MLB Tue, Jul 6, 2004
Daytime not so sunny for these starters
Jon Campbell
If the Detroit Tigers are looking for optimism in their current 1-5 slump, they might want to avoid manager Alan Trammell like a man with a wrenching stomach virus.
"We're in a tough stretch and, hey, we might not win a game this week," Trammell said after last night's 10-3 drubbing at the hands of the Yankees. "I don't think that will happen, but it could.
"It starts with pitching, and we have to find a way to get some of that."
That's exactly what Trammell got in yesterday's 9-1 win over the Yankees as a +190 dog. Jason Johnson went eight strong innings to earn the victory for the Tigers. It was the first time since June 25 that the Tigers had surrendered fewer than five runs.
That was also the last time the under cashed in a Detroit contest. The Tigers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in that affair. Since then, Detroit had watched its opponents trample the plate for a combined 70 runs until last night, when it was the Tigers exploding for just enough runs to create a push, leaving under supporters hungry once again.
It seems no total is too high for over bettors to cash in. Oddsmakers pegged the totals at a lofty 13, 13, and 13 1/2 respectively for Detroit's three games in Colorado over the weekend. The fewest runs scored in any of those three contests was 17 in Game 1 when the Rockies bounced the Tigers 9-8. Trammell left the mountains cursing Colorado's home field as "Coors Canaveral".
Now Trammell is getting a harsh reminder of why the Yankees are called the Bronx Bombers. Monday's Game 1 total was set at 10, which the Yankees equaled on their own. Game 2 also saw a total of 10, and the oddsmakers must be fans of Spinal Tap, because they're cranking it all the way up to 11 for Game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. ET.
The Tigers are sending Jeremy Bonderman to the mound, which could sound a little like setting a ball on a tee for the Yankees. The right-handed Bonderman likes pitching in the afternoon as much as he likes seeing baseballs soar over the left-field fence from his perch on the rubber. Bonderman is a horrid 1-4 in day starts this season and carries a nosebleed-high 7.78 ERA.
At nighttime, meanwhile, Bonderman is 4-2 with a 5.16 ERA.
Bonderman's counterpart, Brad Halsey, hasn't enjoyed the daylight much more in his extremely brief major league career. The 23-year-old lefty carries an 8.00 ERA in his two daytime starts, compared to a 3.38 mark in his lone night game.
In Halsey's only afternoon start at the intimidating Yankee Stadium, he was plucked after just 3 1/3 innings after coughing up five hits, six earned runs, and five walks. The Bronx can do that to a pitcher, no matter what side you're playing for.
“I know how it is," Trammell said after watching Detroit starter Nate Robinson get shelled in Game 1. "You’re playing at Yankee Stadium, the Mecca of baseball. A lot of guys have been nervous.”
Oddsmakers also have the Tigers as +165 dogs for today's contest.
[This message was edited by maxdemo on July 07, 2004 at 09:39 AM.]
Daytime not so sunny for these starters
Jon Campbell
If the Detroit Tigers are looking for optimism in their current 1-5 slump, they might want to avoid manager Alan Trammell like a man with a wrenching stomach virus.
"We're in a tough stretch and, hey, we might not win a game this week," Trammell said after last night's 10-3 drubbing at the hands of the Yankees. "I don't think that will happen, but it could.
"It starts with pitching, and we have to find a way to get some of that."
That's exactly what Trammell got in yesterday's 9-1 win over the Yankees as a +190 dog. Jason Johnson went eight strong innings to earn the victory for the Tigers. It was the first time since June 25 that the Tigers had surrendered fewer than five runs.
That was also the last time the under cashed in a Detroit contest. The Tigers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in that affair. Since then, Detroit had watched its opponents trample the plate for a combined 70 runs until last night, when it was the Tigers exploding for just enough runs to create a push, leaving under supporters hungry once again.
It seems no total is too high for over bettors to cash in. Oddsmakers pegged the totals at a lofty 13, 13, and 13 1/2 respectively for Detroit's three games in Colorado over the weekend. The fewest runs scored in any of those three contests was 17 in Game 1 when the Rockies bounced the Tigers 9-8. Trammell left the mountains cursing Colorado's home field as "Coors Canaveral".
Now Trammell is getting a harsh reminder of why the Yankees are called the Bronx Bombers. Monday's Game 1 total was set at 10, which the Yankees equaled on their own. Game 2 also saw a total of 10, and the oddsmakers must be fans of Spinal Tap, because they're cranking it all the way up to 11 for Game 3 of this series. First pitch is at 1:05 p.m. ET.
The Tigers are sending Jeremy Bonderman to the mound, which could sound a little like setting a ball on a tee for the Yankees. The right-handed Bonderman likes pitching in the afternoon as much as he likes seeing baseballs soar over the left-field fence from his perch on the rubber. Bonderman is a horrid 1-4 in day starts this season and carries a nosebleed-high 7.78 ERA.
At nighttime, meanwhile, Bonderman is 4-2 with a 5.16 ERA.
Bonderman's counterpart, Brad Halsey, hasn't enjoyed the daylight much more in his extremely brief major league career. The 23-year-old lefty carries an 8.00 ERA in his two daytime starts, compared to a 3.38 mark in his lone night game.
In Halsey's only afternoon start at the intimidating Yankee Stadium, he was plucked after just 3 1/3 innings after coughing up five hits, six earned runs, and five walks. The Bronx can do that to a pitcher, no matter what side you're playing for.
“I know how it is," Trammell said after watching Detroit starter Nate Robinson get shelled in Game 1. "You’re playing at Yankee Stadium, the Mecca of baseball. A lot of guys have been nervous.”
Oddsmakers also have the Tigers as +165 dogs for today's contest.
[This message was edited by maxdemo on July 07, 2004 at 09:39 AM.]
