BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: Tigers (23-25) @ RedSox (24-24), Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 7:10pm

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tigers (23-25) @ RedSox (24-24), Tuesday, May 29, 2012, 7:10pm

DET:Justin Verlander (29, RHP, 5-2, 2.15)
BOS:Daniel Bard (27, RHP, 4-5, 4.69)

The Primer Chimp Posted: May 29, 2012 at 10:00 AM | 225 comment(s)
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1. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 04:43 PM (#4142325)

Lineups. The big news for the Sox is no Pedroia but so far I haven't found anything other than "out for tonight's game." 8-9 in the Sox order does not instill a world of confidence. Assuming Pedroia is no available at all the Sox simply do not have a backup middle infielder for tonight's game. If anything happens to Punto or Aviles then Middlebrooks is probably going to have to play some shortstop.

RED SOX (24-24)
Nava LF
Sweeney RF
Gonzalez 1B
Ortiz DH
Youkilis 3B
Saltalamacchia C
Aviles SS
Podsednik CF
Punto 2B
Pitching: RHP Daniel Bard (4-5, 4.69)

TIGERS (23-25)
Berry CF
Dirks LF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Boesch DH
Peralta SS
Avila C
Santiago 2B
Kelly RF
Pitching: RHP Justin Verlander (5-2, 2.15)

2. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 06:13 PM (#4142396)

The latest word on Pedroia, per Gammons on the pre-game show, is that this is that (unbeknown to the media) in typical Red Sox fashion he's been playing with an injury to the thumb for awhile now and aggravated it in an AB yesterday BEFORE that diving play in the field. Now the aggravated injury may require him to miss "significant" time. But of course they're not going to put him on the DL yet. Instead they're sending him for a second opinion and leaving the team shorthanded.

3. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 06:23 PM (#4142408)

Now Remy tells us that Pedroia told him this afternoon it happened a couple weeks ago when he got jammed on a pitch, and that he adjusted the way he held the bat to deal with it.

Which might explain Pedroia's .245/.269/.265 slash line over the last 14 days.

4. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:13 PM (#4142427)

Nice to see a little more velocity on Bard's FB.

5. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:13 PM (#4142428)

Bard looks FAR better than he's looked in weeks. Hitting 95 MPH early tonight.

6. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:14 PM (#4142430)

Holy ####### #### Podsednik is useless in CF.

7. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:15 PM (#4142431)

I thought Podsednik was done with CF like 5 years ago.

8. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:18 PM (#4142435)

Nice. I'll take that inning. Bard missed his spots a fair amount, but got the job done.

9. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:27 PM (#4142441)

Twice in recent days I've heard Gammons attribute Bard's problems with both velocity and location on the fastball to arm slot problems. Tonight he said that some people in the organization think that when he drops down too frequently to throw that slurvy version of his slider. he ends up losing his regular slot, which he then struggles to recover.

10. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:30 PM (#4142443)

Pods was NEVER a good CF, yet Valentine plays him there at age 36.

11. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:32 PM (#4142444)

Was that an 87 MPH slider? Or a changeup or cutter or something?

12. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:32 PM (#4142445)

You know who I like? Ryan Sweeney. How did the A's let him go, with that awful lineup they run out there every night?

13. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:36 PM (#4142449)

You know who I like? Ryan Sweeney. How did the A's let him go, with that awful lineup they run out there every night?

Because they got back a right fielder who is 4th in the AL in home runs, and hits LHP instead of being a platoon player, and is under team control for 3 years longer?

14. Jay Seaver Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:36 PM (#4142450)

Well, it did get them Reddick, which is probably an upgrade so far this year. But, yeah, he was a pretty great grab for Cherington.

15. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:37 PM (#4142451)

Geez Joe, like we aren't already getting the daily Josh Reddick Update you gotta save a red flag in front of the guy?

16. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:37 PM (#4142452)

Reddick has an .886 OPS against LHP this year, while Sweeney doesn't even get to face lefties because he's never hit them. Reddick also has a .915 OPS against RHP.

17. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:38 PM (#4142453)

I like Reddick, too! I have both of them in Fantasy leagues.

18. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:38 PM (#4142454)

SOrry, Granderson's homer last night put him at 4th. Reddick is down to tied for 5th in HR in the AL (while playing half his games in the coliseum where homers go to die).

19. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:40 PM (#4142455)

Eh, they face a lefty every what, 6 or 7 games? I'd rather have Sweeney in there every day than last year's Crawford.

20. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:40 PM (#4142456)

So Reddick is fading.

21. Jay Seaver Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4142457)

Run against Verlander! Somewhat unexpected!

22. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4142458)

Boy Peralta didn't get much on tht throw did he?

23. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4142459)

Reddick and Miles Head are the only two guys in the entire Oakland organization that are hitting this season (other than Cespedes, who is hurt)

24. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:42 PM (#4142460)

Salty took him out!

25. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:44 PM (#4142462)

If the cadaver makes contact, it will be special.

26. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:45 PM (#4142463)

Remy: "The cadaver STILL runs well..."

27. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:45 PM (#4142464)

Nice inning, cleared the pitchers.

28. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:46 PM (#4142465)

Thing is, based on those numbers I posted above, Punto isn't much of a downgrade from injured-and-can't-grip-the-bat-properly Pedroia at the plate.

29. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:47 PM (#4142466)

Head has a 189 wRC+ in High A for Oakland. Reddick has a 150 wRC+ and is playing plus RF defense.

Punto against Verlander's fastball is just woeful.

30. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:48 PM (#4142467)

They have 2 cadavers in the lineup tonight. Can Middlebrook play 2B? I doubt it. (Only half kidding here. Who is ready at Pawtucket? I can't take a month of Punto in the lineup.)

31. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:48 PM (#4142469)

Head has a 189 wRC+ in High A for Oakland.

Eh, it's the California League, and he's still a DH.

32. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:49 PM (#4142470)

Psychologically, Punto is a huge downgrade from Pedroia.

33. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:50 PM (#4142471)

(Only half kidding here. Who is ready at Pawtucket? I can't take a month of Punto in the lineup.)

The one in-house option is to call up Iglesias and move Aviles to 2B. I guess you could call up Ciriaco, but I doubt he's any real upgrade on Punto. Iglesias at least maybe could be a +15 SS who hits some bunt singles.

Otherwise, they need to make a trade.

34. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:51 PM (#4142472)

Psychologically, Punto is a huge downgrade from Pedroia.

Statistically he's not exactly an upgrade.

35. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:51 PM (#4142473)

In the absence of Pedroia, it sure would be nice to see Gonzalez and Youkilis turn from pumpkins back into their old selves.

Oh right, they're injured too.

36. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:52 PM (#4142476)

Either, statistically he's not exactly an upgrade EITHER. Funnier with either in there dammit.

37. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:52 PM (#4142477)

I think Gonzalez is going to be just fine.

38. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:53 PM (#4142479)

Valentine told Gammons that the Aviles to 2nd, Iglesias up move was not being contemplated. Gammons also noted that the Tigers have been trying to trade for a major-capable second baseman for awhile now and failing so far.

39. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:58 PM (#4142481)

Reddick wouldn't have made the play!

40. Jay Seaver Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:58 PM (#4142482)

Yes, I, too, like Mike Sweeney.

41. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:58 PM (#4142483)

Sweeney either got a great jump on that or was positioned perfectly.

42. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 07:59 PM (#4142484)

Cabrera is in a mini slump at the right time for the Red Sox.

43. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:01 PM (#4142485)

That wasn't a slumpy swing - he crushed that ball, just to the wrong part of this yard.

44. Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4142486)

He did that yesterday, too.

45. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:02 PM (#4142487)

Yeah, that ball is a home run or a double off the wall in a lot of places.

46. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:04 PM (#4142488)

Nice PA from Nava there.

47. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:11 PM (#4142493)

Who the #### is this guy?

48. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:12 PM (#4142496)

Bard's fastball looks to have a bit more zip tonight, but he's not throwing the slider or change that well.

49. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:15 PM (#4142497)

Bard's thrown a few cutters though, which is interesting. Ball 1 to Young looked like another one (87 MPH).

Matsui just hit a home run to put the Rays up 2-0 over the White Sox.

50. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:15 PM (#4142499)

That was some awful location to Young. As bad as the one Doubront threw to him yesterday afternoon that went for a HR.

51. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:16 PM (#4142500)

Aviles was well positioned that inning.

52. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:23 PM (#4142502)

Well, if they can avoid a double play, Aviles' hit will mean they can clear the pitcher and the pitcher this inning.

53. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:24 PM (#4142503)

Verlander's getting squeezed a bit.

54. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:24 PM (#4142505)

Matsui just hit a home run to put the Rays up 2-0 over the White Sox.

I think they took "Devil" out of their name so their pact with Satan wouldn't be so obvious. Didn't fool me.

55. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:24 PM (#4142506)

Podsednik's actually made quite a bit of good contact in the last week.

56. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:25 PM (#4142507)

Pitcher A cleared. Can Punto do anything but squeeze here?

57. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:25 PM (#4142508)

Agree with 53. And Nava's got a gun.

