Grapefruit League Gamethread: Split Squad Saturday - Yankees at Tigers

by BigAl on Mar 13, 2010 12:00 PM EST in Game Threads Comment 72 comments

Game 1: New York Yankees at Detroit Tigers

When: 1:05 p.m.
Where: Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland, Fla.
Media: WXYT, 1270 AM / 97.1 FM in Detroit

Tigers pitching: Dontrelle Willis gets the start, with Jeremy Bonderman and Nate Robertson pitching in relief, along with Jose Valverde. Jim Leyland is bringing out the big guns!

Yankees pitching: Chad Gaudin starts, Grant Duff, Boone Logan, Sergio Mitre, Amaury Sanit and Zach Segovia are also expected to pitch.

Tigers lineup:

1. Scott Sizemore, 2B
2. Johnny Damon, DH
3. Austin Jackson, CF
4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
5. Clete Thomas, RF
6. Ryan Raburn, LF
7. Gerald Laird, C
8. Brandon Inge, 3B
9. Adam Everett, SS
SP: Dontrelle Willis

Yankees lineup:

1. Derek Jeter SS
2. Nick Swisher RF
3. Mark Teixeira 1B
4. Alex Rodriguez 3B
5. Marcus Thames LF
6. Francisco Cervelli C
7. Jamie Hoffmann CF
8. David Winfree DH
9. Eduardo Nunez 2B

Chad Gaudin P

(But no Curtis Granderson today, he's on the other half of the Yankees' split squad back in Tampa, per Jason Beck)

With most of Florida hit by drenching rain Friday, including Lakeland, the Tigers game with the Phillies was cancelled. (As reported by BYB's woman on the scene, Alli) The rotation, such as it is at this point of the spring, has been thown into a bit of disarray. Bonderman was supposed to start Friday, he will now pitch in relief against the evil empire, with Robertson following.

But let's not forget Dontrelle Willis, who gets the start. The D-Train has had a surpringly solid spring (if still more than a little wild) in his attempt to come back from an anxiety disorder (or as some claim, Steve Blass Disease).

The game with the Yankees is expected to have most of the Tigers' projected Tigers starting lineup on the field (to be expected, with the game being broadcast in Detroit on the Tigers radio network).

The player to watch this afternoon is Brandon Inge, who sees his first game action of the spring. After having surgery on both knees this past off season, the Tigers have brought Inge along slowly. Today we finally get to see the results of Inge's coninuing rehab.

Note from Big Al: When I wrote this at 1 a.m., I didn't know at the time Leyland was going to be batting Sizemore 1st (Only thing I can think of is he wants Sinzemore to get an extra AB) Austin Jackson 3rd (He's not going to learn to lead off batting 3rd!) and Clete Thomas 5th (whywhywhy?). So much for "projected starting lineup." Then again, with the Marlboro Man's driving need to have bizarre batting orders, I guess I should have expected it. At least the Cult should be happy! Oh, that noise you heard? That was my head exploding after seeing another of Leyland's nonsensical batting orders.)

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Here's a stupid question

Why would Jim bat Clete behind Biggy? Makes no sense to me. If I was a pitcher I’d walk Biggy to get to Clete…

Welcome to Detroit, NO sissies allowed

by Detroitchik on Mar 13, 2010 12:26 PM EST reply actions

I get the feeling he won't be doing that in the regular season unless:

A) Clete’s on a hot streak, or

B) The entire team is in a collective slump at the plate and he pulls names out of a hat

Oh, and Jason Beck explained that Sizemore is leading off in order to give him the extra AB, so your hunch was right, BigAl. I’m actually surprised Inge isn’t higher up in the batting order for the same reason.

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