Series Two: Cleveland Indians @ Detroit Tigers

[ajaX82]

Home opener. Throw up the probables if ya got em, because i dont know where to find them.

[Liqourish]

I'll give it a shot... bare with me.

Cleveland Not-LeBrons @ Detroit Tigers






David Huff- 25 yrs old 6'2" 185lbs left-hander

VS.



Rick Porcello- 21 yrs old 6'5" 200lbs right-hander

Guys to watch out for:

Cleveland-
Grady Sizemore- .267 BA 0 HR 5 RBI



Detroit-
Miguel Cabrera- .527 BA 2 HR 7 RBI

[kellmellus50]

Detroit will sweep cleveland get out the brooms

[Snakebites]

Espn has the probables on their schedule, just click "scoreboard" and look at the dates in which we play:

Today (already in progress):

Porcello vs. Huff

Tomorrow:

Talbot vs. Bonderman

Sunday:

Westbrook vs. Verlander

[Liqourish]

I'm really impressed by the Sizemore/Everrett combo. They have turned alot of double plays already this season. I think we have a solid defensive infield. We had a good one last year, but Sizemore seems alot quicker and seems to have better timing with Everrett than Poly did last year.

Porcello threw too many balls, but he made plays when he needed them. Just glad the offense picked up and allowed him the chance for the win.

We already have shown that that scoring with RISP is going to be trouble again this year. I don't know what it is, maybe it's the back of our lineup, but it's just not happening and it's going to cost us.

Good to be 3-1 right now though. Let's hope Bondo has a good outing tomorrow.

[Liqourish]

Game 2

Mitch Talbot- 26 yr old 6'2" 175 lb Right-hander

The Indians acquired Talbot in the December trade that sent Kelly Shoppach to the Rays. His path to the big leagues with the Rays was blocked, and he's out of Minor League options. The Indians are giving him this shot in the rotation based on his 13-win seasons at Triple-A Durham in 2007 and '08 and his strong performance in spring camp. Talbot has four effective pitches, with his changeup getting the most rave reviews. He pitched briefly for Tampa in 2008, but this will be his first real exposure to life as a Major League starter. He gave up five runs in 2 1/3 innings in a relief appearance against the Tigers in '08.

VS.

Jeremy Bonderman- 27 yr old 6'2" 220lb right-hander

While Dontrelle Willis' comeback from two lost seasons attracted some well-deserved attention nationally, Bonderman's return from two injury-plagued campaigns means just as much to Detroit's fortunes. He seemed on his way to stardom in 2006 before an ERA jump in 2007 and then circulation problems in 2008 threw his career into question in just his mid-20s. Now 27, he still doesn't have the old strength in his arm or the same life in his fastball, but his workhorse slider is back and his willingness to throw an offspeed pitch is stronger than ever. Bonderman went 1-1 with a 6.92 ERA in five spring outings, but more than half of his damage came in two-thirds of an inning against Toronto in early March.

[Liqourish]

Tigers lineup today

CF- Austin Jackson
LF- Johnny Damon
RF- Magglio Ordonez
1B- Miguel Cabrera
DH- Carlos Guillen
3B- Brandon Inge
Cc- Alex Avila
2B- Scott Sizemore
SS- Adam Everrett

[RustInPeace]

Maggs = Beast.

[Liqourish]

Bondo looked good out there and Ryan Perry got his first career save.

I'm liking most of the team this year. If Bondo/Willis can stay healthy/consistent.... we'll have a deadly starting rotation. Our bullpen has been real good too.

Our young guys seem to have alot of plate discipline. They might not have great power numbers, but our young guys don't appear to be willing to give away at-bats.

4-1 ain't a bad way to start the season. And we have Verlander back on the mound tomorrow.

[kellmellus50]

Detroit will sweep cleveland get out the brooms

Looks like i was right 1 more game to go.

[Liqourish]

Game 3-

Jake Westbrook- 32 yrs old 6'3" 215lb right-hander (0-1 11.25 ERA)

Westbrook made his first start in nearly two years when he got the Opening Day nod against the White Sox on Monday, and he showed every bit of the rust that no doubt accumulated in that time. Westbrook went just four-plus innings, allowing five runs on five hits with four walks, a strikeout, a home run, two hit batters and four wild pitches. The wild pitches tied a club record for a single game. But Westbrook said he enjoyed being back on the Major League mound nearly two years after Tommy John surgery, and he's eager to find his old form. He is 4-8 with a 6.05 ERA in his career against the Tigers.

vs.

Justin Verlander- 27 yr old 6'5" 225lb right-hander (0-0 7.20 ERA)

Though a pair of two-run innings denied Verlander a chance at an Opening Day victory and chased him out after five innings, he retired 10 straight Royals in between and felt like he finally found the rhythm he was struggling to locate during Spring Training. His fastball registered at 100 mph, surprising even for him in his first outing of the year, and he would be happy to take that stuff into his first home start of the season against the Indians, whom he beat four times in as many starts last year after going 1-5 against the Tribe in 2008. He went 10-2 with a 2.81 ERA at Comerica Park in 2009.

??

[m23uza1hem36]

Nice game for Bondo

[ElectricMayhem]

4 out of 5? Ok, I'm over the Granderson trade.

[Liqourish]

If our guys can get 4-6 runs a game and Willis/Bondo stay healthy/consistent.... I think we could take the division pretty easily. The team knows they let the season slip away, allowing a bad Twins team get into the playoffs. I don't see them letting that happen again. And forget Chicago, they get overrated to start every season and then fizzle.

[kellmellus50]

Detroit will sweep cleveland get out the brooms

Looks like i was right 1 more game to go.

i called it the tigers sweeped cleveland today winning 9-8

[Liqourish]

What a come from behind victory!! WHOOOOOOOOO!!!

I'm loving this team right now. A few players * Cough* Laird and Raburn *Cough* need to leave, but damn they've got alot of fight in them.

Sizemore and Jackson had good games. Cabrera got on base at every at-bat. Our guys took alot of walks.

Most importantly, we're still 5-1 and took over the division lead away from the Twins.

[ajaX82]

damn fine win gentleman, damn fine win