I thought about going with a picture of a broom tonight.  And it would certainly be appropriate with the Tigers finishing off a sweep (the word I just couldn't say earlier tonight) at Yankee Stadium, something they haven't done in 42 years. 

But I'm going with Popeye flexing here, because the hometown nine showed off some impressive muscle this evening, giving Nate Robertson the type of run support he hasn't typically received during his Tigers career.  And Nate needed the help after a rough first inning.  But much like Jeremy Bonderman did last night, Robertson pulled himself together and kept the Tigers in the game until they could bring the thunder.

That came in the third inning when Detroit's bats finally caught up to what Ian Kennedy was serving, began hitting him hard to the opposite field, and sent Bobby Abreu backpedaling and spinning around.  Magglio Ordonez barely missed a home run, settling for a double, while Miguel Cabrera tripled, bringing in a combined three runs.  In Cabrera's case, that drive to right field was merely a preview of deeper blasts to come. 

Maybe the most unexpected muscle, however, came from the substitute shortstop.  With a career average of .234/.299/.313, we know that Ramon Santiago stays in the major leagues because of his glove.  But so far this year, when he's been able to get a few at-bats in a game this season, Santiago is swinging a strong stick, too.  He went 2-for-4 tonight, and stroked the biggest hit of the night with a sixth-inning triple to the right-center gap that brought in the two decisive runs.  Somebody's eating his spinach.  And he now has a .375 batting average to show for it.

Cabrera finished off the gun show with a two-run homer in the seventh, pushing the Tigers to their best showing in the Bronx since 1966. 

Closing Thoughts:

• Matt came up with a fantastic nickname for Francisco Cruceta, who made his long-awaited Tigers debut in the ninth inning.  I hope he makes it stick, and we'll certainly do all we can to help with that.  Cruceta wasn't electrifying, so no cape yet, but that was probably too much to expect.  Despite walking the leadoff batter (prompting Todd Jones to warm up), he didn't allow any runs or hits. 
  
• I think Bleed Cubbie Blue warned us about this when the Tigers first acquired Jacque Jones, but man, his arm in left field stinks. 
  

Nate Robertson (0-3, 6.91) vs. Ian Kennedy (0-2, 8.53)

I shouldn't use the word I really want to use, because it usually invokes The Jinx, but tonight, the Tigers have a chance to do something that a broom does to dirt, and any time that can be accomplished at Yankee Stadium, it's noteworthy.  But everything seems to be coming together for this team, and it would certainly be encouraging to see that trend continue upward this evening.

Both Kenny Rogers and Jeremy Bonderman righted themselves over the last two nights, and gave the Tigers the kind of starting pitching they've been craving over the past month.  So is it now Nate Robertson's turn to figure it out?  He has given up at least four runs in each of his five starts this season.  Though it should be mentioned that Robertson also currently leads the Detroit staff in strikeouts (with 24), which is something you probably wouldn't have predicted.  And he did go seven innings in his last start, which is a good sign.

Robertson has never won a game at Yankee Stadium, going 0-3 in four regular season starts with a 6.97 ERA. 

Ian Kennedy has been a little better than Robertson in his five starts, but doesn't have a win to show for the effort.  Apparently, the Yankees are encourage that he really only had one bad inning last time out, against the Indians.  Peter Abraham of the LoHud Yankees Blog implies that Kennedy might suddenly come down with the same mysterious "strained oblique" that took out Phil Hughes if he doesn't have a good start tonight.  Here in Detroit, we like to call that particular malady "tired arm."

Brandon Inge is catching tonight, as both Pudge Rodriguez and Edgar Renteria get the night off.  Ramon Santiago is in at shortstop.  Will we see international man of mystery Francisco Cruceta tonight?  Yankee Stadium seems like an excellent place to make a debut.

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.