Rangers (23-14) Vs. Tigers (20-16)

[m23uza1hem36]

@ Comerica Park


Probable Pitchers:
Game 1: Brandon McCarthy, RHP (3-1, 5.92) Vs. Dontrelle Willis, LHP (0-0, 7.71)
Game 2: Matt Harrison, LHP (4-2, 4.23) Vs. Justin Verlander, RHP (3-2, 4.29)
Game 3: Kevin Millwood, RHP (4-3, 2.93) Vs. Edwin Jackson, RHP (3-2, 2.42)

Tigers Lineup:
C. Granderson, CF
P. Polanco, 2B
C. Thomas, RF
M. Cabrera, 1B
J. Larish, DH
B. Inge, 3B
J. Anderson, LF
G. Laird, C
R. Santiago, SS

Ragners Lineup:
I. Kinsler, 2B
E. Andrus, SS
M. Young, 3B
A. Jones, DH
M. Byrd, CF
D. Murphy, LF
N. Cruz, RF
C. Davis, 1B
J. Saltalamacchia, C

[m23uza1hem36]

Great, great, GREAT to see Willis have the type of game he had, one of the best if not the best pitching performance someone on this team has had thus far this season. 17 straight retired on one of the best offensive teams in all of baseball.

[RustInPeace]

Dontrelle had a terrific start, against the Rangers nonetheless. Only 3 baserunners in 6.1 innings? This is the first time Willis hasn't been completely useless. Hope he keeps this up, but I won't hold my breath.

[Snakebites]

Yeah, once is an anomaly.

Nonetheless, its enough to convince me its worth trying to start him in the next possible game. I haven't been convinced of that in a long time. We'll have to wait and see.

Its the first time he hasn't been completely lost out there on the mound.

[Liqourish]

His first win as a Tigers, let's hope it's not his last. I won't claim his return like the networks are trying to do, but I will give him a fair look during his next outting. I do like what Rod Allen had to say though. Willis looks better because he's gone back to his old mechanics that he's comfortable with. I think bringing him into the AL and then trying to change his wind up and release point added to his problems. Let him pitch in the american league for awhile before you start tweaking his game.

Verlander pitches today..... let's hope to increase this win streak to 5 games.

[Liqourish]

My predicted starting lineup based on what has been said so far...

CF Curtis Granderson
2B Plaicdo Polanco
RF Clete Thomas
1B Miguel Cabrera
DH Wilkin Ramirez
C Gerald Laird
3B Brandon Inge
LF Ryan Raburn
SS Adam Everett

[m23uza1hem36]

^^
I'm excited to see Ramirez, this guy has a lot of upside, much like Maybin who we gave up but I think even more, he just need's a few years to develop.

As for Willis, I'm not saying hes back to his Florida Marlins form.

I'm just happy for the guy to go to what he's gone through and continue to try, at least try to become what he once was.

[Snakebites]

Verlander doing a good job (7 strikeouts in 5 innings). Of course, it took him a ton of pitches to get there.

Lets see how this plays out.

[Liqourish]

Well a 41 pitch 5th inning will elevate anyones pitch count. I though he could have gone out there in the 7th, instead of seeing Brandon Lyon give up a homerun on his very first pitch. Verlanders ERA is now down to 3.99

Our starting pitching has been amazing, our bullpen has been alright despite one player. As long as they can keep it close, our offense can win us games.

Game 3 is at 1:05 pm EST, don't miss it. Millwood vs. Jackson. Let's hope for the second clean sweep of the Rangers this season.

[Liqourish]

Clete Thomas with his first homerun of the season in the first inning.

Grandy hit his 11th homerun this afternoon, once again tying him with Inge and giving the Tigers a 3-1 lead.

After giving up a homer in the 1st, Edwin had a couple struggles but has settled in nicely with help from the defense behind him. Inlcuding Clete Thomas throwing out a man at home plate from right field to get out of the inning.

Let's hope we can hold on to this one.

[Snakebites]

I'd like to see his average up, but Curtis is having a good season (albeit not a typical good season for him).

