Not JV's Best Day, but Good Enough

Justin Verlander was quick to point out that he didn't have his best stuff vs the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, saying "name a pitch, I had trouble finding consistency with anything," after securing his 20th win of the season.  A 6-4 win, and Verlander becomes the major's first 20-game winner of the season, and for the first time in his career.  Verlander also becomes the first pitcher to hit that mark before the end of August since Curt Schilling did it in 2002.

Justin Verlander (AP Photo)

But while he wasn't at his best, he was still helped by one of the better offenses in the American League.  Miguel Cabrera had a solo HR in the first, but his RBI hit following another Delmon Young RBI single gave the bullpen just enough insurance to help close this game out.  The Tigers recent run vs the Twins, which includes an 11-3 record this year, and 15 wins in the last 18 meetings, is reminiscent of the runs that Minnesota handed to the Tigers over the course of the last decade.

The injury-riddled and otherwise snakebitten Twins will send out struggling lefty Brian Duensing to the mound to face a suddenly, but maybe only moderately consistent Brad Penny as the Tigers face the Twins for the last time at Target Field this season.  They'll do so with a 6.5 game lead over the second place Indians, with the hopes of finishing the road trip 6-1 before they go home for 4 games vs the Royals.

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As for yesterday's Fox broadcast, Fox paired Tigers play-by-play man Mario Impemba with newly inducted Hall of Famer and resident self-lover Bert Blyleven to call the game.  Even with the Dick Stockton/Rod Allen combination, which may have been the most awkward pairing ever, the game calling wasn't horrible.  However, I was disappointed with the way Bert needed take over and interject during the course of the ballgame.  I think Bert is a decent analyst, but Saturday's display made me think that Mario wasn't needed at all in the booth.  Bert was also nice enough to joke about Miguel Cabrera's "donkey strength", which after 5 years of living in his market I knew he was joking, but that doesn't mean everyone did too.  I myself am fully aware that these regional telecasts need the balance, but having 2 potential alpha-dogs talking over each other makes the broadcast messy.  And with Hurricane Irene postponing a lot of games, this was probably broadcast with a bigger audience than just the Detroit and Twin Cities markets.  Do better, next time, Fox.  Though I know that's hard to do.

Anyone who did catch yesterday's game and watched some of the advertising, probably caught an MLB postseason moment that included this:

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=12602373

Enjoy that.  Again and again.