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Jacobs Field, Mike Maroth and Interleague Play

The Tigers swept the Indians, and thanks to the AFLAC trivia question on Fox Sports, I now know that this is the first time that the Tigers have ever swept the Indians at Jacobs Field.  You have to go way back to 1990 at Cleveland Stadium to find the last time that the Tigers swept the Indians in Cleveland.

What a run by Mike Maroth.  With today’s win, he’s now 5-2 with a miniscule 2.18 ERA.  His strikeout to walk ratio is only 17/14 and that’s nothing to write home about but he’s kept the ball in the park (three homeruns), benefited from the improved Tiger defense and has managed to strand a ton of batters.  Coming into the game, he had a mediocre 1.42 WHIP, but his left on base percentage was 87.6%.  So he’s giving up baserunners, just not in bunches and he’s leaving most of the ones he gave up on base  I’m not terribly optimistic he’ll be able to keep it up, but like the Tigers in general so far, I’ll take it while I can get it.

Interleague play starts this weekend and the Tigers host the Reds.  Blade and I were hoping to catch a game with the Reds in town, but I don’t see it happening.  I am going to try to go to the game on Wednesday.  I’ll get to see Justin Verlander up close for the first time as well as Johan Santana.  With that, I still don’t like interleague play.  It messes up the schedule, they never gave the Tigers a real “rival,” and I just don’t see it as increasing attendance outside of whoever gets to host the Yankees (and now Red Sox).  Then again, I’m the one who wants to go back to the “no playoff” structure that was in place prior to 1969 so I’m old school.

The Twins are in town this week beginning Tuesday and they’re kind of a new team since the Tigers rolled out of their last weekend.  They’ve won seven of their last ten and they’re now ahead of the Indians by one game.



I don’t know what the hell has gotten into Maroth, but I like it. His improvement reminds me of Garland’s last year. Not a lot of strikeouts, but very few dingers and very reliant on a so far stellar defense. Here’s hoping he keeps it up. I dodn’t see this one coming at all.

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Posted by Dan on May 15th, 2006 at 6:30 am

my big concern is that Leyland goes to pitchers like Grilli and Walker when he doesnt have to. He got one inning out of grilli and that was lucky. Not sure why he was out there to start the 8th. he gave up the leadoff walk and was relieved by the horrid Walker. Walker may have a low ERA (that is simply because the runs he allows are inherent baserunners that get tacked on to the previous pitcher) but is worthless. we got lucky yesterday. but as the season flattens out we will end up losing games if we go to jerkwater pitchers when we dont have to. You tell me Zumaya, a former starter, can’t go two innings here and there? time to trim the fat in the bullpen and let the solid pitchers earn their cash. Whats wrong with Seay? he barely pitches! he is leagues better than walker and Grilli!

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Posted by Michael on May 15th, 2006 at 12:50 pm

I’m kind of looking forward to this particular Interleague match-up this year. The Tigers and the Reds are the two big surprise teams this year; the Reds were leading their division, and the Tigers would be leading any division except the one they’re in, and nobody really expected too awful much from either team. This could be interesting.

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Posted by Cathryn on May 16th, 2006 at 1:06 pm

First time reader, first time poster.

I’m a transfer over from detroitlionsblog.com.

3 words – Tied For First!

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Posted by SleePac on May 17th, 2006 at 4:51 am

more updates please Brian!!! I look forward to checking in on your site!

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Posted by Darryl on May 18th, 2006 at 6:41 am


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