One down. What do we know now?
In terms of expectations, losing the first game may have been the best thing Detroit could have done. They aren’t going to go 35-5 to start the season anyway. But what did we see today?
- Danny Bautista looks solid. Would have been nice NOT to take the loss, but as a setup man he appears to be effective. If we can get Zumaya and Rodney healthy and back to form, Bautista might make the bullpen formidable.
- Jason Grilli comes in and can’t get outs. Not his fault (see below), but its a problem not having more strike-out pitchers in the ‘pen.
- Clete Thomas wasn’t fazed in his first action. Tied game, bottom of the 11th… rips a double. I’ll also drop a line to Bill Simmons to nominate Clete for the Reggie Cleveland All-Star team.
- Miguel Cabrera has an error and a home run. I imagine this won’t be the last time.
- Gary Sheffield knows the strike zone. However, in a close game, at some point (possibly) the best hitter in the lineup needs to swing at some pitches (that said, i didn’t watch the game so i have no idea how close the pitches were).
- Carlos Guillen is going to have a monster year. I think the move to first has already proven helpful to his knees.
- Brandon Inge had some nice defensive plays in center, and a solid sac bunt. A good sign.
- Heart of the lineup, at home, going up against Brett Tomko? They should have murdered him… and they didn’t.
Thoughts:
- Detroit is a better team with Inge on the roster, assuming he is willing to be the backup catcher. He’ll get 300+ at bats and gives the team more flexibility then having to carry a true second catcher. If he could play first (too short??) it might make Thames expendable. I’m still not a fan and i’d sit outside the dexter video store to kick him in the nuts if i had some free time.
- Leyland screwed up by letting Verlander go out in the seventh. I rarely watch games (most start while I’m at work) so i do a lot of watching of espn’s gamecast, and just reading box scores and game situations. Here’s what I know: Pitchers tire as they near 100 pitches. Thats the magical number. Its 89 pitches in the first game of the year, Verlander just gave up two runs in the top of the sixth… its time to pull him. I can’t see how you expect Verlander to have a 1 - 2 - 3 inning, which then puts him over the pitch count. Its not fair to your average (non-strikeout) bullpen to spot a few runners in a close game and expect them to hold everyone. In that situation, you start the 7th with your bullpen. Justin Verlander might be a stud, but he’s not YET a Clemens, Schilling, or even a Jack Morris. I’m not a fan of letting a pitcher start an inning you don’t feel he can finish, unless you’re playing the match-up game.
- Boy I would have gone to Zach Minor instead of Grilli at that point. Gut feeling that has no scientific fact behind it.
- MLB.com’s new gameday simulation / update software is slick. I don’t feel like paying to listen to the audio.
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