2011 Season, Game Post

Game 2011.7: Royals at Tigers

21 Comments

 

It’s Homecoming time in the D, as the Tigers bring baseball back to Detroit for the 2011 Home Opener.

The weather is chllin’ (42 and rainy with 2 hours until the 3:05 start, but the rain is expected to go away) but the fans are grillin’ and I don’t expect any of that Yankee stadium empty seat malaise, because that’s just not how Detroit opening day goes.

The Home opener is simply bigger in Detroit,  according to Lynn Henning

Brandon Inge agrees, and says his bit on the subject in the Metro Times

On-field festivities include

  • Raising of a Sparky Anderson flag and retirement of his number 11 (the players have also been wearing patch honoring him).
  • A moment of silence for Bill Lajoie, Steve Boros, Cecil Kaiser, Woodie Fryman and the victims of the Japan tsunami.
  • A military A-10 flyover, courtesy of the 107th Fighter Squadron, 127th Wing of the Michigan Air National Guard
  • Game ball presentation by Master Sergeant Michael Lionberger of the US Air Force
  • 7th inning stretch performance of God Bless America by Scott Stapp of Creed
  • and rally towels for the first 10,000 fans!

The National Anthem will be performed by Committed, the winners of NBC’s The Sing-Off (yes, but can they measure up to Amber Grand?)

The ceremonial first pitch will be delivered by a young person from the C.A.T.C.H. organization, along with “very special guests.” (Ooh, I’ll guess we’ll just have to watch to find out!).

For those lucky enough to be enjoying all of the festivities in person, you might want to check out the new Food Network signature steak sandwiches (not to be confused with Sgt. Lionberger), which will be available in only 8 ballparks, and Comerica is one!

For those who can’t make opening day in person, you can follow the party online at the Detroit News, where they have a live fan blog with lots of photos and tweets and whatnot (I just saw the tarp coming off the field, yea!)

There are many ways to celebrate opening day–1,000 retirees at Fox Run retirement community in Novi will do a pre-game reading to honor Ernie Harwell.

How are you celebrating?  Please post and tell us, especially if you are lucky enough to be there at Comerica.  Go Tigers!

* * *

The Tigers will face the 4-2 Kansas City Royals, the youngest, cheapest, and apparently fastest team in the league (they lead the majors with 14 stolen bases).  And it’s not all small ball; they still have the dreaded Billy Butler.  A well-rested Max Scherzer (he left Baltimore a day early) will try to keep the runnin’ Royals off the basepaths–if not, expect them to test Alex Avila, who has had some early season struggles behind the plate. Not to worry too much though:  Mario and Rod pronounced yesterday that Scherzer will have 9 strikeouts today.

The home opening lineup:

  1. Austin Jackson, CF
  2. Will Rhymes, 2B
  3. Magglio Ordonez, RB
  4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
  5. Victor Martinez, DH
  6. Brennan Boesch, LF
  7. Jhonny Peralta, SS
  8. Alex Avila, C
  9. Brandon Inge, 3B

 

21 thoughts on “Game 2011.7: Royals at Tigers”

  1. It looks like those who know about weather were correct, and the game will start on time.

  2. Wish I were there. I was hoping for 3-3 at this stage, but 2-6 is close enough for me. Let’s hope the Tigs keep up the recent trend of being much better at home!

    12 time zones away, but I am still keeping track….

  3. That’s the Tiger line-up that I like to see, but its tough to see Raburn on the bench again. Too many hot bats is a good thing though.

    The Royals have a decent up and coming team. I like that SS Alcides Escobar kid that the Royals got in the Grienke trade. His bat hasn’t showed up much, but his defense is just phenomenal. Billy Butler is a great hitter. Alex Gordon and Chris Getz are off to good starts. Also look out for Mike Moustakas when he gets called up.

  5. Loading the bases…interesting strategy Cotton, lets see how it works out for them.

  7. Two wild pitches so far from Davies…is there a reason we haven’t signed this guy? He’s perfect.

    1. Que pasa? I’m limited to MLB Gameday (which is actually pretty awesome this year).

        1. If you click on the pitcher, it should pop up a window with a pitch break-down. Just lower than midway down there’s a row of tabs you can click through, should be there. (this is for MLB.com).

  9. I’m now convinced there as much chance that Austin Jackson will be a fifth outfielder in the National League in 2013 as he will be an all-star. Calculate his numbers after his first hot month and he’s a .280 hitter with no power, not a lot of walks who leads the league in strikeouts. At the very least, he’s a candidate to hit ninth.If he hits, say, .270 and continues to strike out at this rate he becomes Brandon Inge of center fielders.

  13. I’m continuing to be impressed by Villarreal. He did give up a run today, but on a weak opposite field flare by Billy Butler on a good pitch. And on top of his pitching, it looks like he can field his position and has a great pickoff move. We could end up with a killer bullpen this season.

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