:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6853428/144048760.jpg)
Jacob Turner is showing that he is healthy in Lakeland, Jose Valverde is now the elder statesman of closers in the MLB, and David Robertson wants Mariano Rivera to come back. These stories and more in today's slightly abbreviated Morning Prowl.
Detroit Tigers' Jacob Turner tosses seven shutout innings for Lakeland, fans eight in win - MLive, James Schmehl
Most important part: "Turner, who is working on a five-day rotation plan, has displayed no signs of pain or setbacks since joining Flying Tigers’ rotation after being assigned to Lakeland."
Jose Valverde is Major League Baseball’s Longest Tenured Closer…and his current BB/9 is 7.2 - Walkoff Woodward, Josh Worn
This is amazing. Other than Mariano Rivera, no other team in baseball has had a closer for more than 22 months. And we thought managers had poor job security...
Ejection gives Leyland new angle on offense - Beck's Blog
It's both interesting and frightening that Jim Leyland and the rest of the coaching staff are just now realizing the lack of discipline, simply based on watching a game on television.
Detroit Tigers' Justin Verlander on dispute with umpire: 'I just wanted to voice my opinion' - MLive, Chris Iott
"The umpires saw it one way, we saw it another way. That's part of baseball." Also, the picture that complements this article is absolutely perfect.
Around the AL Central:
If MLB Was WWE: Minnesota Twins - Twinkie Town
Definitely worth a read, especially if you're a wrestling fan.
Twins 2, Angels 6: Minnesota Sends Valencia to Triple-A, Calls Up Mastroianni - Twinkie Town
"Tonight's game wasn't good for the Twins, much like many (most...) of the games they've played this season."
White Sox 8, Indians 1: Big fourth means easy night - South Side Sox, Jim Margalus
"The Sox strung together baserunner after baserunner against Jeanmar Gomez in the fourth inning, leading to six runs and a comfortable, split-salvaging victory."
Royals Win 4-3 to Take Series Against the Red Sox - Royals Review
Bruce Chen notched his first win of the season
Elsewhere in Baseball:
Report: Josh Beckett of Boston Red Sox played golf 2 days before missed start - ESPN Boston
I don't see why playing golf is a big deal, even for an "injury" like Beckett has. This whole saga with Bobby Valentine is getting pretty entertaining though.
David Robertson gets first save in the post-Mariano Rivera era — but it was a struggle - Big League Stew, David Brown
"'I think Mo would've thrown 12 pitches and broke a bat and we would have been out of here 20 minutes ago,' Robertson said."
How Not To Cover Josh Hamilton's 4-Homer Game - Baseball Nation, Jeff Sullivan
Josh Hamilton's mammoth game on Tuesday evening spurned a glutton of articles about his contract situation instead of about the four home runs that he hit, and Sullivan doesn't appreciate it.