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DETROIT ( SCHERZER )
OAKLAND ( COLON ) |
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| AL Division Series - Best of 5 - Game 1 | |  | |
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| 915 | DETROIT | -130 | Ov 6.5,-115 | -120 | Ov 6.5,-120 | | 916 | OAKLAND | +120 | Un 6.5,-105 | +110 | Un 6.5,+100 |
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| All Games | 93-69 | -11.7 | 81-74 | 4.9 | 0.283 | 0.344 | 3.9 | 0.247 | 0.305 | | Road Games | 42-39 | -8.2 | 36-43 | 4.6 | 0.268 | 0.325 | 3.6 | 0.244 | 0.303 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 66-46 | +0.2 | 54-54 | 5.0 | 0.289 | 0.347 | 3.7 | 0.242 | 0.301 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -7.2 | 1-6 | 2.0 | 0.232 | 0.277 | 2.6 | 0.228 | 0.309 | | Grass Games | 89-66 | -12.3 | 77-72 | 4.9 | 0.284 | 0.345 | 3.9 | 0.247 | 0.305 | | Night Games | 61-41 | +1.3 | 47-49 | 5.0 | 0.282 | 0.344 | 3.8 | 0.249 | 0.303 |
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| All Games | 4.9 | 0.283 | 0.344 | 162 | 5735 | 1623 | 491 | 176 | 0.03 | 767 | 531 | 1073 | 35 | 1250 | 168 | 75 | 136 | 128 | | Road Games | 4.6 | 0.268 | 0.325 | 81 | 2975 | 796 | 249 | 88 | 0.03 | 355 | 253 | 605 | 21 | 635 | 80 | 39 | 76 | 62 | | Righty Starters | 5.0 | 0.289 | 0.347 | 112 | 4012 | 1161 | 342 | 116 | 0.03 | 537 | 354 | 761 | 31 | 878 | 122 | 46 | 95 | 86 |
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| All Games | 4.01 | 1.340 | 439.7 | 206 | 196 | 410 | 44 | 179 | 447 | 17-25 | 40 | 15 | 72.7% | | Road Games | 3.65 | 1.284 | 226.7 | 92 | 92 | 210 | 20 | 81 | 250 | 7-16 | 18 | 9 | 66.7% |
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| All Games | 96-66 | +18.9 | 84-74 | 4.7 | 0.254 | 0.324 | 3.9 | 0.242 | 0.296 | | Home Games | 52-29 | +9.9 | 40-40 | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.320 | 3.7 | 0.238 | 0.292 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 63-44 | +11.4 | 57-47 | 5.0 | 0.256 | 0.325 | 4.0 | 0.245 | 0.302 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +0.6 | 5-2 | 6.3 | 0.270 | 0.341 | 3.9 | 0.215 | 0.280 | | Grass Games | 93-62 | +19.9 | 80-72 | 4.7 | 0.254 | 0.324 | 3.8 | 0.242 | 0.295 | | Night Games | 57-37 | +12.6 | 52-39 | 5.0 | 0.257 | 0.325 | 3.9 | 0.245 | 0.298 |
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| All Games | 4.7 | 0.254 | 0.324 | 162 | 5521 | 1402 | 512 | 186 | 0.03 | 725 | 573 | 1178 | 74 | 1126 | 126 | 98 | 114 | 88 | | Home Games | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.320 | 81 | 2706 | 669 | 251 | 83 | 0.03 | 331 | 291 | 559 | 32 | 565 | 58 | 47 | 64 | 41 | | Righty Starters | 5.0 | 0.256 | 0.325 | 107 | 3680 | 943 | 347 | 121 | 0.03 | 508 | 377 | 792 | 54 | 739 | 83 | 60 | 83 | 64 |
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| All Games | 3.22 | 1.224 | 475.3 | 183 | 170 | 428 | 41 | 154 | 431 | 24-18 | 46 | 19 | 70.8% | | Home Games | 2.99 | 1.218 | 258.6 | 91 | 86 | 236 | 21 | 79 | 240 | 17-7 | 24 | 8 | 75% |
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| 9/20/2013 | SCHERZER(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | AXELROD(R) | 12-5 | W | -310 | 8 un | O | 18 | 11 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 2 | | 9/21/2013 | PORCELLO(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | SALE(L) | 7-6 | W | -135 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 11 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 0 | | 9/22/2013 | SANCHEZ(R) | CHI WHITE SOX | JOHNSON(R) | 3-6 | L | -240 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 7 | 1 | 11 | 10 | 0 | | 9/23/2013 | VERLANDER(R) | @ MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 3-4 | L | -190 | 7.5 ov | U | 10 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 15 | 0 | | 9/24/2013 | FISTER(R) | @ MINNESOTA | DIAMOND(L) | 4-2 | W | -210 | 8.5 un | U | 11 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 9/25/2013 | SCHERZER(R) | @ MINNESOTA | CORREIA(R) | 1-0 | W | -240 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | | 9/27/2013 | ALVAREZ(L) | @ MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | 2-3 | L | -130 | 7.5 ov | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 9/28/2013 | SANCHEZ(R) | @ MIAMI | EOVALDI(R) | 1-2 | L | -185 | 6.5 ov | U | 9 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 | | 9/29/2013 | VERLANDER(R) | @ MIAMI | ALVAREZ(R) | 0-1 | L | -170 | 7 un | U | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 10/4/2013 | SCHERZER(R) | @ OAKLAND | COLON(R) | | | 10/5/2013 | VERLANDER(R) | @ OAKLAND | GRAY(R) | |
