

my problem with the catch was that kelly pretty much sold out for it and had no chance to even make a throw. I understand the concept of getting the out, but you at least gotta be able to throw the ball to the plate. I guess it's the right decision to catch it but I don't agree.

**Antrat** · 06-21-2012, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by socaltiger

Prince has 11 homers...how many are solo ???

9 or 10, I believe.
Strange.

**RandyMarsh** · 06-21-2012, 02:40 PM

If Turner was a dominant pitcher, or even a major strikeout pitcher I think odds are they would've been better off Kelly dropping it, since Holiday would've been down in the count 1-2. When great pitchers get ahead in counts like that 8 or even 9 times out 10 they get you out.(Of course some of those outs would be of the variety that would score the run anyway) But with the way Turner was looking I think Kelly did the right thing.

**catswithbats** · 06-21-2012, 02:41 PM

I thought catching the ball was the right move considering the batter and the pitcher. If it was someone else, like Verlander or Scherzer for example, maybe I'd let it go foul.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 06-21-2012, 02:43 PM

I've seen enough dropped balls this year hurt the Tigers, I don't need to see another.

**shauntacular** · 06-21-2012, 02:43 PM

turner didn't do bad but 5bb/3k isn't going to earn him another start honestly.

**John_Brian_K** · 06-21-2012, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by BoomGaspar

I thought precisely the same thing.

Yeah they were going to concede the run to get an out anyway so why would he NOT catch it? The right play was to make the out there IMO.

**Mr. Bigglesworth** · 06-21-2012, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by Antrat

9 or 10, I believe.
Strange.

If Prince were a better hitter, he'd make the guys in front of him get on base before his HR. If he were a better negotiator, he'd negotiate to have base runners on when he leads off an inning.

**Turnbuckle** · 06-21-2012, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Bigglesworth

If Prince were a better hitter, he'd make the guys in front of him get on base before his HR. If he were a better negotiator, he'd negotiate to have base runners on when he leads off an inning.

To be fair to the critics, Fielder would get more RBI opportunities if he worked on his grit rating. Never should've let Will Rhymes go.

**robgrave** · 06-21-2012, 02:53 PM

If it were a question of the go-ahead run in the late innings, dropping a foul fly makes sense. Tying run, less so. Tying run in the middle innings, not much sense at all.

In general, giving the opposition extra outs is not part of a winning formula. I think we can all agree on that much.

**HighHeat** · 06-21-2012, 02:54 PM

Yikes, rough series for Miggy.

**HighHeat** · 06-21-2012, 02:56 PM

I guess it's a game of who blinks first....again.

**John_Brian_K** · 06-21-2012, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by Turnbuckle

To be fair to the critics, Fielder would get more RBI opportunities if he worked on his grit rating. Never should've let Will Rhymes go.

I am really sorry fangraphs has not come up with a 'grit stat' that people can 'use' to determine if he has it or not.

**Screwtape** · 06-21-2012, 03:01 PM

I feel that that lead off double is the beginning of the end for this game...

Here's hoping I'm wrong!

**shauntacular** · 06-21-2012, 03:05 PM

Jackson almost had that ball too -- bummer. Coke looks a little sweaty up there. He got the groundout though and now it's 2 out with the runner at 3rd. So far so good... now on to Holliday.