Game 6

The Tigers roll in to Baltimore after barely edging out a series victory in Kansas City. The weather looks to be a little bit better with temperatures in the mid 40's for today's game. It's Opening Day for the O's as they send Daniel Cabrera to the mound. Cabrera can be masterful, as he was last September, nearly no-hitting the Yankees, or dreadful as evidenced last April when he allowed seven runs, on seven hits and seven walks in 1.1 innings of work. On the mound for the Tigers is Chad Durbin in his first major league start since 8/26-04. Let's hope the 2 years and 7 months since have taught him some things, because in that start he didn't get out of the first after giving up 6 runs. The Orioles are also coming off a series win over the Yankees after being swept by the Twins in the opening series, but will be without the services of catcher Ramon Hernandez, a blow to the O's offense.

Line-ups:
Detroit (3-2)
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Sheffield DH
Ordonez RF
Guillen SS
Rodriguez C
Casey 1B
Monroe LF
Inge 3B

Baltimore (2-4)
Roberts 2B
Mora 3B
Markakis RF
Tejada SS
Huff 1B
Gibbons LF
Millar DH
Patterson CF
Bako C

Pitchers:
Tigers - Chad Durbin (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Orioles - Daniel Cabrera (0-1, 3.86 ERA)

Post-game:

Tigers 2 Baltimore 6

Daniel Cabrera was on today. After a 21 pitch first inning he settled down and was in control. The pitcher that led the AL in walks last year did not have one today. It's not like he was overpowering Tiger hitters, he only had 5 K's (2 were against Inge so I'm hesitant to count those as legit K's), but his curveball put Tigers in a hole so often they were swinging at bad pitches, popping out, and hitting weak grounders. As for Durbin he looked good until the third inning. Still he stuck out 5 and only had one walk. The problem was he was leaving too many pitches out for hits. Wil Ledezma was lights out in relief. In 2.1 inning he allowed only one hit, adn his only walk was an intentional one. If the Tigers had another lefty besides Seay in the bullpen, one might wonder if Ledezma might be given another shot as a starter.

Tiger Hero:
Wil Ledezma and Jose Mesa. After Durbin faltered the bullpen came in and allowed only one hit and retired the last nine Orioles in a row.

Tiger Zero:
Gary Sheffield. While Brandon Inge might be hitless for the year, he is only 3 hits behind Sheffield on the year. An o for 4 performance today with a strikeout. The Tigers need more than that from the 3 spot to win games.

Tigers Record:
W - L
3 - 3

Game 5

The rubber match in the series today, as Jeremy Bonderman looks to get his first win of the season, and the Tigers win their first series on the year which will move them to the right side of .500. The Tigers look to have gotten some of that power back, let see if the patience that was there in the first two comes of the season returns as well.

Line-ups:
Detroit
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Sheffield DH
Ordonez RF
Guillen SS
Rodriguez C
Casey 1B
Thames LF
Inge 3B

Kansas City
DeJesus CF
Grudzielanek 2B
Teahen RF
Brown LF
Gordon 3B
Sanders DH
Shealy 1B
LaRue C
Pena SS

Pitchers:
Tigers - Jeremy Bonderman (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
Royals - Brandon Duckworth (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Post-Game:
The Tigers flat out stole one today. But an ugly win, is a win nonetheless. Bonderman and the bullpen pitched well today. Bonderman allowed 2 runs on 7 hits and had 8 K's in 6 innings. Bobby Seay and Fernando Rodney pitched scoreless 7th and 8th innings, and Todd Jones racked up his third save of the season. As for the hitters, Carlos Guillen looks like he's starting to heat up as he was 2 for 3 with a double. Pudge continued his ownership of KC pitching, going 2 for 4 and hitting the go ahead 3 run homer. Everyone else...as cold as the weather. Thames did draw two walks, but also one of five Tiger strikeouts. As I've stated before, hopefully the bats will heat up with the weather.

Tiger Hero:
Ivan Rodriguez. An easy pick here as he put the Tigers up in the top of the ninth with a 3 run homer.

Tiger Zero:
Brandon Inge. Hate to pick on him when he's down, but still hitless and fouling out with an 0-1 counts isn't going to win people over.

Tigers Record:
W - L
3 - 2

Game 4

In what is hopefully a bounce back game for the Tigers; they put Mike Maroth up against the ace of the KC staff Gil Meche. Hopefully the Tiger bats have thawed after last night's debacle, and as Rod Allen would say "put some crooked numbers up on the board."

