2011 Twins Game Logs

2011 Game 98: Tigers at Twins

149 Comments

Tonight, the Twins play the first of four against the scarier of the two not-scary-to-any-other-divisions-out-there Central division leaders. Of course, the home field advantage is nullified by the pitching matchup:

Carl Pavano 6-6, 130 IP, 3.88 K/9, 1.73 BB/9, 4.08 ERA, 3.97 FIP, 4.12 xFIP, 1.6 WAR
Justin Verlander 12.5, 157 IP, 8.77 K/9, 1.89 BB/9, 2.29 ERA, 2.70 FIP, 2.96 xFIP, 4.7 WAR

You know, now that Pavano's numbers are starting to look not so bad, it's cruel that I have to set them up against Verlander's ludicrous numbers. Well, Pavano walks 0.16 fewer guys per nine innings. That's something, right? Guys?

This one could get frustrating for the hitters, but hey, Kubel might be back tomorrow, and Verlander isn't all that likely to pitch in back-to-back games, as durable as he is.

Go Twins! Bunt early, bunt often. Get Verlander tossed!

149 thoughts on “2011 Game 98: Tigers at Twins”

  2. I noticed not only is Mauer hitting lately, but he's walking and not striking out, which is starting to right the ship on his ugly K/BB ratio this season.

    2. thankfully, despite my knowledge, my brother is even better than me. So he gets most of the calls

  8. Looks like the lead-off triple will be wasted again. Where's the flyball to the outfield when you need it?

  11. Pitch 2 to Delmon was such a good curveball, the ump was fooled. Don't worry, Delmon won't take a walk anyhow.

  13. I was thinking after about the fourth foul, "Just hit him, Carl." It's like he can hear what I'm thinking.

    1. 'Specially since the ump don't want to call the right side of the plate a strike.

      1. Okay, I swear that when I wrote that bit of snark, Yahoo's box score said Mauer struck out. Now it says he singled.

  21. You know what really makes for a great last night before vacation? Sitting at the tire store, waiting to get new tires because you woke up to a flat this morning. That's what. >

      2. I picked up a screw in the S80 we rented for the wedding while taking my best man to the airport so he could fly home to Seattle, but thankfully some really nice guys in a no-name Chicago tire storefront fixed it curbside.

  22. evening, all.

    spooks: weeelllll, sh!t. i've really gotta connect my gmail account to the one i check on a semi-regular basis. also, maybe get in the habit of checking the site. if i survive, this is a nice traumatic experience to remember to do so. sorry, brah.

  35. On one hand, I like Smalley subtly digging on Bert for ragging pitchers every time something bad happens, but perhaps defending 2011 Pavano is not the best choice.

    1. I was just thinking about that meltdown at the dome. I was gonna ask hopefully if such a turnaround was possible.

      1. Inge has always intrigued me. (Probably because I had Punto to compare him to.) My guess is he still holds the season record for homers from the #9 spot in the lineup.

        He'd be a huge hero in his town if he was only 50 pounds heavier*. Looks like he really stinks this year, so he might be done.

        *He was too thin for that GHBP** from game 163 to register for the ump.

        **Garment Hit By Pitch.

  38. This will just make the inevitable comeback inevitable series split all that much sweeter.

  44. Getting way ahead of myself here, but it looks like it will be hard for Mauer to get enough ABs this year to qualify for the batting title.

    1. The broadcast team said the other day it's virtually impossible. Granted, it's them. I haven't done the math myself

        1. yes. Gwynn or Boggs had the scenario almost happen back in the 80's, if I remember right. That's where I heard that they'd do that if necessary.

          2. It was done more recently for Braun when he won the SLG title in 2007. If you refresh the main stats page (where it lists the leaders), a trivia blurb will appear at the bottom citing the rule.

  45. I don't know about you guys but I am really excited about the upcoming Twins comeback.

  46. Smalley talking about how great hitters foul off tough pitches until they get a good pitch to hit. He just described Bobby Abreu, one of the most underrated hitters of our generation.

    1. That's the stuff. You can do this, man. This is your time.
      Mags is OPSing .606 this year, only .653 against Lefties. You Got This.

      2. Letting Magglio get on base but retiring Miggy, huh? You're a tough nut to crack, CJ.

    2. Whoo-hoo! You did it Chuckers! No Runs, one measly lucky single (grounder past 3B), and one walk.
      ERA? Now 2.57. One more groundskeeping inning and they'll figure out you're better than Doomsie and Burnsie and Mijares. [Slaps CJs Butt, lingers just a second too long.]

    1. Declaim by AMR that Chuck just wants Diamond to have a chance to pitch is de hardest thing to believe.

    1. Also, please, please, please, put Verlander back in for the 9th.

  63. Verlander: 5H, 1ER, 0BB
    James: 3H, 1ER, 1BB
    One of these guys will get the W, the other gets nothing.

  67. Anybody else think Verlander might be prosecuted tomorrow for elder abuse?

  68. Well, that sucked. Hopefully, it will be like last series when the Twins sucked the first day and won the rest of the games.

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