Always A Tiger

[mfbmike]

Series Review:



Things We Did Well:

- Marcus Thames has busted out of the gates this season, already connecting for 2 homers and bringing in 6 runs, including a grand slam this series. Thames is making the most of the opportunity after Gary Sheffield has left town.

- Guys are hitting the ball hard. 7 homers in 4 games. Curtis Granderson and Thames already with 2 a piece on the season. Detroit's getting into a serious love affair with the long ball.

- Defense is really coming through big. The Blue Jays hit for a significantly better average but still only manged to bring in 17 runs on the series, the same as the Tigers. Defense has helped our pitchers get out of jams early on and more importantly, protect leads.

Things We Didn't Do Well:

- Pitching was far from stellar. The Blue Jays now rank #1 in the league in batting average after holding a hit parade at the Rogers Centre after hitting .359 as a team. You can't let a team hit that well against you and expect to win many games.

- Carlos Guillen's bat nonexistant. He's an integral part of this offense but went 0-15 in the series and is not seeing the ball very well at all. Definitely a slow start out of him. Let's hope it's just early season jitters.

[Vinsane]

A split with the blue jays is an improvement from being swept against them.

[mfbmike]

League Roundup:





- Placed SP Brandon Mccarthy on the 15-day disabled list. (Shoulder Tear)
- Recalled RP Derrick Turnbow from AAA Oklahoma City





- Placed 1B Russell Branyan on the 60-day disabled list. (Torn Hamstring)
- Recalled 1B Bryan Lahair from AAA Tacoma.

[mfbmike]

Series Preview:

(2-2 , 3rd in AL Central) vs (0-3 , 3rd in AL West)


Comerica Park in Detroit

Projected Matchups:

Game 1:


Dontrelle Willis 0-0 , 0.00 ERA | Jason Jennings 0-0 , 0.00 ERA

Game 2:


Justin Verlander 0-0 , 3.00 ERA | Matt Harrison 0-0 , 0.00 ERA

Game 3:


Armando Galarraga 0-0 , 3.00 ERA | Kevin Millwood 0-1 , 1.29 ERA

Rangers Lineup:

2B Ian Kinsler
3B Michael Young
CF Josh Hamilton
RF Nelson R. Cruz
1B Chris Davis
LF Marlon Byrd
DF Hank Blalock
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia
SS Elvis Andrus

Division Standings/Wild Card Race:

[Vinsane]

Good luck against The Texas Rangers!

[Justo]

Jason Jennings is so easy to hit off of

[T.Dot]

GL, should be an easy series

[mfbmike]

i hope willis does well

Same here lol.

Jason Jennings is so easy to hit off of

I hope so. Maybe Carlos Guillen can get his first base hit of the season. :fear:

I added the division standings and wild card race to the series preview. I'll be doing it from here on out as well so you guys can see where I stand in the division. Credit to GSW for the idea.

[goDawgs1433]

I was thinking about adding that in as well, but I think I'll wait til a little later in the season when the standings actually start to matter.

And please drill Jason Jennings, lmao.

[mfbmike]

Dontrelle Willis Has "Anxiety Disorder"



Dontrelle Willis had presented the Detroit Tigers with a major problem. Ever since signing a three-year, $29 million contract extension -- less than three weeks after Detroit acquired him and Miguel Cabrera from Florida -- Willis has not been able to throw strikes.

The problem continued into this spring, and now the Tigers are saying he's been diagnosed with an "anxiety disorder."

However, Willis is still being given a chance to prove himself this season with his 1st start of the season tonight in the Tigers home opener against the Rangers.

Willis had not exactly pitched well enough in spring training but is still being given a shot.

The only alternative (other than the DL) is to release him and eat $22 million. That's hard for anyone to swallow, especially in financially distressed Detroit.

Willis said the diagnosis came after follow-up blood tests showed something of concern. Doctors told him that the condition is treatable and that they'll start him on a regimen.

"This is not depression," Willis said. "This is something totally different. This is something where they saw something in my blood that they didn't like. I'm not crazy, though my teammates might think that I'm crazy."