Line-ups:
Detroit
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Sheffield DH
Ordonez RF
Guillen SS
Rodriguez C
Casey 1B
Monroe LF
Inge 3B

Kansas City
DeJesus CF
Grudzielanek 2B
Sweeney DH
Sanders RF
Brown LF
German 3B
Shealy 1B
Buck C
Pena SS

Pitchers
Tigers: Maroth (0-0)
Royals: Meche (1-0)

Post-Game:
wasn't spectacular, allowing Propelled by solo shots from Pudge, Sheff, and Grandy; the Tigers hold on to win 6-5. Marothfour runs on six hits. He was better than Gil Meche, who gave up 6 on 8 hits. Defense was much better than the previous games. The lone error was a errant throw by Carlos Guillen that, thanks to a lucky bounce, still resulted in an out (via a rundown). Only 3 walks to 7 K's for the Tigers bats, but half of their hits were of the extra base variety. When the weather starts to heat up, I'm assuming the Tigers bats will too. Grilli got into some trouble in the 7th allowing a few hits, and putting the potential tying run 90 feet away with only one out. But he recovered to retire the next two batters and get out of the jam. Todd Jones recorded the save in 1-2-3 fashion, notching up a strikeout for the final out.

Tiger Hero:
Curtis Granderson. He drove in two and his solo shot in the 5th ended up being the winning run.

Tiger Zero:
Brandon Inge. Inge was 0-4 with 3 K's and has yet to record his first hit of the season. All is not lost however, he had a terrible April last year and had a decent year at the plate.

Tigers Record:
W - L
2 - 2

Game 3

Game 3 takes place tonight in chilly Kansas City. Justin Verlander makes his first start of the season against Jorge De La Rosa. Also since De La Rosa is a lefty, we will probably be seeing the debut of Pudge as a leadoff hitter. Although with Grandy's prowess at the plate in the first two games I wouldn't be surprised if Jim Leyland leaves him at the top of the order. This should poses as a easy start to the series as, De La Rosa has been shaky this spring. Ask A.J. Burnett what happens if you don't have control around the Tigers hitters. As for another 8th inning meltdown, I don't think the Royals hitters are in the same level as the Blue Jays, so the Tigers should be safe. Other questinos: Will C-Mo get his first hit? Will the Tigers continue to rack up the bases on balls? Will the Tigers go a game without striking out more than 5 times? Will someone other than Curtis Granderson get an extra base hit? Will Placido Polanco stay on fire?
Answers and game wrap-up later tonight.

Post-game
Royals 3 Tigers 1...yeah um well that pretty much sucks. It seemed like the whole game both teams were anxious just to get the game over with. I don't think Magglio's ninja costume helped him get to the ball any quicker, yet another misplayed ball. Only three walks on a pitcher that has walked over 100 in 144 career innings, is not good. I'm assuming everyone will be calling for Jose Mesa to join Fernando Rodney and Jason Grilli on a bus to Toledo. Everyone pause...take a deep breath...settle down. It's only GAME FRICKING THREE OF THE SEASON...That being said, if the Tigers don't pull out a series win, I expect a full on tirade from Mr. Leyland if one hasn't been unleashed after tonight's performance.

Tiger Hero:
Justin Verlander. The walk total was a little high, but C.B. Buckner's strike zone seemed to change pitch to pitch. He only allowed 2 hits, struck out five, and allowed only two hits. He kept the Tigers in it.

Tiger Zero:
Everyone but Verlander and Wil Ledezma. I think the Tigers forgot that you still have to actually play the game to beat Kansas City. KC tried to lose this one, they stranded 19 men on base. No one could get anything started and the Tigers played way down to the level of the Royals.

Tigers Record: 1-2 (Tied for 4th in the AL Central)

Casting Call

One of the benefits of unemployed and having insomnia, is that you stay up all night and watch crappy movies. Last night's gem, "Angels in the Outfield". It featured Danny Glover as the manager, the kid from "3rd Rock from the Sun" as a kid who sees Angels that help the team, and Christopher Lloyd as the head Angel. Well since it has been like ten years since I've seen this movie, and as I'm watching I forgot that Tony Danza was cast as a washed up pitcher. I also recognized in right field was Matthew McConaughey. Even stranger was future Oscar winner Adrien Brody as a utility infielder. So this got me to thinking, if there was a movie about the 2007 Detroit Tigers, who would play whom?

