Tigers Win 3-2 thanks to Verlander/Pen

Bullpen holds 1 run lead, Rodney strikes out side in 9th

In the home opener the Tigers used a tremendous offensive explosion to lead them to victory (15 runs scored). Today, was completely different. 3 runs, that's it. A 1 run lead when the game went to the bullpen. The Bullpen was PERFECT. 4 innings ZERO BASERUNNERS. We will give credit when it's due, and today Nate, Seay, Perry, and Rodney all did an amazing job.

The offense was from the little guys. The Tigers had been riding the bats of Cabrera and Granderson. Today it was Adam Everett and Polanco. Little guys with big hits, getting it done as a team. Adam Everett had a 2 RBI single, and advanced 3 bases to score the winning run on a short double from Polanco.

This marks 5 good starts in 6 games for the Tigers, if this can somehow continue the Tigers will surprise people and actually contend in the division.

Great Day for the Tigers!

Tigers 3 Rangers 2
(3-3 record)

Tigers Opener!!!!!!

The Tigers were coming off a series in Toronto where they had their opportunities, and for the most part they let those opportunities go to waste. Whether it was the starters getting behind early, or the bullpen blowing the lead, or even the lineup not getting runs when they had chances for big innings, it just didn't happen. But TODAY, that would not be the case.

Today, EVERYTHING went right. The lineup was smoking hot, the starting pitching was brilliant, and even the bullpen did OK (and as a Tigers fan, OK from this bullpen, is almost perfect for other teams). The game went good from the start, a run in the 2nd, one in the 3rd, and then the 5 run 4th inning which included a GRAND SLAM from Miguel Cabrera. The Tigers would score 6 more runs in the 7th inning, an inning that included a 2 RBI double by Cabrera that missed being a HR by about 2 feet. The man is scorching, if you see him I wouldn't suggest shaking his hand, you will probably get burnt.

The best things that came from this game is that this lineup may be deeper than first expected, both Gerald Laird and Brandon Inge could just possibly be positive parts of the offense. That, and Armando Galarraga looked very strong. He may end up being a 15 game winner, and an inning eater this year. Two things that could help the Tigers contend in the division.

I like what I saw today, how could you not. Tomorrow, is the key however. Verlander, is the key to this season. He needs to be 15 plus in the Win column or nothing positive will ever happen for this team. Lets go Tigers, win tomorrow with your "ace" and you're back up to .500. Stay at .500 and above and avoid the firesale.

Tigers 15 Rangers 2
Record moves to 2-3 on the season

Check out Cabrera's Grand Slam

Tigers lose again, look forward to Home Opener

Porcello looks solid, Bullpen not quite.

The game started out strong when the Tigers scored 2 runs in the 3rd inning, including a HR by CF Curtis Granderson. From that point on the Tigers offense was held stagnant by the Blue Jays and their vast erray of Left Handed Pitchers.

Porcello threw 5+ allowing 4 runs (2 by Relievers after he left the game in the 6th inning). Nate Robertson gave up a double with 2 outs and a full count, and Juan Rincon followed that up by coming in and allowing a HR to the first batter he faced.

Tiger lose the series @ TOR 3 games to 1. The Tigers bullpen was terrible, the Starters were good outside of Verlander. Cabrera, Inge, and Granderson carried the offense.

Tigers get first W of the season

Cabrera and Inge help Tigers smash Jays 5-1

There will be no 0-7 start to this season for the Tigers. You can thank Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge for that.

Cabrera hit two home runs and Inge had a dinger for the third straight game to provide all the offense the Tigers needed. Cabrera is now hitting .700 on the season and has an on base percentage of .750. Inge is hitting .364 on the (very young) season.

Zach Miner and the bullpen held the Blue Jays to just six hits. Ryan Perry made his MLB debut, striking out one batter (Alex Rios) while working a perfect 8th inning.

The Tigers look to even up their record at 2-2 behind rookie phenom Rick Porcello tomorrow at 12:30.

