Before we get started this morning, I just want to thank all the visitors -- both loyal and new -- of Bless You Boys for making February its best month ever with 111,000+ visits and 216,000+ page views.
Tigers manager Jim Leyland announced the pitching lineup for the few couple of games. Via DetNew's Tom Gage, MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez and MLive's Steve Kornacki:
- Tuesday (vs. Florida Southern): Phil Coke, Eddie Bonine, Enrique Gonzalez, Cody SatterwhiteJoel Zumaya and
- Wednesday (vs. Jays): Jeremy Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Armando Galarraga, Ryan Perry, Brad Thomas and Daniel Schlereth
- Thursday (vs. Jays (again)): Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer, Dontrelle Willis, Alfredo Figaro, Phil Dumatrait, and Jose Valverde
Justin Verlander has yet to be scheduled, but don't worry about that, the skipper says.
Leyland told the beat writers:
"Don’t read anything into how they’re lined up. That’s just the way it is."
Typical spring training stuff. (Here's last year's opening week pitching schedule if you're curious.)
Like Leyland said, there's nothing to read into there.
- The official team blog recaps Day 10.
- Freep: John Lowe wrote how GM Dave Domrbrowski is able to stay so even keeled.
- John Parent of Motor City Bengals answered some questions from a Cardinals blogger
- MLive: Leyland is tickled over Gerald Laird's new batting stance
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Despite turnover, Tigers still motivated by loss to Twins in AL Central one-game playoff
Inge:
"You could see it in everybody’s eyes when we got back together for TigerFest (in January). We are not going to let a season like that happen again. It’s like a personal vendetta we have, if that’s the right term. We have tunnel vision."
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Lee of Tiger Tales writes that Johnny Damon was among the top baserunners in the AL in 2009. Damon's taking an extra base during the postseason last year will always be memorable, too.
- Beyond the Box Score looks at the young center fielders who are expected to get their first full seasons in the majors, such as Austin Jackson. (Via Fanshot from MadPoopz)