2011 ALCS: Tigers @ Rangers

[Reck]

Won/Loss is a terrible stat considering Fister had the worst run support in the AL when he played in Seattle. Since you brought it up' date=' he's 8-1 since coming to Detroit.[/quote']

 

Oh I agree with you about the win/losses stat.

[Reck]

Wow they pulled the trigger real quick on game 2 didn't they?

 

Game 2 postponed until tomorrow.

[a700hitter]

First they lost Delmon Young and now Mags. The Tigers have an uphill battle.

 

Ankle injury ends Ordonez's postseason

After losing Young for ALCS, Tigers to discuss outfield options

By Barry M. Bloom / MLB.com | 10/09/11 4:34 PM ET

 

ARLINGTON -- Tigers outfielder Magglio Ordonez is out for the remainder of the playoffs because of a right ankle injury, manager Jim Leyland announced on Sunday just after Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Rangers was postponed at Rangers Ballpark.

 

Already in the series, the Tigers are short outfielders. Delmon Young was kept off the ALCS roster because of a mild oblique strain suffered during his final at-bat in Detroit's Game 5 victory over the Yankees in its just-concluded AL Division Series.

 

In Game 1, Leyland pinch-ran for Ordonez after the second rain delay in the fifth inning of Saturday night's 3-2 loss to Texas, which took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The bases were loaded and Ordonez was on first. It's the same ankle Ordonez broke midway through the 2010 season.

 

"Magglio Ordonez will be out for the series with the ankle injury -- the same ankle that he had the problem with," Leyland said. "He will be done for the season. That's why he was taken out of the game last night. We didn't have all the facts and details, but we've had some medical work done this morning."

 

Leyland said he would caucus later on Sunday afternoon with his coaches and Dave Dombrowski, the team's president and general manager, to determine a replacement for Ordonez.

 

On the current 25-man ALCS roster, lefty-swingers Don Kelly and Andy Dirks are the likely replacements for Ordonez.

 

Leyland said that Ordonez complained about his ankle during the second rain delay, which lasted 69 minutes. The move to replace him on the bases went under the radar at the time.

 

"That's correct. That's exactly why I pinch-ran for Magglio," said Leyland, who claimed he had no explanation for why the ankle again began bothering Ordonez. "He would not have come out of the game. My trainer [Kevin Rand] came in during the rain delay and said Magglio can't go. The ankle was killing him. So I pinch-ran Don Kelly for him."

 

Ryan Raburn played left field, batted second in place of Young on Saturday night, and had a single and two walks. Now Leyland must find an apt replacement for Ordonez.

 

"I saw him in the training room in between the rain delays," Raburn said. "As far as how bad it was, nobody really knew. We just knew he probably wasn't going to come back out and play. This is the first I heard he's going to be out for the series. That's unfortunate for us. He's a veteran presence in the lineup we'll definitely miss. We'll need other guys to step up like we have done all year."

 

The Tigers have now played through one suspended game because of rain in the ALDS, two rain delays on Saturday night, Sunday's postponement and the loss of two of their top right-handed power hitters. Young hit three homers against the Yankees, becoming the first Tigers player in their history to do that in any playoff series. But Leyland said he isn't worried.

 

"We're a real resilient team," Leyland said. "Do I like this? Obviously, no. Do I like losing Delmon? Obviously, no. But we're a tough team. We'll figure something out, and we'll get through this. We're like every other team in baseball that has these type of situations pop up. You get through it. We're not going to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. I can guarantee you that. We'll make due somehow."

[VA Sox Fan]

Am I the only one watching the game?

[Reck]

How old is Holland? He looks like a 12 year old with a fake mustache. lol

[WhiskeyBreath]

Will Delmon Young be able to play? He's very important to the Tigers chances.

 

He's not a very good player imo.

[jacksonianmarch]

He's hot, which is all that matters

[a700hitter]

He's not a very good player imo.

He's been very effective against left handed pitching. He has helped the Tigers a lot since they acquired him.

[VA Sox Fan]

Another good game. 3-3 bottom of the 10th.

[jacksonianmarch]

I want the Rangers to win every time Valverde comes in the game. God I hate him

[VA Sox Fan]

I want the Rangers to win every time Valverde comes in the game. God I hate him

 

 

I like both these teams, so I'm torn.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Loving the postseason right now. Sucks I have to switch back and forth betweeen this game and the NLCS.

[VA Sox Fan]

Loving the postseason right now. Sucks I have to switch back and forth betweeen this game and the NLCS.

 

We all do bro.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Lol

[jacksonianmarch]

BTW, I like Francona in the booth. He's got current info on these guys like no other and he seems happy for the first time in years

[VA Sox Fan]

BTW' date=' I like Francona in the booth. He's got current info on these guys like no other and he seems happy for the first time in years[/quote']

 

I agree. He is a little quiet. I'm sure Buck will be glad when McCarver is back, he must be exhausted.

 

Rangers with the walk off. Great game.

[RedSoxfanforlife305]

Lol the same thing as Pujols. Hit a monster ball foul then follow by a HR. Nelson Cruz will win ALCS MVP.

[VA Sox Fan]

I read today that it never even rained in Texas last night. Good call by the forecasters.

[Emmz]

I thought the Rangers looked pretty invincible for the playoffs vs. the rest of the AL, that offense is so deadly, and they've got solid pitching as well.