Last year, Willis walked nine and struck out none in his first two starts, suffering a hyperextended knee in the second game. By June, he found himself demoted to Single-A to work on his delivery and didn't get back to the majors until rosters expanded in September.

This spring, he had a 12.46 ERA with 17 hits allowed and seven walks in 8 2/3 innings. It's been a mysterious and somewhat sad decline for someone who was an All-Star in 2003 and 2005.

Tigers hopefuls are hoping the regimen will turn Willis' career around and put him back in his All-Star form.

This might be the beginning of a grand revival for the 27-year-old former phenom. Before the diagnosis he appeared to be afraid of throwing strikes; now we know he's afraid of everything. That's way less damaging to his earning potential as a baseball player, since medication can work on that. A fear of throwing strikes remains sadly incurable, and psychological professionals recommend you examine the case files for one Rick Ankiel if you deny this medical fact.

[T.Dot]

LOL, have him pull a Rick Ankiel or Adam Loewen and come back as a hitter.

Didn't know that's why Ankiel switched to hitting

[chazmaniandevil]

LOL, have him pull a Rick Ankiel or Adam Loewen and come back as a hitter.

Didn't know that's why Ankiel switched to hitting

ya, ankiel was a good relief pitcher, but then in one game in the playoffs went in and had like 4 wild pitches in a row, that was the last time he threw, it was ridiculous

[mfbmike]

Tigers Take Home Opener With Solid Outing From The D-Train

(2-2) vs (0-3)


Dontrelle Willis' "anxiety disorder" seemed to be under control as the Tigers took game 1 of a 3 game series against the winless Rangers.

The Tigers picked up a win in their home opener against the Rangers, with a final score of 5-1 to send the 36,298 fans at Comerica Park away with a mile, at least until they got to the jammed parking lot. Worst. Traffic. Ever. The bottom of the order provided a huge offensive spark in this one as Gerald Laird hit 3 for 4 and stole 2 bases while Adam Everett surprised everyone batting 4 for 4, bringing in 2 runs. Dontrelle Willis managed to pitch 6 innings, finally earning his 1st win as a Tiger and of the season, with the bullpen giving him an assist in the final 3 innings.

Justin Verlander (0-0 , 3.00 ERA) gets the call for Detroit in game 2 at Comerica Park tomorrow afternoon, and the Rangers will send Matt Harrison (0-0 , 0.00 ERA) to the mound to oppose the Tigers big gun.

Brandon Inge suffered a strained calf in the 1st inning and was replaced by Ryan Raburn.



Tigers Pitching:
Dontrelle Willis (W, 1-0) 6IP | 5H | 1ER | 0BB | 5SO | 1.50 ERA
Aquilino Lopez (H, 1) 1IP | 0H | 0ER | 0BB | 0SO | 18.00 ERA
Joel Zumaya 1IP | 1H | 0ER | 0BB | 0SO | 0.00 ERA
Fernando Rodney 1IP | 1H | 0ER | 0BB | 1SO | 0.00 ERA

Rangers Pitching:
Jason Jennings (L, 0-1) 5,1IP | 10H | 5ER | 0BB | 1SO | 8.43 ERA
Josh Rupe 0.2IP | 1H | 0ER | 0BB | 0SO | 21.60 ERA
Warner Madrigal 2IP | 2H | 0ER | 0BB | 0SO | 0.00 ERA

Tigers Lineup:
CF Curtis Granderson 2-5
2B Placido Polanco 0-2
RF Magglio Ordonez 1-4
1B Miguel Cabrera 1-4
LF Carlos Guillen 1-4
DH Marcus Thames 1-4 | K
3B Ryan Raburn 0-4
C Gerald Laird 3-4
SS Adam Everett 4-4

2B: Cabrera (3)
HR: Thames (3)
RBI: Ordonez (2) , Cabrera (3) , Everett 2 (3) , Thames (7)
R: Granderson , Thames , Everett , Laird 2
SAC: Polanco (2)

SB: Laird 2 (2)

Rangers Lineup:
2B Ian Kinsler 2-4
3B Michael Young 0-4 | K
CF Josh Hamilton 1-4 | 2K
RF Nelson R. Cruz 1-4 | K
1B Chris Davis 2-4 | K
DH Hank Blalock 0-4 | 2K
LF Marlon Byrd 0-3
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia 1-3
SS Elvis Andrus 0-3

2B: Kinsler (1) , Hamilton (1) , Davis (1)
RBI: Cruz (2)
R: Kinsler
GIDP: Young

Player Of The Game:

Dontrelle Willis

Despite getting pulled early, Willis pitched 6 innings, striking out 5 and becoming the first Tigers starter to nab a win this season.