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| 9/20/2013 | COLON(R) | MINNESOTA | ALBERS(L) | 11-0 | W | -210 | 7.5 un | O | 11 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 4 | | 9/21/2013 | PARKER(R) | MINNESOTA | HERNANDEZ(L) | 9-1 | W | -250 | 8 ov | O | 16 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | | 9/22/2013 | GRAY(R) | MINNESOTA | DE VRIES(R) | 11-7 | W | -255 | 8 un | O | 11 | 6 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 0 | | 9/23/2013 | MILONE(L) | @ LA ANGELS | RICHARDS(R) | 10-5 | W | 130 | 8 ov | O | 13 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 9/24/2013 | GRIFFIN(R) | @ LA ANGELS | VARGAS(L) | 0-3 | L | -125 | 8 un | U | 4 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 9/25/2013 | STRAILY(R) | @ LA ANGELS | WEAVER(R) | 1-3 | L | 110 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 9/27/2013 | COLON(R) | @ SEATTLE | HERNANDEZ(R) | 8-2 | W | 100 | 6.5 un | O | 11 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | | 9/28/2013 | PARKER(R) | @ SEATTLE | MAURER(R) | 5-7 | L | -145 | 7.5 ov | O | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | | 9/29/2013 | GRAY(R) | @ SEATTLE | RAMIREZ(L) | 9-0 | W | -125 | 7.5 ov | O | 10 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 | | 10/4/2013 | COLON(R) | DETROIT | SCHERZER(R) | | | 10/5/2013 | GRAY(R) | DETROIT | VERLANDER(R) | |
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| |  | DETROIT: HITTING: OF AUSTIN JACKSON doesn't make much contact, but manager Jim Leyland likes his speed in the leadoff spot. RYAN RABURN and RAMON SANTIAGO will split second base duties, with Raburn getting the majority of the starts. 3B MIGUEL CABRERA seems to have cleaned up his act. He's an MVP candidate. So is newcomer 1B PRINCE FIELDER who will try to keep slugging in his move to a pitchers' park. His presence was needed after DH VICTOR MARTINEZ was lost for the season with a knee injury. OF DELMON YOUNG is a pending free agent, and he hit well after escaping spacious Target Field. He'll nab the starting LF job but could also DH. OF BRENNAN BOESCH did enough pre-injury to earn an everyday role, but he'll again be in danger of fading over the summer. SS JHONNY PERALTA had a resurgence in 2011, and he's on the right side of 30. C ALEX AVILA might not hit for average, but his power is legit. Leyland favorite BRANDON INGE and DON KELLY will back up the All-Star corner infielders, so neither expect to get much playing time. Streaky OF ANDY DIRKS is a fourth outfielder. C GERALD LAIRD will spell Avila.
STARTING PITCHING: You can't expect an identical stat line for JUSTIN VERLANDER; his opponent .236 batting average on balls in play suggests there was some luck involved in his MVP season. But he's still the best pitcher in the American League by a wide margin. DOUG FISTER's improved strikeout rate with the Tigers suggests he could sustain success as a quality No. 2 starter. MAX SCHERZER can still be outstanding when he's on, but he was inconsistent again last year. He could figure it out in his late-20s, but time is running out. RICK PORCELLO still has a ways to go. His mid-season success came against some weak lineups. He's still only 23, but he hasn't been able to beat hitters at any level in the pros. The Tigers are still searching for a No. 5 starter. Top prospect JACOB TURNER is only 20, but the Tigers haven't been shy about fast-tracking young arms. He was dominant in the minors, but torched in his first big-league stint. ANDY OLIVER appears to be the front-runner for this role, but DREW SMYLY is also a possibility.
