Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

by Ryan on Jul 5, 2007 12:07 PM EDT in News

Recap
Box Score
Win Probability Added @ Fangraphs

Highest WPA:

Travis Hafner .081
Josh Barfield .031
Ryan Garko .025

Lowest WPA:

Jake Westbrook -.213
Franklin Gutierrez -.110
Jhonny Peralta -.082

Not too much to complain about here. Westbrook struggled again versus the Tigers, but kept the score manageable and the bullpen relatively rested. The hitters had good approaches at the plate, knocked Rogers out of the game in the sixth inning, and threatened to score just about every inning. There was some bad luck involved, especially when Carlos Guillen snagged Travis Hafner's fifth-inning laser beam that would have plated two runs.

I'll get into this more after today's game, but I overreacted in regards to Betancourt's new "pitch clock": it turns out that malice was not the cause of its sudden implementation, but incompetence:

"We just talked a little bit about last night," Wedge said with a smile. "It was obviously a very unusual situation. But Jim didn't have anything to do with it."

[snip]

Wedge hinted that the umpires may have been prodded by Major League Baseball to make an example of Betancourt, a man whose prepitch routine of shrugs and uniform adjustments can become a bit time-consuming.

"Somebody obviously gave them the heads-up," Wedge said.

Next Up: Sabathia vs. Verlander, 1:05 PM

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Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

Since I actually got to watch last nite's game (a non-NY/Bos ESPN game), I was obviously disappointed with the loss.

But I can't feel bitter since we smoked the ball very well and Detroit made some very nice defensive plays to save their pitchers' behinds.

I'll chalk this one up to one of those 60 "we are going to lose no matter what".

CC will be in fine form today I believe. Here's hoping Nixon stays on the bench again.

Stats vs Verlander OPS, PA:

Barfield 000, 5; Blake 762, 13; Garko 472, 9; Hafner 771, 18; Martinez 867, 15; Michaels 1333, 6; Nixon 167, 6; Peralta 787, 17; Shoppach 000, 2; Sizemore 1436, 19.

Looks like Verlander does ok against us normally except for Michaels and Grady.

Stats vs CC OPS, PA:

Casey 819, 14; Granderson 400, 5; Guillen 620, 33; Infante 516, 20; Inge 295, 42; Monroe 766, 45; Ordonez 772, 51; Perez 513, 20; Polanco 536, 29; Pudge 704, 31; Sheffield 889, 9; Thames 890, 22.

And CC seems to do very well against them.

by talonk on Jul 5, 2007 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

I really want to see the Tribe win tonight. Keep winning 2/3 of the games against your closest rivals, and the division is ours. /cackles

God truly does hate cleveland sports.

by Gradysmanldy on Jul 5, 2007 12:28 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

I'm convinced that the Indians' poor luck on BABIP last night was just more evidence that Kenny Rogers' deal with Satan is still in effect.

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Jul 5, 2007 12:35 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

I don't think those deals expire.....well until Satan gets his end of the deal anyways.

by hans on Jul 5, 2007 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

As usual, there were some good things about last night -- Cabrera pitched well, Mujica pitched relatively well (the first triple he gave up likely would've been an out in any other ballpark, though I-Rod's ball was a legit hit), and we had our chances but couldn't catch a break. I think we can beat Verlander today & take 2/3, which is all you can ask when playing one of the top teams in the AL.

by zempf on Jul 5, 2007 12:36 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

The Tribe played well last night. It came down to the fact that Detroit got some 2 out RBI hits while the Indians didn't. They hit the ball well though and knocked Rogers out of the game early. I love how they have the same approach in seemingly every situation in the game. Hafner hit the ball well which should be a good sign for today.

by columbus714 on Jul 5, 2007 12:37 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

Hey, no game thread? The team site says the game starts at 1:05 EDT.

by zigsmom on Jul 5, 2007 12:44 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

nixon on the bench...I'm way happy.

by johnnyromano on Jul 5, 2007 12:53 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

whoops...I lied.....now I'm unhappy

by johnnyromano on Jul 5, 2007 12:54 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

i'm with you on not liking nixon out there today. the outfield there is huge, and trot just can't cover any ground at all anymore. runs are going to be hard to come by this afternoon, and there is a very real chance that an extra base here or there on a gapper will make all the difference in the outcome. and it isn't like nixon's bat makes up for his defensive deficiencies. a quick look at the gamecast numbers shows gutierrez out-OPSing him against righties by ~50, and michaels 30 points below trot. i would think in a game like this even michaels' lesser production in 3 at bats would be outwieghed by his ability to field better than nixon. but maybe trot is just my designated whipping boy this year, a la broussard in the past

by mpstable on Jul 5, 2007 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

I don't know if I buy that the Tigers weren't involved still. The Tigers broadcast crew knew what was going on before the first ball was called because of delay. It seemed like they were in on it to me.

by Roger Dorn on Jul 5, 2007 4:19 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Game Eighty-Four: Tigers 6, Indians 4

Leyland SAYS he had nothing to do with it:

"Who, me, Eric?", said Leyland, chuckling. He takes a long drag on his cigarette. "I would NEVER do such a thing to attempt to give my team a competitive advantage. I NEVER work the umpires like that. You know that, Eric, you've been around the game a long time."

Pronk Needs You

by woodsmeister on Jul 5, 2007 4:22 PM EDT reply actions