Detroit at
Chi Cubs
Fri, Jun 16 - 2:20 pm EDT
WGN
N. Robertson (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7014) VS G. Rusch (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5764)

Detroit at
Chi Cubs
Sat, Jun 17 - 4:05 pm EDT
J. Verlander (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7590) vs. C. Marmol (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7789)
WB

Detroit at
Chi Cubs
Sun, Jun 18 - 2:20 pm EDT
K. Rogers (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/3974) vs. S. Marshall (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7718)
FSN

Game 1

Hopefully, they dont black it out on WGN

http://img127.imageshack.us/img127/2719/startingpitching9pm.jpg



The last time the Chicago Cubs (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/chc/) won the National League pennant -- in 1945 -- they faced the Detroit Tigers (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/det/) in the World Series. It only seems like it's been that long since the Tigers were this good.
The Tigers take the AL's best record into Wrigley Field on Friday for a weekend interleague series against the struggling Cubs.
Detroit (43-24) has won five of its last six games and appears poised to end its run of 12 consecutive losing seasons. The Tigers have been at the top of the AL Central for 32 days.
"I think the organization has a pulse again," first-year manager Jim Leyland said. "But I don't think we're home free yet."
The Tigers finished fourth in the division at 71-91 last season, but fared even worse in 2003, when they lost an AL-record 119 games.
With Thursday's 6-2 win against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tam/), the Tigers have already matched their win total from that season with 95 games still to play.
"I hadn't even thought about that," third baseman Brandon Inge (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6681/) said of the 43rd win. "It's really unbelievable how much has changed here. That year, we fought (hard) to get to 43, and now we're there long before the All-Star break."
Detroit took three of four games from the Devil Rays and got help from the bottom of the order on Thursday. Inge -- batting eighth -- and catcher Vance Wilson (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6064/) in the ninth spot each had two hits and two RBIs.
"That's what we need," Leyland said. "We can't always rely on the middle of the order or the top of the order."
Wilson, who is hitting .316 in June, played in place of Ivan Rodriguez (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4680/), who had a scheduled day off.
Detroit and the Cubs faced each other in four World Series, with the Cubs winning in 1907 and 1908, and the Tigers taking the title in 1935 and 1945. The 1945 series also marks the last time the Cubs appeared in the Fall Classic.
Left-hander Nate Robertson (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7014/) (6-3, 3.50 ERA) will get the starting nod for the Tigers in Friday's opener. Robertson struck out a season-high eight batters and won for the first time in three starts on Sunday at Toronto, allowing four runs and five hits in five innings.
Robertson is 1-2 with a 3.26 ERA in seven career interleague starts. He has never faced the Cubs.
When Detroit comes to town, the Cubs (26-39) will need to pick up the pieces left by the Houston Astros (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/hou/), who completed their first three-game sweep at Wrigley Field since 2001 on Thursday. Chicago has dropped 11 of its last 15 home games.
Glendon Rusch (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5764/) (2-6, 7.29) will start for the Cubs. The left-hander returns to the rotation after being skipped for one turn. In his last start, on June 8 against the Cincinnati Reds (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/cin/), he allowed five runs and seven hits in 3 2-3 innings of a 7-1 defeat.
While he is 2-5 in his last seven starts overall, Rusch is 3-0 with a 2.86 lifetime ERA against Detroit in four appearances, all of them coming with the Kansas City Royals (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/kan/). Rusch has not faced the Tigers since 1998.
Rodriguez is 5-for-14 (.357) in his career against Rusch, while Tigers right fielder Magglio Ordonez (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5889/) is 3-for-5 (.600) with a homer against the left-hander.
Detroit leads the all-time regular season series between the clubs 5-3. The Tigers took two of three games in the only previous regular season series between the teams at Wrigley Field, from June 2-4, 2000.

w00t. I had no idea it was another day game. Yay.

Make sure you check out Vinny's new blog, From the Bleachers, for more about this series: http://wtfdetroit.com/index.php?page=vinnysblog_061606

we sure dont have very much breathing room to afford getting swept in a series I am just hoping for 2 out of 3

Make sure you check out Vinny's new blog, From the Bleachers, for more about this series: http://wtfdetroit.com/index.php?page=vinnysblog_061606

You might want to allow us access to the page first [smilie=rofl.gif]

You might want to allow us access to the page first [smilie=rofl.gif]

Okay, whoops.

