Gum Time Runs The World

Well, well, well, look at the big arm on Nate. Steadily emerging as the most dominant pitcher on the Tigers' staff so far this year, Nate Robertson had a terrific start today. He shut out the Orioles through 7 and 1/3, and completely owned the Baltimore line up. He pushes his record to 2-0 so far, and is looking like the pitching machine that he could have been last year had he got some run support.

The game really turned on a throwing error by Brian Roberts in the sixth inning that allowed the Tigers to score what would become the winning run when the ball hopped past first baseman Kevin Millar and into the stands. It was going to be an inning-ending double play, and it ended up costing the Orioles the game. Big kudos to Magglio Ordonez who was hustling down the line the entire way and was going to make it a tough call for the first base umpire, regardless of the throw. Mags gets a lot of shit for not showing enough effort, but he definitely did there and it turned the game for good. The Tigs turned two double plays to get Nate-o out of some troubles, just showing what a good DP combination can do for a team.

The Tigers' defense was also impressive today, with several sparkling plays being made by the seven men behind Robertson and the other Tiger pitchers. Curtis Granderson made a real great play, getting over to cut off a drive to left-center off the bat of Miguel Tejada and firing a great throw that nailed Tejada at second by a solid ten feet. The play that ended the game, Placido Polanco's dive to his right and throw to first to get Jason Markakis, was also of highlight reel caliber. Not only did it end the game, but it didn't allow Tejada to come back up to the plate as the tying run. Neifi Fucking Perez also made a great play in the first, bare handing a ball and gunning Melvin Mora at first base.

The bats also showed up a bit for the Tigers today, with Granderson, Polanco, and Carlos Guillen all going 2-3. These three had six of the Tigers' eight hits, and Polanco getting an RBI off of a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning that pretty much sealed the win. Hell, even Neifi Fucking Perez got a hit in his first game of the year, which is one more than the man he replaced (the carcass formerly known as Brandon Inge). Maybe if Inge shaved the shit stain beneath his chin he'd be able to hit again.

After the game, Todd Jones was being interviewed and, after being told that his team has followed every loss with a win, said "Well, that's .500 and that's not good enough." Truer words have not been spoken, Jonesy. It's already becoming an emotional roller coaster of a season, just look a few posts down at last night's post. It'd be nice to see the luck start changing and seeing these guys get on a long roll of wins and get their confidence nice and solidified.