A picture of someone vomiting might have been more appropriate for tonight's recap.  Although the act of vomiting is rather violent.  And though some Tigers fans might feel that way right now (Watch out, small animals!), this game seemed to inspire more of an arms-folded disgust.

Was it entirely predictable that the Tigers would follow up a game in which they scored 10 runs and knocked 18 hits with a flaccid one-run, six-hit performance?  I'm not saying that this lineup should've done more against Josh Beckett, because he was quite good tonight, striking out eight batters.  What I am saying is that more - much more - is expected.

Justin Verlander didn't throw a very good game.  You're just not going to beat many teams giving up five runs and nine hits.  But how about scoring some runs for the guy?  Verlander deserves to be under .500 with the way he's pitched this season.  But if he gets any kind of run support, he's not dragging around a 1-6 record.  Maybe that's irrelevant tonight, but don't you wonder if the tiny margin of error his team provides is getting to him?  I imagine Verlander sometimes feels as if he has to throw the ball through a toilet paper tube.

By the way, has Kevin Youkilis officially been fitted for his Tigers Killer jacket?  Because he's definitely in the club now, after hitting yet another home run against Detroit.

Curtis Granderson is 0-for-10 over the last two games, with seven strikeouts.  He batted 2-for-18 in this series, striking out in eight of those at-bats.  Miguel Cabrera batted 2-for-14.  (And we'll have more on him tomorrow, though The Daily Fungo has a head start on us.)  Magglio Ordonez hit 4-for-16 with one RBI.

While enduring his weekly conversation with Rob Parker, the Detroit News' Tom Gage brought up Sparky Anderson's old adage that you couldn't judge a team until it's played 40 games.  Well, the Tigers have played 36 of them and are five games under .500.  Bear with me because I was an English major, but even if the Tigers win their next four (and how confident do you feel about that?), they'll be one game under .500 at the 40-game mark.

Maybe we should save ourselves the trouble and pass judgment now.

Roll Call

The Tigers didn't make it worthwhile to see this game through, but here are those who chimed in before it just became a slog.

Thanks to BigAl, pfuhrmeister, ThaWalrus9, miggy4mvp, rock n rye, LosTigres, tbliggins, Tigsfan, dettigionswings'stons, Matt in Toledo, and Tony K for being willing to have their hopes crushed.

Sometimes, you're the broom. Sometimes, you're the dirt.  Sweeping the Yankees at Yankee Stadium doesn't seem quite so grand after getting swept in turn by the Twins at the Metrodome.  And the way in which the Tigers lost all three games was disturbing enough to make Jim Leyland consider "drastic" changes.  More on that later.

Detroit jumped on Boof Bonser from the start, with Curtis Granderson hitting a leadoff home run.  And that was just the beginning.  The Tigers tagged five more runs on the scoreboard from there, taking a 6-0 lead and seemingly on their way to a blowout victory.  Unfortunately, after that first inning, everyone in the Detroit dugout apparently felt like they could take the rest of the day off. 

Bonser pulled himself together and somehow stayed in the game for five more innings, allowing just two hits.  Only one Tigers batter reached scoring position after that first inning, until Granderson stole second base in the ninth.  That allowed the Twins to mount a comeback in a game that looked over early, chipping away at Kenny Rogers until he finally ran out of gas in the seventh.

However, Rogers would've gotten out of the inning had Carlos Guillen not let Nick Punto's ground ball through his legs.  That opened the gate, and the Twins were off.  Zach Miner came in and reminded all of us why we figured he'd be sent down to Toledo when Francisco Cruceta was ready.  He only faced two batters, and both of them got hits, bringing in two Minnesota runs.  (And at least one more would've scored had Brendan Harris' deep drive to left field not bounced into the seats for a ground-rule double.)  That, ladies and gentleman, was the game.  The Tigers' lineup had already turned the switch off and wasn't going to start it up again. 

Drastic Fantastic?

Sinking back into the malaise that has plagued them throughout this series brings us to Leyland's promise to make some changes to his lineup.  Does that mean anyone is getting benched?  (That sound you hear is the collective hands of Tiger Town rubbing its hands together, hoping Jacque Jones takes a seat.)  Probably not, since Leyland said the lineup would have the "same pieces, but different."  But he promised we'd see quite a difference tomorrow. 