What about now?

[smilie=thumbsup.gi: [smilie=thumbsup.gi:

The Cubs are fucking bums.

They can't hit, they can't pitch, and they can't play defense.

The only "tough" pitcher will be on Sunday, and I feel pretty confident about that game.

SCHWEEEEEEEEEP!

Granderson working on the cycle. Double and a Triple already and its only the second inning.

They've already pulled Rusch?

LOL! Pitching change already.

LOL@Robertson's 3-1 swing.

Rusch threw 54 pitches in 1 2/3 innings.

Ouch, babe.

I wish I could watch Nate trying to bat....hopefully I can catch highlights later.

Guzman with 3 SO in 4 (?) batters.

Dude has retired 6 batters, 5 by strikeout.

Nate almost had a hit but was robbed by a great play in CF.

FUCK!!!

Only a 2 Run lead now. I believe that was Zumaya's first ER since the Grand Slam by Griffey.

In regards to Blanco's HR earlier...does anyone else find it funny that we give up a lot of "1st home runs of the season" for a lot of scrubs ot there?

A 1-2-3 inning for Jones.

Tigers WIN!!!

oh my poor cubs [smilie=sad3.gif]

hopefully they can get a win but as a cubs fan, i know better than to have any hope at all.

Did anyone else want to call the clubhouse and verbally bitch slap Leyland for going with Jonesy again?

Did anyone else want to call the clubhouse and verbally bitch slap Leyland for going with Jonesy again?


No. I have 100% confidence in Leyland.

I'm sure today's game shot Granderson's OBP through the roof.

A 1-2-3 inning for Jones.

Tigers WIN!!!

I might have to print that out. Never know when its going to happen again.

An early lead for the Tigers, thanks to a Granderson triple and a Guillen HR.

3-0 Tigers in the bottom of the first.

Inge is starting to hit the ball much better.

LOL@Guillen trying to get a DP by intentionally dropping the ball. [smilie=rofl.gif]

This game was fucking hilarious.

1. The starting pitching showing up Maggs, then getting rocked by Guillen the next AB.

2. Guillen dropping the ball on purpose to try and get a DP.

3. Mario Impenba(sp?) unsuccessfully making fun of the starting pitcher's name.

4. Cub fans booing Jacque Jones every time he was involved in a play.

5. Fernando Rodney's AB, and the fans chanting his name.

I've never laughed so hard in my life.

I cant believe they didnt give Omar that HR. How the hell can 3 or 4 umps miss that. I called it the first time. Smokin Jim looked like he was trying to get an early one in. LOL. No difference, Shelton drove him in on the next pitch.


ROFLMAO@Rodney's AB.

Tonight's Pitching Matchup: Kenny Rogers vs Mark Prior.


Scouting Report:
Rogers' next win will be the 200th of his career, joining Tom Glavine, Randy Johnson, David Wells and Jamie Moyer as the only active left-handers to accomplish it. He'll also be trying to keep pace with the Major League leaders in victories, including Curt Schilling and Tom Glavine. Rogers scattered a run on four Tampa Bay hits over eight innings Tuesday with nine strikeouts.

Prior will finally start Sunday in the series finale against the Tigers. The right-hander was sidelined in mid-March with a strained muscle in his right shoulder, and has since made four Minor League rehab starts. Last year, he was out after being hit on the elbow by a line drive and has been on the DL six times in his young career. He threw 90 pitches in his last Minor League rehab outing.

Granderson leadoff HR.

Welcome back, Prior.

3 HR' already for the Tigers and it's only the 1st inning.

At this rate, Kenny Rogers will hit a HR before he even takes the mound.

Well, Shelton certainly appears to be feeling better. 8 homers now. How many did we hit in Texas that game earlier this year? Against the knuckleballer??

I believe we hit 6 off RA Dickey. Not sure how many we hit off their bullpen.

That game was fucking crazy. It felt like I was at the home run derby.

Maggs is gonna get it tonight. No hits. Even Rogers had a hit. lol

Almost Forgot:

http://timmygunz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/20050527tigersweep.jpg

That was a game!?

I thought they just showed us BP.

Wow. Boom sticks were out.

Almost Forgot:

http://timmygunz.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/20050527tigersweep.jpg


Yes!!