How much did layoff hurt the Tigers?
- Tigers were off for a week before opening World Series
- Verlander's struggles similar to 2006, when they had similar break
- Detroit fell behind early, digging deep hole
SAN FRANCISCO -- The preparation was different, but the results were very nearly the same.
With six days between the end of the American League Championship Series and the start of the World Series, the Detroit Tigers took a different approach to the layoff than they did under similar circumstances in 2006.
But even though they worked out and played simulated games against their instructional league team, the Tigers still couldn't avoid a lackluster start to the Fall Classic, losing 8-3 to the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.
"Time off really doesn't matter. This is the World Series," said Detroit first baseman Prince Fielder. "You could take a month off and if they tell you you're playing in the World Series, your mind will get back into it. I don't think the time off hurt at all. We just got beat."
Six years ago, ace Justin Verlander had nine days between starts in the ALCS and the World Series. Just as he did Wednesday, Verlander struggled in Game 1 and the Tigers offense went silent against an unlikely opposing left-hander.
The Tigers can only hope history doesn't completely repeat itself. They were shut down by St. Louis Cardinals rookie Anthony Reyes in the 2006 opener and went on to lose the Series in five games.
"I definitely think (the layoff) affected the last World Series, but I would never say it had anything to do with who won because that would be disrespectful to the Cardinals," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said earlier in the week. "This time we tried to do a few things to keep the guys going, see some live pitching, move around a little bit and take some ground balls and things."
Yet the Tigers still came out looking like a team that missed its connecting flight and was working on three hours' sleep.
Giants southpaw Barry Zito – who won 15 games during the regular season despite a 4.15 ERA – held Detroit scoreless on three hits through the first five innings. Meanwhile, the Giants took advantage of Verlander's shaky command to jump out to a six-run lead.
To be fair, the Tigers couldn't do anything about a two-out ground ball off the bat of San Francisco's Angel Pagan that hit the third base bag and caromed into left field for an inning-extending double. But Verlander couldn't pitch around the bad break, giving up an RBI single to Marco Scutaro and the second of Pablo Sandoval's three home runs.
Cabrera said afterward he thought he might've been able to throw out the speedy Pagan if not for the unlucky bounce. But in Fielder's mind, it didn't really affect the outcome.
"Pablo's three home runs might have hurt us a little more than a double off the bag," Fielder said. "That was obviously bad luck. That just happens. Tomorrow we'll come out and luck will change, hopefully."
Perhaps the play that most typified the Tigers' misfortune came with the score 4-0 in the top of the fourth after Prince Fielder stroked a leadoff single.
Left fielder Delmon Young swung at an 0-2 curve ball from Zito and beat it into the ground in front of the plate. Catcher Buster Posey jumped out from behind the plate to grab the ball.
"I thought I fouled the ball off, but they said he caught it in fair territory," Young said.
Posey tagged Young, then in the same motion threw to second base to easily retire the lumbering Fielder for a double play.
Rally extinguished. Spirits deflated.
"They did everything right and we didn't today, so that's the way it goes," said catcher Alex Avila. "That's why we play seven-game series. Hopefully, tomorrow we come out with a split and get back home."
Now the Tigers have to figure out a way to forget Wednesday's disappointing loss.
"I think the biggest responsibility that any manager has is to make sure his players are ready to play on a daily basis," Leyland said, perhaps prophetically, before Game 1.
For Leyland and the Tigers, getting back to work in Game 2 can't come soon enough.