Edwin Jackson is our best pitcher (looking at the entire season) so far, but he only has 3 wins. The team OWES him this one. I sure hope he gets it.

[Liqourish]

Edwin gave up 1 run in his season opener in Toronto, no decision. He also gave up no runs through 6 innings against the Yankees which the bullpen came in and gave up 11 and the Tigers lost. He should have 5 wins already and working on his 6th, but his teammates have hurt him.

That trade is looking damn good so far. I liked Matt Joyce and still think he'll be a good major leaguer, but the Tigers are really benefitting from the starting pitching.

[Liqourish]

Edwin gave up two more runs in the top of the 8th, but Cabrera singled in a run in the bottom of the 8th and Rodney got the save to complete the sweep.

Tigers are now 23-16 and hold a 2.5 game lead over the Royals in the AL Central. We need the Indians to win the game going on now to put KC 3 games back.

[tmorgan]

For some reason, Leyland arm-slagged the snot out of EJ in this game. I know Zumaya needed a day off, but you have to bring in someone else to start the 8th with Jackson at 115 pitches (finished with 132, ouch). Use Perry and Seay situationally or something.

Take the win, though.

[Liqourish]

He hasn't used Perry in awhile. He's warmed him up but then went with Lyon and Seay a number of times already. I know he's trying to limit Perry (and Porcello) but it's time to take the kiddie gloves off and let them be big league pitchers.

Still, Jackson did alright. If Clete would have caught that ball at the wall, he would have gotten out of the inning without damage. Can't complain about a solid 8 IP outing from Edwin though. And we got the win/sweep.

[Snakebites]

Not a particularly stellar performance from Jackson, but he toughed it out and was able to log the win.

We have the third best record in the American league, only behind Toronto and Boston, fifth best in all of baseball.

Oh yeah, and we just swept a team that was off to a rip-rouring start before we were done with them.

It'll suffice to say that I'm getting pretty excited about this team. Hopefully its not a mirage.

[Liqourish]

I'm cautiously optimistic about the team. Alot still depends on health and pitching.

We know Verlander can find the strike zone again. Jackson was a great pickup and Porcello is coming along nicely. Will Galarraga find his swag? Will Dontrelle continue to improve on his first win as a Tiger? Will Bondo be back healthy? Will we get consistency from the bullpen?

Our bats are coming alive. Our young players are producing runs and making big plays. Our power guys need to get rolling.

Grandy and Inge are doing more this year than I thought they would.

Inge has been down right beasting. Sure his batting average has fluctuated, but he's getting good at bats every game which is a huge improvement from last year. And his defense at third has saved our pitchers quite a few runs already.

What were triples last year are homeruns this year for Curtis. He's also doing much better against lefties this year which allows Leyland to keep him in the lineup unless he wants to give him a day off to rest.

Cabrera got off to a much better start this year but has has a few stumbles. He's been alot better concerning singles and doubles this year, whereas last year he strictly was trying to hit them out of the park. I think he has alot to do with trusting the guys behind him to make plays. That trust is huge for this lineup. It allows Leyland to manufacture runs in situations that the team just failed last year.

There are alot of great signs this year... and I believe the team (when healthy) could make a big splash in the postseason, but I want to see the Tigers get there first before I get my hopes up.

[tmorgan]

Something disconcerting was mentioned in the News a day or two ago...

When Mags, Guillen, and Thames come back, some of these young bats (with options) are going to be demoted. Wilkin Ramirez I'm fine with, but I don't want to see Clete Thomas go back down, and maybe not Larish and Raburn, either. I'm worried that we'll sacrifice the "thing" we have (youthful enthusiasm, speed, and defensive skill) to play the guys previously mentioned.

Of course, all three of the vets above have had big seasons recently, so none of that matters if they hit. Let's hope they do, as our offense has been a little underwhleming thus far (with a nod of the head to Cab, Inge, and Grandy).

[Liqourish]

To tell you the truth, I am fine with Maggz coming back, but I'm not sure I want Guillen and Thames coming back if it means losing Clete and Josh and maybe Larish. Raburn can go back down to the minors, but the other young guys have been huge in our success.