After playing Andrew Romine every day for no apparent reason, Brad teased us by saying he was thinking of playing the Lettuce at all 9 positions…then promptly affixed him to the bench.

But that’s ok, there are plenty of other reasons to watch today’s game, like, um, well there’s that one thing…

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Jeimer Candelario 3B
3. Nick Castellanos RF
4. John Hicks DH
5. Efren Navarro 1B
6. Mikie Mahtook LF
7. Bryan Holaday C
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Dixon Machado SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Dylan Covey

Despite a full analysis from Loon on how to serve 9 courses of Lettuce, Brad decides to pass on Romine for today’s lineup.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley DH
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. Jaime Candelario 3B
6. James McCann C
7. Tyler Collins, CF
8. Mikie Mahtook LF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Myles Jaye vs Reynaldo Lopez

Yesterday would have been a good time to try the Romine at every position thing. They could have used his arm out there on the mound.

Mikie Mahtook is back today.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. Jaime Candelario 3B
6. James McCann C
7. Tyler Collins, CF
8. Mikie Mahtook DH
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Carson Fulmer (no relation) vs Anibal Sanchez

Let the Battle for the Bottom begin!

Brad mentioned that he is thinking of playing The Lettuce at all 9 positions a la Shane Halter, sometime either in the White Sox or A’s series.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, DH
2. Alex Presley LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. Jaime Candelario 3B
6. James McCann C
7. Andrew Romine 2B
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Chad Bell vs James Shields

Since this game is unfashionably early, it seemed like a good time to try sneaking the game post picture pun in again.

Lineups

1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Alex Presley LF
3. Miguel Cabrera DH
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. Jaimer Candelario 3B
6. James McCann C
7. Andrew Romine 1B
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Buck Farmer vs Mike Clevinger

Well no time like the present to start thinking about next season. Today MLB released the 2018 Schedule, which features the Tigers opening at home against the Pirates. On Thursday, March 29. Yes, we start in March next season, and on a Thursday at that.

March baseball in Detroit. What could go wrong?

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley LF
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. Jaime Candelario 3B
6. Tyler Collins CF
7. Bryan Holaday C
8. Efren Navarro DH
9. Andrew Romine SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Corey Kluber

See, this is what we get for complaining about The Lettuce in Left. The Tigers have brought up Fingers Collins and he is starting in left today.

What the heck ever happened to Adduci?

Bad news on the Fulmer front: he his having ulnar transposition surgery (recovery time 3-4 months).

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley DH
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. Jaime Candelario 3B
6. James McCann C
7. Tyler Collins LF
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Dixon Machado SS

Pitching: Myles Jaye vs Carlos Carrasco

Anibal is back, although the bullpen will be ready for some long relief. In fact, Sandy Baez was listed as the starter for a while, but now it says Anibal.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Jaime Candelario 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera DH
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. John Hicks 1B
6. James McCann C
7. JaCoby Jones CF
8. Andrew Romine LF
9. Dixon Machado SS

Pitching: Anibal Sanchez vs JA Happ

Another plate of Everyday Lettuce. Mahtook has a sore groin, but whatever happened to the Parsley?

It’s not every day you get to see a triple play and a grand slam in the same game. Buck looked pretty good too.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Jaime Candelario 3B
3. Miguel Cabrera 1B
4. Nick Castellanos RF
5. John Hicks DH
6. James McCann C
7. JaCoby Jones CF
8. Andrew Romine LF
9. Dixon Machado SS

Pitching: Chad Bell vs Brett Anderson

Strap on your seat belts, the Castellanos in Right Field era begins.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Jaime Candelario 3B
3. Nick Castellanos RF
4. John Hicks DH
5. Mikie Mahtook LF
6. James McCann C
7. Efren Navarro 1B
8. Andrew Romine LF
9. Dixon Machado SS

Pitching: Buck Farmer vs Marcus Stroman

I’m feeling a bit rabbitty with this every day Lettuce thing going on.

Jose Iglesias out on paternity leave, so Dixon finally gets a start.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Alex Presley RF
3. Nick Castellanos DH
4. John Hicks 1B
5. Jaime Candelario 3B
6. Mikie Mahtook LF
7. James McCann C
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Dixon Machado SS

Pitching: Matthew Boyd vs Jason Hammel

Tonight begins the Anibal Sanchez World Domination Comeback Tour.

Meanwhile I am trying to understand Ian Kinsler’s contract. I know the Tigers have a club option next season for $10 million (which is very reasonable and affordable), and a buy out for $5 million, which means they could dump him for half that. But I read somewhere—which I can’t find now—that he has a contract option that vests with 600 at bats. Is it the club option? Or something else? Anyone know anything about this? If there is some kind of vesting like that it is to somebody’s advantage that he play every day.

Oh there it is, from Ken Rosenthal: “Small detail on Kinsler, per sources: $10M option for 2018 vests at 600 PAs. Currently at 513. #Tigers likely to exercise if he falls short.”

Hmm.

Justin Verlander makes his Astros debut tonight, and it’s on MLB Network.

Today’s Lineup:

1. Ian Kinsler, 2B
2. Mikie Mahtook LF
3. Nick Castellanos DH
4. James McCann C
5. John Hicks 1B
6. Jaime Candelario 3B
7. Alex Presley RF
8. JaCoby Jones CF
9. Jose Iglesias SS

Pitching: Anibal Sanchez vs Jason Vargas

Yes, we are at the part of the season where James McCann is batting cleanup.

Meanwhile, Dixon Machado is getting better and better at the sunflower seed thing.