Tigers way behind early

[Paul Meloche]

Minnesota scores six in the first and leads 6-0 heading into the second.

Valdez walked a guy, hit another, and threw a WP. Only one extra base hit for MIN - a double.

On paper, this reminds me of the Valdez start last year against the Tigers when they scored a bunch of runs in the first against him.

The offense has been disappointing overall this season, but Skubal and Valdez getting roughed up on consecutive days isn't going to cut it (yes, anyone can have a bad start and I know they were both very good in their first two starts).

Paul M/

[Peter Welch]

Geez, the Twins are being annoying again.

51 degrees at gametime but 15+ mph winds tonight in Minneapolis.

It's not frigid, but with the windchill it will be pretty cold.

I want to blame cold conditions on Valdez's struggles tonight, but as we saw last year when he pitched against the Tigers he has meltdowns occasionally.

The cold affects both teams, but the Twins' starters have done better than the Tigers' starters in the cold weather.  The Tigers' starters in this series have had serious command issues and you've got to wonder if it's "feel" thing on the ball.  The Twins' hitters seem to have a good approach in this series as well.  They aren't chasing a lot and are punishing hittable pitches.  

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 8:05 PM
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Subject: Tigers way behind early

 

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[Peter Welch]

Weird first inning for Valdez.  He had some wildness and command issues out of the gate as if he was having a hard time getting a feel of the ball.  Buxton swung at the first pitch to lead off the 1st and singled and then Valdez got wild for a couple of batters after that.  He seems to be settling down now as he's giving up a lot of groundballs as usual.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Paul Meloche <meloc...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 8:05 PM
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Subject: Tigers way behind early

 

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[Peter Welch]

Valdez goes 5 and throws 87 pitches.  He allowed 11 groundball outs and 0 flyouts.  Kind of a typical Valdez start, but the 6-run first inning meltdown killed him.

Sigh.

Twinkies lead 7-2 in the bottom of the 6th.  DeJesus is in.

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 8:22 PM
To: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Tigers way behind early

 

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[Michael Borshuk]

Tigers with a nice rally in the 7th to make it interesting but I wish Meadows had tried on ABS challenge on the inning-ending called third strike. Looked low to me in real time. Sigh. 

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[Peter Welch]

Very close, but looks like the called strike 3 on Meadows just caught the zone.  

Look at the 4^th pitch.  Total meatball but Meadows fouled it off.  Sigh.

Peter

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From: Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 9:58 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
Cc: Tigers List <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

[Michael Borshuk]

Oof, you're right. Also right about the 4th pitch being the one to hit. 

Speaking of ABS, Dingler is such a joy to watch behind the plate. So great at the challenges!

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[Roger King]

Argh!   Tigers get 2 runners on in the 8th with one out and then the count is 3-0 on McGonigle and then they give him greenlight. Why?? Take the walk and load the bases with one out. Instead, he pops out weakly to third base.

And Torres strikes out to end the inning. Poorly played by the Tigers. Come on!

Roger King
El Presidente
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Ethnic Voice Talent –www.ethnicvoicetalent.com
(416) 515-7195

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[Peter Welch]

In the 9th against the lefty Funderburk, Meadows grounded to the pitcher for a force play at 2B and McKinstry lined out to 2B on a 3-1 pitch to end the game with runners at 1st and 3rd.  Meadows got a sinker up in the zone but topped it for the grounder.  I thought McKinstry was going to single to RF but the 2B Keaschall caught it.

Frustrating game because we had good chances to come all the way back. 

Now we have to rely on Flaherty to salvage one game in the series.

Peter

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From: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2026 10:21 PM
To: Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com>
Cc: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>; Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>

[Paul Meloche]

Frustrating AB, but McG is arguably the best hitter on the team so I don’t think it’s a terrible green light. Just wish he’d have used better judgement; it might have been a strike but not one you swing at 3-0.

Paul M.

On Apr 8, 2026, at 7:21 PM, Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com> wrote:



Argh!   Tigers get 2 runners on in the 8th with one out and then the count is 3-0 on McGonigle and then they give him greenlight. Why?? Take the walk and load the bases with one out. Instead, he pops out weakly to third base.

And Torres strikes out to end the inning. Poorly played by the Tigers. Come on!

Roger King
El Presidente
PN Agency – www.pnagency.com
Ethnic Voice Talent –www.ethnicvoicetalent.com
(416) 515-7195

On Wed, Apr 8, 2026 at 10:08 PM Michael Borshuk <michael...@gmail.com> wrote:

Oof, you're right. Also right about the 4th pitch being the one to hit. 

Speaking of ABS, Dingler is such a joy to watch behind the plate. So great at the challenges!

On Wed, Apr 8, 2026, 9:02 PM Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com> wrote:

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