Tiger Geist

Detroit blows out the annual Florida Southern game.  I still think its a great tradition for everyone.  Let’s catch up before going into tomorrow’s official first spring training game.

• Couple items on Gerald Laird working on his hitting.  Never underestimate the power of the contract year.
• Brandon Inge is ahead of schedule.  Also sounds like his swing is back.  Both good news.
• Bill Simmons and Dave Dameshek had an interesting podcast this week… Simmons thinks the Damon signing was a great idea (every Yankee fan wanted Damon back).  They also talk baseball stats, and wonder if stats are starting to over-rate defense.  Simmons cites Damon and Manny Ramirez as awful outfielders who helped lead their team to world championships.  Interesting thought… during the 2004 Red Sox championship, with Ramirez and Damon manning left and center field, they had a -7.2 and a -7.6 UZR, respectively.  Doesn’t hurt when they also combined to hit over .300 with 63 home runs.
• Bobby Seay might throw again.  Seay had a down 2008, rebounded in 2009 (probably over-used), shut down at the end of 2009, shut down to start 2010.  Not a huge surprise that Detroit loaded up on left handed relievers this offseason, but if they were truly worried about Seay’s health they might not have signed him to a $2.4 million contract.
• Verlander to start the first game… Porcello to start the home opener.  Maybe I’m the only person who has no idea why this is important on March 1.  Home opener will be sold out if I take the mound, let alone Porcello.
• Lynn Henning is pushing hard for Alex Avila to be with the big league team in 2010.  As a former college first baseman, it feels like Avila needs more work behind the plate.  It would not surprise me if he starts getting reps at first soon.  I don’t see why he’d join the Tigers to only play twice a week, and Leyland won’t DH one of his catchers.

Pseudo-fake game on!