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Game Notes:

• I don't even know anymore.
• Numb.
• Please, Beckett.
• Please.
• C'mon.
• Please.

Summary:

...no. In fact, F no.

Player of the Game:

via d.yimg.com

Comment of the ClusterF. Entertaining Redeeming Moment:

At some point in the game, the FSN Detroit cameras caught a Sox player in the dugout, eating a cup of A) applesauce, B) pudding, or C) yogurt. The # on this player's wristbands? 24. I'm pretty sure if they'd panned lower, they've have caught him swinging his legs back and forth too.

Pitchers:

V.

No lineups yet. Maybe someone will be kind enough to comment them on in. I have to go to work. Boo. :(

Notes:

• According to Wikipedia, Galarraga was part of the Alfonso Soriano trade (went from the Nationals to the Rangers). He was acquired by the Tigers from the Rangers in February of this year.
• Schilling threw yesterday, from a distance of 60 feet. He'll be brought along slowly, according to John Farrell.

via www.fangraphs.com

Summary:

I pretty accurately summed up Wake's outing in the title. Sure, the Tigers offense is struggling. But I think any time Magglio Ordonez, Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, and Carlos Guillen are limited to 1 hit in total (Granderson's was, of course, v. Timlin), most of the credit has to just go to the pitcher. Wake struck out 6 and allowed 2 hits (and no walks) over 8 IP, just to remind us all that yes, when he's on he is VERY good.

Offensively, kind of a mixed bag. The two at the top surely not Coco Crisp, Coco and DP were basically black holes. However, Kevin Cash went 3-4, Youks went 2-3 with a BB and 2 2B, and "Being" and Papi went back to back. Don't look now, but Julio Lugo's OBP is .341. Not tremendous, but is it just possible he's getting back to not making outs on a ridiculously frequent basis?

Papi's HR was a no-doubter that put an end to Nate Robertson's day. "Being"'s was to straightaway CF, and the proverbial "welcome to the big leagues" moment for Tigers' RP Freddy Dolsi. I should be more fair to Mike Timlin. He allowed the leadoff single to Granderson, but settled down and got a DP to erase Granderson, then got Carlos Guillen to flyout to LF to end the game. A decent performance, and the kind of pitch-to-contact, trust the fielders behind you kind of outing he needs to give us consistently. 

Player of the Game:

via d.yimg.com

Comment of the Game:

The Knuckler's a-Dancin' Tonight. -soxaholic

V.

And the lineups, brought to you as always by deargodcococrispisnotaleadoffhitter:

• For those into that sort of thing (me included), the Celts tip-off against the Cavs @ 8 EDT.
• Via Extra Bases, Alex Cora and Sean Casey will begin rehab assignments later this week. (Cora starts tomorrow, Casey on Thursday) If both are ready by Saturday, expect Craig Hansen and Jed Lowrie to head back to Pawtucket.
• The Rockies need a starter, and Julian Tavarez is on their list of options. We'll see.

Walks.  Walks. Walks. Walks. Walks. Walks. Walks. Walks. Walks.

via www.fangraphs.com

Walks. Walks...

Summary:

So, to be fair to Dice-BB, the strike zone last night was...tight. However, the umpire wasn't biased or anything; it was up to Dice-BB and 'Tek to make the adjustments. They didn't. I told a friend of mine, before the game, that this game could have been a statement game for either starter. Neither Bonderman or Matsuzaka delivered. 

Thankfully, Mike Lowell did. 3/5, 2B, HR, and almost missed another 2B or HR due to the glove of probably anyone but Gary Sheffield Gary Sheffield. A good game, too, from Papi, who went 2/4 with his own HR and a BB. Or, a walk. A walk. A lot of f'n walks.

Craig Hansen. The one hitter where I felt he got squeezed, in the 7th, was of course Gary Sheffield. Ball 3 was particularly suspicious, even if ball 4 was all Hansen. Nonetheless, he looked strong, and it was his own error bizarre infield single that was scored ridiculously ruled a hit, and so no doubt was a hit, even if the hitter would've been out by a mile if Hansen had fielded the ball properly. I'm so f'n confused by the scoring on that particular play. I suppose it doesn't matter in the grand scheme, but holy crap some homer-scoring there. Oh well. F.

Player of the Game:

Have to, again, disagree with WPA. See the guy on the left for our PotG.

via d.yimg.com

Comment of the Game:

holy shnikees, I didn't even look at how dice k was because I was looking at hansen...8 walks? is this a joke? -pedroiastroika

I just figured that out. And I am glad that I did - Hansen looks nasty. Orel Hershiser says he has an elite arm. 96 MPH fastball, and a 87 MPH slider that drops about two feet right before it reaches the plate. I am drooling.

In other news, Dice BB walked EIGHT FRICKIN GUYS. In five innings. Though he managed to only allow one run. Crazy.

Anyways, I guess this can be an open thread, if anyone out there is on-site...

Scott Kazmir, in his season debut, faces off with:

There are some who believe that Jon Lester has turned a significant corner with his last start against the Jays. Color me skeptical. I hope, like everyone else, but I'd like to see him whittle the WHIP down below 1.45 and manage a K:BB ratio better than .96:1 before I jump on that particular bandwagon. 

As noted by nuthinboutnuthin, Brandon Moss had an appendectomy last night. Wikipedia says days to weeks as the recovery time. Here's hoping it's the former.

I'm writing this lateish, my time, so in lieu of lineups, how about a short rundown of our top MiL performers?

Hitters: (.BA/.OBP/.SLG)

George Kottaras, C, AAA (.258/.365/.526)

Ryan Khoury, 2B/SS/3B, AA (.271/.376/.447)

Jon Still, 1B/C/DH, A+ (.306/.387/.565)

Lars Anderson, 1B, A+ (.276/.372/.505)

Che-Hsuan Lin, CF, A (.279/.385/.378) (also, 11 SB)

Pitchers: (ERA/WHIP/K per IP)

Craig Hansen, RP, AAA (1.62/.66/1.02)

Michael Bowden, SP, AA (3.26/1.19/1.15)

Justin Masterson, SP, AA (2.42/1.21/1.25)

Felix Doubront, SP, A (0.87/.92/1.16)

Daniel Bard, RP, A (0.00/.60/1.6) (20 IP in relief)

5.01.08 v. Jays

Summary In a Nutshell:

A.J. Burnett. Tim Wakefield. We should've seen it coming.

Player of the Game:

Burnett. .487 WPA on his own. 

Comment of the Game:

Wow. When did we become the Twins? -MerryGoByeBye

5.02.08 v. Rays

Summary In a Nutshell:

Edwin Jackson = inconsistent. We should've seen it coming.

Player of the Game:

WPA says Buch (.221). I say: SwordBat-fighting midgets.

via d.yimg.com

Comment of the Game:

I'm on Gameday. How irate should I be about the throwing error by Lugo? -nuthinboutnuthin

5.03.08

Summary In a Nutshell:

James Shields. Josh Beckett. Revenge. We should have seen it coming.

Player of the Game:

via d.yimg.com

Comment of the Game:

On the plus side...I am forced to admit that Lugo is looking sharp at the plate. WTF? -nuthinboutnuthin

Sox up 5-2 in the 4th with Josh Beckett on the hill.

Go Sox!