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Max Scherzer is either good or bad, but he's never either for very long; Doug Fister's return will help things fall into place for the Tigers; and Gerald Laird makes his case as a pinch runner These stories and more in today's Morning Prowl.
Tigers links:
Detroit Tigers: Max Scherzer - Good Max v. Ugly Max -- isportsweb, Joe White
"Watch his next start on Saturday afternoon closely. If he commands the plate and cuts down on the hits allowed, then you can rest easy for at least a few days." The sad thing is, even when Max is dominate, I'm usually waiting for that late inning to come around where he implodes. It almost always happens.
Mario Impemba on WZAM: 'Everything kind of falls into place' with return of Tigers' Doug Fister -- MLive.com, Philip Zaroo
"Detroit's inconsistencies on the mound will work themselves out when the Tigers get their full compliment of starters back, as Fister could take the mound as early as Monday."
Detroit Tigers keeping even keel amid tepid start -- tigers.com, Jason Beck
"One year ago this week, the Tigers held what might have been the most important team meeting of their American League Central championship season."
Through 24 Games, Tigers Only 1 Game Out Of First -- Motor City Bengals, Sam Genson
They might be only one game out of first, but that doesn't mean I'm not starting to worry. It's not April anymore, which means my fist is hoovering ever so closely to that panic button.
MLBFanCave.com Video | Miguel Cabrera's telenovela debut -- MLB.com
I know Kurt put this on the site last night. But just in case you missed it, I felt it necessary to link to it again. You won't be disappointed.
Why Gerald Laird Was Used As A Pinch Runner For Alex Avila -- The Tigers Den, Matt Snyder
Gerald Laird's blazing fast speed on the basepaths cannot be matched -- at least not by Alex Avila.
It isn't easy being green: Inge talks A's, mullets, smack with former teammates and hitting the Metrodome roof -- Out of Left Field, Matthew B. Mowery
I know he's not in a Tigers uniform anymore, but I couldn't help but link to this. I really enjoyed this video.
Around the AL Central:
Royals place Yuniesky Betancourt on DL, but don’t call up Johnny Giavotella -- HardballTalk, Aaron Gleeman
I'm sure Royals fans are devastated.
Indians 7, White Sox 5: Danks disappoints again -- South Side Sox, Jim Margalus
"John Danks dug himself an early hole and gave up some ill-timed runs to bring a frustrating homestand to a fitting end."
Moustakas Receives The Quickening, Royals Put Down Highlanders -- Royals Review
"Accompanied by a righteous Queen soundtrack and a Spanish guide with a Scottish brogue, the Royals and Highlanders faced off as The Gathering drew them together."
Game 23: Indians 7, White Sox 5 -- Let's Go Tribe
"The Indians took their road series with the White Sox, winning 7-5 in Chicago. A recap of the action."
Elsewhere in baseball:
Yankees’ Mariano Rivera Injures Knee in Practice -- NYTimes.com, David Waldstein
"An outstanding athlete, Rivera fancies himself a credible center fielder, even pleading with Girardi to allow him to play the position in a game before he retires. Girardi said he would like to accommodate Rivera, but was always too worried about an injury to let him go through with it."
An Ongoing Streak Of Incredible Length -- Baseball Nation, Jeff Sullivan
"Rockies reliever Rafael Betancourt has hit a batter before. One time, in 2003, when he was a major-league rookie." How Sullivan even came across this streak is beyond me. But, interesting nonetheless.
Bryan LaHair: The best story of the season -- SweetSpot Blog, David Schoenfield
"I don't know whether Bryan LaHair is the most surprising story of 2012 or the most intriguing or the most unlikely."
Tim Welke makes one of the worst calls you’ve ever seen in baseball -- Big League Stew, Kevin Kaduk
It's a shame Tim Welke wasn't the first-base umpire on June 2, 2012 during the perfect game that wasn't. Also, I had no idea that Armando Galarraga's near perfect game had its own Wikipedia page.