How does Youk not score? The throw didn't even go home!

58. Jay Seaver Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:25 PM (#4142509)

You know, these hits Podsednik keeps getting are starting to tick me off. They're going to give Valentine a false impression that he won't be able to shake when they inevitably stop.

59. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:25 PM (#4142510)

The performance of the Red Sox 7th string outfielders could definitely be construed into pact-with-our-dark-lord territory.

60. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:26 PM (#4142511)

(And I agree with MCoA, Podsednik has been making surprisingly good contact since his callup.)

61. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:26 PM (#4142512)

Like in the bullpen where the relief ace we traded for is in AAA because so many decent arms are pitching over their heads in MLB?

62. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:26 PM (#4142513)

Ugghhhh.

63. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:26 PM (#4142514)

TAKE

64. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:27 PM (#4142515)

Hooray for li'l Nicky Punto!

65. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:27 PM (#4142516)

Ugh. I'm not going to do well if Punto plays regularly for more than a few days.

66. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:27 PM (#4142517)

I SAID ####### TAKE YOU USELESS SACK OF ####

67. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:27 PM (#4142518)

The performance of the Red Sox 7th string outfielders could definitely be construed into pact-with-our-dark-lord territory.

They've got a long way to go...

68. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:27 PM (#4142519)

Like in the bullpen where the relief ace we traded for is in AAA because so many decent arms are pitching over their heads in MLB?

It's weird. I would like to see Melancon back on the big club.

69. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:28 PM (#4142520)

Verlander's mad. He didn't hit 100 until his final inning in his last start.

70. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:29 PM (#4142521)

Nava just leaned out of the way of a 99MPH pith up and in. I'd have wet myself.

71. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:29 PM (#4142522)

Hooray for Daniel Nava (no sarcasm involved this time)!

72. Jay Seaver Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142523)

NAVA!!!

73. Jose is an Absurd Sultan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142524)

Dark Lord territory!!!!

74. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142525)

Nava!!!!

75. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142526)

I'm starting to believe in Daniel Nava, Boy of Tomorrow.

76. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142527)

NAVA!!!

77. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142528)

Nava Dava Do!

78. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142529)

Daniel Nava says take this 100 MPH and shove it.

79. Phil Coorey. Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:30 PM (#4142530)

Wow - just freaking wow

80. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:31 PM (#4142531)

100 mph #######!

81. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:31 PM (#4142532)

Do I hear thunder? If this game gets called before it goes official...

82. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:31 PM (#4142533)

That is some awesome #### right there

83. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:32 PM (#4142534)

Verlander's mad. He didn't hit 100 until his final inning in his last start.

Maybe this is his final inning.

84. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:32 PM (#4142535)

That was a pretty big strike zone on Sweeney.

85. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:32 PM (#4142536)

Verlander backing off now - only 96 MPH to Sweeney.

Gift call on the breaking ball for the K?

86. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:32 PM (#4142537)

He got unsqueezed there.

87. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:32 PM (#4142538)

Ball 2 looked much closer than strikes 2 or 3 to Sweeney did.

88. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:33 PM (#4142539)

An 80MPH curve seems unfair when you can throw 100MPH.

89. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:33 PM (#4142540)

How did Punto slug .421 last year? I don't think he can hit the ball out of the infield.

90. veer bender Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:35 PM (#4142542)

Is there such a thing as a 100 mph meatball? I mean the NESN pitch zone thing had that as being set up on the world's fastest moving tee.

Not to take anything away from Nava -- whether that was excellent guess-hitting or fast pitch recognition, it's still good hitting.

91. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:38 PM (#4142543)

Bard's slider looks like a brand new pitch.

92. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:38 PM (#4142544)

Umm, Daniel Bard, don't throw two fastballs in a row to the exact same spot in the middle of the strike zone.

93. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:38 PM (#4142545)

The bigger issue with Punto is that he can't catch up to even a 90 MPH fastball at the moment. He's not THIS bad, but damn he looks awful right now.

94. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:39 PM (#4142546)

How the #### do you walk Santiago twice on 8 total pitches?

95. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:40 PM (#4142548)

Oh for ####'s sake. Two four-pitch walks to their #9 hitter?

96. Darren

Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:40 PM (#4142549)

Never mind #91.

Finish the inning quickly please.

97. Dan Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:40 PM (#4142550)

All of a sudden, Bard looks like complete #### and his fastball is down to 89-91.

98. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:40 PM (#4142551)

Coke.

99. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:41 PM (#4142552)

Aviles limping after getting spiked in the foot by Santiago.

100. Chip Posted: May 29, 2012 at 08:42 PM (#4142555)

Here comes the tying HR.

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