http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/958/gamethreadfj9.jpg

Huge series IMO.

They need to take atleast 2 of 3 from Boston.

Huge series IMO.

They need to take atleast 2 of 3 from Boston.

Downright dirty truth right here.

After being swept for just the second time this season, the Detroit Tigers (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/det/) look to end their longest losing streak of the year when they open a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bos/) at Fenway Park on Monday.
The Tigers (76-41) have lost a season-high five straight and watched their lead in the AL Central dwindle from a season-high 10 games last Monday to just 5 1/2 games following Sunday's 7-3 loss to the second-place Chicago White Sox (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/chw/), who are the only team to sweep the Tigers this season.

"We need to refocus again and try to do the things that we did the last couple of weeks," said Detroit catcher Ivan Rodriguez (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/4680/), who was ejected in the eighth inning on Sunday after arguing with home plate umpire Tim Timmons.
The Tigers committed six errors during the three-game series, leading to five unearned runs.

"We got what we deserved this weekend," manager Jim Leyland said.

While Leyland said the sloppy play isn't the reason he is planning to shuffle his lineup -- sitting Placido Polanco (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6049/) on Monday and likely Brandon Inge (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6681/) at some point during the series -- he doesn't want his team to wear down. After facing Boston, the Tigers still have series remaining against the White Sox and the AL East-leading New York Yankees (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/nyy/) this month.

"I love it when star players want to play," Leyland said. "But at some point, you realize it's an uphill battle."

On Monday, the Tigers will hand the ball to Nate Robertson (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7014/) (10-8, 3.82 ERA), who has lost his last two starts and five of seven. He pitched seven solid innings Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/min/), allowing three runs, but got charged with the loss in a 4-2 defeat.

"Seven innings, three runs against that team. Pretty good. Not enough," said Robertson, who is 0-2 with a 7.33 ERA in four career starts against the Red Sox.

In Robertson's only appearance at Fenway in 2005, he allowed eight runs in 5 2-3 innings of an 11-3 loss.

The Red Sox (68-48) will counter with Josh Beckett (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6403/) (13-6, 4.92), who makes his fourth attempt to reach 14 wins for the season. The right-hander is 0-1 in his last three starts and did not receive a decision last Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/kan/). Beckett pitched six innings, allowing three runs while striking out five in the 5-4 loss.
He has never faced the Tigers.

The Red Sox swept the Baltimore Orioles (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/bal/) and moved within one game of the Yankees for the AL East lead with a 11-9 win on Sunday. Mike Lowell (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6133/) hit a grand slam in the first inning and Kevin Youkilis (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7049/) added a three-run shot in the seventh.

Closer Jonathan Papelbon (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7614/) survived a scare after Baltimore scored two runs in the ninth inning, one of them on a bases-loaded walk. He forced Melvin Mora (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6239/) to ground out for his 31st save in 36 opportunities.

"We just swept the Orioles. How can I have a bad taste in my mouth?" Papelbon said. "It's just one of those games where you have to keep grinding and just find a way to get through it."

Manny Ramirez (http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/5132/) went 0-for-3, ending a 27-game hitting streak. Boston won two of three games when the teams met in June at Comerica Park.

Awesome! We have Josh Beckett tonight. Looks like the Tigers will have batting practice tonight.

I'd like to see Thames a lot in this series. With his ability to pull and his power, he could have a huge series considering how shallow left field is.

Awesome! We have Josh Beckett tonight. Looks like the Tigers will have batting practice tonight.

I don't know about that.

Beckett is an over-rated pitcher but the Tigers have an habit of making overrated pithcers look like Cy Young winners.

3-0 after 1. Good start.

They should have the Bird on more often. He's fun to listen to.

Wild Cod.

The Tigers have drawn more walks tonight than the whole White Sox series. :p

SHIT!

Granderson's crappy relay throw cost us a run.

Fuck. 5-3.

I'm really starting to think this whole thing with us not being able to beat the White Sox is just mental. We seem to get clutch hits and big outs against every team except them. It has to be mental.

What the hell happened to everyone this week?

Great win tonight by the Tigers. Everyone was panicing and the Tigers calmed them down with a convincing win tonight. And what's even more amazing, it was our B lineup that whooped on Boston. Great job by Vance and Infante.

P.S. Anyone else baffled by about Zumaya's recent control?

P.S. Anyone else baffled by about Zumaya's recent control?

Engrish Prease?

-about

Smartass. ;)

-about

Smartass. ;)

I think he is becoming predictable to hitters. They know his heater is out of this world and are sitting on the breaking stuff since it is usually out of the zone, so it looks like his control is a lot worse now then 3 months ago.

Don't get me wrong he is struggling more and more, but rookies usually hit a wall at this time because of innings and/or hitters have more film to study their tendancies. Almost every rookie phenom is have similar issues right now.

As soon as he learns to locate the breaking pitch, he'll be one of the best late innings reliver in baseball.

Both pitchers looking real good so far, especially Schilling.

Uh Oh...Placido looks hurt....and we already pulled infante...

