Game 34: Detroit Tigers @ Minnesota Twins

by Jesse on May 13, 2009 7:00 PM EDT in Game Threads

Detroit Tigers at Minnesota Twins, May 13, 2009 8:10 PM EDT

First Pitch: 7:10pm CDT
TV: FS-N
Radio: Twins Radio Network
Know Thine Enemy Bless You Boys

Starting Pitchers

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Glen Perkins	1-2	6	6	0	0	0	0	41.0	38	17	17	3	8	22	3.73	1.12

Perk's last three starts haven't been nearly as impressive as his first three, as he's struggled to get the easy outs and ended up getting into some long innings. Detroit's offense is fairly middle of the road, like Minnesota's, so as long as he's on his game tonight he should be able to squeeze out a quality start.

Dontrelle "Mugshot" Willis

#21 / Pitcher / Detroit Tigers

Height: 6-4

Weight: 225

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Jan 12, 1982

Dontrelle is making his first start of the season tonight, having his spot on the roster reserved by Detroit's DFAing of one Juan Rincon. He's reportedly not on a pitch count, but if the numbers rack up quickly I can see the Tigers pulling him rather than letting him work just to work. Although on the other hand, pulling him early might not do him any favors after dealing with an anxiety disorder. In the big picture, Willis is looking to rebound after having major control issues in a very short 2008 campaign. His last good season: 2006.

Lineups

Tigers
1. Curtis Granderson, CF
2. Placido Polanco, 2B
3. Clete Thomas, LF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Magglio Ordonez, RF
6. Jeff Larish, DH
7. Brandon Inge, 3B
8. Adam Everett, SS
9. Dan Sardinha, C

Twins
1. Denard Span, LF
2. Matt Tolbert, 2B
3. Joe Mauer, DH
4. Justin Morneau, 1B
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Brendan Harris, SS
8. Mike Redmond, C
9. Carlos Gomez, CF

Good news for the Twins: Ordonez is still in the lineup, right in the middle of the order. Good news for Gomez: he gets to play tonight. No Delmon Young siting yet.

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Comments

hooorah....

No DY…hopefully Carlos makes the most of this rare starting opportunity.

by guinness junky on May 13, 2009 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

I'm guessing Carlos gets the start because of...

Willis’ high fly-ball percentage?

Or is just a genuine, pure-hearted attempt to get him more playing time?

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by Andersklasen on May 13, 2009 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

Good news...

I fixed my MLB.tv… actually, MLB fixed their online “appeal” form, so I just submitted my info and was brought to live baseball for the first time in days.

So pumped for tonight’s game.

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by Andersklasen on May 13, 2009 8:12 PM EDT reply actions

8 pitch inning for Perkins.

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by Andersklasen on May 13, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions

I really can't stand

the first inning sac bunt.

by Eric in Madison on May 13, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions

Dan Gladden had JUST said...

“Dontrelle Willis has thrown nothing but fastballs”

And I barely had time to think to myself – well maybe then Justin cantime one for a HR then…

by montanatwinsfan on May 13, 2009 8:26 PM EDT reply actions

how many times has morneau chased mauer in with a homer

by ianmader on May 13, 2009 8:30 PM EDT reply actions

wow

you can call Perkins mr. 8 pitch inning

by ianmader on May 13, 2009 8:32 PM EDT reply actions

Man, I have butterflies in my gut watching Willis pitch

I liked him alot when he was in Florida. Every inning I wonder is this a career for him. I want the Twins to win but it’ll be sad if he implodes tonight.

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 8:53 PM EDT reply actions

Quiet around here tonight

Wednesday must be church night

The only stat that counts is W

by wayback on May 13, 2009 9:54 PM EDT reply actions

Perkins, booooooooo

Bleh, Inge homer. Our starting pitching just simply is not up to snuff this year, very frustrating. I don’t expect Perkins to be that great, but we need others to start to pitch much better, much more often.

"You can't sit on a lead and run a few plays into the line and just kill the clock. You've got to throw the ball over the damn plate and give the other man his chance. That's why baseball is the greatest game of them all."
~ Earl Weaver
"In God we trust. All others must provide evidence."
~ Billy Beane

by AdamOnFirst on May 13, 2009 10:00 PM EDT reply actions

Oh good lord

Ayala is terrible. Just terrible. What a turd of a signing. Ugh.

formerly known in these parts as adamb

by ravenfly on May 13, 2009 10:35 PM EDT reply actions

To be fair, that four pitch walk had at least two strikes in it.

by JonathanR on May 13, 2009 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

but when you take his performance over the start of the season he is a FAIL out of the pen

