2009 in Amusingly Amateur Photo Review

all photos by Samara Pearlstein

It’s once again time for our annual Year in Amusingly Amateur Photo Review tradition here at Roar of the Tigers, where we look back at the few Tigers games the RotT camera attended in the past season. I know you have totally forgotten about it been waiting in desperate anticipation for this year’s post. No trips to Comerica this year, which is obviously tragic, but there’s still some good stuff upon which you can feast your bored, bored eyeballs.

April 17, Safeco, Justin Verlander vs. Felix Hernandez (6-3 Mariners)

This stupid game. Verlander was perfect (literally) through four, then had a visit from the Spazzosaurus in the 5th, where he gave up five runs. Then he settled down again. He threw 108 pitches in 7.1 innings, which wasn’t too bad, but was also massively inflated by that 5th inning. It was still early in the season, so we did not yet realize that this was going to be Verlander’s modus operandi for the year. SIGH.

Beautiful hairs… how we miss you so…

humping Brandon Inge

Love it. Except when it’s working against us.

We all felt like that after this one, Justin.

More shots from the game can be seen here.

April 18, Safeco, Edwin Jackson vs. Erik Bedard (2-0, Tigers)

Edwin Jackson was a catdamned hero in this one. He threw 7.2 innings of scoreless ball. As in the previous game, the Tigers barely put up any offense, but they managed to ~manufacture~ a couple of runs, and that was all they needed.

the hug-strangulation of Nate Robertson

Safeco is a pretty cool park, RotT recommended.

SeayLyon!

beautiful, beautiful Edwin

More shots from the game can be seen here.

August 1, Progressive, Rick Porcello vs. Jeremy Sowers (4-3, Tigers)

So much going on in this game. It was the first game after the Victor Martinez trade, and it just happened to be Victor Martinez bobblehead night, so that wonderful timing led to a LOT of depressed Racist Logo fans in the park. The guy Martinez had been traded for, Justin Masterson, made his Cleveland debut, alongside rookie Wyatt Toregas, who made his Major League debut and caught the game. FredFred pitched an amazing game– one run over 8 innings, under 100 pitches– but Fernando Rodney blew his first save of the season (fitting that I was there), sending the game into extras. The Tigers won after Jose Veras forgot where he was and balked in a run in the 12th.

Between the two teams, eleven pitchers were used in this one. Oh, and there was a pregame ceremony inducting Sandy Alomar Jr. into the Racist Logo Hall of Fame. Oh, AND it was Throwback Uni Day. Because, you know, there wasn’t enough going on here.

Hey, as a Red Sox fan, I was very happy to get a VMart bobblehead.

Slider gnawing on Bob Feller’s head.

Edwin Jackson and Justin Verlander, seat buddies 4eva.

Andy Van Slyke threw water onto Mustard as it ran by, for some private, disturbed reasons of his own.

Placido Polanco and Adam Everett, perfectly in stride. (insert single dramatic tear here)

Here’s my scorecard from the game, if you’re interested. Click to actually see, obviously.

More shots from the game can be seen here. Photo Review 09 continues after the KEEP READING link!

August 11, Fenway, Rick Porcello vs. Junichi Tazawa (7-5 Red Sox)

The brawl game. Of course. FredFred and Youkilis were both ejected following the fight; Terry Francona was ejected later in the game for arguing. Miggy was hit on the hand/wrist. Tazawa made his first big league start. Madness and awesomeness.

Dave Dombrowski and one of his many, many striped polo shirts.

Miggy had been begging Inge to throw the ball at his stomach, as he insisted he could take it. Batting practice boredom is a dangerous thing, folks.

Youk gets hit…

…and tackles FredFred in his beardy rage.

Andy Van Slyke gets all forceful with Edwin Jackson.

More shots from the game can be seen here.

August 12, Fenway, Zach Miner vs. Josh Beckett (8-2, Sox)

Arrrrrmando, who was supposed to start this game, had a nasty case of the flu. Miggy was out and about before the game, but had a brace on his hand and was not allowed to play. The Tigers were kind of doomed from the start.

Brandon Inge is terrifying.

the infant catcher

Miggy and Polanco box before the game.

JD Drew races Freddy Dolsi home. Dolsi lost this particular battle.

More shots from the game can be seen here.

August 13, Fenway, Justin Verlander vs. Clay Buchholz (2-0 Tigers)

Verlander saves the Tigers from themselves. This was the last game of a four-game series with the Sox, and the only Tigers win. Justin went eight, Raburn went yard, Miggy returned to play through the apparently still-painful contusion on his forelimb. Weirdly, Verlander had two HBP in this one, and both times the ball hit Chris Woodward, who was batting ninth. Sorry, Chris.

a solemn pregame ceremony

The red-tailed hawk who lives at Fenway makes an appearance.

Clete and Grandy, doin’ their outfieldin’ thing.

Miggy and Verlander hug in relief and happiness after the win.

More shots from the game can be seen here.

Want to relive the semi-glory of years past? Check out 2008, 2007, and 2006.

Happy almost-2010, kids and kittens!