Far Too Familiar

Inge Homers to tie it in the 9th only to see Lyon blow the game for the 2nd time

Last year the Tigers were one of the most frustrating teams to watch in the league. Their lineup struggled from time to time to score runs, and even when they did either their SP would get rocked, or their bullpen would blow the lead when it came to the late innings.

Well today the Tigers showed us that not much has changed. The names on a few jerseys are different, but it is the same type of players. Most noticeably that of Brandon Lyon, his style is a whole lot like a pitcher I once knew TODD JONES! The most hated Tiger in my entire life time. People still defend him around here, he was a closer who gave up a near .300 avg against. Wow.

Here's the good news, starting pitcher Edwin Jackson was brilliant. Brandon Inge who made a key error in the 8th inning, tied the game up with a HR in the 9th (2nd in as many days).

TIGERS 4 BLUEJAYS 5 The Tigers move to 0-2 on the young season

Not Exactly

What a Monday in Detroit. The Tigers season opener (in Toronto). A National Championship in your city with a Spartans team that looked destined to finish a storybook tourney run. And then, that day actually happened. The Tigers and Spartans both not only lost, but both were beaten very early on.

OH JUSTIN VERLANDER, WHERE HAVE YOU GONE? Remember a couple years back, when the Tigers were "set for years to come." We had a young stud in Verlander, a strong #2 in Jeremy Bonderman, and a closer of the future in Joel Zumaya. Now Verlander is coming off a season with an ERA of almost 5.00 and a record of 11-17. Bonderman appears to have an injury that may never go away, and Zumaya appears to have not cared enough about his career to take care of himself.

On Monday Night, versus the Toronto Blue Jays, Justin Verlander showed Tigers' fans that it may just be another long Tigers season. Verlander couldn't make it 4 innings. He gave up 8 Earned Runs, and put the Tigers in a hole that they had almost zero chance of getting out of. His velocity was there (hitting upper 90's consistently), but the location was off, and the movement was non-existent.

The Tigers offense also did not show up until it was far too late. The first time through the lineup the only person to reach base was Curtis Granderson, and he was quickly erased when Polanco hit into a double play. There were far too few good signs in this game, but both Granderson and Brandon Inge did go deep. Nate Robertson also pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

The best part of the game was not the game itself, but the fact that it was only 1 of 162. Furthermore, in baseball "momentum is only as good as the next days starting pitcher". OK Edwin Jackson, lets see how good YOU are.

BL Sports National League Preseason Outlook

A quick outlook for the upcoming baseball season in the National League through the eyes of BL and CP themselves

BL
East champ: Mets
Central champ: Cardinals
West champ: Dodgers
Wild card: Diamondbacks
Champion: Cardinals
MVP: Manny Ramierez
Cy Young: Chris Carpenter
Rookie of year: Cameron Maybin, OF Florida Marlins
Sleeper team: Diamonbacks
Team that will sleep: Phillies

CP
East champ: Mets
Central champ: Cubs
West champ: Dodgers
Wild card: Phillies
Champion: Mets
MVP: Albert Pujols
Cy Young: Johan Santana
Rookie of year: Jordan Schaffer, OF Atlanta Braves
Sleeper team: Cardinals
Team that will sleep: Houston Astros

The Cubs, Cards and D'Backs seem to be the major arguments here.

BL Sports American League Preseason Outlook

A quick outlook for the upcoming baseball season in the American League through the eyes of BL and CP themselves

BL
East champ: Yankees
Central champ:Indians
West champ: A's
Wild card: Rays
Champion:Yankees
MVP: Matt Holiday
Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
Rookie of year: Rick Porcello, SP Detroit Tigers
Sleeper team: A's
Team that will sleep: Tigers

CP
East champ: Rays
Central champ: Twins
West champ: Angels
Wild card: Red Sox
Champion: Red Sox
MVP: Kevin Youkilis
Cy Young: Francisco Liriano
Rookie of year: Elvis Andrus, SS Texas Rangers
Sleeper team: Indians
Team that will sleep: Yankees

The differences of opinion's center around the Red Sox/ Yankees rivalry. ESPN will love that. It's not that I think the Red Sox are bad, I just really like the Yankees with the additions to the Starting Rotation, and the Rays were definitely not a fluke. They will be good for years with those young studs. The Red Sox will be the best team not to make the playoffs in baseball, and the Yankees will bring in the new Stadium with a bang.

