Tigers vs. indians Game Thread September 1

[lonesometiger]

O Hum

 

[jas5lf]

It's weird to think that if the playoffs started today he'd probably be 4th starter behind Max, Anibal, and Dougie...

Fister worries me too. His last several starts have not been good.

At least there's still a lot of time to work things out.

 

[Thumb]

There should be a rule on this team. NO player can swing at the firsr pitch unless he HITTING.300 or better!

So you let everyone under .300 take a free strike and start 0-1?

It can be aggravating, but often the first pitch is the best one a hitter will see all AB.

 

[jdbaker1]

Since July, I'd put Rick ahead of Doug and Justin. And not by a small amount either.

I agree that I am more anxious when JV takes the mound than the other 4 but I still wouldn't be surprised if JL roles him out there for game 1.

 

[spockmaster]

is JV getting squeezed? some of these pitches look like strikes on gameday.

 

[spockmaster]

this is the most boring game ever.

 

[kalinecountry]

Wow...........JV with 84 pitches after 4 innings???

 

[tinselwolverine]

So you let everyone under .300 take a free strike and start 0-1?

It can be aggravating, but often the first pitch is the best one a hitter will see all AB.

Ted Williams almost never swung at the first pitch of an at bat.

 

[kalinecountry]

Ted Williams almost never swung at the first pitch of an at bat.

Neither did Charlie Gehringer.

 

[coulomb]

Wow...........JV with 84 pitches after 4 innings???

I think he had around 35 in the first inning alone.

 

[spockmaster]

it depends on the hitter. Miggy swings at the first pitch a LOT and murders it, but Josh Hamilton has been trash this year (and he swings at just about everything).

 

[jdbaker1]

Four shutout innings not withstanding, JV obvously doesn't have his good stuff. I have been trying very hard not to get down on him and I think I may have found a silver lining to this crappy season at least by his standards. I have heard a lot of excuses as to why he is not himself and the most reasonable to me is that his arm is tired from the enourmous workload over the past few years. Most so called "experts" predict that it may not be until next year but as long as he isn't hurt he should get his old staff back. This year with his mediocre at best stuff he is having to become a pitcher. His stuff is not anywhere close to good enough for him to just throw it up there and get outs. Maybe, if we are lucky, he will becom a better "pitcher" and when his stuff comes back he will be even better. Like I said, I am really trying hard to find a silver lining.

 

[Thumb]

Ted Williams almost never swung at the first pitch of an at bat.

Yeah, but great hitters can hit even bad pitches. How many balls way out of the strike zone this year have we seen Cabrera just maul? He hit one for a HR that would have hit him in the belt if he hadn't connected.

Guys who are not great hitters always taking the first pitch are likely always going to start in the hole 0-1.

IMO if the pitch looks good to the hitter, he should swing, no matter the count, unless he's been given the take sign.

 

[spockmaster]

Havent seen that much lately. thats only his 2nd one this year.

 

[Thumb]

it depends on the hitter. Miggy swings at the first pitch a LOT and murders it, but Josh Hamilton has been trash this year (and he swings at just about everything).

Vlad was another who almost always swung at the first pitch.

 

[jdbaker1]

Yeah, but great hitters can hit even bad pitches. How many balls way out of the strike zone this year have we seen Cabrera just maul? He hit one for a HR that would have hit him in the belt if he hadn't connected.

Guys who are not great hitters always taking the first pitch are likely always going to start in the hole 0-1.

IMO if the pitch looks good to the hitter, he should swing, no matter the count, unless he's been given the take sign.

I agree to some degree but think the hitter needs to look at it more like a 3-0 count with the green light. Look for a specific pitch and if you get it hammer it. Don't just swing at it because it might be a strike like you would with a 0-2 count. You would rather not be down 0-1 but if you are it is better than getting an out because you didn't want to take a strike.

 

[kalinecountry]

is JV getting squeezed? some of these pitches look like strikes on gameday.

Umpires: HP: Gary Cederstrom. 1B: Kerwin Danley. 2B: Lance Barksdale. 3B: Vic Carapazza.

I admit to being a chronic complainer about most umps............that said, cederstrom is a known shithead.

 

[Rebbiv]

Pitcher's and/or scouting reports will give player's tendencies. If a player is known to swing at the first pitch and lacks plate discipline, no way I throw a first pitch strike.

 

[coulomb]

This game is like a rollercoaster, without the ups.

 

[Thumb]

Need one of those useless IF base hits here Iggy.