Tiger Geist

Broom.  Against the division leader, bringing detroit oh so close… wait… ok… 8 games from the division lead.  Still, great game.  Excellent pitching (Rogers is getting better and better this year), and one timely hit.  Probably a good sign for Cabrera to hit that one, at home, in front of the sold out crowd.  Who knows, maybe he doesn’t care.

While at work I was only able to watch the MLB gameday highlights, so I didn’t know how close Magglio came to winning the game in the second to last at-bat.  But it does give you a thrill, even watching play by play updates… as it spits out “Ball in play… run(s)”… and you know that no one else is on.

Let’s pray this ‘momentum’ thing carries over to the weekend series.. and, more importantly, into San Francisco next week.

NOTE:  Pudge, 1-2 with a walk (2 BB’s more then all of last year).  So far, with a small data set… I’m liking the catching rotation.

Here’s the big question going into today’s day game against the white sox:  Can the Tigers take care of business?  Kenny Rogers has been solid in recent weeks, and the hitting enjoys left handed pitchers a little more.  This would be a good start to turning the season around.  Or, just another step to pissing everyone off.

Kudos to Marcus Thames, who continues to do well in games after I state how worthless I think he is.  Magglio is scheduled to DH today.  Most likely that gives us a Thames / Granderson / Clevelen outfield, unless Curtis gets a day off (shifting Clevelen to center and Raburn in right).  With closer games and an emphasis on defense, these matchups become a little more interesting.  Also, with the next off-day a week away, and a cross-country trip sunday evening, Hollimon should be seeing his first start soon.

Other thoughts:

• Verlander’s best game of the year;  didn’t walk anyone.
• Brandon Inge’s best catching job of the year.
• Catching rotation, in its short stint, seems to have produced solid offensive numbers
• Cabrera might be coming around.  What a great at-bat (14 pitch walk).