“To his credit, he utilized the strike zone he was given,” said A’s right fielder Josh Reddick after Oakland lost the first game of this series 3-1 to Verlander and the Tigers.

A poor craftsman always blames his tools, Mr. 0-for-3 with 3 strikeouts.

Pretty much a must-win for Detroit: at home, with their ace on the mound. Still can't score any runs, but we'll take it. Oakland needs Game 2; it wouldn't be cool to go down 0-2 even headed home, with Verlander lurking for a Game 5.

12 noon (and 9am in Oakland!) on the MLB Network. Will anyone other than A's and Tigers fans be watching?

I will, until 1....then I will watch Matt Ryan torch my Redskins secondary

So you're saying that Verlander is a tool and furthermore is Reddick's tool?

On some of Verlander's pitches I was waiting for Uecker to say, "a bit outside." And them the umpire calls a strike. I'm not sure Maddox or Glavine would have gotten those calls.

I thought Reddick actually handled that comment the right way, RMc. There is simply no doubt that last night's strike zone was...reminiscent of Eric Gregg. And Verlander made use of it the moment he realized he was getting those calls. I don't blame him at all. He's smart, on top of being incredibly physically gifted as a hurler. I do blame the umps.

(Then again, I'll admit: I want a Oak/Bal ALCS.)

I'll be watching now that I saw your note. Guess I should have figured it'd start that early. A's fans are lucky: see the game and have the whole damned day left.

The strike zone was frustrating but it seemed consistent enough. I know hitters are supposed to adjust but it's not easy to switch that kind of pitch recognition on and off like that, especially with Justin ####### Verlander on the mound. Ah well, today is another day!

A playoff game and it's on a channel that many people don't get with basic cable? boo

I can certainly see MLB's reasoning on this. They are trying to create demand for their channel thus making it available to a larger audience in future years.

The strike zone was frustrating but it seemed consistent enough. I know hitters are supposed to adjust but it's not easy to switch that kind of pitch recognition on and off like that, especially with Justin ####### Verlander on the mound. Ah well, today is another day!

I agree. He consistently called the outside pitch but not the inside pitch. I noticed a few inside pitches that were considered a strike by the K-zone but not called as such by the ump.

I can certainly see MLB's reasoning on this. They are trying to create demand for their channel thus making it available to a larger audience in future years.

Yep. I bet we're not more than a couple of years away from seeing an NFL Wild Card round game on the NFL Network. (Note - though now I'm thinking they just signed a new media deal, so it may be not until the next deal.)

I will, until 1....then I will watch Matt Ryan torch my Redskins secondary

Going better than expected so far!

A 9 AM game is just bizarre.

A's fans are lucky: see listen to the game and have the whole damned day left.

A 9 AM game is just bizarre.

It's much better than the Rockies-Phillies playoff game a couple years back that started at 10:20 Philadelphia time on a Sunday night.

I bet we're not more than a couple of years away from seeing an NFL Wild Card round game on the NFL Network.

Maybe ... but part of the reason that a playoff game is on MLB network is because the big boys are all obsessed with football.

I thought all of the reason that a playoff game is on MLB network is because they had to squeeze in the play-in games without pushing anything back.

I thought all of the reason that a playoff game is on MLB network is because they had to squeeze in the play-in games without pushing anything back.

This was also my impression. I really don't think MLB wanted to have a playoff game on the MLB Network. There's got to be more benefits to having it on basic cable in both the short and long term.

Will anyone other than A's and Tigers fans be watching?

You know what's really sad? The fact that the A's are still going to leave that tarp up on the upper deck. Your team is finally in the postseason, but one of the games is being played at 9 AM on a weekday on a network that most people don't get. Then, when the team comes back home, it will leave 20,000+ seats unsold for no good reason.

What should be a great chance to rebuild the fan base is going to fail miserably -- especially if Detroit takes Game 3.

As a Tiger fan, nothing that has occurred on the field makes me feel good about my team's chances as much as Josh Reddick's nightly piss-and-moan sessions.

The umpire is screwing him, Al Alburquerque is disrespecting him, blah, blah, blah...

Try focusing on playing baseball. Just a thought.