The Detroit News' Tom Gage thinks that might mean Gary Sheffield is moved down in the batting order, but that doesn't really seem "drastic," does it?  As usual, Billfer  seems to be onto something at The Detroit Tigers Weblog.  His idea is to push Sheffield up to the leadoff spot, while sliding Granderson to the middle of the order, two moves that make a whole lot of sense.

Sheffield's lack of power (or any kind of hitting, really) wouldn't be as much of an issue atop the order, where his ability to draw a walk (.340 OBP) and savvy baserunning would still help the Tigers even if that trick shoulder wasn't allowing him to "fire."  Meanwhile, Granderson has been swinging a Big Boi bat since returning from his broken hand, and would likely have many more RBIs than his current seven if his home runs and extra base hits came with more runners on base in front of him. 

I'd also be in favor of a new left fielder, whether it was Marcus Thames, Ryan Raburn, or the return of Clete Thomas.  Even if Jones is currently at the bottom of the order, that ninth spot doesn't have to be the black hole that it's been with him batting there.  Nor does there have to be a turnstile at third base, with opposing runners flying through, knowing that they won't be thrown out at home.

I feel like tonight's recap could almost be a recap of last night's.  Two previously injured and slumping batters continued their resurgence.  And a struggling starting pitcher threw the sort of game that should hush any questions and doubts.

Not that this game played out in exactly the same way.  For one thing, Jeremy Bonderman pitched deeper into the game than Kenny Rogers did last night, giving the bullpen a break on a night when they were one reliever short (thanks to the Jason Grilli trade).  And he did it throwing 10 fewer pitches than he did in 4 2/3 innings last week. 

But ¿quien es mas macho?  Bondo or Placido Polanco?  Could the Tigers really lose a game in which a guy not known for his power hit two home runs?  And in a ballpark whose dimensions make it tougher for right-handed hitters to reach the seats?  Had I not watched the game, I'm not sure I would've believed the box score.  Along came Polly, jacking two pitches over the left field fence.  Do we think this guy's slump is over?  Polanco's hit 6-for-10 against Yankees pitching the last two nights.

Others Who Get to Roar:

• Is Clay Rapada the team's new designated left-handed reliever?  Taking over for Bonderman at the end of the eighth inning, Rapada retired all four hitters he faced, all of them batting lefty.  And he even ended the game with authority, striking out Melky Cabrera.
• Marcus Thames just hasn't played this much this season, totaling 33 at-bats coming into tonight's game.  But he tends to make it count when he's in the lineup, and his two-run homer in the fifth gave the Tigers a lead they kept the rest of the night.  Thames' two home runs this season have been hit in Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium, respectively.
• There's been a lot of talk about how comfortable Miguel Cabrera looks at first base, and he made three nice picks in the dirt tonight, saving throws by Rapada and Carlos Guillen to get outs.
• That Curtis Granderson (one walk, one double) sure is good, ain't he?

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.

As expected, Curtis Granderson will rejoin the Detroit Tigers lineup tonight, stepping into his regular spots in center field and the leadoff spot of the batting order.  (He reminisces about that rehab assignment today on his ESPN.com blog.)

With Granderson's inevitable return, the question became who would get squeezed off the roster to clear a spot for him.  Maybe it was obvious all along that Clete Thomas would draw the short straw, based on his available minor league options and the investment that the Tigers have made in veterans Jacque Jones and Marcus Thames.  Plus, Ryan Raburn already had to shuttle down I-75 to Toledo earlier in the year when Francis Beltran was called up.  His versatility probably makes him a little more appealing to Jim Leyland at this point.

Sure enough, that's exactly what happened this afternoon, as Thomas was optioned to Triple-A while Granderson was activated.  I understand it's really the only decision the Tigers could make, especially this early in the season, but I still think it kind of stinks.  And not just because it affects the ever-growing profile of Clete's Cult.  Before the Tigers began playing up to their capabilities and expectations, Thomas provided one of the few shining lights when things were looking particularly grim earlier this month.  I also like his left-handed bat in the lineup, especially when it's providing more punch than Jones had been until recently.  

