Remember what you thought the Detroit Tigers might look like before Spring Training began?  Remember that buzz of anticipation you had in your chest, waiting to see this team play?  This lineup was going to knock the ball all over the field and out of the park.  And on most nights, quality starting pitching would keep the other team in check before handing it over to a dependable, albeit not spectacular, bullpen. 

Yes, it was just one game and the Tigers still need to prove they can put a consistent streak together.  But tonight, that vision was almost realized.  Any lingering worries about Placido Polanco could be put to rest with his 4-for-5 night.  And maybe we should still worry about Gary Sheffield, but he showed what he's still capable of and why Jim Leyland keeps him in the lineup with a decisive two-run homer.  Curtis Granderson also provided another reminder of just how much this team missed him, batting 2-for-3 and crushing a ball over the center field fence.

But the guy who may have settled the most fears and temporarily shut down the talk that he was toast was Kenny Rogers.  No, he didn't face the regular Yankees lineup, with Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada sitting out.  And with four walks, Rogers wasn't exactly dominant.  But he was certainly good enough, giving up two runs in six innings.  That, combined with the way the Tigers hit tonight, will lead to plenty of wins this season.

Yes, even when Todd Jones closes a game as only he can, allowing the first two hitters he faced to reach base, throwing a wild pitch, giving up a run, and generally making the ninth inning far more anxiety-inducing than it needed to be.  Just bite down on something soft and it goes away soon enough.

Walking the Bases Loaded is No Way to Get Through Life, Son

Not everything was clicking, however, as Denny Bautista did his best to walk the Yankees into tying the game.  After Bobby Seay gave the Tigers a scoreless seventh inning, Bautista walked Shelley Duncan to begin the eighth.  It didn't look like that walk would haunt him when he got the next two batters out, but then Bautista lost control, figuratively and literally.  Suddenly, all of his pitches veered way outside to the left-handers and far inside to the righties.  Bautista walked the next two hitters to load the bases, and then hit Derek Jeter to walk in a run.

Leyland got Bautista out of there before he could completely melt down, bringing in Clay Rapada to do what he apparently does best: get out left-handed batters - in this case, Bobby Abreu. 

It's surely unfair to penalize Bautista for allowing runs in two straight appearances, but that's a way to lose Leyland's confidence fast.  And with Francisco Cruceta almost certain to join the Tigers soon, Bautista might want to start pitching better if he wants to hold onto that eighth inning set-up role.

Kenny Rogers (1-3, 7.66) vs. Phil Hughes (0-3, 7.85)

After a tough series against the Los Angeles Angels, the Tigers take on another playoff contender in their final visit to Yankee Stadium. 

Kenny Rogers hasn't been very good in his last three starts, calling into question whether or not his days as a major league starting pitcher might be done.  I suppose it depends on what happens tonight, but I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Rogers come up with a case of "tired arm" once Dontrelle Willis completes his rehab assignment and rejoins the Tigers.  In 36 career starts at Yankee Stadium, Rogers has a 14-14 record and 5.48 ERA.

Phil Hughes might have turned himself around in his last start, but we don't know for sure because a rain delay limited him to just two innings of work.  In his two starts before that, he gave up a combined 12 runs over 7 1/3 innings.  Hughes has faced the Tigers once before, and he was roughed up for five runs in six innings.

Alex Rodriguez is out of the Yankees' lineup tonight, resting a sore quadriceps muscle.  Morgan Ensberg (.256/.275/.333, one home run, three RBIs) will take his place at third base. 

Meanwhile, nobody's sitting for the Tigers.  The regular lineup takes the field for the second straight game.

Pinstripe Alley (who played "Blogging With the Enemy" with us earlier today) has your SB Nation opposing view for the next three nights of baseball from the Bronx.

One housekeeping note: The weekly sidebar poll has returned, as I finally remembered to add it.  It's just below the FanPosts as you scroll down.  Vote for who you think will get squeezed out when the Tigers call up Francisco Cruceta.

It's always a big series when your team plays the New York Yankees, and the Detroit Tigers make their only (and final) visit to Yankee Stadium early in the season. Both the Tigers or Yankees are playing below pre-season expectations right now, but the next three games present an opportunity to make up some ground in the division and wild card standings.

