Game of the Week: April 17: DET @ NYY

[Erick RockiesGM]

Detroit Tigers (7-6) @ New York Yankees (4-8)

DET: Jordan Zimmerman (1-1, 3.98)
NYY: Sonny Gray (0-1, 16.20 ERA)

The Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees square off in unfamiliar territory, the Tigers in the AL East; the Yankees in the cellar. The Tigers have bizarrely not given superstar Miguel Cabrera a single start, but are doing okay at 7-6 to start the year. Despite the lack of power (Detroit is last in home runs), Detroit has a winning record thanks to Justin Upton. He's supplied some pop with four home runs to go along with a .380 average and stellar defense in left.

The Yankees, however, have really overhauled their roster and are struggling. Freddie Freeman, Maikel Franco, Jose Abreu, and Sonny Gray have stellar resumes, but the unheralded players are struggling. Tyler Austin is batting .167, Ronald Torreyes is hitting .087. Nobody expects much from either and they're giving nothing. Also, Jacoby Elsbury and Matt Holiday have been awful to start. Both are hitting below .175, with two RBI's between them.

That's just the hitting. Gray gave up six runs in Baltimore, leading to a 7-0 Yankees loss. Considering Robert Gselman, Justus Sheffield, and Tyler Wade were sent away in the trade that acquired him, Gray is under a lot of pressure to perform. The Yankees snapped an eight-game losing streak in a win over the Tigers on Sunday thanks to 8 shutout innings from C.C. Sabbathia. The Yankees will need similar work from Gray until the bats come around.

Questions for the GMs:

For Keith Thomas, what has Miguel Cabrera done to deserve being benched two weeks into the season?

This is the first year for Detroit in the AL East. What challenges does your team face playing there?

Michael Fulmer has a back issue he says he can pitch through. What will you do with him considering how much trouble herniated disks can be?

For Shane Callahan, you've made a lot of moves but your team has sputtered. What is your ideal goal for the team's roster construction?

Among your new faces, which one is your favorite and why?

Jacoby Elsbury was thrown out in his only stolen base attempt, is among the worst defensive center fielders in the early going, and has an OPS under .400. Is he salvageable at all, or he no longer a starting caliber player?

[NYY_Shane]

Apr 19, 2017 16:07:02 GMT -8 Erick RockiesGM said:

Detroit Tigers (7-6) @ New York Yankees (4-8)

DET:

For Shane Callahan, you've made a lot of moves but your team has sputtered. What is your ideal goal for the team's roster construction?

The sputter could be expected as we get to know each other. We aren't worried about it. Our ultimate goal is to win now for the fans. They have gone to long losing and they deserve better. We want to give them something to be excited for.

Among your new faces, which one is your favorite and why?

Freddie Freeman is an obvious choice here. We think he has even yet another level and he will reach it here.

Jacoby Elsbury was thrown out in his only stolen base attempt, is among the worst defensive center fielders in the early going, and has an OPS under .400. Is he salvageable at all, or he no longer a starting caliber player?

Yes he is. He will continue to lead off for us and a guy like him just needs some playing time and we plan to give it to him. We can't wait to see what he does with it!

[Erick RockiesGM]

I'm excited to see if Elsbury can turn it around!!!

[Deleted]

Gray gets the job done for the Yanks here!

[Erick RockiesGM]

Yankees 5 Tigers 4


W: Sonny Gray
L: Shane Green
SV: Aroldis Chapman 



The Detroit Tigers lost the game to the New York Yankees 5-4. They may lose their manager as well.

After weeks of curious decisions and a fracturing clubhouse, there's rumors that Christopher Illitch is looking to make a change sooner rather than later. Keith Thomas does not have the support of his players or ownership, and despite the team's decent record, he's on shaky ground. The game against the Yankees was the 14th in a row where Miguel Cabrera didn't start, coming in as a pinch hitter and striking out against Aroldis Chapman. Ian Kinsler hasn't started a game either, contributing to the team's poor home run totals.

With Cabrera, Kinsler, and Victor Martinez out of the lineup, Detroit managed only two extra base hits against a Yankees team that needed seven pitchers to get through the game. Sonny Gray was erratic, walking five, striking out five, and allowing four runs over 5 innings. However, the Yankees bullpen allowing only two baserunners over four innings to preserve the win.

Jonathan Holder struck out three of the four men he faced, before lefty Chasen Shreve got lefty Jim Adduci to ground out and then struck out Justin Upton. three pitchers worked around a single in the 8th to strikeout the side, before Chapman closed the door in the 9th for his third save.

The big blow for the Yankees came from Tyler Austin, putting the Yankees on the board 3-0 in the 3rd. Each team traded runs in the 4th, but the Tigers roared back in the 5th. After a James McCann single, Gray walked Dixon Machado and Jim Adduci, before an Alex Avilla single plated two. Nicholas Castellanos ripped a single to left, scoring Adduci and tying the game.

The Yankees got two out magic in the bottom of the frame. Matt Holliday grounded a single through the left side, before Austin Romine boomed a double to center field. Despite Holliday's slow gait, Tyler Collins didn't have the arm to make a strong through from center field, allowing the Yankees to take a lead their bullpen wouldn't relinquish.

Questions for the GM's:

For Keith Thomas, your ouster will come quickly and you'll be relieved of your media obligations.

For Shane Callahan, your bullpen was splendid. Do you have the best bullpen in the game?

Sonny Gray continued to struggle since coming over from Oakland. What has been the biggest issue for him?

Tyler Austin blasted a big home run, though he continues to hit under .200. Does he have the power to offset the poor average, or are you looking for somebody else out there?

[NYY_Shane]

For Shane Callahan, your bullpen was splendid. Do you have the best bullpen in the game?

As far as our 8th and 9th inning guys I'd say yes, we feel confident to say we have the best bullpen in the game. Too early to tell as far as the depth of our bullpen goes in comparison to the best bullpen in the game.

Sonny Gray continued to struggle since coming over from Oakland. What has been the biggest issue for him?

I think Sonny is overthinking right now. He's trying to hard to be perfect. After he gets out of his head and just gets back to throwing and trusting his stuff and not being afraid to go after hitters, he will be back to his old self.

Tyler Austin blasted a big home run, though he continues to hit under .200. Does he have the power to offset the poor average, or are you looking for somebody else out there?

We love Tyler. He's a versatile young player. Oswaldo Arcia is joining the team and that could play into his playing time some, but Tyler will still have a place in our lineup and we look forward to seeing how he does now and in the future for New York. On a side note, Oswaldo Arcia and Chris Owings were supposed to be able to be in NY playing with the Yankees last Monday, but commissioner has stalled their arrival due to paperwork not being filled out right. The Yankees are very disappointed in the delay and are demanding a reasonable excuse as to why it has happened, but the paperwork has been re-done and put through now and they both will be with the Yankees from here on out.

EDIT:  We have sent an official apology to the Commish.  We have recognized it was our error in the paperwork and he was right.  Apparently there is lots of confusion in the front office.

[Deleted]

I'm curious if the apology to the Commissioner was via Twitter???

lol

[Deleted]

Damned fax machines!