I predict that Phil Hughes will strike out more batters than the number of runs Verlander allows. Fearless.

Change runs to home runs and you’re onto something.

We need a liveblog.

Can we leave fucking Flaherty in Detroit?

Prediction?  Pain.

Whoot!  Captain!

Jeter! Way to not groundout!

First pitch at 1:13 to Derek Jeter is swung on and hit lazily to right but carries all the way out of the park.

Guess those 22 MPH gusts are in effect.

MVP

How quickly will Hughes give it back?

[2] Nicely played sir.

1-0 Yankees.

First pitch outside to Granderson, 1-0.

Second pitch fastball outside corner 2-0.

Third pitch fastball outside again 3-0.

3-0 pitch is another fastball at 90MPH outside, 4 pitch walk

On rltw.net some nerds are probably complaining about Verlander being cooked.

Did the starters put on the wrong uniforms?

ARod up.

First pitch up and in 92MPH, 1-0.

Second pitch right down broadway 94MPH, 1-1.

1-1 pitch is another fastball inner half fouled back behind home, 1-2 count.

All FB so far. 

1-2 is the first curve for a ball low and away in the dirt, 2-2.

5th pitch of the AB is another curve in the dirt for a ball, 3-2.

Kay asking if Granderson will be on the move.  Payoff pitch with Granderson going is fouled off behind 1B, 95MPH.

Pitch 7 of the AB is called a FB inside with Grandy going, but it’s too far inside and ARod walks.

Phil Hughes is terrible so far.

Guarantee they don’t score again.

Serling hoping for right kind of outs.  How about a double instead.  Hughes will not win a low scoring game.

How quickly will Hughes give it back?

I’m gonna go with First Pitch.

1st and 2nd, nobody out, Cano at the plate.

13th pitch of the inning is a mix-up and gets by Santos for ball 1, runners advance.  He expected curve, but got a FB.

1-0 pitch to Cano is a change-up that Cano takes a half-swing at and fouls off to 3B side for strike 1.

1-1 pitch is a nasty curve that drops right down the middle for strike 2.  Cano gave up on it early.

1-2 pitch is a 95MPH fastball up and in that shrugs Cano off the plate.

2-2 pitch is another curve, this time way outside for a ball, 3-2.

Payoff is a 97MPH fastball right down the middle, but fouled off to the 3B side.

Pitch #19 of the inning is a FB on the outer half that Cano swings right through for the K

RISPAFAIL

RISPAFAIL

You CAN predict choking Cano RISP

Wish Sojo or Enrique Wilson had been up instead

2nd and 3rd, 1 out, Texeira up.

First pitch fastball 93MPH outside for ball 1.

1-0 pitch is a FB up in the zone that Teix grounds just foul first base side, 1-1.

Ibanez on deck.

1-1 to Teix is a curve that was just outside, would have been a strike if over the plate, 2-1.

Teix breaks his bat on a changeup fly ball to shallow CF/RF, Granderson tags up and beats the throw relatively easily, 2-0 Yanks.

2nd and 3rd with no outs with Cano coming up and they score one run, but that’s not the worst part, the worst is that we are happy they scored at least one in that situation.

Strike-out, 2 pop-ups. Classic.

2-0 Yanks, Ibanez up.

First pitch FB 93MPH outside for ball 1.

Pitch 25 of the inning is another FB down the middle fouled off behind home for strike 1.

1-1 pitch is another FB that Ibanez pops up to LF.  Kelly makes the play for out 3.

2-0 Yanks after half an inning

And another potential big inning dies an untimely death.

Great inning. We scored two, and cleared the 3-4-5 hole in the lineup.

Can we end the game now, I don’t know if I can sit through a Phil Hughes start without vomiting.

Hughes starts Berry 0-2. This has runs written all over it.

Berry starts it off.

First pitch from Hughes outer half for strike 1.

0-1 is inside and fouled off to 3B side for strike 2. 

0-2 pitch to Berry is another FB at 92MPH way up and out for ball 1. 

1-2 is a FB that bleeds back across the plate but fouled off to 3B side.  Martin inside, pitch middle.

1-2 is a curve that Berry lines to Jeter.  Looked like a single off the bat but Jumpman23 gets to it for out #1

Tie game coming in 5…4…3…2…

Apparently RLYW didn’t like my last post, but to recap…

Cabrera was thrown 5 fastballs, 2 were questionable.  Walks.  I’ll take the approach.  2 outs.

Fielder up.  First pitch curve over everyone’s head.

1-0 is an 85MPH change to Fielder that is very high in the zone for ball 2.

2-0 is a fastball inner half for strike 1.

2-1 to Fielder is another change that lands outside the zone for ball 3.

3-1 another change that Fielder hits high to left.  Looked like it was going to be an easy out but Ibanez ends up on the warning track before making the play.

