It’s finally here (sighs blissfully).
That’s about all I can muster up this morning, as we sit on cusp of what should be Detroit’s first winning season since 1993. Jeremy Bonderman, the man who carries the Tigers’ hopes will also be carrying the ball today against the Royals. With a forecast in the low 60’s with sun, things are shaping up for this to be the best opener in recent memory.
As for me, I’ll be at the game so I won’t be posting any updates. My pregame ritual will take me to a coney island for breakfast, before heading down to Casey’s. Casey’s is by the old Tiger Stadium at Michigan and Rosa Parks. While there are some fine establishments closer to Comerica Park (i.e. Towne Pump, Detroit Beer Co., etc) I prefer the tradition that the older bars (i.e. Casey’s, Nemo’s) provide.
As I said, I’ll be at the game so I won’t have any commentary. However, feel free to post any thoughts in the comments. Or, check out one of the great message boards like MotownSports that will have a lively game thread running.
Other Stuff
As is old news by now, the Tigers put Steve Colyer and Gary Knotts on waivers, and both made it through. Knotts is in Toledo, and Colyer is with the Mets organization after being traded for Mike Ginter. This isn’t a big move, so it doesn’t deserve big commentary. So my take on it is: “it should be okay.”
Knotts meanwhile is complaining of shoulder soreness. That may explain why in his start last week, his fastball was sitting in the high 80’s instead of the low 90’s.
And former Tiger Alex Sanchez was the first player busted in the new steroid program. I don’t even know what to make of this.
More Predictions
The crew at TigersCentral has their season preview up, which is worth checking out.
And Lynn Henning says second place for the Tigers.
For, lo, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone;
The flowers appear on the earth;
The time of the singing of birds is come,
And the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.
Yeah, uh, Alex Sanchez. What?
I wonder if the Sanchez thing had anyhing to do with the Tigers dropping him.
Anyone else taken a look at the minor league players that were suspended for violations?
No tigers players… but the majority of the list were from the cubs, the angels, the A’s, and the mariners. I’m not sure if this is just because this was only a partial list and more suspensions are coming or if these organizations really just have a bigger problem with drugs, but it makes ya think either way.
What strikes me about the list is the utter lack of star prospect power. I hardly recognize any of those names.
Let me preface this post by stating that Infante is my Favorite Tiger, and i think hes gonna be a great player in the near future. However:
Pudge Should Lead Off! Now, i know you guys are thinking the only reason i say that is because he dropped 30 lbs and is looking much more nimble. Well actually that is only one of three reasons why I think that. The second reason is that Pudge is not a big power bat that he is percieved as. Pudge is now a 16-19 HR player, and not the HR threat that he once was. The third reason, and most important is that pudge led the team in OBP at .390 last year.
As a sidenote Pudge batted number two in the order for the World Champion Marlins ’03
Pudge
Guillen
Ordonez
Young
White
Pena
Monroe
Infante
Inge
I agree completely Joe. Although I think I’d give a nod to Guillen to lead off before putting Pudge in there. Pudge could then take up the number two spot.
Did anyone notice in gammons last article that he picked bonderman to contend for the cy young this year on a very short list?
I thought he was out of his mind until bonderman’s performance today.
Luke,
I think the tests are performed on a team-by-team basis, so this is probably just the first batch. I’m sure the other organizations will have their moment in the spotlight when the rest of the tests are confirmed.
If anyone on the Tigers was going to get nailed for roids I would have picked Infante. He’s added a lot of muscle and a lot of power. That said, he could turn into a star. Nonetheless I would have the lineup this way:
Guillen
Pudge
Dmitri
Ordonez
Pena
White
Monroe
Inge
Infante
My 2 cents. Thanks for the Tigerscentral plug.
Will Carroll at BP reports the list is just from the Cactus League, with a Grapefruit League list forthcoming.
I’m with Tim on the lineup for the most part. Move Infante to the bottom, and everybody up one spot. I’d try to keep Pena a little lower just to break up the string of 4 right handers.
Really, I don’t think it will make a big difference in the long run, other than fewer at-bats for Infante, and a couple more for everybody else.