GDT: 9/6/08 - DET (67-74) AT MINN (78-63) - 3:55 p.m. ET

GDT: 9/6/08 - DET (67-74) AT MINN (78-63) - 3:55 p.m. ET

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09/06/2008 2:43 AM ET
Rodney is Leyland's go-to guy
Detroit (67-74) at Minnesota (78-63), Saturday, 3:55 p.m. ET
By Thor Nystrom / MLB.com

MINNEAPOLIS -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland spent some time prior to Friday's game against the Twins talking strategy with the media.

The question was if Detroit was leading in a tight game against Minnesota and a left-handed reliever such as Bobby Seay retired Joe Mauer to complete a hypothetical eighth inning, would the skipper leave Seay in to face left-hander Justin Morneau leading off the ninth? Or would he insert closer Fernando Rodney to oppose Morneau, even though Rodney's career numbers against the slugger are poor (Morneau is 6-for-10 with two homers, four RBIs and three walks in his career against the reliever).

"I'd probably go to Rodney, but there might be an occasion where you're trying to milk an out out of someone else," Leyland said. "If I thought it gave me the best chance to win the game, I'd use Seay."

Against the Twins, however, problems arise in that scenario. If Seay has already pitched an inning and Leyland left him in to face Morneau, what would he do with left-handed hitter Jason Kubel coming up?

"The problem if you [have Seay face Morneau], now you have Kubel coming up next," Leyland said. "So you bring in Rodney for Kubel, another left-handed hitter? I'd probably start [the ninth inning] with Rodney, but that's certainly a consideration."

Leyland would be justified in his confidence in Rodney -- the right-hander has a 2.40 ERA and seven saves in 12 appearances since Aug. 5.

Leyland was not forced to make such a decision on Friday, as Minnesota romped to a 10-2 victory.

Pitching matchup

DET: RHP Justin Verlander, 10-15, 4.74 ERA)
Verlander is 2-6 with a 7.29 ERA over his past eight starts since coming within a win of .500 for the season. Instead, he's among the American League leaders in losses, including the quickest exit of his Major League career in his last start Monday against the Yankees. New York chased him out after just 1 2/3 innings with eight runs -- five earned -- on seven hits. He's 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts against the Twins this year, with the loss coming at the Metrodome.

MIN: RHP Scott Baker, 8-4, 3.66 ERA)
In his last outing against the A's on Sunday, Baker delivered yet another quality start for the Twins, making it his 14th in 22 starts this season. Baker allowed just one run over six innings, scattered six hits while walking one and striking out four. It earned Baker his first victory since July 26, ending a string of six starts without a victory. Next up for the Twins right-hander will be a start against the Tigers. Baker is 2-0 with a 3.91 ERA in four starts vs. Detroit in 2008.

Tidbits

Curtis Granderson could eventually move to the middle of the lineup, but Leyland isn't likely to move him out of the leadoff spot in the immediate future. The skipper said he would only move Granderson down in the lineup if Detroit had someone to replace the center fielder as a leadoff hitter. "That guy is not here, let me put it that way," Leyland said. ...

Leyland believes Miguel Cabrera's average will rise in the coming years: "I think he can hit .330," Leyland said. "He's special." ...

Carlos Guillen didn't travel with the Tigers to Minnesota. Leyland said he isn't sure when Guillen will return to action, but the manager had earlier indicated that it would be early next week. "We just felt like the turf wouldn't be good to move around on and walk around on," Leyland said. "We just left him home. We wanted him to do some baseball activity, which he is going to do. But we didn't want to do it here, because of the turf. So he is going to do baseball activity at home." ...

Matt Joyce will start in left field on Saturday and Marcus Thames will start on Sunday, according to Leyland.

On the Internet

MLB.TV

Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FOX

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Sun., Sept 7: Tigers (RHP Chris Lambert (0-1, 6.75 ERA)) at Twins (LHP Glen Perkins (12-3, 4.08 ERA)), 2:10 p.m. ET

• Mon., Sept 8: Tigers (RHP Zach Miner (8-4, 3.72 ERA)) vs. Athletics (LHP Gio Gonzalez (1-3, 7.18 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Tue., Sept 9: Tigers (TBA ?Nate?) vs. Athletics (LHP Dana Eveland
(8-8, 4.28 ERA)), 7:05 p.m. ET

Last edited by GoGetEmTigers on Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:57 am; edited 1 time in total

starting lineups:

Detroit
Curtis

Granderson, CF
Placido Polanco

Polanco, 2B
Magglio

Ordonez, RF
Miguel

Cabrera, 1B
Sheff

Sheffield, DH
Thames

Thames, LF
Larish

Larish, 3B
Brandon Inge

Inge, C

Santiago, SS

Minnesota
Span, RF
Casilla, 2B
Mauer, C
Morneau, 1B
Kubel, DH
Young, LF
Buscher, 3B
Punto, SS
Gomez, CF

69 degrees; Inside the Metrodome at Game Time

is anybody else on?
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

4th inning...Twins lead 2-0....Verlander has lost control already.
Am i the only one who's having a rough day here?
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

I cant see the game.... it is one of those Censored

Fox affairs so my Fox is showing the mets and MLB.tv is blocked!

Twins 2-1, at least we don't have a 0

morneau just hit into his second DP this game!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

7th inning! Magglio hit a TRIPLE! Span tried to catch it, he skidded, and the ball got away from him! Then Miggy got a single and RBI!!
4-2!!!!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Rollercoaster Rodney to close! Bottom of 9th, we lead 6-4!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

This might be the good Rodney this time!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

nope...guess not...bases loaded
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

OMG WE WON!!!! RODNEY RIDES AGAIN!!!! 6-4
GOT THEM M&M BOYS OUTTA THERE!!!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

September 6, 2008

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Detroit	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	4	0	6	7	0
Minnesota	1	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	4	11	0

Detroit	AB-	R--	H-	RBI-	BB-	SO-	LOB-	AVG
Granderson, CF	3	2	2	2	1	1	0	.305
Polanco, 2B	4	1	1	0	0	0	2	.310
Ordonez, RF	4	2	3	2	0	0	0	.318
Cabrera, 1B	1	0	1	2	2	0	0	.290
Sheffield, DH	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	.223
Thames, LF	4	0	0	0	0	1	3	.235
- Hessman, 3B	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.200
Larish, 3B	2	0	0	0	1	1	1	.216
- Joyce, LF	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	.260
Inge, C	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	.213
Santiago, SS	3	1	0	0	1	2	0	.312
Totals	29	6	7	6	6	6	10
BATTING 2B: Ordonez (30, Baker), Granderson (23, Baker). 3B: Ordonez (2, Baker). HR: Granderson (18, 8th inning off Reyes, 1 on, 1 out), Ordonez (17, 8th inning off Guerrier, 1 on, 1 out). TB: Granderson 6; Polanco; Ordonez 9; Cabrera. RBI: Cabrera 2 (112), Granderson 2 (56), Ordonez 2 (85). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Sheffield. SF: Cabrera. GIDP: Thames. Team LOB: 3. BASERUNNING CS: Larish (1, 2nd base by Baker/Mauer), Joyce (1, 2nd base by Breslow/Mauer). PO: Joyce (1st base by Breslow). FIELDING Outfield assists: Thames (Buscher at home). DP: 2 (Polanco-Santiago-Cabrera, Santiago-Polanco-Cabrera). Pickoffs: Rapada (Casilla at 1st base).

Minnesota	AB-	R--	H-	RBI-	BB-	SO-	LOB-	AVG
Span, RF	5	1	2	0	0	0	2	.298
Casilla, 2B	4	0	3	0	1	0	0	.294
Mauer, C	5	0	2	0	0	2	3	.323
Morneau, 1B	5	1	1	0	0	0	7	.310
Kubel, DH	1	1	1	1	2	0	0	.275
- a-Tolbert, PH-DH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.264
Young, LF	4	1	1	0	0	3	3	.288
Buscher, 3B	3	0	0	0	1	2	0	.297
Punto, SS	3	0	0	0	1	1	3	.282
Gomez, CF	3	0	1	2	0	1	1	.252
Totals	34	4	11	3	5	9	19
a-Flied out for Kubel in the 8th.
BATTING 2B: Morneau (41, Verlander), Kubel (18, Verlander), Gomez (20, Verlander). TB: Span 2; Casilla 3; Mauer 2; Morneau 2; Kubel 2; Young; Gomez 2. RBI: Kubel (69), Gomez 2 (41). 2-out RBI: Kubel. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out: Young 2; Span; Morneau 2. GIDP: Morneau 2. Team LOB: 9. BASERUNNING PO: Casilla (1st base by Rapada). FIELDING Outfield assists: Span (Granderson at 2nd base). DP: 2 (Span-Punto, Buscher-Casilla-Morneau). Pickoffs: Breslow (Joyce at 1st base).

Detroit	IP--	H-	R-	ER-	BB-	SO-	HR-	ERA
Verlander	5.2	8	4	4	4	4	0	4.78
Rapada (W, 3-0)	1.1	1	0	0	0	1	0	4.41
Farnsworth (H, 13)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3.70
Rodney (S, 9)	1.0	2	0	0	1	2	0	4.46

Minnesota	IP--	H-	R-	ER-	BB-	SO-	HR-	ERA
Baker	7.1	4	3	3	4	5	0	3.66
Reyes (BS, 3)	0.0	1	1	1	0	0	1	2.52
Guerrier (L, 6-7)	0.0	2	2	2	1	0	1	4.73
Crain	0.2	0	0	0	0	1	0	3.99
Breslow	1.0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2.27

Reyes pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.
Guerrier pitched to 3 batters in the 8th.

HBP: Gomez (by Verlander).
Pitches-strikes:
Verlander 114-65, Rapada 14-10, Farnsworth 14-10, Rodney 23-17, Baker
101-70, Reyes 3-2, Guerrier 13-7, Crain 5-4, Breslow 11-5.
Groundouts-flyouts: Verlander 5-7, Rapada 2-0, Farnsworth 0-1, Rodney 0-1, Baker 7-8, Reyes 0-0, Guerrier 0-0, Crain 0-1, Breslow 1-1.
Batters faced: Verlander 27, Rapada 4, Farnsworth 3, Rodney 6, Baker 27, Reyes 1, Guerrier 3, Crain 2, Breslow 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Rapada 1-0, Reyes 1-1, Crain 1-0.
Umpires: HP: Tim Tschida. 1B: James Hoye. 2B: Jeff Nelson. 3B: Rob Drake.
Weather: 69 degrees, dome.
Wind: Indoors.
T: 3:07.
Att: 42,606.
September 6, 2008

_________________
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. ~ George F. Will

we'll take any and all wins!
_________________
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971

Farnswoth seems to have calmed down since he came here.
_________________
"We only work three hours a day, so the least we can do is give 100 percent."

Todd Jones