Easy, folks

I think I’ve said this before, but I’ll repeat: Don’t make too much out of scoring 15 runs in a spring training game, even if it is the Yankees and a darn good pitcher they hit around. Again, the wind was blowing out. Brandon Inge’s home run hit about halfway up the backdrop behind center field, and Alexis Gomez cleared the scoreboard. Now, the ones from Dmitri Young and Magglio Ordonez, those were hit on a line. They didn’t have a chance to catch any wind.

So why were the Tigers taking advantage of the conditions and not the Yankees? Bonderman kept the ball down. He said he’s not where he wants to be yet, and he says he’s only doing well because the hitters aren’t where they want to be yet either, but I think he’s pretty close to ready. He got a little tired in the fifth inning and wants to stretch his arm out a little more between now and the regular season, but that’s about all he may need.

As for the hitting, Jim Leyland was paying more attention to the approaches than the results, and he liked what he saw. I wasn’t tracking counts to hitters and probably won’t get into that until the last week of camp (it’s spring training for us writers, too) but I believe most if not all the homers came early in counts. From their swings, Craig Monroe and Dmitri Young don’t look like guys who have missed much time.

As for other stuff, Leyland said he’d start Curtis Granderson in center field if tomorrow was opening day. If that’s a surprise, you probably lost track of the spring games. That’s OK; I had to remind myself a few times that today is Monday. That’s what happens when every day feels the same down here.

These days of spring training can get repetitive, but judging from the weather still looks like in Detroit, I’m not going to complain. Plus, whenever somebody gets cut down here, I don’t have to hear Leyland say that he’s "not with us."

On a last side note, Robert Fick stopped by the Tigers clubhouse Monday. He’s coming off elbow surgery and wanted to pay Dmitri Young a visit.