 

I'm pulling for them or the Brewers, two teams who haven't won it yet, as well as two teams that I've liked to watch for the past couple of years. Those two offenses could really lights each other up too.

 

Then I hope it's like the '91 WS, walkoffs every game pretty much, no blowouts, game-saving catches, 10-inning shutouts to close out the series, everything.

 

Baseball really needs to shine in WS again, the WS hasn't been all that fun to watch since like 2001 in the competitive sense. Obviously I loved watching the 2004 and 2007 WS, and even 2003 to see the Yanks lose to the huge underdogs, but I'd really like to see something memorable happen in a series where I could appreciate it regardless of the results I guess.

[a700hitter]

Unless Verlander can pull out a victory in game 4, the sweep prediction is looking pretty good. I think the NL team will win the WS. It would be nice to see the Brewers win for a change. If the Brewers go to the Series, look for Fielder to have a monster series catapulting his salary demands into the stratosphere. The same goes for Pujols if the Cards make it.

[Emmz]

Lolz, "unless Verlander can pull out a victory". Yeah, they really have a disadvantage in that one.

[Cocos Disciples]

Verlander is pitching Game 5 though.

[Reck]

Lolz' date=' "unless Verlander can pull out a victory". Yeah, they really have a disadvantage in that one.[/quote']

 

a700,s assessment is right.

 

Verlander, as good as he has been on the regular season, has been average at best in the POs.

 

And before you bring up the rain arguement. Dont even bother. He's been unclutch regardless.

[Emmz]

I think Fister will beat Lewis, and if he doesn't, I think the Tigers will pitch Verlander on short rest

[Emmz]

a700,s assessment is right.

 

Verlander, as good as he has been on the regular season, has been average at best in the POs.

 

And before you bring up the rain arguement. Dont even bother. He's been unclutch regardless.

 

What's your sample size though?

 

Verlander is the best pitcher in the AL, if not in baseball, a couple games sample size isn't really going to cut it to say they're at a disadvantage. When you put the best pitcher in baseball out there, you've got the advantage every time.

[Reck]

What's your sample size though?

 

Verlander is the best pitcher in the AL, if not in baseball, a couple games sample size isn't really going to cut it to say they're at a disadvantage. When you put the best pitcher in baseball out there, you've got the advantage every time.

 

I'm sure Cebathia, Halladay and Lee would strongly disagree with you there.

 

When your team is down 2, potentially 3 if indeed Texas wins tonight and Verlander pitches game 4 down 0-3 you're always going to be at a dissavantage no matter how good he is.

 

As a matter of fact, Tigers wont gain any advantage unless they tie the series.

[Emmz]

That's total BS. When you're down 3-0, you're disadvantaged for the series, not the game. That does not apply. Your entire argument is based off of 13 innings of a poor sample size (the rain was a factor) and that they're disadvantaged in the series. That's pretty obvious, but if the Tigers win with Fister in game 3, how does that effect game 5?

 

Putting Verlander instantly gives the Tigers the advantage no matter who they're facing, his 24 wins and other league-bests testify to this, 13 innings just doesn't cut it dude, sorry.

[Reck]

That's total BS. When you're down 3-0, you're disadvantaged for the series, not the game. That does not apply. Your entire argument is based off of 13 innings of a poor sample size (the rain was a factor) and that they're disadvantaged in the series. That's pretty obvious, but if the Tigers win with Fister in game 3, how does that effect game 5?

 

Putting Verlander instantly gives the Tigers the advantage no matter who they're facing, his 24 wins and other league-bests testify to this, 13 innings just doesn't cut it dude, sorry.

 

It applies for the series because A, this is not the regular season, these are the playoffs. And B, is all about how mentally prepare you are. Chances are you are going to be borderline nervous going into an elimination game and you are prone to make some mistakes. It most definately applies because the pressure is so huge.

 

Lets just see how this one plays out first.

[redsoxrules]

CC is a horrible post season pitcher

[Emmz]

It applies for the series because A, this is not the regular season, these are the playoffs. And B, is all about how mentally prepare you are. Chances are you are going to be borderline nervous going into an elimination game and you are prone to make some mistakes. It most definately applies because the pressure is so huge.

 

Lets just see how this one plays out first.

 

You only want to factor out the regular season because it's convenient for you, so that your 13 innings is the only sample size. Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. So because Cliff Lee has stunk in his last 3 or 4 postseason performances, does that mean he's at a disadvantage versus, say, the Cardinals, if the Phillies were down 2-0? This isn't rhetorical, I want to know if you factor in the fact that up to that point, he was pretty much unbeatable in the postseason, including in the World Series and in elimination games.

 

I'll actually say that by the time the Tigers do get to Verlander, regardless of what game it's in, will be facing elimination. I will give the Tigers the advantage in that game, whether it's 3-1 or 3-0. Just like I give the Tigers the pitching edge in game 3 easily.

 

I think if Fister wins tonight, and make's sure to a game 5, that Rangers take game 4, Tigers take game 5 with Verlander, then whoever wins game 6 will win the series (obviously, if it's the Rangers).

 

If the Rangers win tonight, I think they sweep unless Verlander pitches game 4 as an emergency, then they put them down in 5.

 

Tonight's huge, but I don't think it changes who has the advantage when Fister or Verlander are pitching.