RELIEF PITCHING: JOSE VALVERDE was perfect in 2011, but it was a surprising development considering his sliding K/BB ratio. For Tigers fans, he carries more risk than 49-for-49 would suggest. One of baseball's better set-up men, JOAQUIN BENOIT is an eighth-inning-only guy. He'd take over if Valverde got hurt. OCTAVIO DOTEL is another elite set-up man who will step up as the seventh-inning guy. As good as AL ALBURQUERQUE was in the regular season (one extra-base hit'a double'allowed in 43.1 innings!), he's out until at least the All-Star break after offseason elbow surgery. Lefty DANIEL SCHLERETH has a chance to be the closer of the future, but first he'll need to cut down on the walks. | | OAKLAND: HITTING: 2B JEMILE WEEKS may not be a legitimate .300 hitter, but he's still the best option they have at the leadoff spot. C KURT SUZUKI seemingly hits as many line outs as anyone in baseball. He has a solid bat for a catcher and qualifies as a middle-of-the-order option in Oakland. OF JOSH REDDICK is more of a line-drive hitter than a 25-HR guy, and he doesn't yet have the plate discipline to approach .300. 1B BRANDON ALLEN is an all-or-nothing hitter, but his potential for much-needed power should be enough for him to beat out DARIC BARTON. SS CLIFF PENNINGTON has quietly developed into a serviceable regular. With 3B SCOTT SIZEMORE out for the season with a torn ACL, either ERIC SOGARD or JOSH DONALDSON will win the job at third base. Neither player has reached 80 career at-bats yet. Highly-coveted Cuban OF YOENIS CESPEDES inked a four-year deal with Oakland, and will be expected to produced in the heart of the lineup immediately. OF COLLIN COWGILL is undersized, but has shown impressive power in the minors. The DH spot will fall to Allen when Barton is in the lineup. When he's not, it will be filled by such Quadruple-A types as KILA KA'AIHUE and CHRIS CARTER.
STARTING PITCHING: BRANDON McCARTHY reclamation project worked out nicely. He's an injury risk, but when healthy he's one of baseball's better middle-of-the-rotation arms. BARTOLO COLON pitched better than expected with the Yankees last year (7.4 K/9, 4.00 ERA), and should perform just as well in his new spacious ballpark. DALLAS BRADEN (shoulder) and BRETT ANDERSON (elbow) are both question marks after major surgeries. Braden's return date has been pushed back to early May, while Anderson will might not take the hill until June. The jewel of the Trevor Cahill trade, hard-throwing righty JARROD PARKER has a chance to make a big impact if his arm is recovered from 2009 Tommy John surgery. The Gio Gonzalez trade landed Oakland TOMMY MILONE and BRAD PEACOCK, both of whom are coming off impressive minor-league seasons. They'll compete for rotation spots this spring. TYSON ROSS could get a few starts, but he's gotten very hittable over the past year. They're in no hurry to start the arbitration clock of top prospect SONNY GRAY, but he should make some late-season starts.
RELIEF PITCHING: With Andrew Bailey gone, righty GRANT BALFOUR (2.47 ERA, 1.03 WHIP) will get the first chance to close games. Though his occasional bouts with command issues make him a risk. If Balfour falters, BRIAN FUENTES will get the next look because of his ninth-inning experience and strong second half of 2011 . . . Long a favorite inside the organization, injury-prone righty JOEY DEVINE has long been considered a future closer and should get some late-innings duties. The highest upside option for a future closer is 25-year-old righty FAUTINO DE LOS SANTOS. He has overpowering stuff but his command comes and goes. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER AL PREVIEW (DETROIT-OAKLAND) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Tigers-Athletics Preview* ==========================
By JANIE McCAULEY AP Baseball Writer
Detroit (93-69) at Oakland (96-66), 9:37 p.m. EDT
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Josh Donaldson mimics Miguel Cabrera whenever he can, and he has no problem copping to it.
Donaldson spent a couple of days each week over the offseason studying tape of Detroit's star in the batter's box, trying to pick up on anything he could apply to his own hitting for Oakland.