But if the Tigers had come out of Spring Training healthy to begin the season, Thomas would've been with the Mud Hens and we might not realize what kind of player he is anyway (other than knowing that Leyland was impressed with him in Lakeland).  But I don't think we've seen the last of Clete in Detroit this year, especially if Jones doesn't start pushing his batting average far above .200 and maybe start showing a little home run pop.

(Okay, I realize the West Michigan Whitecaps technically play in Comstock Park, not Grand Rapids.  But I couldn't let a technicality get in the way of a semi-alliterative headline.) 

In the first game of his minor league rehabilitation assignment, Curtis Granderson looked like someone ready to get back to the big leagues, with a 2-for-4 night at the plate.  Not that we needed any reminders, but with both an infield single and one of his signature triples, Granderson showed what exactly he'll bring back to the Tigers' lineup when he rejoins the team on Monday or Tuesday.  Some speed and extra-base giddy-up has been a sorely missed component in the Detroit batting order over the past 17 games. 

Here's some video on Granderson's night with the Whitecaps, courtesy of the Grand Rapids Press.

Next stop for Grandyland: A weekend with the Toledo Mud Hens.

• Both The Surge and D-Town Baseball have coverage on Granderson's return to the field.
• Howie Beardsley of the Grand Rapids Press writes about what Granderson means to the Tigers, and why Whitecaps fans were so excited to see him last night.
  

Just as the Detroit Tigers are beginning to play up to expectations, more good news could be on the way.  After a relatively pain-free batting practice session on Tuesday, Curtis Granderson appears ready to begin a rehabilitation assignment to regain his timing at the plate.  If he gets through batting practice again today without pain (just tell yourself "pain don't hurt," like Dalton in Road House, Curtis), Granderson could join the West Michigan Whitecaps to get ready for a big league return.  (Why the Single-A Whitecaps?  The Triple-A Mud Hens will be on the road.)  And if all goes smoothly, Granderson could take the field for the Tigers on Monday.

In other recovery news, Fernando Rodney got an increasingly rare bit of good news yesterday when Dr. James Andrews told him that surgery on his aching shoulder wouldn't be necessary.  Andrews didn't even want to perform an exploratory procedure, once he determined there was no structural damage.  Rodney was given a cortisone shot in his right shoulder and was told he could start throwing again in three to five days.  If he's still feeling pain by then, who knows what the next course of action might be?

For his latest "Rumblings and Grumblings" column at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark included a couple of Tigers-related notes.  Curtis Granderson was listed among five players whose injuries have had the worst impact on their team.  But further down, Stark adds some coal to the "Dontrelle Willis is injured" furnace that's been giving off some smoke since Spring Training. 

The anecdote was prompted by a scout asking Stark if he was going to include Willis on his list of injured players, because he hasn't been looking very healthy on the pitching mound.

Scouts we surveyed say his velocity is down again, to the point where he pitches at 88-89 mph, though he sometimes gets one up there at 92-93.  And while his delivery has always been a bundle of flying elbows, knees and spikes, it's now so much more awkward that people are beginning to ask if something's up.

Tigers fans are familiar enough with Willis's difficulties with velocity and location after he walked seven White Sox batters last Saturday.  And Stark echoes the sentiment that if Willis is hurt, at least that provide some explanation to those wondering just what's going on with him.

As a footnote to yesterday's interview with the Kansas City Star's Sam Mellinger, he only agreed to be interviewed by me if I would answer a few questions for him, as well.  Sam really had to twist my arm, as you know how I prefer not to talk about myself.  That's why I got into blogging, to keep my thoughts private.

So my answers to Sam's questions about this year's Detroit Tigers have now been posted at Ball Star for your viewing pleasure.  Topics of conversation ranged from the generous spending of Mike Ilitch to the possibility of the Tigers scoring 1,000 runs to concerns over Dontrelle Willis and the bullpen.  Oh, and if you ever wanted to know what my favorite restaurant is, that curiosity can now be satisfied.

Click on over there to give it a read, if you're so inclined.  And thanks once again to Sam for being so gracious with his time over the past week.