The Twins were able to even up the series with a 5-3 over the Tigers today. Anibal Sanchez started but only lasted 2 2/3. He had to come out of the game because of a blister problem.
The bullpen was a nightmare, Miggy was disappointing, the Tigers lost and it wasn’t pretty.
The Good:
- The Tigers scored two early runs staking Sanchez to an early 2-0 lead.
The Bad:
- After the first inning the offense made Phil Hughes look like Greg Maddux.
The Ugly:
- Fours were wild for Jose Ortega, who was an abject nightmare. He “relieved” Sanchez and couldn’t find the plate. He allowed four earned runs in one and a third. He allowed four hits, walked four and and struck out one.
I’m actually not sure what to say about Phil Coke. His final line isn’t that bad. He pitched two and two thirds. He didn’t allow a run, struck out two, walked two, and gave up two hits. I guess twos were wild for Phil. Perhaps he was only half as bad as Ortega? I guess the problem with Coke’s pitching today is that he couldn’t strand any inherited runners. Like I said, I’m not sure what to say about Phil but he doesn’t past the eye test.
Miggy. It is hard to pick on the back to back MVP but I was horrified with his at bat in the eighth. He came up with bases loaded, one out, and the Tigers down by two. All the Tigers needed was one of his patented hits to right field. Instead, the suddenly pull happy Cabrera, hits a low, inside fastball, to third base. The Twins turned an easy double play and the inning was over. Again, I don’t have the words.
Let’s see what happens tomorrow.
“God I love baseball.” Roy Hobbs | The Natural
Flashin' Leather 
Yea I am afraid you pretty much hit it better than the Bengals….I don’t know what to make of Coke either…..like you I am not ready to put him on MY couch while he hides in the “D”. That said in my world Ortega gets a “rook” pass single ticket not a coupon book….and Miggy with the bases loaded well that resulted in massive ice cube suicide in my house and whiskey sales for a Canadian distiller are going up. It’s a long season………..
Miggy is TOO impatient when the sacks are loaded. I honestly would rather have anyone but him in that situation. His stats show he is hitting .419 with the bases loaded in his career, but lately???
I’ll give Ortega a pass, since the paper doll Sanchez left the bullpen in a bad situation today. I realize blisters happen, but we’re getting nothing from Sanchez so far this year.
I think when Ausmus went to the mound he probably told Coke, ‘this is your last shot, what are you going to do?’ He actually righted the ship before it went down.
As bad as the bullpen was – and they were horrible – this game was lost due to lack of offense against another mediocre pitcher. But after scoring 10 last night did we expect any different today? JV earns his money tomorrow…..
I think Miggy is trying too hard. Maybe he’s trying to win another MVP and prove he is worth his contract. He needs to realize that the regular Miggy deserves what he got and he doesn’t have to do anything but be Miggy.
I used to love watching Magglio in RBI situations. He seemed content to take the ball to right field and drive in runs with a hit. That’s how Miggy has been and needs to get back to that.
He has always been a first pitch hitter, and now the pitchers are exploiting that by expanding the zone. He’s getting himself out by swinging at pitches way out of the zone. When he is patient he can be the best hitter of all time. I even think he has a 400 season in him if he would simply show more plate discipline.