Indeed, Donaldson learned a thing or two that worked on the way to a breakout season: .301 batting average, 24 home runs, 93 RBIs in 158 games for the AL West champion Athletics.
"JD's the MVP of our team and Miguel Cabrera is the MVP of baseball," A's first baseman Brandon Moss said.
These two talented third basemen will face off in the playoffs for the second straight October starting with Game 1 of the AL division series Friday night.
One is a household name, 2012 Triple Crown winner and widely considered the best hitter in baseball. The other is more anonymous up-and-comer whose spectacular September in his first full major league season earned him AL player of the month honors.
Cabrera is making $21 million this season, Donaldson a mere $492,500.
"I've watched his videos a lot as far as a hitter," Donaldson said. "He's a highly talented hitter, and I really appreciate the way he goes about hitting and I try to learn from him at what he's doing. I feel he's one of the best hitters in the game that goes to right field, and what's helped me be able to take it to the next level this year is the ability to be able to hit it to right field. Watching him over the course of time has definitely helped me."
Cabrera was pleased to hear that Donaldson had studied his tape.
"Oh, that's great. That's awesome," Cabrera said. "He's a great player. He's one of the reasons the Oakland A's are in the playoffs. He brings a lot of energy to their ballclub. I think you'll see he can change the game with his bat but his glove, too."
And to think Donaldson had prepared to play catcher until he was called upon to fill in at third when Scott Sizemore went down with a season-ending knee injury at the start of spring training 2012.
Aside from much focus at third base, the rematch of last fall's first-round series takes on a far different look this time around. Cabrera, Prince Fielder and the Tigers have something to prove after being swept by San Francisco in last year's World Series, while the A's were hardly a surprise division champion this time and know how close they were to beating the Tigers and reaching the ALCS.
Max Scherzer (21-3) gets the ball opposite Oakland 18-game winner Bartolo Colon for the opener. Tigers manager Jim Leyland is going with Justin Verlander in Saturday's Game 2 against rookie Sonny Gray.
Verlander beat the A's in Games 1 and 5 last year.
That's still plenty fresh for both sides, but so is the A's late August visit to Comerica Park in which they took three of four on Detroit's home field.
The A's didn't need a last-second rally this year like their improbable late-September 2012 push in which they stunned Texas on the final day - and became the first team in major league history to win a division or pennant after trailing by five games with less than 10 to play.
"It's definitely a little more pressure when you're out in front than when you're playing from behind - when you're behind, you're still the underdog," A's center fielder Coco Crisp said Thursday. "To be honest, I think we're still the underdog when we're in front."
Cabrera's big bat will decide plenty. He hit .348 with 44 home runs and 137 RBIs but often has played through pain because of a variety of injuries - a troublesome back, a sore left hip, a lower abdominal strain - for a Tigers team coming off its third straight AL Central crown.
"I wish tomorrow at game time I'm 100 percent. I feel much better the last couple days," Cabrera said of his groin problem. "I don't think it's going to be an issue for the playoffs. Anything can happen. I'm ready to give everything on the field."
Leyland has seen improvement in Cabrera's leg strength.
"He's playable. He's not 100 percent," Leyland said. "He's handicapped a little bit, but the last few days have been better."
Donaldson will take note of Cabrera, even if not at fully healthy.
"Any time I can watch him hit, if I'm watching a game, I like to watch and see what he's doing," Donaldson said. "That's what I do in the offseason."
Still, the A's expect Cabrera to bring his best in October when the stakes are so much higher.
The A's have their own injury concerns, with left fielder Yoenis Cespedes hoping to play the outfield Friday.
Manager Bob Melvin said Cespedes threw Thursday to test his sore right shoulder and "there's a good chance you'll see him in left field tomorrow," and not be relegated to designated hitter.
Leyland considered Oakland's home field one of the most difficult last year as raucous, sellout Coliseum crowds packed the place for the team's first playoffs in six years.
And, now, tarps in the third deck have been removed to bring capacity from 35,067 to 48,146 in a dual-sport facility that has featured sewage spills in the clubhouses and dugouts this year.
"I've heard the plumbing here isn't quite up to standards," Scherzer quipped. "I'm hearing the birds chirp on that."
Kind of fitting for the blue-collar, low-budget franchise.
"It's a little more rugged," Crisp said. "It does have its own personality."
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| | Last Updated: 6/2/2024 10:17:47 AM EST. |
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