Ball is really carrying this afternoon.

Can’t tell you how glad I am the Yankees pulled off a Hughes for Verlander swap before the game started.

How did Phil get out of that inning after only one out’s worth of pitch count ?

The Tigers have an awful defense.

Top 2, 2-0 Yanks.  Swisher up.  Verlander at 26 pitches after 1 inning.

Swisher swings at the first pitch and hits a line drive up the middle that Peralta gets a glove on but couldn’t make the play.  Single for Swish.

Chavez up.

First pitch is a FB on the outer half for strike 1.  Same pitch Hughes didn’t get the call on twice in the bottom half of the inning.

0-1 is a curve that Chavez fouls off to 3B side, strike 2.

0-2 to Chavez is another curve down and in to Chavez.  Check swing, ball 1.

1-2 to Chavez is a changeup that ends up in the dirt, 2-2.  Verlander not that sharp so far.

2-2 is another changeup that goes off the end of the bat but travels all the way to the wall and Kelly makes a jumping play on the warning track.  The ball is really traveling today.  Chavez barely made contact.  1 out.

With the way the wind is blowing, Hughes will give up at least 4 HR

Russell Martin up.

1-0 pitch is a FB inside that he grounds foul to the 3B side, 93MPH.  1-1.

Fastball inside, Martin shows bunt but pulls it back, 2-1.

2-1 is a slider (I think) at 83MPH and way outside for ball 3. 

3-1 is a FB up and in.  Martin draws the walk. 

Runners on first and second, 1 out.

Jeter up.

Pitch 38 of the game is a FB inside to Jeter for ball 1.

1-0 to the Captain is a tailor made GIDPJeter, 6-4-3 to end the inning.

2-0 Yanks after 1.5

Big inning ending DP. Verlander has nothing and the Yankees just don’t make him pay.

0-3 with RISP so far today

Text poll:  If you were building a franchise which Tiger would you build around…Fielder, Cabrera or Verlander?

First pitch to Young is a FB taken inside for strike 1.

0-1 is another FB outside for ball 1.

1-1 is a FB outer half fouled back behind home.

1-2 is a curve low and outside taken for ball 2.

2-2 to Young is fouled off.

2-2 is another curve that Young takes a weak hack at and strikes out.  1 out.

First pitch to Boesch is grounded to Teix for out #2.  Looked like a FB but he broke his bat.  Must have hit off the end of the bat.

Peralta up.

First pitch good curve outside for strike 1.

0-1 is a FB down in the zone for ball 1.  Like the location so far.

1-1 is another curve that bounces right in front of Martin for ball 2.

2-1 to Peralta, pitch #28, is a curve that falls in for strike 2.  Hittable but fooled him.

2-2 is a FB up in the zone, right down the middle that Peralta hits right back at him.  Bad pitch.  Man on first.

Chavez!

All of the FBs that Hughes has thrown so far are moving back to the right.

Kelly up.

First pitch to Kelly is a FB outside for ball 1.

1-0 is a fastball down the middle for strike 1.

1-1 is another FB that Kelly pops up foul to 3B side that Chavez hustles over and makes a sliding catch.  3 out.

Glad Chavez didn’t break his hip there.

Glad Chavez didn’t break his hip there.

My brain made the same comment, sadly I did not appreciate it.

Top 3, 2-0 Yanks.  Granderson up.

First pitch is a FB outside from Verlander for ball 1.

1-0 is a 91MPH FB right down the middle for strike 1.

1-1 to Grandy is a changeup down and away in the dirt taken for ball 2.

2-1 is a nice changeup that fools Granderson for strike 2.  Best changeup so far.

2-2 is a curve that is outside for ball 3.

Payoff is a FB inside at 95MPH that Granderson swings through.  1 out.

Verlander looks much better this inning.  Much better.

A-rod!

A-Bomb!

Seems like a very fair strike zone so far. Nothing called off the plate

ARod up.

1-0 to Alex is a FB outside and low for ball 2.

I would not be surprised if the Yanks do not score again today.  Hughes is going to have to amke this lead hold.

2-0 is a FB outside corner for strike 1.

2-1 FB inside.  Barely.  3-1.  Good pitch.  Now he’s got it going.

3-1 to Alex is a 96 MPH fastball RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.  Crushed.  Off the bat.  3-0 Yanks.

Wow.  What a blast.  Awful pitch.

HOLY SHIT. That was the first time A-Rod has had an “a-rod” swing this season. Even his homers have been more of the looping fly ball variety.

That was crushed.

Cano up.

93MPH fastball up in the zone that Robbie swings at and fouls off for strike 1.

0-1 is another FB at 96MPH inside and Robbie pops it up to CF for out 2.

I hope that hit gets ARod going.  We need him.

Teix up.

First pitch 96MPH FB grounded foul 1B side.