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions

This bullpen is a complete joke. We are not going to win this division with these relievers, it’s just impossible. You shouldn’t have to score 10 runs to win a game you are leading 7-5 late. This relieve core isn’t even passable. Keep Crain and Mijares and send Ayala and Guerrier packing for sure. They don’t belong on a MLB roster.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions

Guerrier is the only

one that can be relied on right now in the bullpen. He has been firing strikes and getting hitters out for the whole season!

by BCTwins on May 14, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Ayala

I’ve seen no proof that he can get big-league hitters out. Crain has been bad. This is Guerrier’s second really bad outing, otherwise he has been good. (Jeckyl and Hyde)

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on May 13, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

After seeing soft tosses from Seay

Good luck Cuddyer, trying to hit 100 mph heaters.

by Alexi Casilla All-Star on May 13, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions

As bad as our starters have been at times, I don’t worry about them as much. They are all coming along in one way or another. We just cannot get to Nathan. Dickey can stay in the Bonser role, since it really doesn’t matter who you have in mop-up duty. But I don’t have any faith in Breslow, Crain, Guerrier, or Ayala. Why the hell is Ayala still on the team? Has he pitched well once all year? I don’t even think I’m being reactionary here. This is costing us games we should win way too often.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:02 PM EDT reply actions

A good offensive effort wasted

Every batter has a hit except Gomez who has a sac fly RBI.

The only stat that counts is W

by wayback on May 13, 2009 11:03 PM EDT reply actions

Sadly, the time to address this was the offseason, and it wasn’t even on the radar apparently, which is insane since it was the clearcut #1 reason we didn’t win the division last year.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions

They must do something to help the pen

like trade a prospect for solid relief pitcher… oh wait….

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 11:09 PM EDT reply actions

KUBEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

God damn, yes. Kubel completely clutch again. We got one more shot at this one.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:10 PM EDT reply actions

The good news right now is that our offense is playing as well as anyone is the league right now.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

starters have been ok, offense has been great

someone get me a fireman, not an arsonist

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions

unless they score 3 or more

Nathan has to come in

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 11:12 PM EDT reply actions

Problem is, where do we turn if we don’t score in the bottom of the 9th. Almost too terrifying to think about.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:19 PM EDT reply actions

yup, already had Dickey time!

maybe a starter can come in and pitch an inning?

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

I assume Nathan is good for the 10th as well. After that… well, at the rate runs are being scored tonight, maybe it won’t get that far.

by JonathanR on May 13, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

Mauer, Morneau, and...

Maybe Joe can finish it

by caluofmn on May 13, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

Seems to be the only way to go at this point, and yes, this is going to be our best (and likely only chance) to finish this.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

Sounds like Mauer gave it a good ride

by AdamOnFirst on May 13, 2009 11:31 PM EDT reply actions

Well, at almost 50 pitches, at least Zumaya won’t be back for the 10th.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:38 PM EDT reply actions

And now we see Gardenhires only notable flaw as a manager: His tendency to treat his pitchers like glass statues who can’t throw more than 100 pitches or pitch any inning but the ninth. Doesn’t leave much room more adjustment in situations like this. But Mijares is getting it done…for now.

by jjstraka on May 13, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions

Balk

Curse you David Letterman

The only stat that counts is W

by wayback on May 14, 2009 12:40 AM EDT reply actions

That has to be the stupidest way to end up deciding a 13-inning game. (If that is the winning run)

by JonathanR on May 14, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Crazy damn game this one is.

by jjstraka on May 14, 2009 12:49 AM EDT reply actions

The bases are loaded

and so am I

The only stat that counts is W

by wayback on May 14, 2009 12:57 AM EDT reply actions

Game winning Grand Slam for Crede

Finally

The only stat that counts is W

by wayback on May 14, 2009 12:58 AM EDT reply actions

That was almost epic, if it hadn’t have been played in May. Still another (small) Twins Classic.

by jjstraka on May 14, 2009 12:59 AM EDT reply actions

That has to be the best way to end a 13-inning game.

by JonathanR on May 14, 2009 1:00 AM EDT reply actions

Vikings over Lions 14-10

"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot

by cmathewson on May 14, 2009 1:00 AM EDT reply actions

Crede scores on a sweep around the left end in overtime.

That was a very needed win by the Twinkies. They haven’t begun their very long road trip yet, so they had better grab as many wins as they can now.

And once again Jesse Crain can live to face another day. I’ll never be able to figure out Crain. How he can look so magnificent and turn so ugly so quickly, I’ll never know.

"I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. See, my mule don't like people laughing. He gets the crazy idea you're laughing at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it . . ."

by Skippy tastes better than Jiff on May 14, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions