12/18/24
October 14, 2011
Tigers Beat Rangers as Cabrera's Base Hit Hits Base: Tied 2-2 with the Texas Rangers in the sixth inning, the Detroit Tigers broke it open with a Ryan Raburn single, Miguel Cabrera double, Victor Martinez triple and Delmon Young homer -- the first natural cycle by a team in postseason history -- and won 7-5. Justin Verlander threw a career high 133 pitches in the win. The American League Championship Series goes back to Texas with the Rangers lead narrowed to 3-2. Cabrera's double was looking like a double play when the ball caromed off third base and went over fielder Adrian Beltre's head. Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press compares the ricochet to Lou Brock's standing tag out at home plate in the 1968 World Series between the Tigers and St. Louis Cardinals. He asks, "Does the third-base ricochet become this series' Lou Brock moment?"
I don't think the Tigers come back from that deficit.
But you're telling us they in fact did, aren't you? It was a wild enough game without the abandonment of conditional verb tenses.
For this disinterested onlooker, it's been a hell of a series so far. I hope it goes to seven just because I want to see more great games.
posted by Hugh Janus at 10:15 AM on October 14, 2011
My little 18 month old kept roaring whenever a Detroit Tiger was in a camera shot. It never stopped being adorable. What kind of cruel, heartless bastard would want any other baseball team win and have her stop being adorable? Who, I ask you!
posted by NoMich at 10:38 AM on October 14, 2011
But you're telling us they in fact did, aren't you?
I've got a sentence you could diagram, pal.
I want the Rangers to end the series in six for obvious reasons*, but it wouldn't be the worst fate in the world to see these teams decide it in seven. Just do me a favor, Jim Leyland, and keep pitching to Nelson Cruz.
* - Less Joe Buck!
posted by rcade at 10:43 AM on October 14, 2011
Can someone explain Delmon Young to me? He was mostly a disaster for the Twins, and they trade him to Detroit and he turns into a decent offensive player. Does he gain strength from the urban wreckage? Did somebody in the Land-o-Lakes spike his water with suck pills?
posted by rocketman at 11:45 AM on October 14, 2011
Since we're within 90 days of the new accelerated 2012 primary schedule, the correct answer would be that Delmon Young is further proof that the Federal bailout of the auto industry is reaping dividends.
posted by beaverboard at 12:44 PM on October 14, 2011
He was mostly a disaster for the Twins, and they trade him to Detroit and he turns into a decent offensive player. Does he gain strength from the urban wreckage? Did somebody in the Land-o-Lakes spike his water with suck pills?
I'm coming around to the idea that a team can make or break a player. Carl Crawford was an unbelievable player for the Rays - the face of the franchise. Now, the Red Sox have ruined him.
posted by bperk at 01:06 PM on October 14, 2011
Can someone explain Delmon Young to me? He was mostly a disaster for the Twins, and they trade him to Detroit and he turns into a decent offensive player.
Decent offensive player?
Sub-.300 OBP and SLG that would put him outside the top 25 among OF (for his time in Detroit).
That's more of a sink-hole in the offense than anything else.
posted by grum@work at 03:37 PM on October 14, 2011
The five postseason home runs certainly don't seem like a sink-hole.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 05:38 PM on October 14, 2011
The five postseason home runs certainly don't seem like a sink-hole.
Lightning in a bottle.
Good thing too. Helps make up for Verlander's 5.31 ERA this postseason.
posted by justgary at 07:14 PM on October 14, 2011
Mitch Albom called Verlander's last game a "virtuoso performance." Was he visiting Morrie during the four earned runs and Beltre's near three-run shot?
posted by rcade at 10:53 AM on October 15, 2011
The five postseason home runs certainly don't seem like a sink-hole.
He's never hit 5 home runs in 8 games at any time in his career, except for this post-season.
He is this year's baseball's version of Chris Kontos.
posted by grum@work at 01:15 PM on October 15, 2011
He's never hit 5 home runs in 8 games at any time in his career, except for this post-season.
Isn't the post-season when it matters most? I'm not trying to argue that Delmon Young is anything special, but he has clearly made an impact this year.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:42 PM on October 15, 2011
That was an amazing turn of events. Beltre hits what looks off the bat like a certain three-run homer, and the ball spins from 25-feet fair -- in Tim McCarver's estimation -- to foul. I don't think the Tigers come back from that deficit.
One inning later, third base weighs in on the proceedings. I'm glad Jim Leyland saved that base. If the Tigers can somehow beat Texas twice in Texas, it will be famous.
Kudos to Fox for nearly missing Alex Avila's entire game-tying home run by showing a corny gag where a cameraman stuffed his face with potato chips.