[mfbmike]

Inge Placed On DL With Strained Calf



After suffering a strained calf injury in the 1st inning of the Tigers last game against the Rangers, the Tigers have placed 3B Brandon Inge on the 15 day disabled list.

Due to the injury, the Tigers will be forced to make some changes in their lineup and out in the field on defense. Carlos Guillen will slide over to the infield and play the hot corner while Josh Anderson will play left field. Anderson, who was acquired from the Atlanta Braves earlier this season, will give the Tigers another speedster on the basepaths.

Marcus Thames and Gerald Laird will also receive routine days off for the Tigers upcoming game against the Rangers. DH responsibilities will be handed to Ryan Raburn who hit 0-4 after replacing Inge in the Tigers last game while Matt Treanor will protect the backstop in place of Laird.

The Tigers are expected to switch up the batting order for their upcoming game with Anderson at the top of the order, Curtis Granderson sliding over and hitting 2nd, with Placido Polanco batting 6th. Raburn and Treanor will hit 7th and 8th, respectively.

[mfbmike]

Rangers Bats Quieted; Tigers Bats Silenced As Rangers Finally Get In The Win Column

(3-2) vs (0-4)


The Tigers lineup didn't hold up their end of the deal as Justin Verlander's solid outing wouldn't be enough to net a win.

The Tigers lost a tough one this afternoon, being defeated by Texas as they evened the series at a game a piece. The Tigers lost 2-0 in front of 22,919 fans at Comerica Park after failing to get any sustained rallies going against Rangers pitcher Matt Harrison, who pitched a complete game. Detroit's Justin Verlander deserved better, having given up only 2 runs on 7 hits in his 8 and a third innings of work. Unfortunately. the lack of run support forced Verlander to take the loss, dropping his record to 0-1. Sadly, the "catalyst" of the Tigers offense was Matt Treanor who stroked a pair of hits in 3 at bats.

The Tigers and Rangers will wrap up their series tomorrow afternoon with Armando Galarraga (0-0 , 3.00 ERA) and Kevin Millwood (0-1, 1.29 ERA) projected to start at Comerica Park.



Tigers Pitching:
Justin Verlander (L, 0-1) 8.1IP | 7H | 2ER | 0BB | 4SO | 2.51 ERA
Juan Rincon 0.2IP | 1H | 0ER | 0BB | 2SO | 0.00 ERA

Rangers Pitching:
Matt Harrison (W, 1-0) 9IP | 4H | 0ER | 0BB | 1SO | 0.00 ERA

Tigers Lineup:
LF Josh Anderson 1-4 | K
CF Curtis Granderson 0-4
RF Magglio Ordonez 0-4
1B Miguel Cabrera 0-4
3B Carlos Guillen 0-3
2B Placido Polanco 0-3
DH Ryan Raburn 1-3
C Matt Treanor 2-3
SS Adam Everett 0-3

SB: Granderson (1)

E: Cabrera (1)

Rangers Lineup:
2B Ian Kinsler 0-4
3B Michael Young 2-4
CF Josh Hamilton 2-4 | K
RF Nelson R. Cruz 1-4 | K
1B Chris Davis 2-4 | K
DH Hank Blalock 0-4 | K
LF David Murphy 0-4 | K
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia 1-3
SS Omar Vizquel 0-3 \ K

2B: Davis (2)
3B: Young (1)
RBI: Davis (1) , Young (2)
R: Hamilton , Saltalamacchia

CS: Kinsler (1)

Player Of The Game:

Matt Harrison

Harrison pitched a complete game, holding the Tigers to only 4 hits and helping the Rangers to their 1st win of the season.