The no-no
That wasn't what I expected a no-hitter to feel like.
I had always figured that covering a no-hitter would have a great suspsen, like this any-given-night kind of magic that evolves as the game moves on. This one had magic, but as you saw Verlander's pitches move in the early innings and how he was able to spot them, you knew he was going to be almost impossible to hit. If he hadn't thrown a no-hitter, it was going to be a one- or two-hitter. Once he got past the eighth on Neifi Perez's miracle play -- and after this, I think it's time for fans to stop bashing Neifi for a while -- he had it. This was not a game with a bunch of balls hit hard right at people. It was impressive when balls were put in play at all.
The only no-hitter I had seen in my life was as a fan in high school, a 1992 game in which Boston's Matt Young no-hit the Indians in Cleveland and lost. It was one of those games where you look up at the scoreboard and can't believe he has a no-hitter going, because he walked seven guys in his eight innings. By rule, it wasn't a no-hitter because it didn't go nine innings, but when you looked up at game's end, the hit column had a zero on it.
This one didn't have that surprise factor. The question was whether he'd pay for the few mistake pitches he'd make, because the Brewers weren't going to hit him otherwise.
I still cannot believe he hit 102 on the gun that late. I only got to see the last inning because I was at work and it came on ESPN.
http://statisticianmagician.mlblogs.com/
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As a loyal Tiger fan since 1959, I was surprised that I had never seen any nohitter ever from pitch to pitch. As a fellow Virginian, I can only see tremendous upside to Goochland's own Justin Verlander. The "stuff" is Hall of Fame Quality. there will be many more no hitters if the arm holds up. Slowly but surely, the Tigers are reestablishing themselves as a premier team. And for my good blogger friends who rode the "dump Inge" wagon, I simply allow the season to progress, and Lynchburg, VA's one and only Inge gets the job done, bad toe and all.
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As a loyal Tiger fan since 1959, I was surprised that I had never seen any no hitter ever from pitch to pitch. As a fellow Virginian, I can only see tremendous upside to Goochland's own Justin Verlander. The "stuff" is Hall of Fame Quality. There will be many more no hitters if the arm holds up. Slowly but surely, the Tigers are re-establishing themselves as a premier team. And for my good blogger friends who rode the "dump Inge" wagon, I simply allow the season to progress, and Lynchburg, VA's one and only Inge gets the job done, bad toe and all.
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I was lucky enough to be sitting in left field last night and let's just say it was hands down the best baseball game I've been at in my 17 years, and one of my best Tigers memories. Plus, it didn't hurt that my Tiger, Inge, had another great offensive game.
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Guys- I missed the no-no last night. My dad called right after the game to see if I had watched it-- he, of course, was too superstitious to call and mess up Verlander's karma. As mad as I was for missing it, I did enjoy getting the nearly pitch-by-pitch replay from my dad. Good stuff.
I'm also starting to get extremely excited about this team. They have some warts but not as many as I (we?) first thought. Sure, the bullpen-- and some of our starters-- have been rough but we're getting Rogers back soon and should also get Zumaya. I'm confident that these problems will be solved. As far as the lineup, its really starting to gel and I think we can expect great things.... Its great to be a Tiger fan, aint it?
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The no-no was an amazing moment for me, so I'd imagine it was incredible for Verly. Congrats Justin!
Really, enough is enough. Fernando Rodney has alone by himself cost the Tigers at least 4 games this season. He cannot pitch at the major league level right now, so Jimmy, please stop trying.
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I don't know what to say about Ferndando. I really like him but the guy is certianly struggling this year. I don't know if the pressure of no Zumaya is too much for him or what. He was great last year, and no one can say any different. But a little defense of Fernando tonight. On the 4th pitch of the at bat to hall the ump blew the call, it was a strike and a few pitches later, he gives up the homerun. It seems to be Fernando's MO this year, he gets a bad call and he blows it one way or the other. He throws a wild pitch, hits a batter, or in this case gives up the homerun. He seems to lose him composure this year after a bad call. My spouse and I called it tonight, he got that bad call, and I said watch it here he is going to blow it, and two pitches later he did. By the way where have the bats gone the last couple of days?? Not that we shouldn't be able to win lower scoring games, but lets face it, in the last month or so we haven't. Lets go get'em tomorrow.
GO TIGERS
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