Great play by Polanco to save the game.

Unfortunately, he's hurt and Pudge is now the 2nd basemen. This should be fun.

Shit, I wasn't watching. What part of the body was it? Any guess to the injury?

Shit, I wasn't watching. What part of the body was it? Any guess to the injury?

Seperated left shoulder (maybe). I'm guessing out for the year.

Just earlier, Rod was talking about Omar Infante becoming a good everyday either after getting traded or something happened to Placido. Fucker.

I guess the time is now for Omar.

WTF happen to Polanco? How did he get hurt?

Wow. Way to pull out the win. I'm guessing Detroit wouldn't mind having Soriano now.

Ummmm, They didn't mind having him before.

Even knowing Placido would get hurt, The NAts were still asking for way too much considering that NOONE ponied up for him.

If Polanco ends up on the DL, which he likely will, I'm guessing Raburn comes up from Toledo. If he doesn't come up now, he should certainly be up Sept 1.

Having Soriano play 2nd base for the Tigers would probably increase our pitchers ERA by about a run.

Also, I don't think the Tigers will call up Raburn. For one, he is on the DL and secondly he isn't on the 40-Man roster. I don't think they will use that roster spot to call him up as they will need it for Maroth is ready to come back.

I would venture to say that we will call up Santiago or maybe even Hannahan.

Having Soriano play 2nd base for the Tigers would probably increase our pitchers ERA by about a run.
Thank you.



Also, I don't think the Tigers will call up Raburn. For one, he is on the DL and secondly he isn't on the 40-Man roster. I don't think they will use that roster spot to call him up as they will need it for Maroth is ready to come back.

I would venture to say that we will call up Santiago or maybe even Hannahan.

I doubt it's raburn too, but fyi we already cleared a spot for maroth at the end of last month. My guess is santiago too.

Don't shoot the messenger just stating what was said on the Boston Post Game they said Brett Boone has been itching to comeback, and may be an option.

I doubt it he retired because of either a natural rapid decline or because he was no longer able to juice plus he wasn't the greatest glove at the end either so it is isn't a great option on any level..

It is going to be even tougher to get anybody via waivers let alone a 2b that is earmarked for us, all our competion will put in a claim. The only other option is going after a ss or 3b and keeping them as an infield insurance. Tony G and Rayburn are both on the DL so, I doubt the minors is the answer either considering those our best minor league infielders. Santiago is the next best option but is a better paper weight than player.

Along the same lines, Tony womack's out there too. He's playing for the Cubs aaa team, but I'm sure they'd outright him if he had a chance to sign somewhere.

Along the same lines, Tony womack's out there too. He's playing for the Cubs aaa team, but I'm sure they'd outright him if he had a chance to sign somewhere.

I like Womack, he is a solid player and he is a true Utility guy, he can play inf or out solid enough. Plus he is another left handed bat.

My fear is as good as fielder Polanco is he was also our most patient hitter, so the only patience left in the lineup is our 3rd rate 1b man who is now hitting .311 with 2hr's and 12 in 14 games not to mention his perfect fielding %.

Dang, that really sucks about Polanco. I wish he would have loafed and let that ball drop. What would you rather have, a win vs. the Red Sox or Polanco for the rest of the season? I'll take the latter.

damn, that sucks.

i was listening to the radio and they mentioned that the Tigers are real low on the waiver wire, which would all but eliminate them from picking up someone substantial, correct?

Dang, that really sucks about Polanco. I wish he would have loafed and let that ball drop. What would you rather have, a win vs. the Red Sox or Polanco for the rest of the season? I'll take the latter.

Agreed. That was a nice win though.

damn, that sucks.

i was listening to the radio and they mentioned that the Tigers are real low on the waiver wire, which would all but eliminate them from picking up someone substantial, correct?

Theorhetically, if another AL team put a high priced player on waivers, we'd have a shot at him if we are the only AL team that puts a claim in.

In other words, it would be pretty easy for the White Sox, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, etc. to block us by claiming the player themselves.

Probably the best we could do is somebody like Mark Grudzielanek from the Royals or former Tiger Chris Gomez from the O's. In other words, the Infante/Santiago combo is probably better than most outside options.

Suprisingly enough, I am not too worried about Polanco's loss.

That's not to say that he isn't a big loss but I think that Infante is an adequate replacement for Polanco (atleast for the time being). Who knows, Infante might even suprise a whole lot of people and turn into a above average player if given the opportunity to play everyday (ala Marcus Thames).

But I am more worried about who replaces Infante on the bench. I don't really want to see Santiago and his bat with the big league club again. I would much rather prefer the Tigers deal for some help or call up someone like Hannahan.

Shelton?

I guess I didn't realize Raburn was on the DL

nice play from Casey.

woohoo!

1st homer from Ordonez since July 9th

HOLY BEJEEZUS!!!

Clevlen just hit it outta the park!!

Goddamnit Verlander.

Well, at least the White Sox are getting pounded. 10-0 KC in the bottom of the 8th.