Tigers Season Preview

Two seasons ago the Tigers shocked the entire sports world by making the World Series. Last year the Tigers repeated one thing, they shocked the sports world again. However, the shock was due to the fact that the Tigers (who were for once near the top of the payroll list) was at the bottom of the division. BEHIND THE ROYALS! Last year most people said the same thing when you asked them about the Tigers before the season started, this season is much different. I have heard everything from "we are going right back to the World Series", to "I won't be surprised if we are last again." The question marks are definitely there, and that's what makes predicting what is going to happen with the 2009 Detroit Tigers difficult.

This year's Tigers team will be different from the past couple years, or at least the faces will have changed. Gone are the likes of Todd Jones, Gary Sheffield, Pudge Rodriguez, Kenny Rogers, Edgar Renteria, and possibly but hopefully not Joel Zumaya and even Jeremy Bonderman. In are the likes of Rookie Pitchers Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry, newly acquired OF Josh Anderson, RP Brandon Lyon, C Gerald Laird, and SS Adam Everett. Fernando Rodney is your Opening Day Closer, and Nate Robertson will also be in the bullpen to start the season. Here is a quick look at the Tigers Opening day Lineup (projected)

1. Granderson (CF)
2. Polanco (2b)
3. Magglio (RF)
4. Cabrera (1b)
5. Guillen (LF)
6. Thames (DH)
7. Inge (3b)
8. Laird (c)
9. Everett/Santiago (ss)

Rotation:
1. Verlander
2. Galarraga
3. Edwin Jackson
4. Porcello
5. Miner

DL
Joel Zumaya (same injury that began the end of his career)
Bonderman (lingering injury from last season )
Dontrelle (completely lost)


The lineup would be good, for a National League team. In fact, it really looks like a typical NL lineup. 5 deep, then 4 hitters who will be insanely lucky to hit over .240 (.220 is more likely). To focus on the positive, the top 5 of our lineup is as good as any. Cabrera is ready to take A-rod and Manny's role as the best Right Handed hitter in baseball. Magglio is a stud still, and Granderson, Polanco and Guillen are all All-star caliber players. To me this lineup has to stay healthy which has been tough the past couple seasons, and if that happens they can be above average, but the bottom 4 in the lineup will kill many possible big innings.

The pitching rotation has huge question marks. Verlander was a horrendous #1 SP last season, and has been up and down in the spring. Galarraga gave up lots of baserunners, but not lots of runs last season. Edwin Jackson had an ERA around 5.00 last year, and Porcello and Minor will be lucky to make it to the All-star break still in the rotation. The rotation is terrible. To even be average they will need a 18 win season from Verlander and two of the next 4 to well exceed expectations. I have doubts that Bonderman will be back to himself at any point this season, and Nate Robertson may be released at some point if he doesn't adjust to the bullpen. The bullpen has many question marks, featuring many minor league pitchers from last season. The bullpen will struggle to be even near average.

As a whole this Tigers team has a lot to prove. I do not see good things here. The lineup is top heavy (extremely) and injury prone even at the top. The defense is still very slow and the pitching is scary. The bullpen is a bunch of guys who most Tiger's fans won't recognize and the rookies will have roles they were expected to have at AA/AAA ball.

This team will finish in last place, and that's not the bad news. The bad news is that after a couple months there will be a FIRESALE in Detroit. All players making any money will be gone, and gone quickly. Magglio will be the first and if we can get rid of the likes of Guillen, Inge, Robertson, and many more we will. I am predicting around 70 wins and finishing the season with a team that would be OK if it said MUDHENS on the front.

(God, I hope I am wrong)