0-1 to Teix is a changeup way outside for ball 1. 

1-1 is another changeup that is grounded foul for strike 2.  Good pitch.

1-2 is a really good FB on the outer half that Teix grounds weakly to 2B.  Strike 3 if he doesn’t swing.

After 2.5 it’s 3-0 Yanks.  Let’s all pray that Alex turns into Miggy minus the beatings after that hit.

Yay Arod but Selig only requires 80% of our homers to be solo jobs

The LFer didn’t even react to that A-Rod homer.

SG, if you have the inclination I would love to see Cano’s performance against fastballs on the outer half. Going the opposite way used to be his game, not it seems he’s way too pull conscious. It’s frustrating because his plate discipline really has improved, so he’d be putting up superstar stats without these current struggles.

Santos takes strike 1 right down the middle.

0-1 is another FB that is grounded right to Jeter for out 1.

I’m curious to see how Hughes is going to ruin this one. 

Berry up.

First pitch FB fouled straight back.

0-1 to Berry is bunted but Chavez is all over it.  Berry hustling down the line and almost beats it out because Chavez double-clutched.  Gardner like speed over there.  2 outs.

Worth up.

First pitch FB outside for ball 1.  That one didn’t bleed back.

1-0 is a FB on the outer half taken for strike 1.

1-1 is in the same spot, this time he swings through for strike 2.

Hughes looks decent right now.

1-2 is a 95MPH in almost the same spot, a little higher.  Ball 2.

2-2 to Worth is 95MPH in the same spot again, still not getting it.  Full count.

Payoff to Worth misses the spot a little and ends up over the plate, but Worth only fouls it straight back.  94MPH.

Like to see a curve here for the K.

3-2 is a FB up and in for ball 4. 

Miggy up.  Just walk him.  Seriously.

Hughes should throw more curveballs on 3-2 counts

BTW, Sterling and Waldman won’t shut up about Cabrera’s homers. They were impressive but, jeez.

Jesus fucking Christ, Hughes.

First pitch to Cabrera is a FB inside for ball 1.

1-0 to Miggy bleeds back right over the middle at 93MPH but he fouls it off.  Martin set up outside and Hughes missed badly.  Lucky.

1-1 called FB inside…right over the middle but it stays in the park and Swisher makes the play.  One of the harder hit balls this game, but didn’t have the height to travel.  3 outs.

Hughes made two bad pitches to Cabrera and got away with both of them. 

After 3 it’s 3-0 Yanks.

Hughes got VERY fortunate there. Miggy missed that by an inch.

Ibanez up.

First pitch swinging at a FB and Boesch makes the play.  Didn’t have the sound off the bat but with the wind today I expected it to travel further than it did.  Easy out.

Swisher up.

First pitch up for ball 1.

1-0 pitch to Swish is a FB on the outside corner that he fouls into the LF stands, strike 1.

1-1 is pulled low by Verlander.  No chance at a strike, 2-1.

2-1 is juuuust inside to Swish for ball 3. 

3-1 as Verlander works quickly and it’s way down and out for ball 4.

Verlander is trying to get a rhythm going, but he’s not having much success.  Very erratic.

Chavez up.

Pitch #63 is a changeup that gets fouled back out of play right behind home.  Out in front of that one.

8th longest HR at Comerica hit by ARod.  That really was a shot

0-1 to Chavez is up in the zone and swung at anyway for strike 2.

Only the 2nd ball that the Yankees have swung at out of the zone. 

0-2 is a curve that Chavez hits the other way on a line for a single.  Good piece of hitting.  Curve kind of hung up there on the outer half.

Martin up.

He crushes the first pitch on a line right to Cabrera who doubles Swisher up at second.  No chance.  That is just bad luck for Russell.

3-0 Yanks after 3.5

I’m not enjoying the liveblog today. Not your fault, but you are about 3 minutes ahead of my Roku and causing major spoilage.

and another inning ending DP with 2 runners on. 0-4 with RISP. Obviously they will end up losing this one in horrible fashion

First pitch to Fielder is crushed before the Camera even made it back to the field.

3-1 Yankees.

Hughes doing his best Hughes.

That was SO PREDICTABLE!

Thanks to the miracle of Roku, my boy can grow up a Yankee fan.

Jesus, there have been some BOMBS in this series.

Methinks Prince might get buzzed next time.

Kay and Sterling were both harping on the # of homers the Yankees give up, and nobody has made teh connection about the park…OH MY GOD FLAHERTY FINALLY MENTIONED THAT THEY HAVE TO PITCH IN DNYS. Thank god. I like the YES crew.

Damn, Hughes just dusted Bosch.

It was a curve that just stayed right over the middle and Fielder just annihilated it.  Nice.

Delmon Young swings at the first pitch and hits it hard right to Cano who makes the play and gets it to Teix for out 1.

Boesch up.

