Verlander, Zumaya updates
Justin Verlander retired all six batters he faced before a 44-minute rain delay in the second inning. That's about three innings less than the Tigers wanted him to go, but he looked good, fanning Aaron Rowand and Mike Lieberthal on back-to-back called third strikes.
Joel Zumaya worked the fifth and sixth with one single allowed and one strikeout. Jim Leyland admitted before the game that if he makes the team, it would likely be as a reliever. That said, Leyland also hinted that he has a good chance to make the team.
Keep up the good work, Beck. I like your blog and I enjoyed hearing you on MLB Radio last year. I've been reading all your posts and I can see the Tigers will be coming together this year... hopefully. A couple people ask me if I think this is our year, and I say no way. The White Sox can surprise people, but the Tigers never will. They won't win the AL Central, but I think they'll be much better than most people who have forgotten about them expect.
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I said all along that both these guys would win jobs on this team and I'm not changing that any time soon. If Grilli does a good job next time out he could join them and he probably should. If he doesn't make it that means probably a left hander will. It's too bad tiger management don't have the nerve to make a move with their rotation. I believe either of the new guys could get them more W's then say one or two of the lefties in the rotation. Ok, what level of accomplishment from this team can we expect this season? Judging from the raves I've read coming from Wilson on the two new guys we could be in for a surprise. My opinion is that if we get more W's than L's from the rotation the division could be a hot race. The question is can they do it? If Verlander produces like Mark Fidrich in his first season look out. The Sox's have good pitching and we will have to be nearly as good to surprise. In the field I think we can match or surpass them. I'm anxious to find out with everyone else.
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