Tiger Geist

The only real surprise is the timing, but Armando Galarraga is heading to Toledo, and Jacob Turner is going West Michigan. I have a 1:30am flight out of SFO Friday morning to Tampa, with a quick drive over to Orlando for Friday evening’s split squad game against Atlanta.

Galarraga hasn’t pitched well this spring, but it still seems a little early for his demotion assignment. He probably wasn’t happy, and he shouldn’t be. But facts are facts: There are only two rotation spots open, and while there is ‘hope’ in the trio of Bonderman, Willis, and Robertson, none have been ‘outstanding’. The fact that Galarraga’s demotion wasn’t a surprise AND that none of the other three potential starters have pitched lights-out shows you the kind of spring Armando was having.  Inconsistency won’t earn you a spot in the bullpen either.

I’m aware that Galarraga’s 2008 season might have been more luck then anything, but for Detroit’s pitchers, he seems to have fared the worst since Chuck Hernandez’s departure as Tiger pitching coach.  I’m quite happy with Rick Knapp, so we’ll leave it at that.  I am, however, little pissed that Jacob Turner was assigned already, as I was really hoping to see him pitch this weekend. Lesson learned: if your schedule allows it, go to spring training early if you want to see the kids.

I’m excited to catch Bonderman vs Atlanta; I see the Tigers again Saturday in Lakeland vs the Phillies, and Monday against Toronto in Dunedin. Sunday is against the Yankess in Tampa, but I agree with Tom Gage… once you’ve been to Legends Field Steinbrenner Field, you’ve seen it.  Feel free to follow me on twitter, @tigergeist. I may do some live ‘twittering/tweeting/stupid verb based on the act of using twitter’ at the games, but I’m also bringing enough gadgets/cameras to annoy the person who will be sitting next to me (my father).