Jim Leyland: James Gammon (aka Lou Brown from Major League)
Can't you just see Jim Leyland yelling at Dorn to get in front of the damn ball?
Kenny Rogers: Dennis Quaid
Both have prolonged their careers by embracing the mentor role.
Curtis Granderson: Will Smith
Who doesn't like Will Smith? Well I don't, but Grandy sure is making himself into the likable star that Will Smith seems to be
Brandon Inge: Matt Damon
Women love them, yet despite wanting to hate them, they do just good enough of a job to seem alright. The Bourne Identity = 27 HRs from the 9 spot.
Pudge Rodriguez: Marc Anthony
Diminutive Puerto Ricans whose best years are behind them. But cheer up, Marc you're with Jennifer Lopez (for now..) and Pudge you're a Hall of Famer and still have a couple years left.
Craig Monroe: Duane Davis (that guy in every sports movie)
In the background for most of the movie, yet every now and again has a big line.
Marcus Thames: Omar Epps
Good guys you wish they could give a better role to
Todd Jones: Billy Bob Thornton
If anyone could get into the psyche of Jonesy it would have to be Billy Bob, even if he is a Cards fan
Jeremy Bonderman: Woody Harrelson
To me they just look alike.
Mike Maroth: William O'Leary (Jimmy from Bull Durham)
I think candlesticks would make a nice gift for Mike's wedding too.
Joel Zumaya: Benicio Del Toro
A little old for Joel, but the bad-assery content is the same level
Jose Mesa: Ruben Blades
Veteran relief pitcher, veteran character actor.

That's all I got. Any othersf from other teams? Fill up the comments.

Game 2

Pre-Game:
On a day that the Tigers will be receiving their AL Champion rings, the weather will be reminiscent of the day in October on which they won it. The forecast is cold with a chance of rain/snow. If the game ends up being played the wind may play a factor as gusts up to 50 mph could occur. But enough meteorology out of me, the pitching match up is Nate Robertson vs. A.J. Burnett. Here are the line-ups:

Detroit
Granderson CF
Polanco 2B
Sheffield DH
Ordonez RF
Guillen SS
Rodriguez C
Casey 1B
Monroe LF
Inge 3B

Toronto
Johnson LF
Overbay 1B
Wells CF
Thomas DH
Glaus 3B
Rios RF
Hill 2B
Zaun C
Clayton SS

Post-Game Notes:
A blow-out that turned into a nail biter. Nonetheless, the Tigers hold on for the win and even it up to 1-1 for the year. The Tigers again were a bit more patient drawing 9 walks, and everyone reached base at least once. Carlos Guillen pulled off a couple more good plays at shortstop. Sean Casey made his share of nice plays on askew tosses to first base. Magglio Ordonez was to fielding as Todd Jones is to pitching today. Nate Robertson looked solid, drawing a bunch of groundballs, and striking out 4 in 5 2/3 innings. Fernando Rodney was shaky once again, allowing three hits and giving up three runs in that nightmare 8th inning.

Tiger Hero
Curtis Granderson. Knocked in 5 and had his first career grand slam in the 3rd inning. His triple in the 7th ended up driving in what ended up being the deciding run.

Tiger Zero
Magglio Ordonez. while the swirling winds might have had something to do with it, his fielding in today's game was downright atrocious. The dive for the ball that he ended up missing and resulted in a triple and 3 runs in, made the game a lot closer than it needed to be.

Tigers Record (1-1)

Opening Day 2007

Well by now the Tigers first game of the season has been recalled and dissected by many. Here's a few bulleted game observations of mine, and some really bad cellphone camera pictures

• Parking was insane downtown. Whether this was due to all the people tailgating for Opening Day, or this will be commonplace due to the expected jump in attendance, remains to be seen.
• While the first and tenth inning pitching lapses cost the Tigers the game, from innings 2-9 there were only four hits and two walks.
• Sheffield and Vernon Wells launched foul balls into the upper deck pretty deep down the third base line. Wells landed in what looked to be a few rows in front of the top in somewhere in the 340's
• Tigers hitters did a good job s of taking and fouling off pitches. Halladay left in after the sixth inning after throwing over 90 pitches.
• Other than the misplayed bloop hit, and a bobble at first base, the fielding looked solid. especially Carlos Guillen.
• Todd Jones, one inning. That's the way it should be.
• Toronto came out very aggressive, two stolen bases in the first inning.
• Kind of disappointing to see some on the record crowd head to the aisles after Rodney gave up the first run in the top of the 10th.
• All in all, great weather, and a pretty good game. while the Tigers did lose, they looked good and there are 161 games left to go.
  

After Every game, I'm going to single out my pick for the top and bottom performers of the game the Inaugural edition of Tiger Hero/Zero goes like this:

Tiger Hero:
Placido Polanco
While Sheff might have had two sac flys for RBIs. Placido had a RBI of his own and went 3 for 5.

Tiger Zero:
Fernando Rodney
Sorry Fernando, but you had Frank Thomas at 0-2 and plunked him to load the bases, then had Glaus down 0-2 then gave up the hit that put the Jays ahead.


Here's my Scorecard


If you squint at the white flag in the center you'll see the AL Champions banner


Here's how the first pitch looked from my seat