For the latest edition of "Blogging With the Enemy," we're catching up with jscape2000, who writes for Pinstripe Alley and also occasionally posts comments here.  He also posed five great questions about the Tigers, which I answered over there, if you're interested.

BYB:  The Yankees are trying to mix in young players with veterans while trying to stay in playoff contention, maybe one of the tougher endeavors in pro sports.  How do you think the semi-youth movement has worked so far?  Surprises and disappointments?

I should start with a disclaimer: I love the youth movement because I think that producing even just league average production at less than free agent prices in a half dozen roster spots will allow the Yanks to more effectively employ their huge financial advantage to terrorize the rest of MLB.

So far, it's been what we expected - a challenge.

Disappointments: We have two starters in the rotation in their age 22 (Hughes) and 23 (Kennedy) seasons, with 22-year-old Joba Chamberlain slated to move into the rotation somewhere around midseason.  They've had all the troubles you'd expect of rookies, which is a disappointment when you consider the hype built up by the NY media and bloggers (myself included).  But it's only been one month, and they have so much upside it's worth it.

Surprises and Exceeding Expectations: We've got a 23-year-old centerfielder who has begun to show some patience at the plate, and a 25-year-old second baseman who ranks among the top players at his position offensively and defensively.

I'm really enjoying watching the relievers this season.  Both Hawkins and Farnsworth will be gone at the end of the year, and then I expect the bridge to Mariano Rivera to entirely in the hands of players under 27.  Ross Ohlendorf is anaconda's man-crush; while Ohly has struggled as a long man going through lineups multiple times, he's been effective in single inning stints.  My favorites are Jonathan Albeldejo and Chris Britton (both acquired via trades for spare parts) and the rehabbing TJ trio of Mark Melancon, Humberto Sanchez, and J.B. Cox.  Once all those MLB-ready arms are in the Bronx the rest of AL had better watch out.

BYB: With Jorge Posada's shoulder injury, the Yankees are facing the sort of doomsday scenario with their catching situation that I think the Tigers fear.  Do you think the Yankees will mostly stick with Jose Molina, or do you expect someone to be brought in?  And what about Posada as a catcher, long-term?

We'll know more after Jorge hears from Dr. Andrews, so I'll send you an update when I have more info.  If he's going to be out more than about three weeks, I expect the Yanks to go get somebody serviceable.  When Jorge signed this deal, we all understood he'd be playing first or DH-ing sooner than later.

BYB: Is Jason Giambi toast?  Do you expect him to stay with the Yankees through the season or might they eventually let him go?

All winter, I expected a lot of Jason Giambi.  I still expect a lot.  We're not into May yet, so I refuse to write his obit.  Plus he's owed $23 million dollars, you can't cut that until at least August.

BYB: So how do you feel about Hank Steinbrenner and his willingness to say whatever is on his mind?  Refreshingly candid or do you wish he'd turn down the volume a bit and just let Brian Cashman do his job?

If Hank's bluster is cover for Cashman and Hal, then I'm cool with it.  I got that feeling over the offseason during the Santana non-trade; everything said seemed aimed to keep the Red Sox guessing about what the Yanks would be willing to do.  Then again, this latest spout off when he said "this isn't the starting rotation I would have picked" makes me want to duct tape him to a wall and beat him with a hose.  For now, I'm ok with it, but if Hank drives away Brian Cashman (whose contract expires at the end of the season, and whom I really like) I will be quite angry.  Quite.

BYB: Be honest: Are you kind of scared of those pesky Tampa Bay Rays right now?  Lil' bit?

I am terrified of Tampa Bay and have been the last couple of seasons.  They've got a core in place that will be together for the next decade - a phenomenal outfield and a bright rotation.  When they drafted David Price last June, I officially hit the panic button.

Big thanks to John for contacting me for some Q&A.  I'm still playing catch-up after traveling the past two weeks, and might not have gotten around to this until the Yanks and Tigers met in Detroit.  They do a great job over at Pinstripe Alley.  Make sure you stop over and say hi.