First pitch curve for strike 1.

0-1 is a FB outer half check swing strike 2.

0-2 to Boesch is up in the zone and he swings through it for the K.  Ugly AB.

Peralta up.  Hughes at 53 pitches.

First pitch FB inner half for strike 1.

0-1 same spot and Peralta turns on it and gives it a ride.  Thought it was gone off the bat but somehow Ibanez makes the play in deep left-center for the third out.

Shaky inning for Hughes, but he escapes.

3-1 Yanks after 4.

Meanwhile in Toronto:

Daniel Bard: 1.2 IP 1H 5ER 6BB!!! 2HBP!!!

An epically hilarious season for teh 8th inning guy.

Shades of Posada in the Game 3 of the 2006 ALDS.

Bard has looked really good at times. I wouldn’t be shocked if they stick with the experiment if he’s a top 10 starter in the AL at some point.

Put it this way: I’d rather have BArd going forward than Hughes.

[67] I will try to make my posts longer soas not to spoil your viewing.

OK, RISP today is, what, is 0-4 with a sac fly and two double plays?.....what the Farns, at this point I wanna see us set a MLB record.

Actually, the odd thing about Bard is that, even though he’s had some very cromulent starts, his K rate is shockingly low considering his stuff. That might not augur well at all.

[82] Well, in fairness, one of those double plays was a hot smash right at the third baseman.

btw, a factoid I just gleaned in a vain search for historical RISP team futility stats:

“Jamie Moyer has pitched”—no, wait, let’s make it trivia!

Q:  Jamie Moyer has pitched to what percentage of all hitters in MLB history?

Comerica has really grown on me. So many of the new ballparks have no sense of place, but Comerica frames the city nicely. It’s not PNC Park, but it’s better than Texas or Philadelphia…both nice enough parks that could be in Peoria or New Delhi for all you know once inside.

Jeter up.

First pitch curve too high for ball 1. 

1-0 to the Cap’n is a 91MPH FB inner half for strike 1.

How Verlander only has 68 pitches after those first two innings I don’t know.

1-1 to Jeter is a FB outer half for strike 2.

1-2 to GIDPJeter another FB grounded right to short.  Luckily no one is on base and it only counts for 1 out.

Granderson up.

1-0 to Grandy is outside for ball 2.

2-0 is a called change and Granderson is way out in front grounds it foul to 1B.  Good pitch.  Granderson having trouble picking up the change.

2-1 is a FB up and Granderson swings through for strike 2.

2-2 is another FB, this time fouled straight back toward the booth.

Someone, somewhere is making a racist joke about eyesight.

2-2 is another FB ripped over 1B on a line and Granderson makes it into second uneventfully.  Just fair.  Good hitting.  Should have thrown the change.

Alex up.

Magglio is stylin’.

I hope he still plays for Venezuela next year.

shaked: perfect.

0-5 with RISP

That was an embarrassing swing.

Why couldn’t Grando have stopped at first?

Nasty curve. Verlander learned his lesson.

No one on Jeter and Arod homer, RISP DP and strike out

Circus Tigers!

And the Yankees catch a break because Detroit’s defense is the worst I ever seen play in a ML game

I hit a home run like that in little league, once.

Verlander not fucking around with ARod, first pitch is 97MPH on the outer half for strike 1.

0-1 is 98MPH up and in to Alex.  Verlander looks pissed.  I like it.

1-1, pitch 79, looks like a slider at 87mph for a strike.  Not positive.

1-2 pitch is a curve and Alex takes a weak hack for the K.  Alex started swinging when it was in the mitt.  Go Verlander.

Cano up.

98MPH right down the middle.  Strike 1.

I really wish the Yankees had a pitcher like this.

0-1 to Cano outside at 90MPH.  I can’t figure him out.

1-1 is a curve that dives inside for ball 2.

2-1 at 98MPH fouled off to the 3B side. 

2-2, pitch 85, again outside and again 98MPH and again fouled off to 3B side.

I expect a change here.

Pitch #5 of the AB is a curve way up and out for ball 3.

Cano calls time twice in a row as Verlander and Santos can’t figure it out.

Payoff to Cano, with a runner at 2nd, is a curve that Cano bloops about 370 feet to right-center.  Berry was way toward LF and can’t make the play.  Cano runs hard into third, Cabrera loses the ball and both Granderson and Cano score, 5-1.

Crazy play.  I assumed it was an out but Berry just wasn’t in the picture.  Ball wasn’t hit hard at all, just hit in the right spot.

Teix swings at the first pitch and grounds it to 2B for the third out of the inning.

5-1 Yanks after 4.5.  Crazy turn of events today.

Oh my gosh.

First of all, that ball should have been caught. It was up in the air FOREVER. Second of all, wtf….

TBS replays the play just watching Verlander, while Wells says how bad his reaction is.